Global IndianstoryIn the footsteps of Guru Nanak, turban traveller Amarjeet Singh, 61, drove 40,000 km across 6 countries

In the footsteps of Guru Nanak, turban traveller Amarjeet Singh, 61, drove 40,000 km across 6 countries

Written by: Charu Thakur

(April 28, 2022) Age is just a number – the adage perfectly fits this “61-year-young” retired garment exporter Amarjeet Singh Chawla who travelled from Delhi to London by car at an age when most hang up their boots. The passion to travel the world in his gaadi took him on a journey across 33 countries, and earned him the moniker of the Turban Traveller. “It was a life-changing journey. Everyone has dreams, but not many fulfill them as they don’t have the keeda (urge). I knew I had to do it, and it changed my perspective on life. Such journeys change you within, and what is life without growth,” Amarjeet tells Global Indian.

As a youngster, he wanted to go backpacking around the world. Yet the 70s were different. So, he put his dream on the back burner, for when he retired. At 59, he decided to take a journey that not many take – he drove 40,000 km across the world. “I think 45 is an apt age for retirement. You are healthy enough to travel. I retired late at 58. But being on your own, interacting with the locals, and chasing your dreams at that age. It is worth the wait,” adds Amarjeet who has been on several spiritual journeys in the past few years spreading the message of Guru Nanak Dev and Sikhism.

Amarjeet Singh

A chance meeting changed it all

Born in 1959 in Kanpur to a businessman father, and homemaker mother, the Delhi-based Amarjeet was raised by his maternal grandfather. Passionate about cars since childhood, he loved bribing his driver with his meagre pocket money to let him drive at just nine. “I had my first accident at 13,” laughs Amarjeet whose love for adventure saw him hop on his Royal Enfield to the mountains. A chance encounter with a couple from Holland changed his perspective. “In 1979, I met a couple who was backpacking across the world and were in Faridabad. Their adventurous journey triggered something. So, with my best friend, I decided to travel the world on a bike. But bauji (grandfather) nipped my dream in the bud saying, “Puri zindagi hai dream pure karne ke liye. Abhi kaam karo (you have your whole life to accomplish your dream, now it’s the time to work),” reminisces Amarjeet who listened yet the dream was alive in his heart.

“Life went on. I got married in 1981 and started a family. I travelled the world, did cross country in rented cars, yet that dream to travel the world kept nagging at me,” says Amarjeet.

Turban traveller | Amarjeet Singh

Chasing his dream at 59

After retiring from his garment business in 2018, Amarjeet resolved, “I had this paagalpan (madness) to fulfill my dream. I think one should try to do everything they couldn’t, and tick their bucket lists,” adds Amarjeet. Jumping into his Toyota Fortuner, four months of preparation later – visas, permits and permissions, he was ready to rev on a journey of a lifetime. “I make short films, and decided to make a web series, and explore the route from Patiala to Paris. I knew this was the best opportunity to fulfill my dream,” says Amarjeet, who obtained seven visas from India. “It’s better to plan from India as getting permissions and visas is a tedious job,” adds the turban traveller.

In July 2018, he kickstarted his journey from Delhi and moved through Nepal, China, and Uzbekistan to Russia, Poland, Estonia to Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and France to reach London in January 2019 which cost him between ₹35-₹40 lakh. “Those 145 days on the road changed me. Travelling by road throws you out of your comfort zone, and that’s when growth happens,” says Amarjeet who befriended many, stayed with locals, and shared meals.

Yet, the reunion with the couple from Holland tops his memories. He had tried contacting Judia on social media – and found her in the Netherlands, “It was such a surreal experience and so emotional,” says Amarjeet who thrilled to meet his inspiration 40 years later.

His turban and his car with personal messages scribbled all over purred across Europe and Asia. Onlookers were undoubtedly curious. Infact, leaving Delhi, his father scribbled his blessing on the car. Slowly, others scribbled in, and today, it’s an art and blessing cornucopia on wheels. Overwhelmed with the love, he believes he carried those well wishes on the journey as well. “Europeans care about dreams, so they were mesmerised,” adds the Sardar who wryly admits that his turban and car grabbed eyeballs. “My colourful outfit and turban invited many inquisitive souls,” says the turbaned traveller who met Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Budapest.

