Fifty years ago, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) was established in Birmingham amongst recent Sikh migrants hailing from India and Africa. As they settled down socially and economically, they were fast losing a vibrant and purposeful connection to their faith. Against this backdrop, the seeds for spiritual regeneration were
lovingly planted by Sant Puran Singh Ji. These have blossomed to form the dynamic, ever-evolving faith-based organisation that we know today. With its international headquarters in Handsworth, GNNSJ pioneers and partners to serve Sikhs and society at large, locally and globally.
An acknowledged Sikh saint of the 20th century, Sant Puran Singh lovingly empowered Sikhs – who were migrating across continents in the colonial, postcolonial and postwar eras – to anchor themselves more competently and confidently in their faith heritage and contribute constructively to their surroundings, wherever they were settled. Hence the name, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, means a jatha or organisation formed to
serve humanity through nishkam sewa, altruistic, selfless service, in the name of Guru Nanak – the first of ten founders of the Sikh dharam or faith, with its distinctive teachings, practices, identity, institutions and ongoing history in a changing world.
A deeply spiritual and industrious visionary and change-maker, Sant Puran Singh was based for many years in Kericho, in Kenya’s Rift Valley. He was instrumental in revitalising faith practice amongst Sikhs who answered a colonial call to migrate from British India to live and work in British East Africa. At the same time, he mobilised the dynamic socially-conscious, interfaith values of the Sikh faith to make many municipal contributions to Kericho, through planning and constructing housing, schools and other social institutions, and fostering both civic and interfaith partnerships.
Settling later in the UK, Sant Puran Singh Ji continued to guide and revive faith practice amongst Sikhs and Sikh congregations in London and Birmingham. With the devoted support of his eventual successor, Bhai Sahib Norang Singh Ji, as well as others including the respected congregational leader, Giani Amolak Singh Ji, he established GNNSJ as a registered, Birmingham based charity. Its beginnings lay, however, in the momentum already built for Sikhs to gather informally in congregation (sangat), to engage in prayerful meditation (simran), the recitation and singing of teachings (paath and kirtan) and selfless service to others (nishkam sewa), in locally available spaces.
Following a special Akhand Paath service at Ramgharia Sikh Temple on Graham Street (where the entire scripture, that Sikhs revere as their eternal Guru, is recited over 48 hours), Sant Puran Singh established the name of GNNSJ as well as the policy and protocol (maryada) for its conduct. At the next gathering, there was an Amrit Sanchar initiation ceremony, in which 550 people committed to become fully-fledged Sikh faith practitioners. After further years of continued religious gatherings came the eventual purchase of GNNSJ’s permanent home on Soho Road, Handsworth. Following the stewardship of Bhai Sahib Norang Singh Ji, since 1995, GNNSJ has been led by its second spiritual successor, Bhai Sahib (Prof) Mohinder Singh Ji, over the last three decades to date, guiding its local and global activities into and across the start of the 21st century.
Commemorative Events
To commemorate the Golden Jubilee, GNNSJ had a one-day event on Friday 28th March 2025, followed by a 50-day Nitnem Jaap. The one-day event consisted of a Nitnem Jaap, kirtan and exhibitions alongside representatives
from the Nishkam Group showcasing the achievements from the last 50 years. It was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE, and multiple faith and civic leaders, national and international invitees, and prominent business and academic leaders.
