By Zile Singh    

Winning an award is always a special moment. It is more special when a super senior wins it. Here is an extraordinary example when a super senior couple made it. 

Who says that Seniors are not Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum? In fact, they are all-in-one. It was proved when Mr. Manjit Dhillon, Vice President of the Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society Vancouver and his better half Mrs. Harjit Dhillon were awarded with the Queen Elizabeth-II Platinum Jubilee Award last week. The sequence of the jubilee/anniversary  is like this:-  the 25th year is called the Silver, 50th as the Golden , 60th as the Diamond and 70th as the Platinum Jubilee. 

What is an overview of this prestigious award?  A commemorative certificate and medal were created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne as Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries. Her accession took place in 1952. A total of 8251 guests from 129 nations and territories attended the Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. 

 Who is entitled to the Platinum Jubilee Award? In addition to members of the Armed Forces, this award is bestowed upon the members of the Emergency Services and some selected public service organizations and individuals for their exemplary and dedicated services.

Mr. Dhillon came to Canada in 1948 at age 18 from Punjab (India).   Ms. Dhillon came here in 1955 at age 17.  They got married the same year in Vancouver.  Mr. Manjit worked in a lumber mill. He retired in 1995 as a Supervisor. Their ancestors Sardar Naranjan Singh, Gurdev Singh (Manjit’s grandfather and father) and Mula Singh (Harjit’s father) took active part in the Gadar Movement to get India freedom from the British rule. The couple imbibed their patriotic spirit from an early age from their parents.  In addition to raising their one son and two daughters this adorable couple has been taking an active part in Societies like, Khalsa Diwan Society, Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society, India Mahila Association, Sexsmith Elementary School, Vancouver General Hospital, Asian Senior Women’s Society and South Vancouver Neighbourhood Association.Manjit recites his father’s patriotic poems every Thursday in Seniors’ gathering.  Harjit is an eloquent public speaker, especially on women’s rights. The couple has a keen interest in gardening. In summer months their garden stands blooming. Their son is a good basketball player and daughter volunteers for South Vancouver Neighbourhood. 

The Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society thanks Hon’ble Harjeet Sajjan, MP for recommending the names of the couple for this prestigious award.

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana

PS:  My wife and I had the opportunity to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth-II and the Royal family twice in 1983 and 1985 during my posting in the High Commission of India, London. 

  Zile Singh is a well respected Columnist, Writer and a Vipassana Meditater. He has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights.  He can be reached at zsnirwal@yahoo.ca