“I received my early education in the Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In 1990, I moved to Nankana Sahib with my family. The city is of great historical and religious value, and it is a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs.

Nankana Sahib, which used to be known as Rao Bhao di Talwandi, is named after the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism who was born there in 1469.

I have been in charge of the lungar (kitchen) at Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Hassanabdal, for 20 years. I have to arrange food for all the visiting Hindu and Sikh pilgrims at all the important events, three times a day.

I am also responsible for dining arrangements for Hindu devotees who visit the county every month to perform religious rituals for three days every month in connection with Parmoshi – celebrations to mark the full moon.

The lungar on this occasion is arranged through individual donations and no official funds from the Auqaf department are provided.

I have volunteered my services for many years and am not paid for the work I do every month and on holy occasions, as I feel a spiritual satisfaction for this kar sewa (volunteer work) towards the sacred cause of my fellow people and my religion.

I also work as a herbalist, which is a profession my family has been a part of for many generations. I run a herbal clinic. I never feel like a member of a minority community; I am always treated well in business and social situations and I enjoy complete religious freedom.”

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2017