ADELAIDE, Australia—Here is an amazing story of a white Australian, Donald Harry Goldsmith, who took Amrit and became Sikh. He is now called Devinder Singh. Bhai Devinder Singh is from Adelaide, Australia, and kindly shared his story of becoming a Sikh with the Sangat on the internet:
Dad served in World War 2, serving in army medical corps in New Guinea. He had so much respect and love for Sikhs that fought with the Allied forces describing them as “True warriors – compassionate and brave.”
I was in India in 1984 with my late father when all hell broke out in the streets of India. My Sikh friends got me out of Delhi. From that day, I always loved the Sikh people, their caring nature for humanity, and their strong faith in Vaheguru. Dad also said I would one day become a Sikh through the experience of wonderful love.
In 2007 I had two heart attacks, almost died twice and the first thing I spoke after four days in coma was “Vaheguru wants me to become Sikh”. I felt I was brought back to life twice and I am now so thankful to be in happy health. After the heart attacks I went straight into a turban, because I already had a beard from performing Shakespeare’s Antonio in The Merchant of Venice (that was another life). I wanted to go straight to Amritsar to give my heart and soul to Vaheguru.
I have found the Sikh community in Australia to be generally fantastic. Extremely happy, beautiful people. I am so pleased with Vaheguru for showing me this path.
I believe Amrit is very important. For me it was my commitment to Vaheguru. I feel an unexplained definite connection that has changed my life to be less stressful and significantly more peaceful and happy. Most importantly, it has made me a better and more loving human being. I don’t like the word ‘religion’. I much prefer ‘faith’. My dad used to say, “Respect and love. We are put on earth not to see through people but to see people through love.”
