Ranjit Singh OBE
Mr. Ranjit Singh was born In India, and upon qualifying as an electrical engineer in Ciotti, he emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1963. Ranjit Singh worked as an engineer for a decade before moving into the construction industry. He established the RK Group of Construction and Property Companies in the late seventies, which have a reputation for excellence, with the career of 100 employees in and around the London area.
The gotta in which Ranjit Singh has excelled:
- President of the Sikh Forum International (1996-present)
- Founder and Chairman of Guru Nanak International Educational Trust (1966-present)
- Chairman of Interfaith Community Cohesion Forum (2005-present)
- President of India Association (1982-1990)
- President of Indian Cultural Welfare Association (1972-1980)
- Founder of Punjab Unity Forum (1985-1989)
- All of these services have been provided voluntarily.
The benefits resulting from Ranjit Singh’s service:
The Sikh Forum International, of which Mr. Ranjit Singh is President, is acknowledged as the first Sikh charitable organization in Britain. The Sikh Forum's Annual Reception has been attended by farmers, current ministers, and members of the Cabinet. He is a respected leader in the Sikh Community who has worked tirelessly to promote integration and religious tolerance. Such has been his devotion to helping communities and charities that his name has become synonymous with altruistic deeds.
Sikh Integration
The Sikh Forum International is an organization focused on promoting the integration of the Sikh in unity into Ul( society). Ranjit Singh has been a driving force behind different activities to help foster an understanding of Sikh culture. For example, he played a pivotal role in the Metropolitan Police Service, allowing Sikhs to wear turbans, from where he began a close relationship with many senior officers. This hence resulted in Ranjit Singh taking several senior police officers to the Golden Temple in Amritsar to explain the foundations of Sikhism. Following the 2005 London bombings, he worked with various media organizations, including the BBC and Sky Flews, to help the public distinguish Sikhs from specific Muslim communities. In 2009, he helped draft guidelines for Metropolitan Police officers when searching Sikh persons. As the President of the Sikh Forum International, Ranjit Singh leads one of the foremost charitable organizations, which has achieved remarkable milestones, including raising funds for renowned charities like The Princes Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Support For Sikh Communities
Since the 1970s, Ranjit Singh has helped various Gurudwaras (Sikh places of worship) across the country, such as helping develop and finance the building of a new Gurdwara in Ealing. West London, in 2005. He also showed his deep commitment to education by negotiating the purchase and establishment of Sikh Schools in the Chigwell, Essex, and Hayes, West London. Ranjit Singh has made generous donations to several Sikh establishments in need of refurbishment, including the Gurdwara in Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7.
International Support For Sikhs
Following the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, Ranjit Singh recognized the potential risk of marginalization faced by Sikhs worldwide. He became a founder member of the Punjab Unity Forum to help maintain Indian unity. He worked with the late Inder Kumar Gujral, later Prime Minister, to raise funds and communicate a message of peace and reconciliation. These efforts greatly reduced the chances of a major conflict from happening.Ranjit Singh has made generous donations to several Sikh establishments in need of refurbishment, including the Gurdwara in Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7.
Publications
- Ranjit Singh authored a book titled ‘Sikh Achiever’, a not-for-profit publication to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Sikhs both in Britain and worldwide.
- He also sponsored a book called “The Glimpses of Harmandir” ‘The Abode of God’, a not-for-profit work on Sikhism, achieved worldwide circulation.
- Each year, under the stewardship of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh Forum International publishes a brochure that includes discussion papers on topics of religious and community identity.
Community Cohesion
In 2005, in the aftermath of the London Bombings, Ranjit Singh worked with the Metropolitan Police Service to set up an advisory body which became the ‘Interfaith and Community Cohesion Forum’. He was elected Chairman, and the Forum provided strategic advice on overcoming community conflict or where high-level policy might lead to vulnerabilities. For example, He successfully argued that the Police Service should encourage the celebration of all religious festivals to that communities respect each other’s cultural identity, rather than regarding such celebrations as being inherently discriminatory. As the President of the Sikh Forum International, Ranjit Singh leads one of the foremost charitable organizations, which has achieved remarkable milestones, including raising funds for renowned charities like The Princes Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Representation by minority community
One area where Ranjit Singh has excelled has been in the integration of all communities. He has worked towards increasing the proportions of members of visible ethnic minority communities in various areas of British society. Following a successful recruitment event at New Scotland Yard in 2007. He organized and sponsored a very successful multi faith recruitment conference to encourage young people from minority communities to consider a career in the Armed Forces and the Police Services.
Fundraising For Military
Ranjit Singh has actively supported the Armed Forces by organizing special fund-raising events. Where prominent guests of honor, including General J. J. Singh, former Chief of the Indian Army Staff, and General the Lord Richard Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff. In 2010, Singh notably contributed to the cause by donating to the Army Benevolent Fund (DAGO: Rothe). His efforts have highlighted his commitment to the welfare of armed service members and their families, showcasing his dedication to giving back to those who serve.
Education
Ranjit Singh is passionate about education as a driver of social mobility. He has sponsored Mani students from disadvantaged communities to complete their tertiary education. In 1996 he set up the Guru Nanak International Educational Trust to provide support for disadvantaged young people in the UK and India. The Trust began awarding sponsorship from 2006 and has now made charitable donations. exceeding 90,000 towards the education of young people without the necessary resources. Ranjit Singh has made great efforts to continually raise funds so that the Trust can continue its good work for many years to come.
Religious Tolerance
Between 2004 and MID, Ranjit Singh organized and funded a visit to Amritsar in India to help people in authority to understand Sikhism. In both cases, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service was amongst the delegates. In 2010, he sponsored the unveiling of a portrait of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last King of Punjab, in London’s Carlton Club. Ranjit Singh has helped other faiths spread their teachings, Such as working over the past five years with the Brahma Kurnarl Hindus in their European Centre in North London. In 2011, Ranjit Singh organized and sponsored the first in a series of inter-faith pregranones where Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish representatives spoke on Sikh Television on religious tolerance, which was broadcast throughout the world.
Other Charity Work
Ranjit Singh has secured funding for numerous charitable organisations. The most recent beneficiaries include Greet Ormond Street Hospital and Students in general in the UK. The Sikh Forum International also recently donated £22,000 to The Fiances Trust, in order to support under privileged young people. The Guru Nanak International Education Trust sponsors a school in Ludhiana, India, where over 700 children are receiving free education and day time meals. In April 2015, Ranjit Singh held a religious function at Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa college, where he raised thousands of pounds on behalf of Guru Nanak International Education Trust for Bhai Baaz Singh Public School in Ludhiana, India.
Recognition Of Ranjit Singh’s Contribution Elsewhere
From fostering unity and promoting Sikhism, his impact extends across different areas. His efforts leave a lasting positive influence on communities and bring about meaningful change worldwide. In the 2004 Queens New Year’s Honors List, Ranjit Singh was made an OBE for services to communities. In 1986 the President of India, late Giani Zail Singh, presented NO Sign with the Shiromani Award (an esteemed Community Award).
