Ujagar Singh Chahal

S.Ujagar Singh Chahal was born on January 1st, 1925 in the village of Uchi Daud Dist. Ludhiana, Punjab, India to the late Bauria Singh and Late Rali Kaur. Ujagar Singh was the oldest of three brothers and one sister; Sadhu Singh (wife Gurdial Kaur), Bagga Singh (wife Mohinder Kaur and Gurdev Kaur), and Jangir Kaur Tiwana (husband late Surjit Singh Tiwana) respectively.

At the age of 12, Ujagar Singh lost his father and struggled in his childhood to survive with his mother and younger brothers and sister. At such a young age Ujagar decided to take responsibility of his entire family . He knew he had to provide for his mother and siblings so he began working hard and started farming; he soon began to make a name for himself in the community and due to his dedication and maturity at such a young age, he became appointed mayor (Sarpanch) of his village unanimously (Sarb Sammati) in 1973.

S.Ujagar Singh was married at the age of 16 to his lovely wife Surjit Kaur. He then went to have four sons and one daughter. He raised his family and taught them the skills to survive and succeed in life. His main goal was to educate his children since he himself missed out on this opportunity. He wanted his kids to have manners and be respectful, to this day his daughter, Jasbir, remembers him telling her to cover her mouth when sneezing or coughing.

Ujagar Singh immigrated to Canada in 1989 to live with his son Chamkaur Singh, with him came his wife Surjit Kaur, younger son Randhir Singh and daughter Jasbir Kaur; he first settled in Mission. His passion for farming continued when he came to Canada, always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in the community. His ethics and hardworking hands were tools he kept and shared throughout his life, and he soon became well known in Mission for these assets as well. Being illiterate, Ujagar Singhs’ primary goal was to learn how to read Punjabi because he one day wanted to read the Guru Granth Sahib. After moving to Canada he was taught how to read Paath from Giani Bir Singh at Mission Gurdwara.

In the year 2001, Ujagar Singh faced a major stroke which left him semi-paralyzed, and over the next 9 years began to slowly deteriorate. He stayed with his youngest son Randhir S and his family, until the day he passed. The entire families commitment to his life and his own strength and will to live lasted him 9 years. His wife, Surjit, cared for him till the last day of his life.

S.Ujagar Singh and his wife Surjit Kaur have been blessed with a large immediate family consisting of, his sons (and daughter-in-laws) Gurcharan Singh ( Kulwant Kaur), Ajmer Singh (Jasmail Kaur), Chamkaur Singh (Harjeet Kaur), Randhir Singh (Parmjit Kaur), and daughter (and son-in-law) Jasbir Kaur (Davinderjit Singh Grewal) respectively.

He will also be missed by his seventeen grandchildren. His granddaughters Amandeep K (Sarbjeet S Pannu), Kamaljit K (Parmjit S Grewal), Dalwinder K (Dharmjit S Sidhu), Gurbinder K (Harpreet S Billing), Jagpinder K (Kuldeep S Tatla), Simratpal K (Jatinderpal S Dhillon), Sandeep K (Amardeep S Dhillon), Navneen, , Kiranpreet, and Pawanjot respectively. His grandsons Pritpal S (Baljinder K), Bittu S (Sharanjit K), Karamreet S (Rupinder K), Chanrit, Dilpreet, Sukhdeep, and Baldeep respectively.

He also was fortunate enough to have thirteen great grandchildren, his great granddaughters, Lakshdeep, Harleen, Hanbir, Janbir, Maneet, Navreet, and Jasneet. As well as his great grandsons Magandeep, Gurtaj, Upraj, Prabnoor, Armann and Jason respectively.

He will be missed by all, and his legend will continue…