Glimpses of Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji

8/13/2019 Glimpses of Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji

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Glimpses of Baba Thakur Singh Jee

1915-2004


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The Sikh nations respected religiouspersonality, Baba Thakur Singh Jeewas born in 1915, village Eechogill,Dist Lahore (Pakistan) to the respectedBaba Bahadur Singh and Mata PremKaur Jee.

Both his parents were Amritdharee,who recited many prayers daily and hadunshakeable faith in Guru Sahib. Afterthe partition they came to India, wherein village Sadaruala, near Makhu, DistFerozepur, they started to live. From birthBaba jee was forever meditating, merciful,peaceful hearted, imbued with spiritualenergy and had unshakeable faith in GuruJee.

From a young age, they would not wastetheir time playing or talking. When a littleolder, Baba Jee began helping his motherand father in running the household.Whilst conducting his chores he wouldforever attune his concentration to the oneintoxicating Naam Simran.

From childhood, Baba Jee would share hisearnings, food and belongings with othersas he saw Gods light in all and alwaysinspired others to become engrossedin Seva and Simran. Baba Jees mind

forever longed to be in the precence andseva of a true Gursikh/Brahmgiani. They

learnt through others that BrahmgianiSant Gurbachan Singh Jee Khalsa alongwith his Jatha were doing Sikhi Parcharand that they are respected for havingprofound knowledge and have the graceof Satguru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee.

Baba Jee left home and went to Bhindra inDist Moga where Khalsa Jee resided (SantGurbachan Singh Jee will be referred to asKhalsa Jee henceforth); whilst there BabaJee took Amrit from Panj Pyare. KhalsaJee recognised Baba Jees spiritual stateand thus put him in charge of Langar, thisseva was performed with much love andcommitment and after 2 years of Seva,Khalsa Jee accepted Baba Jee into the

Jatha and taught him the knowledge ofGod.

Until Khalsa Jee went to Sachkand (abodeof truth, after leaving their mortal frame),Baba Jee did Seva of Garveye (closeassociate) for 22 years; Khalsa Jee beinghappy with this Seva blessed Baba Jeewith many gifts. They blessed him with agreat spiritual state and said, A time willcome, when you will perform the greatestSeva of all.

After Khalsa Jee went to sachkand, BabaJee carried on his Seva of Langer of theSangat/congregation with Sant Giani

Kartar Singh Jee Khalsa and foreverremained imbued in Naam Simran. SantGiani Kartar Singh Jee had much respectfor Baba Jee & would discuss decisions tobe made, with Baba Jee.

This time was a critical period for Sikhsas there were many efforts being made tosilence the Sikh community, as a polit icaland faith group. Sant Kartar Singh JeeKhalsa held 37 major processions whichwoke the sleeping Sikh masses to realisetheir identity, as Saint Soldiers.

They blessed him with a great spiritual state andsaid, A time will come,when you will perform the

greatest Seva of all.

Baba Thakur Singh Jee(1915-2004)

Baba Jees early life

This brief sketch of Baba Thakur Singh Jees life has been written on the 5 th Barsi of their passing (2009). It aimsto highlight in brief some of the greatness of Baba Jee and has been written in a form in which, the reader canhopefully take practical lessons.

Please forgive my mistakes in trying to write about Baba Jees Jeevan, please do send us your experiences with BabaJee and feedback on this attempt, so we can try and make a more comprehensive biography in the future. The frontcover picture is the last Gurfateh that Baba Jee uttered to UK Sangat at Heathrow Airport in 2004.

A special thanks is made to www.kalexiko.com for the design and artwork for this publication. Thank you also toSarbjeet Singh and Palvinder Kaur in proof-reading the drafts of this short biography and their insightful feedback

Harjinder Singh (Walsall) December 2009

www.akaalpublishers.com


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Daily Recitals & Living

In terms of Baba Jees spiritual prowessand daily living, Baba Jee neverseparated himself from the recitationof Gurbani. The recitation of Gurbaniwas kept continuous in the presenceof Baba Jee and they used to talk withothers very little, Sevadars would reciteGurbani all day and night in accordanceto Baba Jees wishes.

