ATWATER: Satnam Singh, 28 year old son of Sardar Santokh Singh Samra and Sardami Gurmel Kaur of Atwater, died in a car accident on Friday Nov12. He was going with his three friends from Delhi to Sacramento when the car overtime, Santokh who was sitting in the rear seat received serious injuries and died on the spot when he fell out of the car. His companion in the rear Seat, Tarsen Singh son of Mistri Ajit Singh, rescued two of their friends in the front seats who were trapped in the flaming car, which had overturned. He received some injuries.
The occupants of the front seat did not receive even a scratch in the accident. Samam Sigh is survived by his wife and two children who stay in Livingston.
Sardar Santokh Singh, father of Samam who is the Secretary of Atwater Gurdwara and his family are grief stricken, by the loss of their eldest son.
Some true anecdotes “I have become a Sikh”’ Courtesy Thai Sikh Journal by Principal Gurmukh Singh A Landlord was sitting on a cot in the courtyard of his house when he heard a knock at the door and Saw a person entering “May I come in Chandhari Sahib?” The landlord recognizing him, said, “Most welcome, Please be seated. What can I do for you?” The man came in, after respectfully exchanging salutations he took his’ seat and said, “A few years ago I stole your buffalo.” ‘The landlord was wonderstruck at this confession of a visitor who appeared to be a man with a good reputation in the village. So in a state of bewilderment he exclaimed, “You! Makhan Singh, you had stolen my buffalo three years ago? Oh no! It can’t be, you are a good old friend of our family. How could you do such a mean thing?” Makhan Singh stood with folded hands begging for pardon. “I was in dire need at that time. IL impelled me to steal, but it is only recently that my philosophy of life has undergone a sea change in the company offthe Sikhs who sing Gurbani and live up to the teachings of the great Gurus. The Gurus teaches through the holy Guru Granth Sahib that in the court of the Divine Justice (Dharam Raj) the Guru does not own such ‘a Sikh who steals and tells lies during his life. I recently took Amrit. I have now become a Sikh. This act of stealing has ever since been pricking me like a Thom pierced into my heart. The words of the Guru used to ring in my cars.
After many sleepless nights I took courage in both my hands and have brought your buffalo as well as its two calves. Please pardon me and take back your animals. With your pardon that pricking thorn shall be pulled away and I shall be blessed with the divine peace of mind.
The farmer, an Amritdhari Gursikh, knew that the teachings offthe holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib is capable of transforming hypocrites like Makhan Singh into noble souls. He said, “Makhan Singh, the Guru has showered his grace upon you. It is His grace which has impelled you to confess your act of stealing and it is His grace which commands me to pardon you and give you my buffalo and the two calves in reward for your courage to confess and for your determination to lead a truthful life.”
Makhan Singh is a true Sikh. We all feel proud of him.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 19, 1993
