Bhai Puran Singh (June 4, 1904 – August 5, 1992) was born in Punjab. As a child, he choose to become a Sikh.
Though he never finished his basic schooling, he became a writer, a publisher, an environmentalist, and a philanthropist. He is perhaps best remembered for the home he founded in Amritsar, India, named Pingalwara, which long after his death, is still tending to the castaways of society: the sick, disabled and abandoned forlorn people.
An early advocate of what we today refer to as the ‘Green Revolution’, Bhagat Puran Singh was spreading awareness about environmental pollution, and increasing soil erosion long before such ideas became popular. Pamphlets with his writings on various subjects, such as environmental awareness, were printed on reused paper and freely distributed.
He was honored in 1979 by the Government of India with the Padma Shri award, given for exceptional and distinguished service in any field. He was among the citizens of India who returned their awards and medals after the Indian army’s attack on the Golden Temple in 1984.
