Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha: A Sikh Charity Based in Mumbai
A dream doesn’t become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work.
This is the story about the hard work and effort made by Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly, who spent his entire life trying to support and help those in need, whoever they were, and wherever they came from, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion or whichever part of India they originated from..
Dr Jolly studied medicine in Punjab University before going onto Mumbai to practice as a doctor. In Mumbai, he had an outhouse at his bungalow and started regularly singing Sikh hymns with a small congregation. As the congregation grew, Dr Jolly founded the charity organisation “Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha” in 1956.
This is the story of the foundation of the charity to the present day.
Background of Dr SS Jolly
Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly was born in Amritsar on 1st November 1922. Exactly one hundred years later, on 1st November 2022, there was a celebration of his centenary year at the Guru Nanak Mission High School in Mumbai, India.
Dr S S Jolly, a born philanthropic visionary, dedicated his life to the service of the society. Healing the sick, helping the needy and imparting education were in some way his charitable deeds. He studied medicine in Lahore Medical College and was awarded gold medal in the 4th year. The partition of India in 1947 led him to complete his final year in the Government Medical College Amritsar.
Thereafter for two years he served in Ramlal Eye Hospital, Amritsar. In 1949 he came to Bombay now it is Mumbai where he worked in NJ Wadia Dispensary Andheri(W) as Chief Medical Officer in 1955.
The Outhouse and Reciting of Sikh Hymns
Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly was a religious person. In the outhouse of his bungalow which was allocated to him by the Wadia dispensary he used to have congregation in recitation of Paath (reciting Sikh scriptures) and Assan-Di Vaar Kirtan (early morning Sikh hymns) every Sunday enjoined by his father Bhagat Singh Jolly and his brother Madan Singh Jolly, along with other family members Kuldeep Singh Nanda, brother-in-law of Dr Jolly and uncle of Manmeet Kaur Jolly, Rajan Singh Jolly and Aminder Singh Jolly.
Among his close associates were Sardara Singh, Chanan Singh, S. Mohinder, who was a Bollywood Music director. BN Bali and others came up with the idea of setting up a Sikh Gurdwara (Temple) in Andheri.
A number of women were also involved including Chand Bhavnani, Mrs Jolly, S. Gyani, Juneja were just a few of the active members that were also a part of the programmes held.
The Purchase of Land
As the funds held by the charity grew, Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly and his committee, used the money to purchase a plot of land in Chakala in 1956, with the vision to establish the Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha and build a Sikh Gurdwara (Temple), along with a Mission School and Charitable Dispensary.
After the land was purchased, a building was constructed under the supervision of Dr SS Jolly’s father, Bhagat Singh Jolly. The building was for the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha, along with the Guru Nanak Charitable Dispensary and the Guru Nanak Mission High School. These three facilities were all housed integrally in this building in Chakala some time in 1967.
Architect by profession, Sunder Singh Bhavnani was instrumental in the design and construction supervision of the Gurdwara and school.
The Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha held special religious gatherings to recite Sikh hymns at Fidai Baug ground for special Sikh services to mark Guru Nanak’s birthday and to celebrate other Sikh festivals.
Dr S S Jolly was officiated as the Chief Medical Officer of Bhabha Hospital in Bandra West.
The Foundation of the Charity
The year 1967 was when the charity, Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha, was officially formed. In a bid to start his own practice away from the NJ Wadia dispensary, Dr SS Jolly began with a cursory setup in Parsi Colony in Andheri West. Soon afterwards, Dr Jolly settled with his own dispensary in Vivina Shopping Centre in Andheri West. His wife, Mrs Amrita Kaur Jolly, also joined him to render her assistance and support.
The Charity Grows
As the charity grew, they needed more space for the Gurpurab celebrations, and so they were performed on land near the railway premises, which was arranged by Swarn Singh, a railway employee. Besides the regular Sikh Congregation that attended these events, there was also other movie celebrities that used to pay obeisance, such as Ustad Allah Rakha, Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Balraj Sahni, Achla Sachdev, along with many others. Also in attendance were famous playback singers like Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle.
