Brief Profile : Harjeet Singh Grewal
A life well lived is one which is spent in service of the community. The person who endeavors to leave the world a better place than he found it is one who has lived a successful and fulfilling life- so enjoined the Sikh Gurus on their true followers…
In line with the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, S. Harjeet Singh Grewal has dedicated his life to promote and establish the ancient and respected Sikh martial art ‘Gatka’ as a recognized sport at national and international level. His tireless efforts have played a seminal role in establishing this traditional art that has transcended the boundaries of Sikh practitioners and now has devoted exponents and students all over the globe, across the boundaries of gender, religion, race or ideologies.
S Grewal has also made exemplary efforts to promote mother tongue Punjabi in the young generation that is in danger of losing touch with their roots. He has also played a stellar role in creating awareness about organ donor movement among the public in the state.
Currently holding charge as the Joint Director, Press in Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Punjab and attached with Punjab Vigilance Bureau and DGP Punjab, S. Harjeet Singh Grewal had joined State PR services as class-I officer on 21-09-2001 as Information and Public Relations Officer.
Performing his professional duties with vigour and sincerity, he has gained invaluable experience across roles and functions as Deputy Director and PRO while working across domains such as Education, Languages, Finance, Rural Development and Panchayats, Transport, Excise and Taxation, Printing and Stationary, Cooperation, Elections, DGP and Vigilance Bureau etc. As DPRO Rupnagar from 2008 to 2011, his excellent professional performance was recognized by the District Administration with an award.
Highly educated and qualified, he continued to practice the timeless mantra of “learning never stops’ and personal evolution. After a B.Sc. (Medical) in first division in 1988, LL.B. in 1991 and Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication (1993) in first division from Punjabi University Patiala, his professional career started as Sub-Editor in the Punjabi newspaper “Daily Chardhikala” in Patiala in 1992. Before joining government service, he was a working desk journalist with the largest published Punjabi newspaper “Daily Ajit” Jalandhar from 1993- 2001.
He considers his association with the ancient and venerated self defence and martial art Gatka as the seminal influence and achievement of his life. Being national President of ‘National Gatka Association of India‘ (Regd.) and Chairman of ‘International Sikh Martial Art Academy‘ (Regd), he had relentlessly undertaken the plethora of undertakings that have brought Gatka to its present status as a globally recognized and thriving martial art and sport. From tirelessly persuading the Punjab Government to include Gatka as a game in the schools across the state, to bringing Gatka to feature in the National University Sporting calendar, he had ensured that the sport has permeated down to the youth who have taken to it with heartwarming enthusiasm and sincerity. His dedicated efforts have ensured that the state government had included Gatka in its state gradation list in 2016 and accorded reservation of 3% to Gatka players in the sports category, bringing the great game at par with other sports.
His pioneering spirit as Secretary General of World Gatka Federation, has ushered in the ancient art that has traditionally not ventured beyond the realms of Punjab onto the global stage. His determined promotion of traditional martial art Gatka, a rich Indian cultural tradition, at international level as a sport has made it a recognizable and highly respected international sport that is gaining new converts and practitioners every day.
By drafting the first ever “Gatka Rules and Regulations Book” in 2009, then its amended editions in 2016, 2017, he has ensured that the sport has codification, guidelines and rules that have enhanced its position from a informal pursuit into a formalized, structured and graded sport. He is currently engaged in presenting the second and extended edition of the “Gatka Rules and Regulations Book-2017” from National Gatka Association of India and an international edition of International Gatka Rules-2017 form International Sikh Martial Art Academy.
Prompted by the zeal to awaken the masses about the inherent confidence, limitless potential for self improvement and empowerment that traditional martial art form Gatka awakens in the body, mind and spirit, S. Grewal believes that such humble efforts will form the foundation for the youth of today to revive, revere and practice Gatka.
He avers that the proud martial modes of the Sikhs should not become distant memories of a glorious past as this art was enlisted by the world organizations as dying cultural tradition, but the resurgent and robust practices of our modern generations across boundaries of region, religion or race. The regeneration and revival of the once forgotten and dying art of Gatka with immense historical and cultural significance is his humble tribute to the beloved Gurus who instilled morality, martial pride and self confidence in their numberless followers down the centuries.
Sikh Football Club
There was a dire need in sports to have Keshadhari (Sabat-soorat) sports persons as presently almost all Sikhs in various sports seldom wears Sabat-soorat look. As a devoted Sikh Mr Grewal has inconsultation with his like minded friends constituted and got registered a Khalsa Football Club (Khalsa FC) to promote Sabat-soorat footballers. Khalsa FC has conducted a state level Sikh Football Cup in Punjab & Chandigarh after selecting Keshadhari teams from all 22 districts of Punjab and Chandigarh. He is planning to organise this football cup every year and form a Khalsa FC Sabat-soorat football team to play the matches with other football clubs in India and abroad.
Social Activities
A voluntary blood donor, he is President of “Blood Donors Council“, wherein he has organized several blood donation camps. He is also President of “Punjabi Cultural Council” and Senior Vice President of “Punjabi Art & Cultural Foundation”. He has been contributing a lot for the promotion and preservation of Punjabi culture and mother language and organized seminars, awareness campaigns and functions to promote Punjabi language. Recipient of numerous honours and awards, he had been felicitated by the Government of Punjab with prestigious ‘State Award’ on Independence Day-2010 for promoting mother tongue Punjabi and Sikh martial art Gatka.
He is also promoting organ donor awareness in the public as a Managing Director of “Global Organ Donors Foundation” for the needy patients in the state. He had also promoted the cause of PR fraternity as President of “Punjab Public Relations Officers Association” from 2009 to 2015 and as Chairman of “Public Relations Society of India” (Chandigarh Chapter).
He had visited many countries for promotion of Gatka and Khalsa Football Club which includes Nepal, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada.
State level boxer, he had participated in the National Boxing Championship in 1988. Several NGOs and social organizations have honoured him in recognition of his social services and promotion of martial art Gatka which includes ;
- Honoured By Kala Manch Sangrur in 2011
- Rupnagar Press Club in 2011
- Sports Dept, Punjabi University Patiala in 2012 & 13
- The Green Sangrur in 2012
- Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo in 2012
- All India Pingalwara Society Amritsar in 2012
- Chief Khalsa Diwan Amritsar in 2012
- Gatka Federation of Nepal in 2012
- UK Gatka Federation in 2015 & 2018
- As ‘Gatka Promoter’ by Sports Promotion Society at Patiala in 2014
- Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, New Delhi in 2015
- Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Commitee in Sept 2016
- European Punjabi Sath UK – 2016
- S.M.S. Karmjot Colege for Women Miani, Hoshiarpur in 2016
- Sant Baba Bhag Singh University Khiala, Jalandhar in 2017
- Daily ‘Punjabi Jagran’ at Amritsar in Jan 2018
- Rayat Group of Institutions, Rupnagar Campus in 2018
- Punjab Sports Minister on July 2018
- Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara Management Committee, UK in 2018
- Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Slough, UK in 2018
- Honoured by Jathedar Keshgarh Sahib Singh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh ji in 2019
- On Khalsa Games by Gurdwara Management Committee Dadumajra, Chandigarh in March 2020
(S.S. Sarao)
Former Member,
Punjab Public Service Commission