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where I would be spending most of A Sewadar’s Diary my weekdays: Boston, but I considered the commute a small price.

By Karminder Singh Months before coming to

Boston, I asked the Millis Ashram to lease us an A personal account of the trials and apartment, filled out forms etc. triumphs of the incredible journey of but they would not have us. the Gurdwara, and a Sewadar’s humble And so Medford it was. role along it... We settled into our two‐ th JULY 30 2001 Logan bedroom apartment in Riverside International Airport Boston. Avenue just as soon as our shipped Feeling the ground at the airport stuff arrived. As we went around was a welcome relief to a 22‐hour the Malls looking for stuff we journey from halfway around the needed, we could not help notice world. “Medford” I told the Boston that there were everywhere. cab driver when asked where he My wife and I wondered if there wanted to take my family, our was a Gurdwara around. At the luggage and me. Medford was to Ames Department Store in be our home for the next four years. Medford, we bumped into a Millis was where we truly Gursikh family we had befriended wanted to live. My wife, Sitvinder in 1993 ‐ Surjeet Kaur, Mahinder and I had been to the Guru Ram Singh Saini and their daughter Das Ashram there every week when Manraj Kaur . They told us we lived in Boston from 1993 to there was a Gurdwara in 1995: doing Katha, Kirten, and Somerville, Medford’s neighboring playing tabla. Millis offered our city, ten minutes from the our family a mix of our top priorities – apartment. We took directions. It the company of Gursikhs who lived was the best news we heard, and in the apartment complex, a with it, the grief of not residing in Gurdwara within the Ashram and Millis vanished. good friends we had made then. The Ashram would provide a good SUNDAY, NOV 2, 2001. We place for my children, Brejvinder, set out to find the Somerville three, and Amrit, one, to grow up. Gurdwara. The narrow one‐way The only setback was that Millis streets of the city turned a 10‐ was an hour’s drive from the place minute journey into a three‐hour

20 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE one. We went up and down next Sunday,” I told the secretary, Highland Avenue four times, but Darshan Singh Ji. He said there was there was no sign of it. We met no normal program and urged me dozens of Sikhs throughout our to reconsider. By this time the Bhai search and stopped to ask them. Sahib finished and Their replies were as elusive as the moved to do Kirten. He was Gurdwara’s location. “Its in accompanied on the dholaki by an someone’s house,” said one. African American and tabla by a Sat Another said he’s heard of it but Narayan devotee complete with never been into it. Another was dhoti and bodee. sure there was no Gurdwara in Somerville or anywhere nearby. At The spectacle of someone 12.00 noon, we finally found it trying to fit a shabad into an out when we entered a back street to of tune vaja, an African tribal turn back onto to Highland Ave one beat and rusty tabla inspired me last time. The Gurdwara had a back to take on secretary’s offer. I street entrance and was located on now understood what he meant the second floor of a restaurant. It by there being no normal took us another half hour to park along a nearby street. program. We climbed a dingy staircase and entered the Gurdwara’s Darbar I stood before the sangat, at 12.45. The hall could greeted them and asked everyone to accommodate 500 people. But about leave the comfort of their walls and 25 people sat leaning against the get to the center of the hall, as close sidewalls. The center was as possible to the Guru. Some did completely empty, save for the four move. I repeated my request, of us who chose not to sit against infusing humor with a litany of the walls. The final Ashtpadee of arguments based on the notions of Sukhmani sahib was being read. A respect and disrespect, proper and gursikh came up to me and improper. One lady spoke up: “I introduced himself as the secretary have back pain.” I replied from the of the Gurdwara and asked if I stage “come sit right here in the wanted to do Kirten. He said he did center and if your pain does not go not know me but since I was away, I will go away.” The retort wearing a Bana, he felt it was his woke up those who were asleep at duty to check me out. I hesitated, on the walls. “Tell the Guru, cure my grounds that first of all I was very back or I’ll not come here late in arriving, and second that the anymore,” I continued. “We are Gurdwara’s normal program tired,” another person spoke out. should go on. “I’ll do something “Come sit straight and attentively in 21 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE the feet of the Guru and your restaurants, gas stations, and tiredness of 8.4 million lives will grocery stores or worked in them. disappear,” I shot back. My They were simple, decent and message began to seep in. The faithful people. They trusted me. frivolity of their arguments, the gall And they turned up to listen. for a complete stranger to take on The sangat grew and soon the issue, my refusal to start my talk there was no place to sit in the unless they all moved, and my Darbar. Darshan Singh Ji promise to come back next week announced on the stage one day created a sense of urgency as well. that the Sangat had decided to Soon everyone moved to the center. appoint me as Director of Religious I said, “This is how a sangat sits in Affairs. A Jaikara followed. My job the charan of the Guru. We will sit was to take charge of all things like this every time beginning next religious in the Gurdwara. I Sunday, and I will be here to do my wondered what, if any, activities Katha.” Fateh. were “non‐religious” and hence out of my purview. News got around town I began to sense why the that a crazed comedian Guru offered me Medford instead parcharak with a wacky of Millis. I took the position offered shooting from the hip style had seriously. This is what we need to come to the Gurdwara and more do, I announced. “We need to start people came to see for a Kirten comprising our children and youth. They will learn themselves. 100 shabads in full rag and Taal and

