Queens, NY: Prominent Sikh community leader from Queens Borough, Jagir Singh Bains has passed away. Bains had been known for coordinating in organizing the Sikh Day celebrations every year at the New York City Hall.
Bains recently received Bharat Gaurav Award by Sanskriti Yuva Sansthan on May 13 at an event held at the British Parliament in London.
Hailing from Hoshiarpur District of Indian Punjab, he was settled in Queens Borough for the last 45 years. Bain was a decorated veteran of the Indian Army and later also served in the Zambian Army from 1969-74. Soon after immigrating to America, he joined the United States Postal Service Department where he rose to become the Vehicle Supplies Supervisor of the Triboro area of New York.
He was a member of the Sikh delegation from the United States who met with Pope John Paul II for inter-religious affairs during celebrations of the 400 years anniversary of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 2004. He was also a delegate to the Queens Borough President’s General Assembly in 2004.
For his dedicated community services, Bains received a Proclamation from New York City Council for Community Involvement in celebrating South Asian heritage 2003 and received the Proclamation from the City Council for Leadership Qualities in July 2004. He presented a paper at the Queens Borough President’s General Assembly about the Importance of turban and uncut hairs in the Sikh religion in Dec 2005.
