Kali Bein, is a river flowing in Punjab, in which Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, is believed to have taken a holy dip and attained enlightenment five centuries ago. The 160-km-long river, which springs from Dhanoa village in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, merges in the confluence of the Beas and the Ravi at Hakike Pattan. The Rajasthan canal originates from here. A gurdwara at Sultanpur Lodhi near the bank of the Kali Bein came up, commemorating the enlightenment of the Guru. The river had turned into a virtual sewer with several drains pouring into it from adjoining townships as well as effluents from the Railway Coach Factory in Kapurthala. The zeal and dedication of Sant Balbir Singh Sinchewal has helped in reviving the river Kali Bein. A rare mix of piety and passion for environment conservation took Shri Sinchewal about six years to bring a ?dead river to life? through kar seva (voluntary service). In July 2000, he jumped into the muddy waters overshadowed by overgrown weeds and began removing the hyacinth. The act drew hundreds of his followers to the river. The Sant invoked the enlightenment episode in the Guru'slife to inspire the people to join the project. Now, the river has been embanked and openings allowing the entry of polluted water have been plugged. Flowerbeds have been laid on banks. The river, which has a depth of three fathoms at some places, is no longer dead. It flows with water piped into it from upstream Talwara Dam.
(Based on a UNI report in The Hindu, April 24, 2006.)