Even at night when Baba Jee used tosleep, which was never more than acouple of hours, the recitation of Gurbanicontinued. During Baba Jees life theirdaily Nitnem changed, but as a basicguide they used to recite the whole ofthe Panj Granthi and then spend the restof the day doing JapJee Sahib, Sukhmani

Sahib or Chaupai Sahib Recitals.

If they were not listening or recitingGurbani, they would be either listeningto Kirtan from Sri Darbar Sahib (GoldenTemple) on TV or listening to Katha, thesewere the 3 basic ingredients of their dailylifestyle. Anyone who visited or met BabaJee would bear witness to this. Baba Jeewas a re ection of the following verses:

What are they like - those who do not forget the Naam, the Name of the Lord?Know that there is absolutely no difference; they are exactly like the Lord.(Raag Aasa, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee, 397)

Those who do not forget the Lord, with each breath and morsel of food, whoseminds are lled with the Mantra of the Lords Name- They alone are blessed; O Nanak, they are the perfect

Humility

Baba jee was an epitome of humility, Sikhiis founded upon humility which is requiredto efface ego, Maharaj says,

The humble beings abide in peace;subduing egotism, they are meek.The very proud and arrogantpersons, O Nanak, are consumed bytheir own pride.(Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee, Guari, Sukhmani

Sahib, 278)

The God-conscious being is steepedin humility.(Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee, Guari, Sukhmani

Sahib, 273)

Gursikhs would make requests for BabaJee to visit their houses, so they couldbless their home and the family couldthen serve Baba Jee and the Sangat,with Langar. When visiting such homes,sometimes the families would go to greatlengths and make elaborate arrangements,

of fancy throws, sofas and beds with anarray of cushions.

On many occasions Baba Jee wouldignore the arrangements and just go andsit on the oor. Upon entering the house

the Singhs with Baba Jee would takeover the seva of serving Langar and servethe family and other Sangat present atthe house, many times Baba Jee wouldthemselves serve the Langar to theSangat.

Baba Jee would also give respect toGursikhs when they visited him. Baba Jeeand the Singhs who were their sevadarswould request visiting Gursikhs to say,

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru JeeKee Fateh and not bow down to BabaJee, Baba Jee would reply Vaheguru JeeKa Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh to allthat visited him. When uttering the FatehBaba Jee would always bow their head inreverence and clasp their hands.

Baba Jee would then give visiting Gursikhsofferings of fruit or whatever Parshadwas present. When they were pleasedand wanted to bless Gursikhs they wouldsometimes give boxes of fruit directly to

one person at a time. Sometimes BabaJee would force Gursikhs to sit alongsidethem on their asan/ bed, so as to beseated on a par to them and not to beseated any lower than them.

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Only Baba Jee knows what virtues hesaw in these Gursikhs whom he gavean elevated status to. Some of theseGursikhs would be famous but manywould seem to be your everyday Sikh toa person with normal sight, and not thesight of spiritual grace that Baba Jee had.

When Sant Gurbachan Singh Jee left hismental frame and passed away, SantKartar Singh Jee was appointed the nextJathedar of Damdami Taksal (see http://

www.damdamitaksaal.org/audio/index.php?q=f&f=%2FKatha%2FSant+Giani+Gurbac han+Singh+Jee+Khalsa and then open the link saying Passing Taksals Mukhi Seva toSant Kartar Singh Jee)

Sant Gurbachan Singh Jee made this clearbefore his demise and their recordingsfrom divans prove this. Baba Thakur Singh

Jee had fully supported Sant Kartar SinghJees view and a new headquarters ofDamdami Taksal was built at Mehta at theplace where Sant Giani Gurbachan SinghJee breathed their last. Giani Mohan SinghJee and a lot of the other Taksal Singhsthought that he himself should be the nextJathedar of Damdami Taksal. Thus GianiMohan Singh Jee was declared the next

leader of the Taksal by a break off faction;they retained control of the headquartersof Damdami Taksal (at the time) at BhindraKalan.