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A post shared by The Turban Traveller (@theturbantraveller)

From adventure to spiritual

His spiritual journey is inspired by Guru Nanak Dev’s four udasis (travels). “Guruji travelled by foot for 28 years, we just did the same journey by car. It coincided with his 550th birth anniversary, and I wanted to pay him a tribute. I travelled 44,000 km across 29 states including six countries – Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in his footsteps,” says Amarjeet who has stacked 245 episodes that were telecast on a Punjabi TV channel, adding, “It was a symbolic journey to spread the message of brotherhood, equality, peace, and love.” On song, he took two more spiritual journeys across India with his wife Sweety. “I realised that jeene ke liye sirf roti and chhat chahiye (to live, one only needs food and shelter). Rest is luxury,” smiles the travelling Sikh. When a German reporter asked, “a world tour? Yet, had I seen India?” So, the turban traveller decided to go desi too. Originated in the 15th century, Sikhism preaches devotion, truthful living and equality of mankind. And Amarjeet is keen to spread this across as much as possible through his journeys.

Amarjeet Singh with his wife Sweety

“Every journey is a life lesson, and learning,” says the turban traveller who is in the US to buy a caravan for his upcoming big trip – Patiala to Paris in 2023.

An inspiration to any dreamer, “Junoon (obsession) is what keeps a dream alive. Nothing is impossible. The water doesn’t boil at 99°C, it needs that 1°C. 99 percent is 100 percent failure. So go for that 1 percent,” advises Amarjeet the travelling Sikh who declares, “go chase your dreams. The world awaits.”

Vroom across the globe:

1. Get visas in advance from India, it saves time and helps at borders.

2. An international driving license is a must. Get it by submitting passport, visa and a form at the Regional Transport Office (valid for a year).

3. Rented or borrowed cars require a letter from the owner.

4. International car insurance is a must. While you cannot apply from India, it can be done at a country’s border.

5. Carry tents to save on lodging.

Follow Amarjeet Singh Chawla on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

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Published on 28, Apr 2022

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Voicing up: Advocate Radhika Sainath’s legal work on free speech and human rights

(November 7, 2023) The world has been witnessing some very disturbing news from Israel and Palestine, as the war escalated between the two nations in the last month. However, while most world leaders are watching the conflict from the sidelines, an Indian American advocate is gearing up to defend the rights of Palestine citizens, and those who are being attacked for speaking up about these issues. Radhika Sainath, a senior staff attorney at Palestine Legal, has seen a significant increase in requests for legal help since the conflict began after the Hamas attack on October 7. "I received over 400 calls from lawyers, doctors, journalists, professors, teachers, students, and other workers in nonprofits, government, and the corporate world. These individuals have been fired, doxxed, cancelled, censored, and physically threatened for speaking out for Palestinian freedom or criticising Israel, or not sufficiently marching in lockstep behind Israel's actions," the advocate mentioned, adding, "We track legislation, anti-boycott legislation for example, and we provide people who need legal support with lawyers in all 50 states." An important part of the Palestine Legal, Radhika has spent the last eight years of her life doing groundbreaking legal work on free speech, censorship, and the right

eople who need legal support with lawyers in all 50 states."

An important part of the Palestine Legal, Radhika has spent the last eight years of her life doing groundbreaking legal work on free speech, censorship, and the right to boycott. "We’re legal defense for the movement for Palestinian rights in the United States," the advocate explained in an earlier interview, adding, "If an activist or pretty much anyone is censored or punished or has a legal question or is threatened because of their support for Palestinian rights, Palestine Legal is there. We have your back. That is what we do."

Carrying the torch

A remarkable student from a young age, Radhika completed her education at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and the University of California, San Diego. Before her legal studies, the advocate was actively involved in organising workers across the United States and Canada through her work with the Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HzqFN2-nis

Radhika has been a legal advocate representing clients in both individual and class action civil and constitutional rights cases, addressing issues such as discrimination, human rights violations, and prison conditions. The advocate's work was carried out at one of California's most esteemed civil rights firms, where she successfully handled a variety of state and federal class actions, as well as other federal civil rights cases. "I have organised union textile workers in East Coast factories and the Los Angeles garment district, monitored human-rights abuses of indigenous villagers during the 2000 Mexico elections, and spent a year volunteering for the International Solidarity Movement in the West Bank," the advocate shared.

