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88 / Bhai Vir Singh
assitaranddilrubacome andplayto him. He spenthissummers
in Kashmir and after 1947, when the valley had its peace
distrubed, in Dehra Dun where he had a comfortable home,
with spacious lawns dotted with handsome sculptures. He
was a man of few words; yet he was no stranger to the art of
good conversation. His evenings were reserved for visitors
who came from all walks of life. He could share a joke with
them as effortlessly as he could discourse to them on any
abstruse point of theology or metaphysics. He was always
spotlesslydressed. Draped in a longcoat or a pashminashawl
castloosely overhis shoulders, his large white turban framing
his calm, but glowing, face with deep wistful eyes, a straight
nose and a long flowing beard, he had the statuesque poise
and grandeur of a Greek image.
His personal magnetism was irresistible. Many fell under
his spell and remained his lifelong admirers. He had a gift of
friendship andhada wayofdrawingpeopleinto his confidence.
He derived strength from such partnerships. He started his
printing press in association with a friend Wazir Singh. In
foundingtheKhalsaTractSocietyhehadthesupportofanother
friend and co-worker Kaur Singh Dhupia. His friendship with
Sir Sunder Singh Majithia (1872-19411 and Sardar Trilochan
Singh (1872-19471 was warm and long-lasting. The trio was
themostinfluentialandcharminggroup ofitstime inthePunjab.
Sir Sunder Singh, who came of an old aristocratic family, was
active in the cause of Sikh education andwas a rising figure in
publicaffairs. He waselectedthefirst PresidentoftheShiromani
Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, a statutorily formed body
of the Sikhs for the management of their holy shrines, and
became a member of the Imperial Council and, later, of the
Council of Ministers in the Punjab. Sardar Trilochan Singh,
quiet but shrewd and competent. was the organizing brain
behind the leading Sikh institutions such as the Chief Khalsa
Diwan,SikhEducationalConference,KhalsaCollege,Amritsar,
and the Punjab and Sind Bank.
Bhai Vir Singh provided inspiration aswell as counsel. All
three ofthemmettogethereveryevening. Theyplayedtennis,
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