During Baba Jees tenure as the leader ofDamdami Taksal, the Jatha was passingthrough the area near to Bhindra and theSinghs did a supplication to Baba Jee,that they wanted to visit the Gurdwara atBhindran and see the Akaal Kothi (wherestudents of the Taksal had been blessedwith the darshan/presence and sightof the 10 Gurus). Baba Jee acceptedtheir desire. The Singhs and Baba Jeeproceeded to tour the Gurdwara and hadsight of the room (Akaal Kothi) whereSant Sundar Singh Jee Bhindra Vale (11 th Jathedar of the Taksal) had made all thestudents of Damdami Taksal at the timehave the blessed sight of all the Ten GuruSahibs.

Guru Sahib had blessed Sant SundarSingh Jee with their presence in the formof all 10 Gurus and then Sant SundarSingh Jee got all the Singhs to also have

their blessed sight (Darshan) (see KhalsaJeevan by Sant Kartar Singh Jee, for thefull version of this occurrence). One ofthe old custodians of Bhindra, who knewBaba Jee from their earlier days, was veryoffensive to Baba Jee. He spoke veryharsh words, but Baba Jee ignored hiscomments and acted in humility, sayingnothing and they also told the Singhs not

to react. Baba Jee chose rather to followBhagat Fareed Jees advice:

Fareed, do not turn around andstrike those who strike you withtheir sts. Kiss their feet, and returnto your own home.(Bhagat Fareed Jee Saloks, 1378)

Fareed, answer evil with goodness;do not ll your mind with anger.

Your body shall not suffer fromany disease, and you shall obtaineverything.(Bhagat Fareed Jee Saloks, 1381)

Baba Jee proceeded to the building whereGiani Mohan Singh Jee resides, howeverthe outer gate was locked and Baba Jeehad requested Giani Jees company tohave a chat, but Giani Jee chose notcome out to talk. Baba Jee from the outergate made a humble supplication to GianiMohan Singh Jee and said in a loud voiceGiani Jee the world is burning in the reof kaljug, please do parchaar of gursikhiand be benevolent. The Singhs thenproceeded to leave Bhindra.

This was the greatness of Baba Jee, hedid not go to Bhindra and try taking theGurdwara by force as he could have done,but instead Baba Jee went and said youare a great Giani (man of knowledge)please do parchaar (preaching) and letsmove on from the past. At the time of

Baba Jees visit, the administration ofBhindra was in a pitiful state as the JathaSinghs had a dispute with the villagersand there was a heightened situation ofcon ict. Giani Mohan Singh Jee was notdoing parchaar and was very reclusive atthe time. Subsequently, now Giani MohanSingh does Katha at least once a monthat Bhindra.

Baba Jee had an organisational/ strategicimpact upon Gurmat Parchaar and Sikhpolitical life in a number of ways. Firstand foremost Baba Jee led DamdamiTaksal for a turbulent 20 years (duringthe 80s and early 90s, the Sikh freedommovement led to many Sikhs taking toarms in militancy).

After Operation Blue Star, Baba Jee hadto go underground, due to the extremepressure the Damdami Taksal was

under and the murderous attitude ofthe government regime. For 12 monthsBaba Jee lived with a number of Gursikhfamilies, whom he personally trusted,Baba Jee would stay with each family for

8-12 weeks and then change location.For 12 months (June 1984 June 1985,)Baba Jee kept a low pro le, after which hetook up the leadership of Damdami Taksal.Sant Jarnail Singh Jee Bhindra Vale hadalready stated that the leadership ofDamdami Taksal was that of Baba ThakurSingh Jees in their absence and that no-one should question the actions of BabaJee, please see;

http://www.damdamitaksaal.org/audio/

Katha/Sant%20Giani%20Jarnail%20Singh%20Jee%20Khalsa/Sant%20

Jees%20Anmol%20Bachan/SANT%20 JEES%20ANMOL%20BACHAN.mp3to hear the full recording.

Organisational impact

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Thus there was no opposition to BabaJee taking up this role, within the Singhsof Damdami Taksal as they already knewof Sant Jees guidance. Baba Jee wasalready highly respected and regardedby the Singhs who were students ofDamdami Taksal. Baba Jee was the onewho had appointed Sant Jarnail Singh Jeeas the 14 th Jathedar of Damdami Taksal,before the demise of Sant Kartar SinghJee He had stated that the leadership ofthe Taksal is that of Baba Thakur Singhsand they can give it to whoever theyfeel t. Subsequently after Sant KartarSingh Jee left their mortal frame Baba

Jee immediately appointed Sant JarnailSingh Jee the next leader of DamdamiTaksal. Sant Jee would rise when BabaJee entered the room that they wereresiding in, and would also say to theSinghs that if you want to see God, thendo Darshan of Baba Thakur Singh Jee,this was the respect that Sant JarnailSingh Jee bestowed upon Baba Jee. SantJee would take Baba Jees guidance onall major decisions that they made, as didSant Kartar Singh Jee during their tenureas the leader of the Taksal.

