On Monday, May 27, a delegation from the University of Oxford visited GNNSJ Birmingham to learn more about the Sikh faith and pay their respects to Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

The event followed a reciprocal exchange following Bhai Sahib Ji, Professor Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG, and the GNNSJ members’ visit to Oxford to celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week together in February 2024.

The esteemed Oxford delegation included:

  • Dr Thea Gomelauri, Inaugural Director of the Oxford Interfaith Forum, and Associate Faculty Member of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford.
  • Dr Aron Maniam, Senior Fellow at Oxford Interfaith, Fellow of Practice and Director, Digital Transformation at Blavtnik School of Government
  • Professor Jörg Friedrichs, Official Fellow at St Cross College Associate Professor of Politics at Oxford Department of International Politics

The groups arrival started with an obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in the main Darbar Sahib, before providing the Dome Darbar to listen to Keertan.

After partaking in the Langar from the Guru’s kitchen, the visors embarked on a visit across the GNNSJ campus, including Nishkam School Trust, and Nishkam Health Care facilities. The visit concluded with interfaith dialogue and discussions on AI ethics and cross-organisational synergy at the Nishkam Centre.

There was sharing of inspiring interfaith poetry with a presentation of ‘Jewels from Sikh Wisdom: A Journey of Discovery’ by Gopinder Kaur, to the Oxford community. The delegation departed with a sense of gratitude for the hospitality, friendship, and mutual respect.

Following the visit, Dr. Aron Maniam, Senior Fellow of the Oxford Interfaith Forum and an award-winning poet, composed a poem titled “Ten Names for God”, which honoured the visit. Shortly after this event, the GNNSJ community was deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji.

Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji left an inspiring and rich legacy of service through his professional and voluntary work, which included capturing beautiful photography of global interfaith activities that promoted values of faith and service. Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji had captured the Oxford visit to GNNSJ as well as the earlier participation of GNNSJ at the One World Festival in Oxford (Feb 2024).

His work was a true labour of love and Nishkam Sewa (Selfless Service) and he will be missed dearly. Speaking of Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji, Dr Thea Gomelauri, Inaugural Director of the Oxford Interfaith Forum said: “I first met Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji in February 2024 when he visited Oxford together with Bhai Sahib Ji and the members of the GNNSJ.

“He immediately impressed me with a unique combination of humility and high professionalism. We are so grateful that he took and shared beautiful mementoes of our time at various venues.

“I was delighted to hear we will meet Gurdev again during our visit to the GNNSJ. Despite the Bank holiday, Gurdev spent a day with us capturing special moments of our visit.

“Soon we received an amazing collection of beautiful photos and a breathtaking short film documenting our meeting with Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Dome Darbar. We are so grateful for the opportunity to have met Bhai Gurdev even for the final months of his life.

“He left us with sacred memories which we will cherish forever. The Oxford Interfaith Forum dedicated a blog to Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji’s blessed memory.”

The Oxford Interfaith Forum published Aaron’s poem together with a tribute to Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji’s selfless service and the promotion of interfaith understanding and friendship across faith traditions.