Sant Nirankari sewa dal (Volunteer group)

While the Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual movement, it believes that devotion to Nirankar (formless God) may be expressed by exemplary behaviour towards other human beings. The Mission therefore has actively promoted the creation of a Sant Nirankari Sewa Dal (i.e. a volunteer group). The highest form of sewa (volunteering activity) is considered that which is done in a selfless manner. On this, the Avtar Bani verse 226 states “Greater than (the pledging of) body, mind and wealth is the service; Which is rendered selflessly, without any motive and has the approval of the True Master.”

[edit]History

The need for a sewa dal arose in the mid-fifties, a period when the number of devotees was increasing rapidly. Volunteers were needed to organise the arrangements for the large congregations (i.e. security, tents, food and beverage facilities, first-aid, accommodation etc needed to be managed).

[edit]Uniform

The male volunteers of the sewa dal in India have a khaki uniform, with white head-gear. Overseas male volunteers have navy blue blazers, grey trousers, white shirts with navy blue ties. The women wear blue cotton kamiz and white salwars. The uniform has intentionally been kept simple to allow people from many backgrounds to take part in volunteer activities. Sewa dal members pay for their uniforms from their own resources.

[edit]Administration

The current sewa dal is managed under the leadership of Reverend H. L. Arora, Reverend Vasudev Singh, Reverend H. S. Kohli, Reverend J. S. Khurana and Reverend O. P. Nirankari.

The sewa dal has carried out numerous voluntary welfare activities, all of which may not practicably be highlighted here. But a sample of the kinds of activities they engage in is outlined here.

• SNM Houston and SNM Ann Arbor fight against hunger
• SNM undertakes relief works in tsunami afflicted regions
• SNM donates for tsunami victims
• SNM Vancouver hold clothing drive for charity
• SNM Oxford celebrates Christmas by giving and sharing
• SNM Washington DC aid in Maryland Public Television's fundraising efforts
• SNM women walk for Cancer Research UK
• SNM Ann Arbor and SNM Northern California organise free health fairs

The Mission is a leading organisation in organising blood donation camps across India. The main philosophy behind this is based on the guidance of His Holiness who said that “Blood should flow in veins and not in drains”.

Further information on some of the camps that have been organised in various places may be accessed via the links below. Houston 2007,Los Angeles 2006, Melbourne 2007, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi - ongoing, Mumbai 2007, Chandigarh 1998, New Delhi 2002 , Govindpuri 2002, New Delhi 2004, Jammu 1999, Lucknow 2007, Bhopal 2007, Jammu 2001, New Delhi 2005, Trilokpuri 2002, Nirankari Mission featured in Thalassaemia Update, see page 16, World Blood Donor Day at SNM in pictures

Nirankari Mission in Service of Society, written by Brig. (Retd) Shamsher Singh, provides further accounts on the welfare activities of SNM.