In accordance with Baba Jees in uenceand role, when RaJeev Gandhi cameinto power he wanted to try and diffusethe situation with the Sikhs and he senta delegation to Baba Jee, to discuss

bringing an end to the insurgency. BhaiMokham Singh was well aware of theleading advisors coming to meet BabaJee and he was quite concerned with thesituation, he feared Baba Jee may justignore the advisors and not even entertaindialogue with them. The meeting wasarranged to take place at Mehta, howeverBaba Jee was in Amritsar at the timeand thus he had to travel to get back toMehta (about a 30 minute drive). Whenthe advisors came they said that thegovernment wants to discuss ending theSikh insurgency, Baba Jee simply askedthem, Where have you come from?

Advisors: We have come fromDelhi

Baba Jee: Did you get stopped on your way from Delhi toMehta?

Advisors: No

Baba Jee: Well I have just comefrom Amritsar and mycar was stopped and

searched 7 times, you

want peace with us, stop this discrimination and then we willconsider dialogue.

Baba Jee did not entertain them withanymore conversation and they want backto RaJeev Gandhi with their tales betweentheir legs.

In 1986 Baba Jees advice was soughtof how the movement should be takenforward and Baba Jee said 5 Singhsshould be appointed to lead the Panth(nation). Subsequently on 26 th January1986 a Sarbat Khalsa (gathering of theSikh Nation) was called and a PanthicCommittee was formed (committeecomprising 5 Singhs, Bhai Aroor Singh,Bhai Gurdev Singh Usman Vala, Baba

Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, BhaiVassan Singh Zafferwal & Bhai DhannaSingh). After Operation Blue Star thegovernment was in a hurry to bringnormality to Punjab or diffuse the situationand in their haste they sponsored BabaSanta Singh of Buddha Dal to re-build thedesecrated and damaged Sri Akaal TakhatSahib. The Sikh nation was outraged,that, rst the government destroys Sri

Akaal Takhat Sahib, and then quickly re-builds it, by sponsoring Baba Santa Singhwith a lucrative budget. This added fuel tothe re of the attack on the dignity of theSikhs, and as a result, the Sikhs decidedto tear down the government built Sri

Akaal Takhat Sahib.

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The Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib was buil tby the 6th Guru, Sri Guru Har GobindSahib Jee, Baba Buddha jee and BhaiGurdas Jee, in its original form as the

Akaal Bunga. Only true worshippers of Akaal (the immortal Lord) can build orbe custodians of the re-building of Sri

Akaal Takhat Sahib, which is what SriGuru Har Gobind Sahib Jee had uttered

when the original structure was built,

hence only Baba Buddha Jee and BhaiGurdas Jee were allowed to assist in itsbuilding. The Akaal Takhat is the highesttemporal seat of the Sikh faith and boldlyproclaims the independence of Sikhs inall worldly matters, but obedience to Godand His edicts in matters of faith. Thusthe rebuilding of Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib bythose who had desecrated and attacked

it, was always out of the question.

Initially after the demolition of thegovernment sponsored Sri Akaal TakhatSahib, different Sants were given theseva of re-building it, but none of themwere up to the humongous task ahead ofthem. The re-building had a stop and startfashion to it and in the end Baba Jee tookon the leadership of the re-constructionproject, after which, the re-construction

made steady progress.

As the leader of the Taksal, during theyears of militancy, Baba Jee guided manymilitant organisations who sought hisadvice, Baba Jee attended many overtand covert meetings with the leadersof militant and political organisations.

