Gurinder Pal Singh Joshan
Founder – Sikhs in America
Author – “The Epic Battle of Saragarhi “
Gurinderpal Singh Josan is a down-to-earth person, who feels that he is blessed with multiple talents. His dual passions of sports and world & Sikh history have been ongoing, since his early years. He has been a motivated student of Karate and then international instructor. He has also been active in New York marathon and mountain-climbing (21,000 feet) in India. As Founder of Sikhs In America Inc., he has been working to enhance awareness about Sikhism in this part of world. For this, he organizes camps, marathons and other events, around the world.He has authored several books on diverse topics. Having succeeded as a self-made person, he always involves the community, in all world-wide projects.
Two things one must possess to reach high growth & success in life?
Honesty and Clarity of objective.
Honesty and Clarity of objective.
Two things that impact your achievements?
Faith in Waheguru jee and encouragement received from all the communities.
Faith in Waheguru jee and encouragement received from all the communities.
Two things about people that annoy you?
People from own community are unable to accept the fact that an individual can achieve success in different fields.
People from own community are unable to accept the fact that an individual can achieve success in different fields.
Two major responsibilities as founder of ‘Sikhs in America’ organization?
To enhance awareness about Sikh identity/ appearance, amongst people of all races and religions.
To motivate Sikh youth and children to get a deeper understanding of Sikhism, history, heritage, Punjabi culture/language and family values.
To enhance awareness about Sikh identity/ appearance, amongst people of all races and religions.
To motivate Sikh youth and children to get a deeper understanding of Sikhism, history, heritage, Punjabi culture/language and family values.
Two things you like as an author?
It has been my passion and hobby, from my teenage, to learn about Sikh history.
To revive forgotten aspects of Sikh religion and history.
It has been my passion and hobby, from my teenage, to learn about Sikh history.
To revive forgotten aspects of Sikh religion and history.
Two messages from your book “The Epic Battle of Saragarhi”?
To highlight the exceptional bravery of 21 Sikh martyr-soliders, facing 10,000 fierce tribal fighters. I located the descendants of 21 Sikh martyrs.
I renovated the war memorial at the actual battle-field.
To highlight the exceptional bravery of 21 Sikh martyr-soliders, facing 10,000 fierce tribal fighters. I located the descendants of 21 Sikh martyrs.
I renovated the war memorial at the actual battle-field.
Two of your work you like the most?
Learning and teaching Martial-arts including Karate.
Marathon-running and mountain-climbing upto 21 thousand feet.
Learning and teaching Martial-arts including Karate.
Marathon-running and mountain-climbing upto 21 thousand feet.
Two of your favourite authors/writers?
Janam-Saakhi (history of the life and times) of Guru Sahibaan by several authors.
Mahan-Kosh written by S. Kahan Singh Nabha.
Janam-Saakhi (history of the life and times) of Guru Sahibaan by several authors.
Mahan-Kosh written by S. Kahan Singh Nabha.
Two qualities of good author?
To research on any subject, by physically visiting the area or meeting the person.
To involve various people connected with the subject.
To research on any subject, by physically visiting the area or meeting the person.
To involve various people connected with the subject.
Two important things you want to say to upcoming writers?
To be honest about the research work, by presenting actual facts.
This would ensure that justice is done to the subject and also to the seriously interested readers.
To be honest about the research work, by presenting actual facts.
This would ensure that justice is done to the subject and also to the seriously interested readers.
Two things that motivates you in difficult time?
The extremely cruel circumstances, during the life of Guru Sahibaan, are a huge motivating factor.
I got good family support, whenever I’m unable to devote time for all of them.
The extremely cruel circumstances, during the life of Guru Sahibaan, are a huge motivating factor.
I got good family support, whenever I’m unable to devote time for all of them.
Two decisions of your life you never regret?
When I went on a pilgrimage to Shri Hemkunt Sahib, I was saved from a large sliding stone, which was coming towards me from a mountain-top 21,000 feet high, struck by lightning. This happened during the ‘Nishan-Sahib Sewa’, at ‘Sapt-Shring’ (7 mountains) which I used to offer every year.
When I went to offer ‘Nishan-Sahib Sewa’, at Saragarhi after 122 years after the battle, this was an area populated by fierce Afghan tribals.
When I went on a pilgrimage to Shri Hemkunt Sahib, I was saved from a large sliding stone, which was coming towards me from a mountain-top 21,000 feet high, struck by lightning. This happened during the ‘Nishan-Sahib Sewa’, at ‘Sapt-Shring’ (7 mountains) which I used to offer every year.
When I went to offer ‘Nishan-Sahib Sewa’, at Saragarhi after 122 years after the battle, this was an area populated by fierce Afghan tribals.
Two reasons you want to be a writer/author?
