Columnists

Harbinder Singh Rana
A Leader Like No Other
The Chic Sikh of The Year 2018

EDITOR, sikhchic.com

We at sikhchic.com take great pleasure in naming Sardarn Harbinder Singh Rana as The Chic Sikh Of The Year 2018.

His name was oft put forward for the honour through the years, but even though we at sikhchic.com found him fully deserving each time, we were unable to consider him because of our long-standing policy to exclude those closely associated with sikhchic.com ... which he was.

Tragically, he passed away on December 27, 2018, in London, England.

We have unanimously decided to name him THE CHIC SIKH OF THE YEAR 2018 because of the extraordinary role he has played not only in Anglo-Sikh relations but also in his selfless service to the worldwide Sikh community and the world at large.

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Harbinder Singh Rana, A Leader Like No Other

A Sikh-Briton, 59, he dazzled the world with his unique and unparalleled work as the leader of The Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail and The Maharaja Duleep Singh Centenary Trust.

He had an unwavering commitment to Sikh ideals and served them with passion and integrity. He led a team of equally committed men and women, doing everything with class and dignity. Above all, he was selfless and dedicated his life to community causes without the slightest aim at personal gain or benefit.

He was wise. He was gentle. He was humble. The nature and quality of his life-work easily sets him apart and places him high as a role model for public service and leadership.


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The selection of each year’s Chic Sikh is announced at the turn of every New Year by sikhchic.com and is the result of a world-wide search for those who have excelled in their service to the world.

The criteria for the honour of being selected ‘The Chic Sikh of The Year’ stipulate that a candidate’s actions should constitute public service above and beyond the call of duty; selfless, consistent, ongoing and meticulous service, honed by excellence; have a ground-breaking and far-reaching impact, commensurate with the highest Sikh ideals of working towards the welfare of all people; of benefit to people of all faiths and races; have made a mark on society in the year 2018; of a nation-building nature; and deserving wide recognition, encouragement and support.


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This is the eleventh year in a row that we have chosen and named one deserving to be named THE CHIC SIKH(S) OF THE YEAR. The net is thrown wide: to qualify, one can be Sikh or non-Sikh, male or female, adult or child, a corporation or an organization, and belong to any community or hail from any nation.

We are proud to have selected a man who has reminded us to continually strive for excellence, and of our duty, as citizens no matter where we live and what we do, to devote our lives in serving humanity … thus exemplifying the highest of Sikh ideals and values.


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The list of past winners includes Wisconsin Gurdwara hero Lt. Brian Murphy, British Marathoner Fauja Singh, Human Rights Activist Gurbaksh Singh, Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, Harvinder Singh Phoolka (Human Rights Advocate), Jarnail Singh ('The Lion of Delhi'), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ravinder ‘Ravi’ Singh (Khalsa Aid), poet and artist Rupi Kaur, SALDEF, Saran Singh (Editor, The Sikh Review), Waris Singh Ahluwalia, The Sikh Coalition, the Survivors of 1984, and United Sikhs.


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We at sikhchic.com join our readers from around the world in expressing our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sardar Harbinder Singh for their untimely loss, but at the same time congratulate them on the life and achievement of this great son of Sikkdom and wish them peace and strength.

January 4, 2019  

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