Alongside supporting the armed struggle,Baba jee also nancially supported thefamilies of Shaheeds as much as he could.In 1999 in a press interview the childrenof Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh Jee (whohad assassinated Indira Gandhi) statedthat it was only Baba Thakur Singh Jeeand the Damdami Taksal who had giventhem true nancial and moral support afterthe passing away of their parents (Bhai

Beant Singh in 1984 and Bibi Bimal KaurJee a few years later). Also Mata HarmeetKaur Jee the wife of Shaheed Bhai AmrikSingh Jee (President of All Sikh StudentsFederation) relied on Baba Jee to support

her in the marriage of her daughter BibiSandeep Kaur, Baba Jee took on thewhole wedding arrangements and MataJee had no stress in organising anything.Baba Jee also brought a car for BhaiTarlochan Singh Jee the son of ShaheedBhai Amrik Singh Jee, saying that A sonof such a great Shaheed should not go tocollege on a bike, scooter or motorcycle.These are just a few examples of therespect given to the families of Shaheeds,the families themselves know the trueextent of the moral, physical and nancialsupport they received.

Many questions have been raised againstBaba Jees role in not declaring SantJarnail Singh Bhindra Vale Shaheed andsome have alleged that this led to manySikhs sitting and waiting for Sant Jee tore-appear. Nowhere did Baba Jee everopenly state to the Sangat, Sant Jee is

coming back, so wait until he comes backand hell take care of all issues relatingto Sikh freedoms. To the contrary SantJee themselves in their speeches openlydeclare that the day that the Indian Armyput their irreverent feet into the precinctsof Sri Harmander Sahib (Golden Temple)to attack it, the Sikhs do not have towait for any call or signal they shouldtake to arms and do what is necessaryimmediately. Similarly notable leading

gures of militancy such as Bhai HarjinderSingh Jinda and Bhai Sukhdev SinghSukha (Sukha and Jinda) believed BabaJees bachan and this went down in theannals of history in their writings (please

see the compilations of their Jail Chiitianletters from jail). Even though theybelieved Baba Jees words about SantJee returning, they remained active in themovement and didnt wait for Sant Jee

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to re-appear they got on with the missionin hand. So the argument about BabaJee stating Sant Jee is still alive stoppedpeople getting involved in the movementis dumbfounded. Bhai Harjinder SinghJinda and Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukhawere very close to Baba Jee. The clothesthey wore when they were hanged weregifted to them from Baba Jee and they felt

honoured to be wearing these clothes fortheir hanging and martyrdom (Shaheedi).

Shaheed Bhai Joginder Singh Harchowalhad been arrested by the Central ReservePolice Force (CRPF) and was incarceratedin Pathankot jail. In the cell that he was in,there was a picture of Baba Deep SinghJee Shaheed. One day he looked up atthe picture and he remembered BabaJee and Mehta. While looking up at thepicture he made a heartfelt supplication(Ardas) and said please help me. Hethought that he will probably get martyredone day, but he wanted to serve the SikhPanth for atleast another year, this was hishearts desire.

After he completed making thissupplication, all of a sudden Baba ThakurSingh appeared in front of him, Baba Jeewas wearing white clothes with a Kirpandrawn from its sheath in their hand. BabaJee said to Joginder Singh that his deathis in Guru Sahibs hands, that whateverMaharaj wants, that will happen.

Baba Jee then told him to escape andthat the security agencies will not be ableto halt his escape. At this time the prisonguards were playing cards outside, thusthey were not paying attention. BhaiJoginder Singh put his hand on the celldoor and to his amazement, the dooropened when he turned the handle. Heslowly started walking out and he gotscared, thinking that if the police askwhere he is going that he will just tell themthat he is going to the toilet. But to hisamazement the police didnt even seehim and he walked straight past them.

He then reached the exterior wall of theprison, he couldnt jump over the wallbecause his body was in such a terriblestate after being tortured. All of a suddenheavy winds started and he reached theother side of the wall with the assistanceof the wind, it was like someone hadthrown him over the wall. At that pointoutside there were more police of cerssurrounding the area, but still no one couldsee him. He made his escape on footand after about 4km he came to a villagethat he was familiar with, he entered thevillage and borrowed some money andwent straight to Mehta. When he arrivedat Mehta, Baba Jee was standing at thegates waiting for him. Baba Jee heldhis hand and took him to their room andasked how he was and then fed him

Langar. Baba Jee in his humility deniedhelping Bhai Joginder Singh when henarrated what had happened and how he

had escaped from jail. But Bhai JoginderSingh knew the truth and told otherGursikhs of how he had been helped,he served the Panth for a little longer ashe wished and then attained Shaheedi(martyrdom).