will play the tabla and do Kirten for The fact that the following one hour every Sunday. You will week was Nirangkari gurpurab not need to put up with any more helped pull in a bigger crowd. I out of tune tribal music from the delivered a 45‐minute lecture on lost continent. We need to set up a ’s life. A total of 208 website to tell people about our such 45‐minute lectures, ranging activities. I need the educated youth from the fiery to philosophical Japji to help out here. For each of you Katha, would be made in the 4 attending, there are 50 Sikhs in years of my stay in Boston. The Boston who are not here – they sangat began to get to know me and don’t know or they don’t care. I met me them. I gathered that a majority many on the same block as this of the Sangat was from . Gurdwara who did not where the Most of them were related to each Gurdwara was or if there was one. other. A vast majority of them were We need to change that. We need in business – they either owned people to learn to do path. The 22 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

Sunday program will be changed. My own child Brej joined the Sukhmani sahib will end at 10.30 Jatha as soon as his hands had am, not 12.45. From 10.30 till 12 we grown long enough to reach the will do Kirten. From 12.00 to 12.45 vaja’s pakha. At the time of writing, pm I would do Katha on to the Kirten class had gone into its tell you about the Guru’s messages. fourth year and each Kirten student That would give us two hours of had learnt anywhere from 20 – 75 spiritual food – Kirten and Katha – shabads in taals such as Teen Taal, per week. Most of all, we need a Jhap Taal, Deep Chandi and new Gurdwara premises. It will be Roopak in a variety of ragas. The the biggest Guru Ghar in jatha’s Kirten time is fixed ‐ 10.30 till Massachusetts and will cater for the 12 noon every Sunday. city of Boston and surrounding cities.” Darshan Singh Ji conveyed FEBRUARY 2002. Our the committee’s and sangat website was up and running. We exuberant approval on stage. had a committee comprising Deepinder Singh, Satvir Kaur, SATURDAY, JAN 12TH 2002. Manraj Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, First day of Kirten, tabla and path Inderpreet Singh, and Gurminder classes. Kimran Kaur, Sandeep Singh Gerry who worked hard to Kaur, and Inderjot Singh turned up give shape to the stuff that I had as vaja students while Paramveer written to put on the website. No Singh, Gurpaven Singh, Pehlaj one could now say that they did not Singh, and Ramanjeet Singh for know where the Gurdwara was. tabla. The vaja students were later joined by Rupinder Kaur, Manpreet MARCH 2002. Two Sindhi Kaur, Baldeep Kaur, Kiran Kaur, gentlemen – Kanhayo Ji and Teju Ji Manpreet Kaur Preeti, Gursharan turned up during the Kirten Class Kaur, Ravneet Kaur and Preetpal and requested to join. They had Singh, while the tabla group had an read our website. I had received addition in the form of Chirag requests from entertainers who Singh, Arshdeep Singh Saminder wanted to learn tabla, but refused to Singh and Prabhdeep Singh. take them on. Our Kirten and tabla The first class was how to classes concentrated on Gurbani open a vaja, which is the front and the objective was to have a and back, how to open and close jatha for the Gurdwara. They told a tabla, which is left and right. me they wanted to learn Gurbani By the fourth class, we had a jatha. Kirten to lead their local satsang in We named it Gurdwara Guru Dracut ‐ a city 60 miles north of Nanak Darbar Kirteni Jatha. Boston. I had no reason to turn them away. For three years, 23 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

