CHANDIGARH: On the first death anniversary of innocent child Harvir Singh, an English novel titled Harvir Singh – Forever Five, authored by UK-based writer Simarjit Kaur, was released at Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan, Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Chandigarh.
The event was presided over by Justice Ranjit Singh, Chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Organisation, alongside Dr. Pyara Lal Garg and S. Jagjit Singh Rattan Garh. The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Khushal Singh, General Secretary of Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha.
Speaking on the novel, senior journalist Jaspal Singh Sidhu noted that a year ago, five-year-old Harvir Singh was kidnapped and murdered by a migrant laborer in Hoshiarpur—an incident that subsequently triggered widespread public backlash against migrant workers in general. He emphasized that the focus should consistently remain on institutional prevention and systemic measures against crimes targeting children.
Sikh thinker and author Rajwinder Singh Rahi pointed out that hundreds of thousands of children go missing across India every year with inadequate governmental intervention to trace them. He noted that organized gangs remain active in child abductions, with instances of newborns even being taken from hospitals. Adding that Harvir’s death profoundly shook civil society, he commended Simarjit Kaur for capturing the profound grief of a mother with great sensitivity.
During the session, Daljinder Kaur presented a detailed analytical paper on the novel.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Pyara Lal Garg remarked that crimes against children cannot and should not be attributed to any specific community, caste, or nationality, as such acts stem strictly from criminal pathology. He further noted that while child rights commissions exist, widespread systemic neglect remains evident, with countless children succumbing annually to malnutrition and preventable diseases across the country.
Other notable attendees at the book release included journalist Sarabjit Singh Dhaliwal, Dr. Sandeep Kaur Sekhon, Bibi Kulbir Kaur Dhami, and Bibi Amrit Kaur.
