Kali Bein, Kar Sewa Restores the Historic River: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Kalibeinlodhi.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kali Bein At Sultanpur Lodhi]]
[[Image:Kalibeinlodhi.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kali Bein At Sultanpur Lodhi]]


The 160 km long river, Kali Bein in [[Hoshiarpur]] district of Punjab has been revived by 6 year long efforts of Sant Balbir Singh Sancherwal. Five centuries ago [[Guru Nanak]] took a dip in it, attained enlightenment and went on to found the Sikh religion. In the reign of Akbar the river was brick lined and the Gurdwara at [[Sultanpur Lodhi]] stands on its banks.
The '''Kali Bein''', a river in the [[Hoshiarpur]] district of Punjab, which holds a very sacred part in every Sikh's heart, has been given a new life by a more than 6 year long effort begun by [[Sant Balbir Singh Sancherwal]].
'''A shocking Dissapearence'''
<hr>
Five centuries ago [[Guru Nanak]] went for his daily bath in this rivulet  only to dissapear. His friends and followers feared he had drown, his detracters started rumors that he had robbed his employer's stores and run away.  


# The 160-km-long river springs from Dhanao village
Days later when Guru Nanak appeared at the Bein, his first utterance was “Naa ko Hindu na Musalmaan”. It was here along the Kali Bein that Guruji composed the Japji Saheb and from here that he undertook his first two Udasis (religious journeys).
# Spring was brick lined by Emperor Akbar
 
# Merges in the confluence of the Beas and the Ravi
All of this happened on the banks of the river where  [[Gurdwara Shri Ber Saheb]] now stands at [[Sultanpur Lodhi]] as a tribute to the father of Sikhi who  with his family and Sister [[Bebe Nanaki]] Ji lived here for nearly 14 years.


==HISTORY==
'''Some History'''
<hr>
*The 160-km-long river springs from the land around Dhanao village in the Hushiarpur district of the  Punjab. Their the minerals that seep into the river have lent the river its name as they  cause the river to give a black reflection in the viewers eye.
 
*In the Glory days of Emperor Akbar, who was more concerned with beauty than with forcing Islam on his subjects,  the upper banks of the dark waters were lined with bricks with plantings  of beds of flowers, bushes and trees along its sides  making it a place of beauty.
*Once the river merged in the confluence of the Beas and the Ravi, but the Beas changed its bed and the Kali Bein fell on hard times.


Many of us who don't know what Kali Bein is or which part of Punjab it is flowing through then you need to browse through this site. This site is to enlighten people of what our main goal(s) are.
==400 Hundred years of Public Neglect and Indifference==
*In the rainy season public indifference had allowed it to became a cesspool with village, city  and industrial wastes from even a  railway factory in [[Kapurthala]] filling it and clogging its once beautiful black waters with  masses of ugly weeds and  sewage.
[[Image:Kalibeinsafai.jpg|thumb|left|200px|With their hands Sancherwal and others labour to restore the Kali Bein]]
[[Image:Restorebein.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Industrial Machinery added to the efforts]]


[[Image:Restorebein.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Workers Recovering Kali Bein]]
That’s when Sant Sichewal (also spelled  Sancherwal, Sabarwahl and Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal) jumped in for a cleansing bath of a different kind: one designed to awaken the people. He began cleaning the river single handedly until his example and his many narrations on the history and value of the Bein to Sikh history drew hundreds of followers to the task.
Kali Bein hold a very sacered part in all Sikhs lifes. this is the river where our founder Shri [[Guru Nanak Dev]] Ji had a dip and recited [[Mool Manter]], our basic belife.


Kali Bein is 160 Kilometers long, and starts from a Village of Dhanoa, in Hushiarpur district Punjab. Kali Bein follows by several villages and cities, one of them Sultanpur Lodhi a historical city where Guru Ji stayed for most of their time with their Sister [[Bebe Nanaki]] Ji.
Through kar seva he and thousands have in a labour of love of untold hours cleaned the river. These efforts were noticed and now even  governments along the way have jumped into the effort and now even weed technology-based ponds are being introduced in many out of 64 villages across the Bein's length to allow villagers to treat water before releasing it into the rivulet. Additionally sewage treatment plants for major cities along the way are being planned. The two crore plant in Sultanpur Lodhi is ready, the one in Kapurthala, an Rs 10 crore project, is in final stages. And plants will soon be set up at Tanda, Begowal and  other industrial towns along the length of the Bein.