Kanhayo and Teju learnt the some recited no more than 3 pauris. 30 shabads on the vaja and tabla The competitions continued and did harmonious Kirten every Vesakhi and in the 2004 regularly at their satsang, and Vesakhi the first prize in Paath sometimes in our Gurdwara. For went to a 7 year old who recited three years, both of them taught me all 38 pauris by heart. Others the beauty of being sincere and recited Rehras, Kirten Sohela, humble. and Anand Sahib in APRIL 2002. We celebrated completion. Vesakhi. The sangat did an Akhand Paath all on its own. Surjeet Kaur, The biggest challenge, Manraj Kaur, Baljeet Kaur, Darshan however, was acquiring new Singh, Swaran Kaur, Surinder Kaur, premises for the Gurdwara. The Satvir Kaur, Jagmeet Singh, catalytic ingredients were all there. Attinder Singh joined me and my The capacity of the Darbar was wife as being the anchor pathis in getting small. The location – above a this as well the many more Akhand restaurant that sometimes played Paaths to follow, while many others loud music – was unsuitable. There from the sangat helped. It was the was limited parking. There were no first Akhand Paath since the facilities such as a separate langgar Gurdwara was established in 1997. hall. There was no kitchen – food There existed an earlier account of had to be prepared and brought hiring professional pathis from from outside. There was only one New York. The experience was so bathroom for everyone’s use. And bad that the Sangat had given up the Gurdwara committee had contemplating an Akhand Paath managed to save up $300,000 – again. enough for a down payment. The main attraction of Yet there were real obstacles. Vesakhi, however, was Some members of the sangat tended competitions for children. to cling on to petty disputes that Memorized Paath, Bana probably had their origins in the Competition, Vesakhi story telling, villages where they came from. Kirten and Tabla. In subsequent These quarrels turned simple issues competitions we added turban such as membership of the tying and a coloring competition. committee and the location of the Gurdwara into needlessly contentious issues. Such people The first prize in path took a stand on where the new went to a 12‐year kid who Gurdwara ought to be located based on who was proposing it, on 24 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE village loyalties and personal told that the Boston sangat donated disputes rather than convenience, generously towards the building of suitability and affordability. I had Milford Gurdwara in the 1970s. to overcome these if I was expected Someone put this figure at $40,000. to provide any sort of credible Yet there was hardly any feeling of leadership and the fact that I was an belonging. One Somerville resident outsider helped. I revealed to the put it to me this way. “They would sangat that I had never been to come and ask us – restaurant India, let alone the villages where owners ‐ to sponsor the big they came from, and that helped me langgars,” by which he meant stay neutral to the extent that they Vesakhi and other gurpurabs, “ and allowed me to. Second, Boston was forget about us after that.” Another home to scores of cheats and frauds told me “we were treated like in the name of Sants and Babas. second class members and our They held programs in their children did not want to go there.” chamchas homes to compete for the Being excluded was not the only Gurdwara’s sangat thus splitting it. issue; there was a financial aspect to For months running, I launched a sangat splintering off to open its scathing attacks on them by name own Gurdwara. during my Katha and systematically exposed their fraud. They had Darshan Singh Ji and instilled fear in the Sangat – Mahinder Singh Saini narrated promising misfortunes to those who an account of a Milford elder did not fall at their feet ‐ and my telling them – after Somerville repeated harsh language against Gurdwara had just been opened them helped remove such fear. By at rented premises – that he the Gurus blessings, all except one would remove his pagree and had closed shop within the first year. Even he was left with one or put it at their feet if they would two families as his devotees. Third, shut it down. there lingered suspicion ranging from interference to sabotage from The intensity of such stories those who felt that there already notwithstanding, I felt confident was a Gurdwara in Milford, and that there was no such interference, hence no need to build another in and if there was any, it was based Boston. on misconceptions that could easily The Boston sangat’s be cleared. During my earlier stay relationship with Milford was long in Boston from 1993 – 95, I had and complex. Prior to the setting up regularly done Katha at Milford. of Boston’s Gurdwara at Somerville For a year, I ran a Kirten and Tabla the sangat attended Milford. I was class there for some 15 children and 25 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE adults. Some of them are still doing Additionally, Milford was Kirten. I knew most of the leaders set up just 6 miles away from there to be dedicated sewadars the then existing Millis whose help was now desperately Gurdwara and both have been needed in building Boston’s running great. There was thus Gurdwara. Also, I had, since my no need to worry about another arrival in Boston this time around, Gurdwara 50 miles away. been doing Katha regularly at the home of a Gursikh who attended MAY 2002. On the way to Milford – a sewa that continues at the Medford Mall on day, I saw the time of this writing. Virtually workers putting up a “For Sale” all those who attended this monthly sign on a parcel of land 25,000 Katha program consisted of Milford square feet. I called the realtor, Sangat and this allowed me a link of arranged for a meeting and sorts with Milford. I thus resolved assembled the committee. The land to help clear the misconceptions. was for $600,000. The Gurdwara I argued that Milford was had 400,000. We needed to raise one hour’s drive from Boston. There 200,000 and buy the land for cash, were lots of young Sikh workers, and use it for collateral to borrow professionals, students and visitors the construction cost. Everyone in the city who did not have the thought it would work out. means to spend two hours on the I proposed to the road to get to and from a Gurdwara. Management Committee that there Boston has 60 colleges and was a need to set up a Building universities. The number of Sikh Committee consisting of 5 Sikhs. students alone runs in the This number would provide for the hundreds. Most of them have no Gurus blessings. Its functions cars – the only way to get to would be to identify and select land Milford. The city thus ought to or property for purchase, raise the have its own Gurdwara accessible money, do the legwork for the by public transport. I provided a acquisition and organize the move more provoking argument: from Somerville to the new If Somerville Gurdwara premises were. I then proposed to closed down, 95% of the people will have an elder from Milford just stop going to Gurdwara. As it Gurdwara chair the committee for is, even with a Gurdwara in the reasons that this gursikh had Somerville, only 1 in 25 Boston been instrumental in building Sikhs went to a Gurdwara Milford. I had a sewa relationship regularly. with him and he had the stature within the Sikh community in the