Fighting for justice

After a long and illustrious career, the advocate joined the Palestine Legal. While it was always clear that she would have to deal with several difficult cases at the organisation, Radhika was quite surprised when she realised that most of their clients were students. "About 80 percent of the people who come to us are students or scholars. What we do is document incidents of suppression. It was bizarre. 'Why are only students contacting us,' we wondered," the advocate said, adding, "Eventually I think what we realised was that the opposition gets that that’s where change happens. Whether it was the Vietnam anti-war movement, the anti-South African apartheid movement, you name it, college students were there pushing their governments for change, for justice. So that’s where most of our work has been focussed. Since 2014 we’ve documented, that we’ve responded to over 2,000 incidents of suppression. That’s just really the tip of the iceberg."

Radhika frequently provides commentary on various media platforms, such as MSNBC, Democracy Now!, Al Jazeera English, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Jezebel, Politico, the Village Voice, and others. She has also contributed her written work to publications like The Nation, Jacobin, and Literary Hub.

As the war wages on between Israel and Palestine, Radhika shared that the Anti-Defamation League and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law have sent letters to nearly 200 college presidents “urging them to investigate campus chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine for potential violations of federal and state laws against providing material support to terrorism.” Calling it a 'mass violation of students’ rights', the advocate pointed out, "The Palestinian activists pose zero threat and have done nothing but engage in speech 100 percent protected by the First Amendment. If federal and state governments follow through on the ADL’s demands, Palestinian activists will be subjected to an increase in surveillance, infiltration, and investigation."

[caption id="attachment_46559" align="aligncenter" width="603"] Advocate | Radhika Sainath | Global Indian Radhika at the 2015 Palestine Center Annual Conference.[/caption]

"I think there’s been a sea change in just my lifetime as far as support for Palestinian rights," Radhika expressed, "We have several regular people, who are being punished for speaking out for Palestinian rights. We saw farmers, makeup artists, journalists, writers, therapists, doctors, and teachers getting fired for speaking out for Palestinian rights. They were being pulled into meetings with their bosses. They were told to delete tweets. So, all I want to tell fellow advocates is if you have Palestinian clients coming in, they might need extra support this time."

Follow Radhika Sainath on Twitter

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Princess Diaries: A Begum from the Asaf Jahi dynasty is on a ‘royal’ mission

(January 30, 2023) When Sahebzadi Feroze Jahan Begum wore her ancestral ‘khada dupatta’ (stole) for her wedding, it drew a lot of attention, worldwide. Passed down to her by her grandmother Sahebzadi Masarrat Begum, the antique fabric and the craftsmanship that went into creating a garment worthy of a princess made it a one-of-a-kind piece. After all, it was worn by the royals in the Asaf Jahi dynasty, who once ruled the kingdom of Hyderabad. The admiration that came her way for her royal outfit gave birth to a mission, which was to connect the past with the present by reviving the ancient and dying traditions in handicrafts, hand looms, painting, architecture and more. The great-granddaughter of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, few are better placed than Sahebzadi Feroze Jahan Begum to revive the India’s rich and storied royal Nizamate. “The rich culture and heritage of the previous generations is lost. This generation has no clue about the era of the Nizams, the food and culture. I am striving to connect that era with the present,” says Sahebzadi Feroze Jahan Begum, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_34511" align="aligncenter" width="431"] Feroze Jahan Begum with her

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[caption id="attachment_34511" align="aligncenter" width="431"] Feroze Jahan Begum with her husband, Syed Abbas, during their wedding in Hyderabad.[/caption]

Preserving a royal legacy

An advocate for the preservation of the country’s regal heritage, Begum says she wants people to be proud of the Nizam’s era. “Every piece of clothing in that era is a masterpiece. I want to tell the world everything about my illustrious ancestors,” she says, of her mission. Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Feroze Jahan Begum studied at Nasr School, chose humanities and graduated with a degree in Psychology from Villa Marie College.

She then went on to pursue fashion from FAD, Dubai, the premier Institute honouring internationally certified courses in Fashion design and styling. “This course in Dubai gave me the wings to turn my dreams into reality. It enabled me to see the finer details in the royal outfits worn by my ancestors,” says the fashionista, who is married to Mumbai-based businessman Syed Abbas Ali.

Growing up in the royal family, she has plenty of tales to tell. “Once, an uncle of mine shot a tiger in the jungles of Karnataka when the animal had turned man-eater. In the pitch dark surroundings, the tiger was pouncing on the tree when a staffer threw light on him with a torch and my uncle took the shot. The animal was brought home after hunting and its skin preserved,” says the globetrotter, who has many more such royal stories to share.

