Swarnjit Kaur Neel

Swarnjit Kaur Neel, born in Attawa, India in 1933, is a prominent figure in the Sikh community in Canada. After spending her childhood in Chamkaur Sahib, Swarnjit Kaur married Gurdial Singh Neel in 1948 and moved with him to Kenya in 1951. They lived in Kenya for eighteen years and had three children there. In 1969, the family moved to Canada, where Swarnjit Kaur missed the sense of belonging she felt in Kenya, as there were not many Punjabi families living in Canada at that time. Despite not working, Swarnjit Kaur was very involved in the community, volunteering at the Richmond Hospital, teaching kirtan, and hosting religious radio talk shows. She taught children how to do kirtan and play the harmonium, recorded Sikh shabads, and explained them on the radio show. She also hosted the “Amrit Bani” radio show with Khalsa School from 1994 to 2014 and recorded a number of CDs with shabads and other prayers that were distributed at no cost during special occasions. Swarnjit Kaur also taught Punjabi language on Friday evenings at David Thompson Secondary School from 1972 to 1985. After moving to Canada, Gurdial initially struggled to find a job but eventually worked as a high school science teacher in Richmond. He also volunteered in many community activities, such as teaching Punjabi language and delivering workshops on Sikh religion. Swarnjit Kaur continued to volunteer at the Richmond Hospital and taught shabad kirtan while also being a radio talk show host. Swarnjit Kaur and Gurdial Singh Neel have been together for over 70 years. Swarnjit Kaur's music style is Bani, and her beautiful voice and soulful renditions of shabads have touched the hearts of many. She is also an avid traveler, having visited over 60 countries with her family. Her soulful renditions of shabads in the Bani style and her teachings on spirituality have touched many hearts, making her a beloved figure in the Sikh community.