Tribute to Professor Nirmal Singh Chauhan | Members Statement

Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan): On Wednesday, 24 July 2019, I attended the funeral of Professor Nirmal Singh Chauhan, a very prominent member of the Indian community in Australia and also the founding member of Singh Sabha Sports Club. Singh Sabha Sports Club is one of the biggest not-for-profit sporting organisations in Melbourne, founded in 1994. Singh Sabha is a well-known organisation amongst the Australians Sikh population. Sikhism, as we all know, is the fifth-largest religion in Australia and the fastest growing. Born in Punjab, Professor Singh was a very well respected and extremely loved member of the Sikh community in Australia. He was instrumental in promoting sports and culture. The legacy he has created will live forever. Being a part of Professor Singh’s last rites was overwhelming for me as a person and also for the hundreds of people who had come to be a part of this day and to stand by the family. As we all paid tribute to Professor Singh and reminisced upon fond memories, we realised that death is a bitter truth of life. As the Gurbani says, ‘Maran likhaye mandal mein aaye’, meaning, ‘With death preordained the soul comes into the world, gathering the riches of life’. With a heavy heart we paid our final respects to the pure soul, who will always be remembered by us. Rest in peace, Professor Nirmal Singh Chauhan.