Mission to spread awareness

Coming back to work, Begum has embarked on a long tour as part of her mission to spread awareness about the bygone era. She aims to cover all the palaces, heritage monuments and royal architecture. Her first stop was Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

“There is historic evidence of associations between the Nizam — a 21-gun salute state and Begums of Bhopal, a 19-gun salute state,” she explains adding that the insignia of Bhopal state, disbanded by Bhopal Municipal corporation three years ago, was a mark of allegiance to the Nizam of Hyderabad. “It was Bhopal insignia from about 1740 onwards. Between 1819 and 1926, four Muslim women rules ruled Bhopal, which was the second largest Muslim state in India,” she explains.

As Begum tries to has been promote her Asaf Jahi family heritage and highlight the royal India in every space possible, she believes that the royal families of north India are far more connected. “There are no great patrons of royalty in the central and south-east of the country,” she feels.

Her next stop is Bengaluru and Mysuru, where she has lined up meetings with some of the royal families. “Many may not know that the Nizam of Hyderabad donated 5,000 kg gold to the National Defence fund during the Indo-China war of 1962,” says Begum, who will soon be leaving for Turkey, as part of her project.

Memories of the Ottomans

“Turkey is a region rich in world history. It is the place where the Ottoman empire reigned from 1299–1922. Due to its vast presence, history and gigantic size, it becomes the most sought-after destination for my heritage project,” says the Hyderabadi.

She says her great grandfather also got two Turkish princesses married to his first two sons. Prince Azam Jah married princess Durreshehvar, daughter of last caliph Abdulmejid II, who was the last heir apparent to the Ottoman throne and Moazzam jah was wed to princess Nilofer.

“So, Hyderabad and Turkey have strong bonds and ties since time immemorial,” says Begum, who has already scheduled her visits to various palaces including Topkapi Palace, Yildiz Palace, Ciragan palace, Maslak Kasri and Adile Sultan palace among others.

The Nizam’s heritage, which can be seen all through Hyderabad city, makes her nostalgic. “The exquisite jewels of the Nizam, which were once on display in Salarjung museum and sadly now lie in the RBI vault in Mumbai, need to be made available for the public to see,” she insists, pointing out that no matter how drastically fashion changes across the globe, one keeps going back to royal India’s treasured outfits.

“Most well-known designers work is based on antique designs. The royal outfits come with a cultural atmosphere and we need to connect with that style of clothing,” says Begum.

Honouring the traditional aesthetic

Begum is all set to launch a clothing line in keeping with her desire to honour the Nizam’s fashion aesthetic. Presently, she is making plans to popularise it not only in India, but also overseas. “I am working to recreate the royal outfits worn by the daughters and begums of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. I am on the lookout for artisans who can help me do that as working on real gold and Sancha fabric is something not every artisan can do,” she explains.

Her royal blog ‘lifeofbegum’ will debut soon. “It is part of my heritage project,” remarks Begum, who has been actively working with the Freedom Again Foundation, a Hyderabad-based NGO involved in philanthropy and humanitarian causes.

In between promoting her Asaf Jahi family heritage and highlighting royal India in every space possible, Begum takes a keen interest in horse riding, in tune with the most preferred activity of the royals back in the day.

Follow Feroze Jahan Begum on Instagram

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Anurag Nallaveli peaks sans oxygen, has climbed Manaslu, Pico de Orizaba & Denali

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t and back at Camp 4, I just laid down and cried. Those images of the dead climber haunted me. I felt helpless and drained, emotionally and physically,” recalls Anurag.

Climbing is meditative, and mountains make Anurag feel alive. “When you are high up in the clouds, you get to see the world from a different perspective. There are no distractions. As you go up in altitude, the air is thinner and every step is difficult. Overcoming hurdles and making it to the top and back safely, empowers you,” he tells Global Indian.

How a software guy turned mountaineer

Born and brought up in Hyderabad, mountain climbing was nowhere in the realm of imagination for this software engineer at Ford Motor Company in Michigan. Back in 2018, Anurag was going through a rough patch – a painful break-up. One April evening, his cousin asked him to join him on a backpacking trip. Anurag had never backpacked, and his first altercation with the mountains was at Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. In the wilderness for three days, a realisation dawned — he needed to keep busy, and stay away from distractions. Thereafter, the 29-year-old was a changed man who chose to live life on the edge, literally.