Canada-based noted Sikh scholar and community activist Dr Raghbir Singh Bains, 80, passed away in Ludhiana on Thursday. Bains, who was visiting India, was admitted at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest around two weeks back.
Renowned for producing the first multimedia encyclopaedia on Sikhism in 1996, Bains also set up first multimedia Sikh museum at Khadoor Sahib and made efforts to create awareness on Aids, drugs and environment conservation.
For his services, he was conferred with the ‘Order of British Columbia’, ‘Prime Minister Award’ and ‘Governor General Caring Award’ by the Canadian government, while Akal Takht gave him the title of ‘Sikh Scholar of Computer Age’. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Avtar Singh said Bains’ demise is a big loss to the Sikh community.