SH. LACHMAN CHELLARAM
                
Sindhi community has produced many profound devotees of God (Kirtanists) and literary personalities and one of them is Dada Lachman Chel!aram. He was born on 4th December 1938 at Karachi, Sindh (now in Pakistan). After partition his parents migrated from Sindh and settled in Delhi, where he got his School and College education. He passed B. A. (Hons.) in Hindi from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, New Delhi having secured Ist position in Divinity Paper (Religious Paper on Sri Guru Granth Sahib) for which he was awarded scholarship. His father Rev. Dada Chellaram Ji was a renowned singer of Gurbani. He was a devout follower of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. He emerged as a Saint without renouncing worldly life. He emerged as a religious man without degree in religion. He emerged as a philosopher without degree in philosophy. He emerged as a builder of religious institution and holy places -NIJ THANW, which stands as a landmark of his deep devotion to the cause of diffusion of lord's Name.

His father's association, teachings and devotion to the Great Gurus' had a great impact on Dada Lachman Chellaram, thus he became a religious man having firm faith in the sacred teachings of Gurus. He did not join any service or business. Instead, since childhcod he has devoted himself fully to the mission of spreading like his father and sister Didi Kamla Devi, the sacred message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in India and also in several countries of the world. He is the seventh child of Rev Dada Chellaram Ji. He ardently believes in bringing people of different faiths together. His gigantic work is appreciated far and wide.

A few appreciations are listed below:-

The eminent journalist S. Khushwant Singh has quoted in one of the News Papers, 'The Hindustan Times' -"Baba Sheikh Farid used to say 'Give me a needle and not a pair of scissors. I sew, I do not cut.' Dada lachman Chellaram follows in the foot steps of the Sufi Saint. He brings people of different faiths, together, not set them apart."

S. Manjit Singh Calcutta, former Secretary, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, has said, "Dada lachman Chellaram is a highly respectable missionary, scholar, writer and orator on the subject of Sikhism. He preaches the basic tenents of Guru Nanak Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh and spreads the message of Universal love, Peace & Brotherhood of Mankind. He performs melodious Kirtan and heart-piercing Katha and is invited by Gurdwaras, Temples and private homes."

S. Saran Singh, the editor of 'The Sikh Review' and the President of 'The Sikh Cultural Centre', Calcutta says that, "Dada lachman Chellaram has benefited a large section of humanity through Holy Gurbani -singing its hymns of rare beauty and depth over the years. His Gurbani transcripts in many languages -often annotated and explained in contemporary idiom -have been a source of inspiration and guidance to thousands in India and abroad. We would love to see Dada Lachman Chellaram to remove bridges between communities -especially Sindhis and Sikhs who have shared the Gurbani's treasured heritage for more than 500 years."

Dada l.R. lulla (N.R.I. Ambassador Hotel, Dubai) says that, "The populaticn of India stands to be 800 million people and all of them cannot write or translate the scriptures written by the great Sages of the past. Vyasamuni was not selected by the masses to compile Vedas but was sent by the lord to fulfill this great mission. Thus in my opinion, noble souls like Dada Lachman Chellaram are also sent by God to impart the knowledge to common men like us by translating the great scriptures of the past in a more simplified language to suit the present knowledge or are relying on the modern computers."

S. Jaswant Singh Phull, Principal, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Delhi, expresses his views, "I have read the Hindi version of Sri Guru Granth Sahib translated by Dada lachman Chellaram with great interest and delight. It is a unique and pioneer work. The translator has done a great service to the mankind by bringing out these Hindi and Sindhi versions. The translation conveys the depth and skill of interpreting the profoundest concepts in the simplest possible language and idiom. There is no extraenous intellectual influence on the translator, he is one with the Guru's spirit. Needless to say that Dada Lachman Chellaram stands alone in the history of evolution of the Sikh faith."

