By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – Dr. Hakam Bhullar and his Veterinarian colleagues – Dr Bharpur Singh, Dr. Parminder Mangat, Dr. Sukhwinder Kahlon, Dr Parvin Munjal, Dr. Paramjit Sidhu and Baghail Bhullar – welcomed Rai Bilal Aakram Bhatti, the Heir (19th generation) of Rai Bular Bhatti, Governor of Talwandi/Rai Bhoe di Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib, a Muslim feudal lord and zamindar (Muslim Rajput) of the Bhatti clan.

MP Sukh Dhaliwal and BC Speaker Raj Chohan were also on hand to meet and greet Akram Bhatti, a refined Nawab who spoke the sweetest of Punjabi. Sikhs have a deep connection with Nankana Sahib and despite the recent Pakistan-India military conflict, Sikhs continue to have a deep connection with Nankana Sahib and other Gurdwaras in Pakistan. 

Akram Bhatti remains active in welcoming Sikhs at Nankana Sahib and during his visit to Surrey Saturday, he again put out the welcome mat for all Sikhs to visit the holiest of Sikh religious places.

Akram’s great ancestor, the Nawab Rai Bular Bhatti was so deeply impressed by Guru Nanak’s teachings, that he donated over 18,500–20,000 acres of fertile land around Talwandi (modern Nankana Sahib), including the site of Nanak’s birthplace and areas memorializing his childhood. 

He presented 100 acres of land on the banks of the Ravi River to Guru Nanak, making Kartarpur the first organized Sikh commune.