Gujranwalan girls and Ranjit Singh's Punjab

Dear Supporter

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I recently got an opportunity to visit Gujranwala in West Punjab - the home of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. I was also fortunate to visit the Haveli where he was born - built by his grandfather Charat Singh, the chief of the Sukerchakia misl.

I was invited to speak about Maboli Punjabi at the Learning Hub College - a system of six schools and colleges with great education. I spoke to students at many grade levels and did storytelling sessions for them from the Undivided Punjab Edition as well as gifted all our books to the system to continue inculcating the love of the Punjabi language.

My amazing hosts arranged with the DC office to open up the locked Haveli to hold a storytelling session there with the senior girls. You can imagine the emotions I went through. When I first entered the haveli - I cried - at the fortune to visit the great Maharaja's childhood place, at the glory of our past, at the forlorn Sarkar-e-Khalsa.

But mostly because this place of such historical value - It is in ruins, plundered and encroached, many parts demolished and converted to residences, businesses, mosques and madrassas. What remains is not stable, waiting to demolish itself. No organizations are looking to preserve it.

I cried more at the frustrations that Maharaja Ranjit Singh - the great son of the soil who gave huge grants to preserve mosques, gurdwaras and temples of his kingdom - is disowned by everyone and his own places and legacy suffer such atrocious neglect.

The students I spoke to - didn't even have a clue about him. So we changed course. For two hours straight I told them tales of the great Maharaja - they came to me one by one as if I was his personal storyteller -- the girls were mesmerized -- by him, by their own legacy and by the power and sweetness of the Punjabi boli. By the end of the session they were left changed. Them vying for my autographs on any paper they could grab, even the 50 and 100 Rs bills - spoke volumes. But what I will always remember is when they said - "Ghar jaa key asaan sabh toN pehlaa apNey ghar valiaa nu set karnaa e - jinna ney saanu eh kujh nahin dassiaa..."

My sincere hope is that these girls will be the change agents for preserving in West Punjab, the Punjabi language and the legacy of Ranjit Singh.

You have enabled this transformational hope through my work. Thank You for your continued love and support.

Gurmeet Kaur

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