June 4, 1954 – August 15, 2022
by SS Gurujot Kaur Khalsa, Leesburg VA
2022 (Third Quarter)
Jai Singh was a dear brother and friend, a true Sibling of Destiny. I had the wonderful privilege of working together with Jai Singh over the past 25 years. We both shared a deep love and commitment to our Dharmic path and community, and so we often found ourselves serving together. This is how I got to experience his deep spiritual devotion, his love of seva and his willingness to share his skills and talents, his brilliant mind and his sharp wit, and his incredible generosity of spirit.
Jai Singh was a Minister of Sikh Dharma and served as a member of the International Khalsa Council, the leadership body for our Dharma, for more than two decades. He was elected to serve as the Chairman of the Khalsa Council in 2009, and it was during the following years that he and I worked together during a very challenging chapter in our Dharmic history. Our organizations were involved in a legal battle for many years to regain the management of our dharmic community. Jai Singh provided amazing leadership, insight and inspiration to our global Sangat during this critical time.
Jai Singh was then elected to serve as a Trustee on the board of the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation, from 2012 – 2017. His skills as a critical thinker, as brilliant businessman, his profound commitment and dedication to service and his natural leadership ability made him an invaluable member of the SSSC board at a time when we were rebuilding the structure of our non-profit and for-profit organizations and reinvigorating the spirit of our Dharmic community.
As many of you know, he was a highly talented and award winning architect. Throughout his very successful career, he not only worked to improve the community in which he lived, but he also used his extensive talents to serve our global dharmic community. He helped to design and create many of the buildings and grounds in our communities around the world; the Ranch property in New Mexico; the truly magnificent Guru Nanak Dwara in Phoenix, Arizona; Dasmesh Sadan – the beautiful home and teaching center in Anandpur Sahib; and the residence at Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar. These are all part of his incredible legacy and will serve our dharma for generations to come.
Using his business skills, Jai Singh also served on the KIIT Board, working to grow and support our businesses, and he worked with SDEI in service to our school and properties in India. He was generous with his service, but also as a donor to many of our organizations and programs. He and Siri Ram Kaur have continued to be very generous donors to Dasvandh, funding the programs of Sikh Dharma International as well as to LYF and our other organizations. Jai Singh was very dedicated to funding lungar programs and helping to feed people and particularly children.
Jai Singh’s deep love of God and Guru was evident in everything he did. He lived his life with integrity and purpose, with generosity of spirit, and with the love of God and Guru in his heart, in service to our dharmic community and to humanity.
Much love and blessings to Siri Ram Kaur and all of Jai Singh’s family and loved ones. May the loving prayers of the Sangat bring you comfort and peace and may the beautiful radiance of Jai Singh’s soul live forever in our hearts.
Love to all, Light to all, Peace to all. Sat Nam.
~Excerpt from Memorial speech given on August 19, 2022