About Us
Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) is a faith-based, charitable organisation, dedicated to carrying forward the legacy of the Sikh Gurus through the practice of nishkam sewa (selfless service).
Through a continuity of vision and leadership, GNNSJ has mobilised vibrant communities of volunteers to contribute to sarbat da bhalla (the wellbeing and flourishing of all), by enriching personal and collective Sikh faith practice and serving neighbourhoods. Both locally and globally, it combines heritage preservation with social innovation and partnership building for the common good, via the Nishkam Group of Charitable Organisations.
With centres in the UK, Africa and India, GNNSJ’s international headquarters are in central England, where it serves a landmark Gurudwara in Handsworth, Birmingham. This provides a round-the- clock spiritual hub of committed faith practice, selfless service and faith heritage education. Over the years it has cultivated a strong spirit of self-help, self-reliance and self-sufficiency and active community participation. Serving approximately 1 million free meals a year, the Gurudwara provides Sikhs with opportunities to pray, serve, collaborate and learn and welcome daily visitors from all backgrounds.
With a fifty-year track record, GNNSJ continues to nurture volunteers and develop services through monetary and in-kind contributions of its members and partners.
Our Values & Ethos

Selflessness
Selfless service is the cornerstone of the organisation, and every member of GNNSJ is a volunteer.

Faithful
GNNSJ conducts regular initiation ceremonies for Sikhs as part of its purpose to practice and propagate the faith.

Peacebuilding
GNNSJ is dedicated to peacebuilding through interfaith and intrafaith initiatives.

Commitment
GNNSJ is committed to the local communities it resides in, and has worked to improve infrastructure and services in all locations.
Founders and Leadership
Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) has its origins amongst a modest community in Kenya that congregated around our founding Saint, Sant Baba Puran Singh Ji of Kericho. As waves of Sikhs from East Africa and India came to the UK in the 1960s and settled in Birmingham under the tutelage of Bhai Sahib Norang Singh Ji, GNNSJ swelled in numbers. GNNSJ is now a truly global organisation, albeit deeply rooted in the local communities where it has been established: Birmingham, Leeds, London, Kenya and India.
In 2025, GNNSJ celebrated 50 years since its humble establishment in Handsworth. Although the Sikh community has a much longer association with the area, Sikhs formally started coming together in 1975 under Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha. In 1978, GNNSJ became an integral part of this inner city depressed area with a physical presence. This was followed by the organisation becoming a registered charity with the Charity Commission with England and Wales in 1979. Today, the majestic Gurudwara and associated buildings are a focal point of the rejuvenation and regeneration of Handsworth.
Sant Baba Puran Singh Ji
Founder
Sant Baba Puran Singh Ji (1898-1983), known affectionately as ‘Babaji’ stands as one of the most eminent and influential Sikh saints. He was born in Gura, India and moved to Kenya in 1917. He left Africa in 1974 and came to the UK in 1975. In 1977, under his visionary guidance the Gurudwara in Birmingham opened its doors and became the Headquarters of GNNSJ’s local and international endeavours.
Bhai Sahib Norang Singh Ji
2nd Spiritual Leader
Bhai Sahib Norang Singh Ji (1926-1995) was entrusted the leadership in 1976-1995. Bhai Sahib Ji was born in Dhariwal, India. His early years were spent in service at Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), after which he moved to Singapore, where he continued to serve. Upon divine instruction, Bhai Sahib Ji moved to the UK, where he forged ties with Babaji. Following the ‘passing on’ of Babaji in 1983, Bhai Sahib Ji became the second spiritual leader of GNNSJ.
Bhai Sahib (Prof) Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG
Spiritual Leader and Chairman
A globally recognised pioneer in peace-building, and in mobilising innovative partnerships for shared flourishing, Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh is third in the line of spiritual leaders serving GNNSJ. Based at its international headquarters in Birmingham, UK, he also heads the Nishkam Group of Organisations, whose track record in values-led education and health care provision, community regeneration, civic engagement and heritage conservation is based on a benevolent ethos of nishkam sewa (unconditional selfless service). Bhai Sahib Ji is active in the fields of intra and interfaith dialogue, peace-building, and community service. A qualified civil and structural engineer, Bhai Sahib Ji additionally brings almost 30 years of professional practice across three continents, with expertise in town planning, housing, and public policy formation.
Additional Roles
- Chairman – Museum of World’s Religions (MWR UK)
- Chairman – Council of Dharmic Faiths (CoDF)
- Chairman – British Sikh Consultative Forum (BSCF)
- Convenor – Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation (CfR)
- President – Religions for Peace UK (RfP UK)
- Co President & Trustee – Religions for Peace International (RfP)
- Trustee – St. Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
- Patron – United Religions Initiative UK (URI)
- Patron – Nishkam School Trust
- Senior Member – Birmingham Faith Leaders Group (BFLG)
- Member – Religions for Peace Europe
- Member – Inter Religious Platform for Article 18
- Member – Elijah Board of World’s Religious Leaders (EBRL)
- Member – European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL)
- Member – DfID Faith Working Group
- Member – Advisory Forum of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre (KAICIID)
- Ambassador – Globalisation for Common Good Initiative (GCGI)
- Supporter – Parliament of the World’s Religions (CPWR)
Recognition
- Recipient of official ‘Bhai Sahib’ title from the Jathedars (senior most leaders) of the five most sacred Sikh Takhats in India, for selfless service in faith propagation and heritage conservation
- Recipient of the Papal Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great (KSG)
- Officer of Her Majesty the Queen’s British Empire (OBE)
- Three honorary doctorates from UK universities for interfaith and peacebuilding work
- 2017 Global Thinkers Forum Award for Excellence in Peace and Collaboration
- The 2016 African Interfaith Harmony Award of the Year, United Religions Initiative-Africa
- The Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award from the Temple of Understanding, New York
- The Guru Nanak Interfaith Award from Hofstra University, New York
- “GCGI Award for Public Service in the Interest of the Common Good” from the Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative