Master Mohinder Singh’s journey from a Punjab village to New York in the US may appear to be any other person’s journey. But even though there may be similarities in the stories, there always are dissimilarities and uniquenesses. So was it in the case of Master Mohinder Singh. His is a story of not only “success” which is measured in terms of material attainments. Here is a man who gained not only material success, but a reputation for what he is- a man with a vision to uplift his community and serve the country of his adoption.
Born in 1948 to Sardar Pritam Singh, a retired police officer, and Sardarni Bir Kaur, who was a homemaker, Master Ji is thankful to his parents for providing him with excellent education and finest values early on il life which are the chief contributors to success in life. Master ji later instilled the same pristine values that he learned from his parents in his students during his years as a teacher.
Master ji had his early education at Khalsa Higher secondary school in Miani, from the first grade to the 11th grade. He was not only a brilliant student but was acknowledged as a model for other students for his discipline and respectfulness to his teachers. After finishing his early education, he attended the Government College at Tanda Urmar, from where he completed his bachelor’s in science degree (B. Sc) in 1969, and 2 years later, in 1971, he earned a bachelor’s in education degree (B. Ed) from MGN college of Education in Jalandhar.
Armed with a bachelor’s in education, he took to teaching profession, beginning with a science teacher in Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Majha Higher Secondary School in the town of Kairon in district Amritsar. Later, he taught at many different schools in Punjab before finally joining as a science teacher in Punjab Education department. He was posted at a Government High school in the village of his birth, Miani. He served faithfully in that school from 1974 to 1985. During this period, he got married to Gurbachan Kaur in 1974. A resident of Mier, she was a teacher by profession. She was an English and Social studies teacher in Punjab Education Department and served at many different posts throughout Punjab until immigrating to the United States in the 1994.
In December 1985 Master Ji took a drastic step to better his and his family’s life and migrated to the United States. He joined his brother Dilbag Singh, who was already living in the United States and was a successful business owner. Master Ji joined his brother in the construction business and had a successful career as a business owner in New York.
He was later joined by his family in December 1994. His wife Gurbachan Kaur immigrated to the United States with three of their children Rupinder Kaur, Prabhjot Kaur, and Navtej Singh. All his children followed in Master Ji’s footsteps and attained higher Education from New York University, which is one of the prestigious universities in the United States. All three graduated as dentists from NYU and are currently running their own practice in different parts of the United States.
Master Mohinder Singh made his mark in the United States. He was not only a successful businessman but came to be recognized as a prominent person in his community. He became a major player in the Sikh religious affairs in New York, and later in the US. He served as president of Sikh Cultural society, which is one of the oldest institutions of the Sikhs in the United States. He served as president at the Sikh Cultural Society for six years, where he had the honor to lead 6 Sikh Day parades. He was also a member of a Sikh delegation that visited President Bush after the 9/11 attacks on the world trade centre to convey to him the difficult situations the Sikhs faced in the wake of 9/11.
He was the founder president of Sant Prem Singh Sikh Cultural Society and headed that institution for many years: When the Lobana community in New York decided to build a gurdwara of their own, after they had developed differences with the Sikh Cultural Society, Maste Mohinder Singh played the role of a community stalwart. He was among the founding members of Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Center Gurdwara in New York and became the first President. Next few years saw him getting more involved in the Sikh affairs in the US. Because of his commendable community service over the last 3 decades in the United States, today, he is one of the best-known Sikh leaders in the country. He is one of the few Sikh leaders who has maintained steady contacts in India where his voice makes a difference, whether in politics or in religious affairs of the Sikh community at the highest levels.
Master Ji is involved in city governance also. He is a member of Community Board 9 of the Borough of Queens, NY. He is also associated with the District Attorney’s Sports Committee for South Asian and Indo Caribbean Communities. He Continues to instil the finest values he had learnt from his parents, in the youth, and provides guidance and service to community.
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