In January this year, Indian student Amritpal Singh Sidhu, who was behind the wheel of the truck that killed 66-year-old Gurbir Singh in 2017, was given a 14-month suspended sentence by the West Australian District Court and urged by the Judge to “make the best of life.”
Reacting to the sentencing, Mr Singh’s Perth-based son, Harpreet Singh told SBS Punjabi that he and his entire family never harboured any “ill-feelings” for Mr Sidhu and have always wished the best for him and his family.
“Sikh values teach us to forgive and move on, we don’t ever seek revenge,” said Mr Harpreet Singh who believes his late father would not have wanted them to dwell on his death.
“Since the time of the incident, I have always been saying that I don’t believe what he did was intentional. We should not blame someone and just keep faith in the justice system and of course the higher justice that ‘He’ delivers,” said Mr Singh. 
Sixty-six-year-old Gurbir Singh was a bank manager and a well-known philanthropist from Chandigarh in the northern part of India; he was returning from a beach when the car he was travelling in along with his brother and nephew was crushed between two trucks.
Gurbir Singh with his grandaughter Source: Supplied
While the other two passengers survived, Mr Singh died on the spot.
“I’d always remember my father as a man with the kindest heart and someone who was everyone’s best friend irrespective of their economic or social backgrounds,” said Harpreet Singh.
“He was an institution within himself, a passionate social worker and an educationist who had a penchant for helping people,” Mr Singh added. 
When questioned if had ever met Mr Sidhu during the trial, Mr Singh informed that Mr Sidhu had once approached him to seek his family’s ‘forgiveness’.
Amritpal Singh Sidhu, 23, leaves the WA District Court on Thursday, January 17, 2019 after he was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months over Source: AAP image/Angie Raphael
“We have prayed for him and have remained neutral throughout the trial, leaving the decision to the judge’s discretion,” said Mr Singh.
Mr Singh claims that his unwavering faith has unknowingly inspired many people to explore more about the Sikh faith.
“After I said it out loud in the media that I wish the best for Sidhu, many people have approached me and other Sikhs wanting to know about our belief system. They are curious to know what is it that made me forgive him so easily,” said Mr Singh.
“The reason is that I have always believed that every obstacle that comes your way is there to teach you a lesson and to test the human potential. So, one should always focus on that teaching and not the obstacle.”
But this does not mean that his death has not left an impact, conceded Mr Singh who has a word of caution for all other Indian drivers.
“Be mindful while on the road and please follow the law, and do not resort to illegal means to obtain drivers’ licences,” he said.