==What was the river till 2000==
[[Image:Kalibeinsafai.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Workers Recovering Kali Bein]]


Yet in 2000, it was a mere sewage. Villages and towns had been dumping their waste and a railway factory in [[Kapurthala]], its effluents. Weeds and debris made it a cesspool. That’s when Sancherwal jumped in for a different kind of dip: to awaken the people. He began cleaning it single handedly until his example and narrations of history, drew hundreds of followers to the task.
[[Image:Kalibeinsabarwahl.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sant Sancherwal alongside the Historic Kali Bein]]


==NOW==
==Today==
[[Image:Kalibeinsabarwahl.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sant Sancherwal with Kali Bein]]


Today, the river’s banks have been raised, inflows of waste, plugged, the river-bed desilted and flowering plants alid along its length. Kali Bein is clear and - flows! UNI reports that, in the next few months President Kalam is to visit the river to honour Sant Sancherwal.  
Today, the river’s banks have been raised, inflows of waste, plugged, the river-bed desilted and flowering plants, once again, align its length. The Kali Bein is once again clear and flowing!  
 
UNI reports that, in the next few months President Kalam is to visit the river to honour Sant Sancherwal.
 
From News reports:
the Indian president, on a visit to Greece has praised a Sikh Saint for cleaning an entire river with sewa (voluntary service).
 
Kalam hails Sikh priest’s work
 
ATHENS: In distant Greece, President A P J Abdul Kalam praised the work of a Sikh priest in Punjab who had cleaned up a “polluted and choked” local river to illustrate how the art of “giving” by individuals and nations could promote happiness around the world.


[[category:rivers]]
[[category:rivers]]

Revision as of 15:40, 28 January 2008

Kali Bein At Sultanpur Lodhi

The Kali Bein, a river in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, which holds a very sacred part in every Sikh's heart, has been given a new life by a more than 6 year long effort begun by Sant Balbir Singh Sancherwal.

A shocking Dissapearence


Five centuries ago Guru Nanak went for his daily bath in this rivulet only to dissapear. His friends and followers feared he had drown, his detracters started rumors that he had robbed his employer's stores and run away.

Days later when Guru Nanak appeared at the Bein, his first utterance was “Naa ko Hindu na Musalmaan”. It was here along the Kali Bein that Guruji composed the Japji Saheb and from here that he undertook his first two Udasis (religious journeys).

All of this happened on the banks of the river where Gurdwara Shri Ber Saheb now stands at Sultanpur Lodhi as a tribute to the father of Sikhi who with his family and Sister Bebe Nanaki Ji lived here for nearly 14 years.

Some History


  • The 160-km-long river springs from the land around Dhanao village in the Hushiarpur district of the Punjab. Their the minerals that seep into the river have lent the river its name as they cause the river to give a black reflection in the viewers eye.
  • In the Glory days of Emperor Akbar, who was more concerned with beauty than with forcing Islam on his subjects, the upper banks of the dark waters were lined with bricks with plantings of beds of flowers, bushes and trees along its sides making it a place of beauty.
  • Once the river merged in the confluence of the Beas and the Ravi, but the Beas changed its bed and the Kali Bein fell on hard times.

400 Hundred years of Public Neglect and Indifference

  • In the rainy season public indifference had allowed it to became a cesspool with village, city and industrial wastes from even a railway factory in Kapurthala filling it and clogging its once beautiful black waters with masses of ugly weeds and sewage.
With their hands Sancherwal and others labour to restore the Kali Bein
Industrial Machinery added to the efforts

That’s when Sant Sichewal (also spelled Sancherwal, Sabarwahl and Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal) jumped in for a cleansing bath of a different kind: one designed to awaken the people. He began cleaning the river single handedly until his example and his many narrations on the history and value of the Bein to Sikh history drew hundreds of followers to the task.

Through kar seva he and thousands have in a labour of love of untold hours cleaned the river. These efforts were noticed and now even governments along the way have jumped into the effort and now even weed technology-based ponds are being introduced in many out of 64 villages across the Bein's length to allow villagers to treat water before releasing it into the rivulet. Additionally sewage treatment plants for major cities along the way are being planned. The two crore plant in Sultanpur Lodhi is ready, the one in Kapurthala, an Rs 10 crore project, is in final stages. And plants will soon be set up at Tanda, Begowal and other industrial towns along the length of the Bein.


Sant Sancherwal alongside the Historic Kali Bein

Today

Today, the river’s banks have been raised, inflows of waste, plugged, the river-bed desilted and flowering plants, once again, align its length. The Kali Bein is once again clear and flowing!

UNI reports that, in the next few months President Kalam is to visit the river to honour Sant Sancherwal.

From News reports: the Indian president, on a visit to Greece has praised a Sikh Saint for cleaning an entire river with sewa (voluntary service).

Kalam hails Sikh priest’s work

ATHENS: In distant Greece, President A P J Abdul Kalam praised the work of a Sikh priest in Punjab who had cleaned up a “polluted and choked” local river to illustrate how the art of “giving” by individuals and nations could promote happiness around the world.