Padma Shri Award to Niranjan Dass of Dera Sachkhand Ballan

 

Padma Shri Award to Niranjan Dass of Dera Sachkhand Ballan

GOI under the stewardship of PM Narendra Modi has conferred the 4th highest civilian award; Padam Shri on the revered spiritual and social personality, Sant Niranjan Dass ji, the Chief (Gaddi Nasheen) of Sachkhand Dera Ballan of Jalandhar. It is an appreciative and right decision of the GOI. As I congratulate the Revered Sant on this, I thank the GOI for this pleasant and meaningful gesture. He has been selected for the 2026 Padma Shri in the field of Social

Work/Spiritualism for his contributions to the Ravidassia community, running the Sarwan Dass Charitable Eye Hospital and many such outfits for the benefit and advantage of the society at large and promoting social harmony. The citation of the Award reads “Sant Niranjan Dass – Spiritual leader for over 75 years, Established Sant SarwanDass Charitable Eye Hospital and Sant Sarwan Dass Model School, Promoted ideal ‘Land Without Sorrow; Preparing all people tolive without fear and poverty.“

I was wondering how come the GOI has decided this sidelining the normal practices and precedence.  I resorted to the Google Guru and I was surprised to read that in Punjab Sant Niranjan Dass ji is an exception as no one, so far, from the field (Spiritualism and Social Service) of the Sant could be considered for the honour. For many years successively, the followers of Insaan Gurmit Ram Rahim of Sacha Sauda have been trying to recommend him for the prestigious award but GOI could not be convinced. It is a matter of great satisfaction for Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the followers and devotees of the Dera and Sant Niranjan Dass ji.

Dera Sachkhand Ballan, let me add, enjoys immense following and respect not only in Punjab but in the whole country and also abroad. The sterling role and contribution right from Sant Sarwan Dass and down the line to Shaheed Sant Rama Nand and Sant Niranjan Dass ji in generating much need awareness and sense of empowerment among the masses particularly from the socially marginalized sections of the society is praise worthy. The Revered Sants and the Dera have been the flag bearers of Guru Ravidass, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Mangoo Ram Mugowalia and as such has become the nerve center of Chetna for the masses.

With this, now I come to crux that what the award of Padam Shri to Sant Niranjan Dass ji entails in my cursory assessment. It is said that in diplomacy no lunch is free. I think it is true for politics too, to my mind. The socio-political scenario in the country is fast changing, thanks to the Constitution of India given by Babasaheb Ambedkar. The concept of ‘One vote one value’ is fast catching up with the

democratic set of the county. The voice of Dalits, socially and educationally marginalized segments of the society, is getting louder and louder and rightly so. The flag bearers of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar like Dera Sachkhand Ballan and others who represent the depressed classes have much to do and deliver. Many awards and recognitions would follow, if our leadership both Spiritual and Political play their cards carefully.

  I once again congratulate Sant Niranjan Dass ji and the Dera Sachkhand Ballan and also their followers.

Tu Pehle Baat Phir Baat Ka Andaz Paida Kar;

Phir Tujhe Duniya Mein Koi Nazar Andaz Kr Nahin Sakta