Late Giani Zail Singh, former President of India says -"I have gone through the First Volume of the Hindi version of Sri Guru Granth Sahib released at Nij Thanw by myself in 1987 with great interest. It is a unique and pioneer work. Dada lachman Chellaram has taken great pains and interest to interpret Gurbani in its true spirit. He has done a great service to the mankind by bringing out this mamoth work, which is really a master piece. I believe that the people of all faiths having Shradha in the philosphy and teachings of Great Gurus will be greatly benefited. This would help in spiritual elevation of innumerable aspirants throughout the world."

DESIGNATION & AWARDS CONFERRED UPON DADA LACHMAN CHELLARAM

In February, 1988 at the All India Sehajdhari Sikh Conference held in Delhi on behalf of Chief Khalsa Diwan, Dada Lachman Chellaram was unanimously elected its President.

In 1995, during World Sikh Samellan, held in Amritsar, under the auspices of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Dada Lachman Chellaram was appointed as Convenor for All India Sehjdhari Samellan.

Apart from the Sikh community, other communities also have conferred awards to this towering personality - Dada lachman Chellaram. Sindhu Sabha Delhi has conferred upon Dada Lachman Chellaram as a SINDHU SAMMAN. Sindhu Samman is ranked on one of the top personalities of the Sindhi community.

On 20th April, 2000 Government of N.C.T. Delhi honoured Dada Lachman chellaram in FICCI Auditorium because of his impararell services. He is frequently invited for the International Sindhi Samellen held in North America, for discourses in India and abroad for the last 42 years,and even at the Sindhi Samellen held in North America, where he conducts 'Asa ki Var' Kirtan at 5 a.m. The Kirtan is melody and rhythm, sung in semi-classical style. His daughter Jaishree and son Sandeep join their father alongwith other dedicated Satsangees. Apart from them, his wife Late Smt. Rami Ji also accompanied him in the recital praises of God, but was very soon called by Almighty Lord. (19 November 1983).

Dada lachman Chellaram generally says during his Kirtan sessions, "You may have a number of appointments to keep everyday. Never forget to keep your appointment with SATGURU-GOD. Take His name, O dear,behold Him, my dear. Remember Him. Love Him. Serve Him. Adore Him. Worship Him -Him alone, none other, nothing else. Think of Him. Dream of Him. Meditate on Him. Dwell on Him. Dote on Him. Him alone, none other, nothing else. Read of Him. Hear of Him. Speak of Him. Sing of Him -Him alone, none other, nothing else."

Not having reserved any copyrights for himself for all his publications, Dada Lachman Chellaram does not want to make any profit out of his religious work. He feels, "Since the original author of Sri Guru Granth Sahib had not written the Holy scripture to make any profits what right do I have to make money, out of the translations." He has to his credit the publication/ authorship of about 80 books in nine languages based on Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib.

He has printed Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Arabic Sindhi and Devnagri Script in multicolours and at present the same work in Devnagri and Gurmukhi scripts are under print. He has also translated Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Sindhi and Hindi. Besides, at present, he is busy in bringing out the translation of Sri Dasam Granth Sahib in Hindi in 4 volumes. His many audio and video cassettes & CD's of Kirtan are in great demand around the world along with his publications.

Dada lachman Chellaram says, "Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a religious Scripture which is truely universal. Its universal message for love of God and humanity, truth and goodness, beauty and charity is a soothing balm for mankind, which is torn by terror and torment, hatred and malign.It has messages of not just Sikh Gurus, but also of Hindu Saints and Muslim Faquirs. It does not speak just about Sikhs, but about mankind in general. It contains messages of peace and love . Words like Ram, Hari, Allah and Khudah occur as many times, as Waheguru in the Holy scripture. He further says that "A very few people know what the text actually contains. Almost everybody has heard about the Holy Granth Sahib, but very few are aware of the treasure contained in it. It is painful that even most Sikhs are not aware of the messages contained in the Holy Scripture. They bow before it and go through all the rituals, when they go to a Gurdwara, but a very few know what they are bowing to."