About Bibi Balwant Kaur Soor (Bibi ji)
Bibi Balwant Kaur Soor, MBE, affectionately known as “Bibi Jee” was born on 10 May 1915 in Hoshiarpur , Punjab, India and left for heavenly abode on 21 March 2009 in Wales, U.K., at the age of 93. She practiced what she preached by leading the life of a true devoted Sikh.
Bibi Jee will always be remembered with fond memories for her spirituality and her outstanding contributions to the community she served at an international level, tirelessly and selflessly. Bibi Jee was one with God and saw Him existing everywhere which is really the definition of a Brahm-giani. As such, she loved and trusted God completely, regardless of her suffering and hardships because she accepted God’s will gracefully.
Bibi Jee had a multitude of attributes: she was amazingly hospitable, generous, and compassionate as well as a strong lady who became our pillar of strength. She provided a platform for less fortunate women to become independent and self-sufficient by various means including doing kirtan and seva. Bibi Jee was very dignified, humble and gifted in Music and cooking. Her fantastic memory was a rare gift from God. She was also a font of knowledge in other subjects such as folk medicine. Bibi Jee appeared to be an ordinary lady; nevertheless she excelled in her fundraising abilities by being very practical in a man’s world. This is demonstrated by her exceptional organization skills and courage in taking on huge projects of building and maintaining 2 Gurdwaras and a Hospital.
Bibi Jee loved everyone unconditionally and was shared her wisdom to guide when we asked her for advice on any matter. She also inspired everyone she met, regardless of their colour, race or creed. As a community, we appreciated how revered Bibi Jee was and regarded her more than a Spiritual leader or a role model. The vast majority of us loved and respected her as a mother or a grandmother and appreciated that Bibi Jee is a rare female Brahm- giani.
About The Author Harcharan Kaur Saggu
Harcharan Kaur Saggu was born in Uganda, East Africa and migrated to England in 1971. She progressed with her scientific career in the field of cancer research, initially at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College Hospital London, University of Portsmouth and then at Middlesex University. Bibi Jee inspired her to specialise in research for strategic approaches to brain tumour treatment, with particular reference to the use of naturally occurring products.
She is passionate about her research work and to her merit, Harcharan Kaur has successfully achieved five qualifications between 1981 and 2008: BSc, MSc, PhD, CBiol MRSB and FRCPath. She married in 1988 and gas three children who adore her.
Having received Bibi Jee’s permission to write this biography, Harcharan Kaur has also dedicated the past 13 years alongside her scientific career to researching and recounting accurately narrated episodes of Bibi Jee’s life. She has had first handed access to and insight from Bibi Jee, for acquiring information needed for the biography. This gave Harcharan Kaur compelling passion to fulfil the unique responsibility she had taken upon herself.
How are the proceedings used?
Proceedings will be used for seva at Mata Nanki Hospital, Anandpur Sahib, India
Being far-sighted, Bibi Jee had very carefully planned a different type of fundraising through the book – that is, all proceeds from the sale of the biography will be used towards the maintenance of both Bebe Nanaki Gurdwara in Sultanpur and Mata Nanki Hospital, Anandpur Sahib, India. This was discussed with and instructed by Bibi Jee. By purchasing the book for £20, the Sadh Sangat will be included in this long term seva and continuity of Bibi Jee’s legacy.