“I have seen miracles, have performed some myself”

For decades, Gurnam Singh was known in the Gurdaspur region for two things: being a prominent physician and being the younger brother of Jaswant Singh Khera, who was part of the Khalistan Commando Force and a close aide of militant Wassan Singh Zaffarwal. Jaswant converted to Christianity in 2006 after a local pastor told him about the ways in which he could ‘achieve’ God. Gurnam and his family followed suit a year later. “I have seen miracles, some have happened through me,” says Gurnam. But even as he presides over sermons, he retains the turban on his head. “Recently, a few Sikh organisations complained to the cops. I categorically told them that I was open to removing my turban if it was against the Constitution or was illegal, not because some Sikh organisation has objections.” Gurnam had another confrontation with the community three years ago when they refused to let his father be cremated at the Sikh crematorium and he had to take his body to a Christian cemetery after the cops and the local administration intervened.