What can I say! He has hardly left anything with me and has taken, nearly all of it with him. Early in November he rang me to say how am I, I told him “I did not want to disturbed you, that is why I did not ring you”. He said “I am ringing you as a younger brother to ask you how you are” I said “I am well and like everyone is locked in and hardly going anywhere”. We planned to meet up in the Gurdwara the following week, he rang me again to say “Brother it’s gone rough again, we’ll go again in week or so time”. That was the last time that spoke to him. And now he is no longer with us.

Gone forever, and yet two of us used to speak to each other in a different language and yet he could not tell me that he is going, going away forever. I now feel as if my right arm has broken, as we had so much in common, it was Balbir Singh Parus and Piyara Singh Panchi who always called me brother. It was Balbir who persuaded me to do lots of things in my life, I could confide in him and he knew he could confide in me as well.

All of the family has lost him, but I have lost him as a younger brother and a very, very good friend what they call a butty. I know you will say that everyone has to go when they are called back. It seems that our world is different they all say after marrying of our children we will be free, I don’t know who said that to me but it is totally untrue. It’s like you take one foot out of the extended family life and the other ones goes down deeper.

That is why I am saying it was not the time for S. Balbir Singh Paras to go yet, as all his children were looking for him to be part of them to marry all of his grand children. Ever since he arrived from India we were like to brothers to each other and now at the end I could not even attend his antam Sanskar as I was advised against it, at my age you become a yes man so I am hoping that all of his family will forgive me. It was a miracle that I was able to see all of the service and speeches on my camera.

While, all of the children n of Balbir Singh were growing up I was working in the community centre next door, for a total of 11 years, During that time, he helped me with my difficulties and I helped him with his and we got on very well. Being together for so many years, now he has gone and has left me behind and really speaking it was my turn first, but just the same I will miss him a lot.

S.Balbir came to Cardiff a long time ago, became and attended all the post of the old Gurdwara and then became the general secretary of new Gurdwara. When we had the grant for the new Gurdwara Building S. Gurcharan Singh Bhat became treasurer and I joined them as the Chair, our cabinet was there not for one year, or two but a total of three years.

Balbir Singh became the editor of the Samoarda Rasala and I became the chief editor for at least two years ,then for the next 20 years he became the editor of Bhat Sangat Sandesh and used to help me a lot with the articles. I was the Shere Punjab Bhangra Party teal leader, Balbir and kuldip Singh Pall were the best Bhangra performers. I used to play the dhol when were preforming all over Britain with Ramta and Parkash Kaur.

Coming from India, he worked very hard and raised his family, he was a very good man and few years ago he became amritdhjari and was very particular as to what he ate. Socially he was the number one you could not fault him and was always smiling and would go out of his way to give you a hand.

Now, at the end he has left behind his dear wife who were married for many many years, left behind 5 sons; Jaspal Singh, Reshem Singh, Harvindar Singh, Rakhpal, Singh and Daljit Singh, and their wifes, two sisters, three daughters. As well as, grandchildren and great grand children. All of which, he will be so proud of.

Brother, you have left all of us in a hurry we all yet needed you. Even people from the pearl St Gurdwara rang me to say how sorry they were to hear that you have gone.

Our prayer is that we all miss you, you will not be forgotten and we will cherish you in our hearts always. We ask our Waheguru to give your soul an abode at his place and that may all of the family are given enough courage to accept your loss and to give them peace.

Lastly it is your big Brother with a very heavy heart Jaswant Singh Jas.

May you Rest In Peace Brother.