AI Generated Summary
- In the spirit of the Guru, she found her true home — not in a high-rise city, but in the timeless rhythm of seva.
- Dressed in a floral kurta, blue patka and glasses, the Taiwanese-origin woman from Singapore smiled as she performed jal sewa — one of the humblest forms of selfless service at the Golden Temple.
- Balwinder’s quiet dedication — hands clasped in gratitude between servings — has drawn attention on social media, with The Tribune’s video post highlighting her journey “From Singapore to Punjab”.
On her birthday, Singaporean Balwinder Kaur, formerly Jenny Ying, stood under the blazing 42°C sun on Heritage Street outside Sri Harmandir Sahib, pouring chilled water into steel glasses for thirsty pilgrims. Dressed in a floral kurta, blue patka and glasses, the Taiwanese-origin woman from Singapore smiled as she performed jal sewa — one of the humblest forms of selfless service at the Golden Temple.
Balwinder, who embraced Sikhism after marrying Gurdeep Singh, a Sikh from Patiala, has made Punjab her home. The couple met while working in Singapore. After marriage, she moved to live with his family in Patiala and never returned to Singapore. “Waheguru is the most powerful force in my life,” she told reporters. “This way of life gives me peace, shanti.” She loves kirtan and has fully adopted Sikh values and culture, speaking a warm mix of Mandarin, English and Punjabi.
Gurdeep Singh, who joined her in seva, said his wife embraced Sikhism “with all her heart”. Seva, he added, lies at the core of Sikhi. The couple chose to mark her special day by serving at Darbar Sahib after visiting several gurdwaras in Amritsar. Her family often travels to India to meet them, but Balwinder has no plans to leave Punjab.
In a region grappling with youth migration and identity questions, the couple’s story resonates. Gurdeep urged young Punjabis to take pride in their faith and roots. Balwinder’s quiet dedication — hands clasped in gratitude between servings — has drawn attention on social media, with The Tribune’s video post highlighting her journey “From Singapore to Punjab”.
For Balwinder Kaur, turning a year older meant serving langar water to strangers under the open sky. In the spirit of the Guru, she found her true home — not in a high-rise city, but in the timeless rhythm of seva.