26 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE whole of USA. He would thus help professional’s house upon the bring the two Sangats together. latter’s invitation. There, after being Having got the green light, I treated to a sumptuous meal, we invited this gursikh to my home in were told the City would not let us Medford on a weekday. After build a Gurdwara there because lunch, which my wife prepared enough parking spaces couldn’t be with much anticipation, I took him built in 25,000 square feet. The city and his wife to the rented premises had a formula: x number of parking of Somerville Gurdwara. I expected spaces for y number of members on the squalor conditions of the z square feet of land. This land did premises to shake the conscience of not meet the requirements. I this sewadar. Upon entering, both conveyed this to the committee and of them shook their heads in we did not even make an offer for disbelief and inquired about the the land. Meanwhile, I kept trying umpteen mirrors on the walls (the to get the elder to attend the hall was previously used as a gym). Gurdwara’s Sunday diwan. He It was the first time they had visited never did show up and the Somerville Gurdwara. I said, “Now credibility of the thought of his you see the urgency for a new leadership in the building premises?” committee withered away. At the I then took them to see the time of writing, he has not once land that was for sale in Medford. visited even the new premises. The At the spot, the elder provided me management committee thus the contact of a Milford sangat simultaneously acted as the professional who would help in building committee. negotiating with the realtor, the City of Medford (for permits etc). I JAN 2003. I began scouring then told the elder of my desire for the Internet for suitable properties. his leadership in the process. I Virtually every realtor in the invited him to come to our sangat, Greater Boston area was given a do Kirten, speak on stage and in the description of the kind of property process provide the sangat an we were looking for. The realtor opportunity to accept him just as who had found me my Medford they had accepted me. He apartment told me the American promised to come on Sunday. The Legion Building in Medford was for next day I called the professional up sale. The committee viewed the that had been suggested and building. It has a 5,000 sq feet hall, a showed him the plot, giving him ready built kitchen, 50 parking the realtor details. spaces, and a three family home. Two weeks later, Darshan We put in an offer of 1.1 million, but Singh Ji and I went to the 27 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE the Legion trustees decided not to such as a Gurdwara, he told us. A sell after all. week later, Gurdwara president Jaspal Singh Ji, Darshan Singh Ji FEBRUAY 2003. While and myself walked out of the other driving by Mystic Ave, Medford I Bank’s commercial Divison with a came across a building for sale. The $500,000 mortgage letter in hand. committee viewed 226 Mystic Ave. The Gurdwara had $300,000 Two floors of 11,000 square feet in savings. We now had the task of space on 21,000 square feet of land raising $400,000 till closing day, with 40 parking spaces. It had a which was four months away. On telecommunications antenna that top of that we needed to raise an brought in $20,000 a year for ten additional $200,000 for renovations years. We offered 1.1 million, but to convert the office building into a the owner was firm in his asking Gurdwara. price of $1.3 million. So 1.3 million In glowing pride, Darshan it was. Singh Ji told the Sangat we had finally found our home. We had We did and Ardas, and secured a mortgage and needed to paid a down payment of raise 100,000 a month for four $100,000. Now began the task of months running. The money began raising the rest of it. to pour in. The first donation was from Pritam Singh Saini. He had Getting a mortgage was the been fired from his job the day first hurdle. Gurdwara vice before. He told the sangat – now my President Harbhajan Singh Ji said only income is the rent from my we should approach a “Punjabi house. I’ll donate three months. The bank” in the interest of community Pabla family, the Gill family and solidarity. I had by then already had many more competed with each a meeting with the vice president of other to write out checks for tens of one of Boston’s leading banks to thousands. The first check came discuss our loan. The committee from Baljeet Kaur and Gurinder felt we should give the “Punjabi Singh. The first business check came bank” a chance. Harbhajan Singh Ji, from Bachittar Singh Ji Sodhi. Darshan Singh Ji and myself walked On Sundays, after the diwan in and out of the Punjabi Bank we would form teams and go manager’s office in one minute and around obtaining donations from a half. His community solidarity the community businesses. We convictions were far less than our were showered with money by vice‐president’s. His bank was too some, excused by some, mocked by young to lend to a risky venture others. It was a learning experience par excellence. A couple of extreme 28 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE episodes are perhaps worth deeper into their pockets. Bhenji mentioning if only to get an Mahinder Kaur Pabla gathered understanding of the wisdom of some ladies and set out on her own some self‐serving Sikhs. One mission. Harbahajan Singh Ji took restaurant owner said he would us to Sikh families and business in donate if made president of the NH, VT and Maine. The vice Gurdwara. Another, who had told President even made an appeal in a Darshan Singh Ji to bring me over Canadian Gurdwara with the help to his restaurant for a meal no less of his relatives there. Yet we did not than a dozen times, sent the both of meet the $400,000 target. The us away empty handed. We had to closing date was getting nearer. have our meal in his competitor’s In the meantime, a major restaurant next door. A grocery obstacle had arisen. There was an store owner declared God gave him 800‐gallon oil storage tank buried in nothing, so he would give us ground below the property. It had nothing. He had wanted the been emptied out by the former Gurdwara to buy his grocery store owners, but there were signs of soil and turn it into a temple, and now contamination. The contamination was his chance to get even over our was serious enough to deny us an refusal. The committee had looked occupancy permit. The City’s Fire at his store and pointed out that it Department’s requirement was to did not have a have single parking dig out the tank and contaminated space. His reply was – buy soil. This raised two problems – the something first, then you can build cost was close to $200,000, and a parking lot made of gold ten removing the tank would endanger stories high.” His wisdom was earth the structural integrity of the shattering. building. The biggest issue was – who was going to pay for the work. We raised $ 200,000 in two It appeared as a potential deal months or so. Then the broker. I hoped the seller would do collection slowed to a trickle. so but prepared for the eventuality We realized that everyone had that we may have to fork out this given and given their maximum. money or scrap the purchase altogether.

