Home > Society > Personalities in India > Bhai Puran Singh
Bhai Puran Singh
Bhai Puran Singh or Bhagat Puran Singh was a philanthropist and he was the founder of Pingalwara Society, a house for the homeless people of Amritsar.

Share this Article:

Bhai Puran Singh, Indian Social ActivistBhai Puran Singh, an Indian Social activist was born in Rajewal (Rahon) in Ludhiana district of Punjab. Bhai Puran Singh was born into a Hindu family. He was given the name Ramjidas as a child. Later, while still a child, he chose to become a Sikh. Though he never finished his basic schooling, he became a writer, a publisher, an environmentalist, and a philanthropist. Bhai Puran Singh is perhaps best remembered for the home he founded in Amritsar, named Pingalwara Society, a home for the people who are sick, disabled and abandoned forlorn people.

Bhai Puran Singh as a young man he decided to dedicate his life to the selfless service to the humanity. That is why; he founded Pingalwara in the year 1947 with only a few patients, those who were the neglected and rejected found in the streets of Amritsar.

Bhai Puran Singh was an early advocate of Green Revolution that was projected during the time of Indira Gandhi. Bhagat Puran Singh was spreading awareness about environmental pollution, and growing soil erosion long before such ideas became popular. He also used to publish his ideal in the recycled paper. He was a mature environmentalist and visionary. He initiated tree plantation drives, organized talks and lectures on various issues concerning the environment and social life, and also wrote a large number of books regarding the same. Some of his famous works include "Education of man", "Righteousness alone exalts a nation", "Plant or Perish", "The Way," "The Increasing Population", and many others books that projected on the upliftment of Indian Society.

Bhai Puran Singh was honoured in 1979 by the Government of India with the Padma Shri award. He was awarded for exceptional and distinguished service in the filed of philanthropic activities and environment. Bhagat Puran Singh was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. He was nominated for his selfless work, feeding, clothing, and tending sick and dying people. He was among the citizens of India who returned their awards and medals after the Indian army`s attack on the Golden Temple in 1984. He died on August 5, 1992 in Amritsar.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Personalities in India


Bollywood Personalities
Bollywood Personalities have contributed immensely to the success of the Hindi film industry in India
Theatre Personalities of Independent India
The different personalities in Indian theatre after independence reshaped the very form of "Indian Natya"
Hindi Theatre Personalities
Hindi theatre personalities are recognized all across the nation for their immense contribution in the field of Indian Theatre.
Sanskrit Theatre Personalities
Sanskrit Theatre Personalities was the main elements of Indian theatre with culture, customs and ethnicity.
Indian Golf Players
Indian Golf Players in the recent years have brought laurels to our country by winning some of the major international golf titles. The most successful Indian golfers in India are Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri.
Indian Badminton Players
Indian badminton players, for their brilliant performances and consistency, are popular across the globe. Several popular Indian badminton players have made India proud in international circuit.
Indian Prime Ministers
Indian Prime Minister is the Chief of the Government. He is the head of the Council of Ministers and leader of the major party in Parliament.