S Mohinder, Madhubala and Chand Bhavnani
S Mohinder, the music director composed music for over forty movies. This included famous movies such as: Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai, Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam and Mann Jeete Jagjeet being the most celebrated ones. The music director also instilled in actress Madhubala the faith of Sikhism. Madhubala was known to recite the Japji Sahib prayer, which people heard her do every day before she went to a movie shoot.
Madhubala was so devoted to Sikhism that she would contribute financially towards providing free meals, called “Langer Sewa” and by helping to recite scriptures by doing “Paath Sewa” on auspicious festivals such as Guru Nanak Jayanti. After Madhubala passed away, her father Ataullah Khan continued to contribute towards the entire “Langer Sewa” during Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations.
It is also worth mentioning that Chand Bhavnani, the wife of the Gurdwara’s architect, Mr Sunder Singh Bhavnani, acted in about twenty Punjabi and Hindi movies, the most popular being a movie called Boot Polish.
Dr SS Jolly’s Legacy
Those that were fortunate to be with Dr Jolly, help us to remember him. Each of them excelled in their respective professions, whilst helping the Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha being the best that it could be.
Dr SS Jolly made significant progress raising finances from well-wishers of the Sikh Gurdwara (Temple), the Charitable Dispensary and the Mission High School. He would go and see the donors in person, to catch up with them before they left for their respective businesses.
Dr S S Jolly wanted the Gurdwara to be fully self-sufficient and so rented the front of the building to a bank. The Charitable Dispensary was staffed by Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly and his wife Mrs Amrita Kaur Jolly, who provided their services free-of-charge every day in the evening.
The first floor of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha in Chakala was the original location of the Mission High School. At one point, there were 600 students at the school, which then outgrew this site. A new site was needed for the growing school, so with the help of Architect Sunder Singh Bhavnani, a new site was found nearby and purchased by the charity.
The new site purchased around 1985, but sadly Dr Jolly was unable to see the completion of the New School Building where it stands today. The school now has around 2000 students.
The Chandhok’s Support
It is worth mentioning that the dedication and services rendered by Jaswant Singh Chandhok, the father of Prabhjot Singh Chandhok and the father-in-law of Manmeet Kaur Chandhok . The donations to purchase medicinal pharma was, and still is, given to the Gurdwara dispensary by the Chandhok family, namely Prabhjot Singh Chandhok and his brothers Inderjot Singh Chandhok and Ravijyot Singh Chandhok.
After the death of Jaswant Singh Chandhok, his son Prabhjot Singh Chandhok took over as the trustee of the Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha Gurdwara, Mission High School and the Charitable Dispensary. To commemorate the establishment of the charitable foundation, he arranged to have installed the bust of Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly.
A Tribute to Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly
On the 1st November 2022, there was a gathering at the Guru Nanak Mission High School to pay their tributes to a far-sighted man who has left an example for all of us that success comes to those who are dedicated, passionate and have the zeal.
It was a dream that Dr SS Jolly had to help people and to do his utmost, especially for the underprivileged students by giving them the opportunity to have an education, irrespective of their race, religion, caste or creed. His work is a boon and a blessing for all of us.
Dr SS Jolly’s Family Tree
Dr Jolly’s Family tree is shown below, and I am trying to do some research to find the missing connections. If you are able to help, or if you know any of the family members, then please do get in touch.
Sources and Further Reading
- A Short Biography of Dr SS Jolly.pdf
A Short Biography of Dr SS Jolly. Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly was a medical doctor in Mumbai and established a charity called the Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha to help those in need - Sri Guru Singh Sabha Patrika, 16 November 2022, Year 6 Issue 206
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Patrika, 16 November 2022, Year 6 Issue 206 — This publication has the biography of Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly of Andheri, Mumbai. Dr SS Jolly passed away in 1992 - Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly — YouTube
This Channel is dedicated to the late Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly of Mumbai, India. Dr SS Jolly was a visionary and a philanthropist who dedicated his life to his life - Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha Eminent Personality — Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly of Mumbai India
Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha Eminent Personality — Dr Shamsher Singh Jolly of Mumbai India —This document is to highlight the work of the founder visionary of the Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha - Gurdwara Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha Chakala — Wikipedia
A Wikipedia Article about the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Punjabi Sabha in Chakala, Mumbai, India.