There were thus two Members of the Sangat took outstanding problems – hard it upon themselves to do more fund negotiation over the oil tank and the raising. Piara Singh Pabla went to task of raising $200,000 that we all the cab drivers and brought in were short for the closing. I decided thousands. Cooks, restaurant to tackle the money issue first, and workers, and simple folk dug

29 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE for this I decided to turn to the over a $1,000 in real money. After Milford sangat. langgar, the Gurdwara committee Perhaps the Milford elder sat down for a discussion with some gursikh would care to appeal to the members of Milford including a sangat on our behalf, even if he ranking committee member of that never did turn up at Somerville Gurdwara. We were told that the Gurdwara. He was well known Gurdwara had $40,000 in CDs and there and his appeal would carry that they were considering donating much more weight than any one it to our cause. There was repeated else’s. His polite suggestion was mention of ‘working together” and that I make the appeal myself. I “putting some people into your considered doing so on any non‐ group.” We were given names of Sunday diwan at Milford, since the three persons (including the responsibility of Kirten and Katha professional who told us we could every Sunday at Somerville lay with not build enough parking spaces in me. An opportunity arose at a 25,000 sq feet, and another long special home Kirten program at the time Medford resident but member same Milford elder’s house. I got of the Milford Sangat) to “put into myself invited and conveyed my our group.” All this in the presence intention to do fundraising there. I of the Ji took 20 Somerville kids to do Kirten Maharaj. The fact that this was an and asked our entire Gurdwara attempt to negotiate for positions in committee to tag along. We were the affairs of the Gurdwara for there in a convoy of 7 vehicles. I motives only known to them was believed a majority of the Milford further made clear some three sangat would be present given the weeks later, when I made attempts elder’s links and we would make an to indirectly reach the person who official appeal there as agreed. pledged $10,000 to request As the diwan concluded, our payment. I was told that I should Treasurer Gurminderjit Singh – a “sit and discuss” the pledge. I one time regular at Milford, pointed refused on grounds that the pledge out to me that hardly any Milford was not made to me, but to the sangat was present. Darshan Singh Guru in His presence. I further said Ji nevertheless made a powerful making pledges and then appeal before those who were “negotiating” was not a Gurmat present. I added to the appeal way of doing things; it was way of speaking from the Tabia of Guru life of politicians. Second I had no Maharaj. One person shouted out authority to discuss and distribute his name saying he pledged $10,000. influence to anybody. I had none Another pledged $500.00. Pledges myself. This $10,000 pledge has being pledges, we collected just remained just that – a pledge. The 30 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE other pledge of $500 did I had started off to help materialize. dispel misconceptions of I could not figure out which interference and or sabotage but was the greater folly – using one’s instead came out convinced own money to buy a position, or otherwise, and remain so. It is using the Gurdwara’s funds to do recounted above at the expense of the same. My confusion multiplied precious space in this magazine not further when, three months later on out of ill feeling, but to create a Saturday morning, I turned up at awareness that parochial‐ness – Milford Gurdwara to attend a even dharmik ‐ trivializes one’s wedding and discovered a three‐ worth as a sewadar. In my personal page letter severely denigrating my opinion, by not rising to the character pinned neatly to the occasion to contribute and assist, Gurdwara notice board. A stack of Milford lost an opportunity to build extra copies lay on a table nearby a bridge with a group that rightly or with a note, “please take one.” I was wrongly felt alienated. In his appeal not a member of the Sangat of for donations, Darshan Singh Ji Milford, having last attended used to say most eloquently – regularly ten years ago in 1995. It giving towards the building fund is didn’t make sense to character unique because it is your chance to assassinate me in Milford. While have your name written in the writing the second draft of this bricks of the Guru Ghar. The bricks diary in March 2005, I raised this of Gurdwara Medford number in issue with a group of Milford the thousands – yet those that have sewadars to allow for fair comment on them, the names of the Sangat in this article. One of them solved closest to them – Milford ‐ are the puzzle, for me at least. sadly less than the fingers on one “Bringing you down was part of the hand. desire to stop Somerville Everyone in the committee Gurdwara,” he said. I was an was desperately worried over obstacle to the parochial designs of funds. Darshan Singh proposed a some at Milford. The logic was way second round of collection. The off, but the honesty was not. entire committee donated a second time to get the ball rolling. He made To me this episode, when the call on stage as well. Many in taken in totality, goes down as the sangat made second and third the lowest ebb in the long, and round donations. But it still was arduous journey of the Medford not enough, and with the closing Guru Ghar. only weeks away, the possibility of

