RABINDER SINGH BHAMRA, Vice President of the Sikh Cultural Society of New York is a dedicated religious figure who has made a major contribution to the religious development and growth of the Society. Born to Maan Kaur and S. Hukam Singh in Amnitsar, in 1940. His family moved from their ancestral home in village Dhaul Kalan to the city of Amritsar where they continued their family business as building contractors and after 1947 entered into mechanical industry. He takes pride in mentioning the association of his paternal grandfather, S. Dhanna Singh with Khalsa College, who had served as one of the contractors in building the college. His maternal grandfather, S. Malla Singh Sehmi, was a missionary who established the first Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Nairobi, Kenya. Rabinder Singh graduated with BSc. degree from Khalsa College in 1959 and later on obtained a degree in Mech. Engineering from LLT. Bombay in 1966. Having worked as a Production Manager in major electrical wine manufacturing company in Bombay for six year, he migrated: to U.S.A. in April 1972. He worked for a defense contractor on the Long Island as Quality Engineer for five years after which he joined General Instrument Corporation on the Long Island where he is now working as Quality Manager.
Rabinder married Balwinder Kaur in 1971. Balwinder hails from an industrialist family from Mandi (HP). She completed M.A., Med., before getting married to Rabinder.
Rabinder’s first love has always been music which later developed with kirtan in classical Indian music. He participates in kirtan recitation in the Sunday congregation and helps and trains the young Sikhs in learning kirtan and Sikh religion. Bhamras joined Sikh Cultural Society in 1973. Since then he has been at its helm of affairs for his dedicated service to the Sikh community.
Amnit Sanchar, kirtan darbar and other religious and cultural functions are not considered complete without participation and contribution by Bhamras.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 22, 1988
