Dada Lachman Chellaram
TSW Citation
In the Europe and western country one most famous saying goes like “There is always a woman behind a successful man”, Where as in our country success is often get related with individuals’ dedication and devotion along with the blessings of God. If one wish to know the importance of dedication and devotion for the human life, must look at life of Shri Lachman Chellaram a philosopher without any academic qualification in philosophy, a truly blessed soul, great human being who from early childhood started to reflect his dedication towards the great Guru, living God Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Famous Gurbani Worshiper: Shri Dada Lachman Chellaram
Dada Lachman was born on 4th December 1938 in the Sindh at famous city Karachi, father Chelaram ji is a well-known Gurbani Singer so as the natural thing Dada Lachman found a great interest in Shabad Gurbani. After the partition family shifted to Delhi but the humiliation and sufferings faced by the migrating Hindus [mainly Punjabi & Sindhis] has wounded tender heart of young boy who still was almost three years away from entering teen age.
These sufferings proved the foundation for the holy religious institution “NIJ THANU” [own place] established by Dada ji. In the Delhi schooling of Dada ji started but the true learning he was receiving from reading Guru Granth Sahib, as a result when he passed B. A. (Hons.) in Hindi from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, New Delhi, he stood first in Divinity [a subject related with Guru Granth Sahib]. After completing education instead of going either for a job or join family business decided to be remain devotee of Guru sahib.
He is very strong believer of different faiths are cohesive force for the realisation of God and holy script of Guru Granth is the guiding master of human beings. He started spreading message of Gurbani among the people of different faiths and different walks of life through his Kirtan and publications not only in India but also in some overseas country.
He has credit of about 80 books either as publisher or author in the nine languages based on Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the most impressive thing is all this is done on non-profitable base in own words of Dada ji ” Since the original author of Sri Guru Granth Sahib had not written the Holy scripture to make any profits what right do I have to make money, out of the translations.” His most bless literary work for which Sindhi community will remember ship for the endless time period is the printing of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Arabic Sindhi and Devnagiri Script. He is determined for bringing out the translation of Sri Dasam Granth Sahib in Hindi in 4 volumes.
On several occasions Dada Lachman has been felicitated and many eminent personalities including Late Giani Zail Singh, former President of India have spoken about the great service rendered by Dada ji to humanity. In the last month at Nanded in Maharashtra celebrations were made for 300 years of Guru Ta Gadi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and on the 70th birthday of Dada ji, we feel honored by including a bit information about this great personality born in Sindhi community.
In the words of Dada Lachman”Sri Guru Granth Sahib” is a religious Scripture which is truly universal. Its universal message for love of God and humanity, truth and goodness, beauty and charity is a soothing balm for mankind, which is torn by terror and torment, hatred and malign.It has messages of not just Sikh Gurus, but also of Hindu Saints and Muslim Faquirs. It does not speak just about Sikhs, but about mankind in general. It contains messages of peace and love. Words like Ram, Hari, Allah and Khudah occur as many times, as Waheguru in the Holy scripture.
He further says that “A very few people know what the text actually contains. Almost everybody has heard about the Holy Granth Sahib, but very few are aware of the treasure contained in it. It is painful that even most Sikhs are not aware of the messages contained in the Holy Scripture. They bow before it and go through all the rituals, when they go to a Gurudwara, but a very few know what they are bowing to.”
Famous and popular Sindhi folk singer Bhagwanti Navani is eventually immortal as she even after losing the physical existence still alive at hearts of thousands and thousands of Sindhi music lovers. Often called as Sindhi Koyel Bhagwanti was born on 01 Feb 1940 at Nasarpur. Undisputed queen of Singing Sindhi Lada (marriage ritual songs) Bhagwanti will always be remembered for singing Sukhamani Sahib (Guru Bani) in Sindhi. She also acted in Sindhi film Sindhua Je Kinare. On 22 Oct 1986 she left for heavenly abode.