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not being able to close sold the idea to the Fire became a real possibility. Department. He provided a Desperate times require guarantee that any dollar above desperate solutions. What could be $69,000 will come from his pocket. more desperate than re‐negotiating The sellers agreed with this $69,000 the price of the property. Could it solution, and to pay for it, but it be brought down by the $200,000 would be done after the closing. An that we were short? And that too Escrow account was to be created after signing the P&S and paying into which $69,000 of our sale the down payment? The idea was money was to be deposited and too improbable to even put to the used for this purpose. committee but worth a try. I The property price was now decided to pursue it quietly. down to $1.05 million from $1.3 Armed with all the negotiation million. The oil tank issue was techniques that I had been trained resolved. We were now in a to use in 12 years of my professional position to close. I told the attorneys life, and an Ardas and a to rewrite the P&S, and informed Hukamnama promising the Guru’s the bank. The environmental blessing, I walked into the attorney drew out the papers for the attorney’s office with a suggestion: Escrow account. I told the the sellers keep the antenna rights committee this unbelievable tale – and reduce the sale price in return. that the Guru had removed all The antenna was worth $20,000 per remaining obstacles. There was a year for 10 years. That meant sigh of relief ‐ and everyone $200,000. The sellers offered $100,00 prepared for the closing. for a rights period of ten years. After some tough bargaining, we JUNE 3rd 2003. The entire settled at $150,000. committee was to meet at the bank’s It was time to take on the attorney’s office where lawyers issue of the oil tank issue. We hired from 4 law firms, bankers, and an environmental attorney to help sellers were to assemble. I decided me conduct the tough negotiations. to stay home and sit next to the An environmental engineer of high phone to deal with anything that repute and experience provided an may go wrong and hence disallow alternative and cheaper solution. the closing. Murphy’s Law worked His company proposed that the half an hour prior to the meeting. tank be washed out, sucked clean, The attorney called to say the filled with concrete and the soil Insurance dossier had not arrived around it injected with hundreds of and hence the closing would not gallons of oil‐eating chemicals. The happen. I told him I had the cost would be $69,000. The engineer documents on me and was on my 32 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE way. What he did not know was was it. Kanhayo went on to have that I was going to drive to the many lengthy meetings with me Insurance company in Arlington, after Kirten class to plan the get the papers done, and carry them Gurdwara’s main hall, small Darbar to the heart of Boston city – a three hall, bathrooms, kitchen, granthi hour job in the morning rush hour. I living quarters, langgar hall, office, called President Jaspal Singh Ji to coat room etc. He sat with the City’s delay getting there as much as he engineers to get the plans approved. could so as to help me with the He got the City Permits on his timing. He churned out a story to name. He supervised the entire explain his delayed arrival. I renovation. He rushed from Dracut rushed over to Arlington. An hour at short notice to deal with later the documents arrived and the emergency occasions. He did close closing was over to $25,000 worth of work and did not charge the Gurdwara a cent. I After paying out closing had to persuade him to accept the costs and the balance of the sale cost of materials such as printing price, the Gurdwara had about paper. And yes, he did tell me that $8,000 left to do a $150,000 the x, y, z formula was twisted. renovation without which we How so? If 25,000 sq feet of land could not produce enough parking could not move in. space, how come the 21,000 sq feet

at 226 Mystic Ave could do so? JULY 03. The search began To save money, we did the for an architect and renovation demolition ourselves. Kanhayo contractors. At the Kirten class, I supervised it and Gurminderjit asked Teju Ji and Kanhayo Ji if they Singh and Gurinder Singh led some had any suggestions. 20 volunteers in the fine art of Kanhayo Ji said he was an destruction. The kids had great fun engineer and architect and would banging thing up. There were so act for the Gurdwara for free. I many whose names I did not know never knew of his profession. His who just walked in there wanting to humbleness in hiding that fact from do something with their hands. We me was astonishing. took down a dozen walls to make Teju Ji wrote out a check and space for two diwan halls upstairs. said the city Mayor was his next‐ We dismantled all the bathrooms door neighbor. I did not know that upstairs. We removed 20 container either. But what I did know now loads of old carpets, construction was that both had been sent by the debris, and tons of computer wires. Guru to associate with me a year There was so much of copper in the ago with a specific purpose and this wires that we got $1,000 worth of 33 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE containers free by trading them. two hours driving range. We Kartar Singh brought in his welding needed close to 300 bags and we got and carpentry equipment and did them all within hours. plumbing removal. In one week, we We also did things such as were ready to build. painting. Harbhajan Singh Ji The daily schedule for the painted the bathrooms. The entire next four months was this. I would baseboard was done by the above open the doors at 7.30 am, give the team of sewadars who cut, painted, contractors instructions as per glued and nailed them into place. Kanhayo’s plans, go to Home Depot Our sewadars also put up all the with them to buy all the stuff partitions in the bathrooms and needed for the day and supervise constructed the bases for all the their work until they went back. granite sink tops. Gurinder Kaur This arrangement was forced upon and Sitvinder Kaur chose the entire us by the nature of our finances. We color scheme for the Gurdwara could only spend as the money walls, doors, carpets, heating came in. Jaspal Singh Pabla and covers, frames etc – a painstaking Gurminderjit Singh checked in task that agonized them for weeks. regularly to see what they could do. After the contractors had gone back, SEPTEMBER 2003. The dedicated sewadars – Baljeet Kaur, moment to show more generosity Gurinder Singh, Manraj Kaur, had come and the sangat showed it. Attinder Singh Khalsa, Raghbir Satnam Singh Ji Gill family offered Singh, Gurminderjit Singh, to pay for the entire carpeting cost. I Gurinder Kaur, Ravneet Kaur, called him to set a time and date to Tarsem Singh Ji, Gurpreet Kaur, select the carpet and he told me to Satvir Kaur, Sitvinder Kaur, just go and get whatever I thought Inderpreet Singh, Hardeep Singh, was the best. Jaswant Kaur, Gurpaven Singh, Ramanjeet Singh, Bhenji Sato, Jaspal Singh Ji Gill said to Bhenji Mhindo, Bhenji Raj Kaur, us – go get the best carpet in the Mandeep Kaur, Harbhajan Singh country and don’t worry about and many others came in daily to the cost, which came close to broom sweep the place and put $50,000. He further agreed to things in order for the contractors. pay for the langgar hall flooring These sewadars also went out to as well. Jaspal Singh Ji Pabla Home Depot to buy stuff that was required the following day. paid for the entire Palkee.