Right from my youthful days, I had a strong passion for reading and writing.
I had a keen interest in Sikh religion and history.
Right from my youthful days, I had a strong passion for reading and writing.
I had a keen interest in Sikh religion and history.
Two goals you want to achieve in your life?
To encourage Sikh youth to learn more about religion and history.
To highlight incidents from Sikh history, so that the general masses can learn about it.
To encourage Sikh youth to learn more about religion and history.
To highlight incidents from Sikh history, so that the general masses can learn about it.
Two personalities who inspired you most?
Bhagat Puran Singh jee inspired me the most, from the age of 13, when I was blessed by him, for the first time. I was deeply touched by his spirit of selfless-service.
I was also inspired by my maternal uncle, S. Baldev Singh Kamboj, who was my role-model, during my childhood, because he was an achiever in many sports-activities.
Bhagat Puran Singh jee inspired me the most, from the age of 13, when I was blessed by him, for the first time. I was deeply touched by his spirit of selfless-service.
I was also inspired by my maternal uncle, S. Baldev Singh Kamboj, who was my role-model, during my childhood, because he was an achiever in many sports-activities.
Two of your favourite books?
Janam Saakhis of Guru Sahibaan and Mahan Kosh.
Janam Saakhis of Guru Sahibaan and Mahan Kosh.
Two things you like as social worker?
To work for the growth of the community.
To fulfill my passion for selfless-service.
To work for the growth of the community.
To fulfill my passion for selfless-service.
Two things you always remember of your struggle period?
In reality, there was no actual struggles, that I faced but I took more workload upon myself, to fulfill my passion.
Some struggle in America, regarding work, before I got permanent residency.
In reality, there was no actual struggles, that I faced but I took more workload upon myself, to fulfill my passion.
Some struggle in America, regarding work, before I got permanent residency.
Two success mantras for entrepreneurs?
Dedication to the work field of their choice.
Honesty in all their dealings.
Dedication to the work field of their choice.
Honesty in all their dealings.
Two things you always miss in America about India?
A very important aspect of a healthy lifestyle includes regular interaction with the community, especially in the immediate neighborhood, which in missing in America.
Many people in America are those who have left behind most of their close relatives and friends, in India.
A very important aspect of a healthy lifestyle includes regular interaction with the community, especially in the immediate neighborhood, which in missing in America.
Many people in America are those who have left behind most of their close relatives and friends, in India.
Two things you believe in your religious values?
A very staunch faith in the Will of The Almighty.
To retain a full-fledged appearance of hair, turban and beard.
A very staunch faith in the Will of The Almighty.
To retain a full-fledged appearance of hair, turban and beard.
Two things you do for your happiness?
In my capacity as an International Instructor and President of the ‘Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-do Kugekai’ Association of India, I continue to guide my Karate students, who are now Karate instructors.
I really like reading and working on various subjects.
In my capacity as an International Instructor and President of the ‘Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-do Kugekai’ Association of India, I continue to guide my Karate students, who are now Karate instructors.
I really like reading and working on various subjects.
Two lessons Covid-19 has given to the world?
This Pandemic has taught the world that the virus is invisible like God.
The spirit of compassionate service has increased, along with a massive realization that money is not the only and final goal.
This Pandemic has taught the world that the virus is invisible like God.
The spirit of compassionate service has increased, along with a massive realization that money is not the only and final goal.
Two awards which you feel proud?
I received the ‘Hind Rattan Award’ from H. D. Devegowda, former Prime Minister of India.
I was featured among the 50 prominent Sikhs of U.S.A.
I received the ‘Hind Rattan Award’ from H. D. Devegowda, former Prime Minister of India.
I was featured among the 50 prominent Sikhs of U.S.A.
Two goals you want to achieve in life?
To get a copy of the original manuscript of ‘Syhato Baba Nanak Shah Fakir’, dating back to the year 1513 A.D. , during Guru Nanak Sahib jee’s visit to the Holy center in Mecca and Medina. This book is an eye-witness account of Guru Sahib’s visit, written by the spiritual writer Tajudin Naqshbandi, who traveled with Guru jee through out.
To continue my endeavours in the sphere of encouraging all Sikhs to maintain the actual, natural appearance, gifted by The Almighty and commanded by The Divine Guru.
To get a copy of the original manuscript of ‘Syhato Baba Nanak Shah Fakir’, dating back to the year 1513 A.D. , during Guru Nanak Sahib jee’s visit to the Holy center in Mecca and Medina. This book is an eye-witness account of Guru Sahib’s visit, written by the spiritual writer Tajudin Naqshbandi, who traveled with Guru jee through out.
To continue my endeavours in the sphere of encouraging all Sikhs to maintain the actual, natural appearance, gifted by The Almighty and commanded by The Divine Guru.
