- Jaswant Neki
Dr. Jaswant Singh Neki (also known as ( _pa. ਜਸਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ) born in village of Murid, District of Jhelum (now in present-day
Pakistan ), on 27th August, 1925) is a leading Sikh Scholar, poet and former Director of PGI, Chandigarh.His father was S. Hari Gulab Singh and his mother was Smt. Sita Wanti. When he was still an infant, his parents moved to
Quetta in (Baluchistan) in present-day{Pakistan .Education
It was in Quetta that he joined Khalsa High School whence he matriculated in 1941 secring the highest marks in entire Baluchistan and setting up a new record. He joined Forman Christian College, Lahore, for his premedical studies.
There he enjoyed two merit scholarships – one granted by the University and the other by the college. In his FSc (Medical) exam, he stood second in the university.
Medical Education and Service
For his graduate course in medicine and surgery, he joined King Edward Medical College, Lahore. There too he received a merit scholarship granted by the Govt. of Baluchistan.
In 1947 when the country was partitioned, he left Lahore and joined Medical College, Amritsar, where he completed his medical studies to graduate in 1949.He worked first as a House Physician , then as Asstt. Registrar, and then as a Demonstrator in Medical College, Amritsar , with a short stint, in between, as Demonstrator in Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. While teaching there, he passed his MA (Psychology) exam as a teacher candidate from Aligarh Muslim University, securing First Division and first position in the University. He passed his DPM exam from All-India Institute of Mental Health, Bangalore, and Mysore University, in 1958 with double distinction and setting up a new record. Thus he qualified as a psychiatrist.
Marriage and children
In 1955, he married Kanwerjit, the eldest daughter of his own Professor, Lt. Col. Dr. Gurbuxsh Singh.
Professional Career
As a psychiatrist, rising through the ranks, he became Prof. & Head of Psychiatry Department at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and occupied that chair for about a decade (1968-1978). Then he was appointed Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh where he spent three years (1978-1981). From there, he was picked up by the
World Health Organization , Geneva, as a consultant for a project in Africa where he served for over four years (1981-1985). He came back home in 1985, and since then has been engaged in private practice. In between, he had a short engagement with the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse (South-East Asia).Currently, he is Chairman of the Board of Consultants constituted by the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee for setting up of an Institute of Medical Sciences. In 1989, he received Kohli Memorial Award for being the Best Professional of the Year.
Literary Activities
He is a well-recognized metaphysical poet in Punjabi who has contributed ten volumes of original verse. His opus magnum is his autobiography in verse. He also writes powerful, inspiring prose as evidenced by his books Achetan di Leela, Meri Sahitak Swaijeevani and Ardas. He has won several prestigious awards in literature. These include: Sahitya Akademy Award, Asan Memorial Award, Shiromani Sahitkar Award (Languages Deptt.), Sarvotam Sahitkar Award (Punjabi Akademy, Delhi), Bhai Vir Singh Award, KS Dhaliwal Award, Puran Singh Memorial Award. Guru Nanak Dev University conferred on him PhD honorous causa for his contribution to literature. He has been a member of the jury (Punjabi) for Sahitya Akademy Awards and member of the Advisory Committee (Punjabi) for Jnan Peeth Award. He is one of the past Chairmen of Punjabi Akademy, Chandigarh.
Currently, he is the Honorary General Secretary of Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, New Delhi.
Religious Activities
Belonging to a devout religious family Dr Neki has always evinced keen interest in religion. Like his family, he also has unbigoted, liberal views. During his student life, he became President of the All-India Sikh Students Federation and organized training camps for the Sikh youth in the Sikh lore. He has produced two authentic books. One is Ardas – Darshan, Roop te Abhias which has been evaluated as an 'all-time classic'. The second one, Vishva Ardas, is a collection of over 300 prayers from different religious groups, tribes and communities of different times and places, translated into Punjabi verse.This has been called "a landmark piece of work". Commissioned by Guru Nanak Dev University, he wrote The Spiritual Heritage of the Punjab which traces the evolution of spiritual thought and practice from the pre-Aryan times up to Guru Gobind Singh. Lately, he has produced an exquisitely produced book Pilgrimage to Hemkunt that compares with high international standards.
For several years, he has been a member of the Dharam Prachar Committee of Shromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, the elected body that administers Sikh shrines.He was honoured with 'Order of the Khalsa' Award on the 300th Anniversary of the Khalsa, celebrated in Anandpur Sahib on 13th April, 2000. He has represented his community at various international forums including The Parliament World Religions 1993, Unesco Conference on Religion and World Peace 1998, Unesco Center Catalunya Conference on Universal Ethics 1998, World Thanksgiving Conference 1999
In 2001, he received the Giani Lal Singh memorial award for his work in the field of poetry. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010121/punjab1.htm#33]
Publications
1955 Asle te Ohle Singh Brothers, Amritsar Punjabi Poetry 1965 Eh Mere Sanse Eh Mere Geet Singh Brothers, Amritsar Punjabi Poetry 1975 Simrati de Kiran Ton Pehlan Navyug Publishers, New Delhi Punjabi Poetry 1978 Karuna Di Chuh Ton Magron Navyug Publishers, New Delhi Punjabi Poetry 1980 Punjabi Writers Coopoerative, New Delhi Punjabi Poetry 1985 Na Eh Geet Na Birharha Navyug Publishers, New Delhi Punjabi Poetry 1989 Birkhe Heth Sabh Jant Navyug Publishers, New Delhi Punjabi Poetry 1989 Ardas: Darshan Roop Te Abhiaas Singh Brothers, Amritsar Sikh Religion 1990 Paani Wich Patase Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, New Delhi Punjabi Poetry (Rhymes for Children) 1992 Geet Mera Sohila Tera Singh Brothers, Amritsar Punjabi Poetry 1992 Meri Sahitik Sve Jivanee Punjabi University, Patiala Literary Autobiography 1997 Vishav Ardas Singh Brothers, Amritsar Punjabi Poetry (World Prayers) 1998 Achetan Di Leela Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Psychology 2000 Koi Naon Na Jaane Mera Singh Brothers, Amritsar Punjabi Poetry (Autobiography) 2000 Spiritual Heritage of Punjab Guru Nank Dev University, Amritsar Spirituality 2002 Pilgrimage to Hemkunt UBSPD and NIPS Spiritual Travelogue 2004 Sungad Abnoos Di ARSEE Publishers, Delhi Punjabi Poetry 2004 Prophet of Devotion SATVIC Media Pvt. Ltd., Amritsar Life & Teachingsof Sri Guru Angad Dev 2005 My Ardas & My Gurus' Bani SNP Panpac Pte Ltd, Singapore Ardas, Japji Sahib, Rahiras and Sohila for Children 2006 Divine Intimations - Nitnem Hemkunt Publishers, New Delhi Banis Japji Sahib, Jap Sahib, Sawayyas, Rehras Sahib, Sohila Sahib and Ardas 2007 Guru Granth Sahib and Its Context Bhai Vir Singh Sahitay Sadan Essays on different aspects of Guru Granth Sahib To order these books please visit www.nahal.com
References
* [https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no31188.htm Vedamsbooks: Pilgrimage to Hemkunt/text by Jaswant Singh Neki. Photographs by Sondeep Shankar. Reprint. New Delhi, UBSPD, 2002, 96 p., (pbk). ISBN 81-7476-375-9]
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010121/punjab1.htm The Tribune, Chandigarh, India: Jaswant Singh Neki honoured]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