One night we formed He wanted it made out of the separate teams to buy up every bag best marble and granite. It took 10 of sand in every home depot within 34 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE workers close to 15 hours to drag in Mahinder Kaur asking if she should an uncut piece of granite weighing a proceed with preparing the langgar few tons measuring 9ft by 6ft that or whether the diwan would be was to be the base of the Palkee. cancelled due to the snow. I told her Four hand made marble pillars hold to proceed but to reduce the the roof of the Palkee from which quantity. By 9 am – the time I left the Chananee hangs. The cost: home, I had received calls from $15,000 many in the sangat asking for the diwan to be cancelled. Others called OCTOBER 2003. Our lease to say they were definitely coming for the rented premises was because they spent the night expiring end of October while the shoveling. I left my house with my renovations were expected to be family and the Swari. After a complete by January. The landlord grueling drive I arrived at the was prepared to sign a one‐year Gurdwara. Gurinder Singh, Baljeet extension but not three months. Kaur and Raghbir Singh, covered Satnam Singh Ji Gill offered from head to foot in snow trying to the use of his house in Beverly. The dig out the entrance told me the hall distance was a factor. Jaspal Singh was not opened. We called the and I walked into the landlord’s landlord. Other sewadars began to office to request for an extension of arrive. The langgar arrived. We two months one last time. He said spent two hours in our cars waiting he already had another long‐term for the landlord to turn up and tenant, but agreed to allow us use of open the door. My car ran out of gas another of his halls in the same – the engine had been running close building. We took the offer and to 4 hours. Baljeet Kaur walked to moved our stuff out into the main the nearest gas station without Darbar of the new premises on telling anyone. It was closed. October 31st. Gurminderjit Singh Ji drove around For the next 8 Diwans, we in his four‐wheel drive to pick up divided our duties. One family Baljeet and came back an hour later would bring the sound system, with a can of petrol. another the Swari, another the Chadran, another the langgar We started the diwan 3 utensils and so on. This sewa was a hours late. The sangat consisted true test of grit and conviction in of a tiny crowd of the truly the thick of winter. And the real test dedicated. I stood on the stage came on the third week of to tell them that, and also the December. On Saturday night it had fact that our renovation account snowed close to 2 feet. At 4 am on was depleted. Sunday, I got a call from Bhenji 35 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

All those present had circumstances, plumbers are in donated umpteen times. They were demand and no plumber need even prepared to donate again, but my answer the phone, but Gurinder conscience would not allow me to Kaur Pabla persuaded the Guru to ask for more. I told the sangat this send an entire team of plumbers to too. So I asked for them to loan the work on our heat system from 5 pm Gurdwara some money, which till 2.30 am. would be paid back once we moved In the Diwan, I was to the new premises. $55,000 came persuaded to sing the shabad in that day. “Santa’ Key Karaj Aap Khaloya, Har Kum Keravan Aiya Raam.” JANUARY 11TH 2004. The opening Ceremony was fit for a It was the Guru’s work King. It was supposed to begin at and He stood in Himself to take 10.30 am, but the sangat came at it to completion. He positioned 8.30 am. The children were most us along appropriate milestones excited because it was their show. of this journey so that we could They had practiced and rehearsed all do our bit. the entire ceremony over and over again. They had done nothing of The stage secretary, Gurinder this sort in their lives. Many were Singh announced that the Sangat still wondering if it was for real. We was giving a Siropao to me for my brought the three Swarees from my Sewa in the Guru Ghar’s journey apartment and the Darbar’s Kirteni thus far. I had not been warned Jatha led the procession leading to about this. I walked to the stage and Parkash. Board of Directors Chairman

Bachittar Singh Sodhi Ji put a Sandeep Kaur, Baldeep Siropao around my neck. While the Kaur and Paramveer Singh Jaikara was being sounded, Jaspal crowned the grand opening Singh Ji Pabla presented me an with a dramatic rendering of envelope. It felt like it contained Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Ehe as the money, but I knew the Gurdwara’s sangat and Swarees entered the account was absolutely depleted a diwan followed by 5 piercing week prior to the opening. Jaikaras by the Jatha that loudly Sewadars had spent their own proclaimed – we had done it! money to purchase the decorations that were put up for the opening. I was convinced I deserved no We opened with an Akhand Siropao. I placed it at the feet of the Path. It was bitterly cold and one of Guru and dedicated it to the sangat. the heating pipes burst. In such 36 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

I took the Treasurer to task after the of charge open the Gurdwara daily diwan, and was told that members for an hour each in the morning and of the committee and some from the evening. Other sewadars open it at sangat had put into that envelope 8 am on Sundays; recite the panj their personal money. It was not banees and Sukhmani Sahib. At from Gurdwara funds. 10.30 am the Guru Nanak Darbar After the Akhand Path, we Kirten Jatha does Kirten till 12 noon. presented a Siropao to Kanhayo Ji. In the four years of their existence, There was no question that he they have not missed a single deserved it fully. He reciprocated Sunday. From then till 12.45 the by singing a shabad with Teju Ji on sangat puts up with me as they the Tabla. They sang “Mein Andhle have continuously for the past 4 Kee Teik, Tera Naam Khundkara.” years. The children spend these 45 Their shabad was an entirely minutes in their own separate appropriate summary of the entire diwan. Sewadars talk to them in at journey. The Guru had guided us their level. This Gurdwara belongs ignorant and blind folk into to them and they are eagerly building a magnificent Guru Ghar. learning how to run it. After the diwan, yet more sewadars run APRIL 2005. The Guru has Punjabi classes for the children. since stood by to make sure all goes Naujwan Committees plan, well. Within the first year we paid organize and execute virtually back all of the $55,000 we collected every activity of the Gurdwara. This on that snow storm day. On top of magazine itself is part of a bigger that we have managed to get our activity – Vesakhi 2005 – which was kitchen done. It is a state of the art run entirely by Naujwans. facility. Satnam Singh Ji Gill family donated $30,000 worth of Gurinder Singh deserves equipment. Jaspal Singh Pabla credit for his ability to inspire donated the $6,000 dishwasher. The our youth and children to be so Pabla family further donated deeply involved in the running hundreds of steel ware. Countless of the Gurdwara. Every other families flooded the kitchen Gurdwara deserves a role model with all sorts of gadgets and as this young Gursikh. utensils. The Gurdwara has been able to install a brand new heating LOOKING BACK. The system at a cost of $13,000. journey of the Guru Ghar has been The Gurdwara’s Diwans are spectacular in all respects. The a pride of the Sangat. We have had sangat’s dedication, perseverance no granthi, no ragee and no paid employee. Sewadars working free 37 GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE and convictions have been tested in my car for free ‐ whenever I turned this monumental journey. up ‐ simply because, in his words “this car serves the Guru Ghar”, to The trials humbled us all, the kind souls who rented their the triumphs elevated us to new expensive and beautiful home to heights and the Guru’s personal my non‐affording family and to indulgence in this mammoth those in the Sangat who turned up task has strengthened our faith to help when I moved house, I say in him. Such journeys are not thank you. To the Gurdwara committee who steadfastly stood undertaken all the time. This beside me and defended me diary is an attempt to record and publicly even when I was in error, preserve this arduous yet I say thank you. To Gurinder Singh, wonderful journey, so that those who gave me fully dedicated who were part of it can maintain support in my attempt to make this their steadfastness and those Gurdwara relevant to our next who were not may draw generation, I say thanks. To inspiration from it. Jagmeet Singh who taught me humility, I say special thanks. For me, personally, this diary should bless every represents a chance to thank all Gurdwara with such sewadars. To those who let me walk the journey the elders who commended my with them. The list is long but some every Katha, I say thank you. To the can be mentioned because their children in the Kirten Jatha, you kind deeds are etched in my mind have done yourselves, your parents forever. From the kind Bhenji who and the sangat so proud that your cooked bitter gourd and sent it to achievements will forever be me – all because I once mentioned remembered. I am proud to have the dish as being my favorite, to the been your teacher. The entire spirited Bhenji who drove me and journey described above was my family to and fro the airport traveled for you. To all your each time I wanted to escape the parents, I say be generously proud pressures of life and go somewhere, of your children for they have to the astonishing Gursikh lady achieved the most difficult. To the who walked miles to get gas for my sangat who trusted, listened and car in a snow storm, to the ladies tolerated me I say may Waheguru who ran to get me a warm glass of bless you all and forgive my milk each time I entered the kitchen excesses. And above all to – I say thank you. To the Gursikh Waheguru – thank you for who dropped everything to service Medford. End.

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