Baba Jee always came across as a verysimple Gurmukh, Gurmukhs have thefollowing traits,

Listening to the teachings of the Guru,the Sikh becomes wise internallythough apparently he looks a simpleton.

He with full care keeps hisconsciousness attuned to the Word andlistens to nothing except the words ofGuru.(Bhai Gurdas Jee, Vaar 4)

No-one could have ever guessed thatBaba Jee was involved in militancy orsupported it, he seemed like a very

peaceful Saint, who cared not for worldlymatters and was just imbued in Naam.

Those who were involved and thosewho are still involved, although, know acompletely different story. To learn moreone should approach Singhs recentlyarrested in militancy and even thoseinvolved in the freedom struggle who canspeak of their personal experiences withBaba Jee.

One should although approach peoplefrom a wide array of Jathebandhis/ organisations and you will be shocked tolearn of the diversity of those who visitedand sought Baba Jees advice.

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In comparison to Sant Jarnail SinghJee, Baba Jee did not openly opposethe government and chose to speakvery little, so Babe Jee very quietly wentabout their work whereas Sant Jee wasin direct con ict with the government ofthe day. The difference of Baba Jee andSant Jee was their style of leadership, butthe ultimate aim was the same to get

Sikhs their rights and freedom.In the year2000 a Sikh wanted for militant activitieswas traced to be present at GurdwaraGurdarshan Parkash and the policesurrounded the Gurdwara. Baba Jee wasfurious and he came out shouting at thepolice, You think you can nd somethingincriminating here, look where you want!Singhs open all the rooms so they cansearch Baba Jee was well aware of thepresence of the Singh in the Gurdwaraand he was discreetly taken to the back ofthe Gurdwara and he entered the villagelanes and escaped unscathed.Outside of India, Sikhs across the globewere also affected by events in Punjaband were themselves, awoken to theirnationhood, and duties as Sikhs. Inthe UK- the International Sikh YouthFederation (ISYF) was set up by SinghSahib Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode in 1985.

Subsequently the ISYF becamefactionalised into 3 groupings. WhenBaba Jee rst came to the UK in 1996the 3 factions were very opposed to oneanother, they would all meet Baba Jee and

discuss Panthic affairs with them. A point came when all 3 groupingswere complaining of being politicallyattacked by groups who opposed them,theologically and politically, and BabaJee said to them you will continue tobe attacked until you unite and becomeone voice. Discussions were held by thefactions and under Baba Jees guidancethey became uni ed once again, and tothis day they continue to be so.

Under Baba Jees leadership two furtherGurdwaras were built. Gurdwara Shaheed

Ganj B-block was built in Sri Amritsar inmemory of the Shaheeds of the encounterwith Nakali Nirankaris of 1978. At Sri

Anandpur Sahib on Kiratpur Sahib Roada Gurdwara was built to bene t visitingSangats.

The Damdami Takal in its simplest senseis a school for education in Sikh principles

and ethics. The mode of education isto get students to rst become uentin Gurmukhi and then to take GurbaniSanthiya (become pro cient in the correctpronunciations of Gurbani), and to

eventually become educated as a Granthi(reader of Gurbani), Raagi (hymn singer),

Kathavachak (preacher) or Dhadi (bardsinger). Students while being educatedalso have to live a life according to Gurmatprinciples and attend Diwans and do Sevain the Gurdwara Sahib.

When the freedom struggle of Sikhs lostmomentum, particularly so after 1992,

the Damdami Taksal returned to itscore function of educating Sikhs in theaforementioned roles. Under Baba Jeesleadership many Sikhs were educatedas Granthis, Kathavachaks and Kirtanis.

Damdami Taksaal - An Educational Institute

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Between the years 1996-2004 on averagethere were approximately 250 studentsannually being educated by the Taksal.

Additionally, Jathas of Singhs were sentacross India and the globe to do GurmatParchaar and many Amrit Sanchaars(initiation ceremonies) were held. BabaJee thus invigorated Sikhi Parchaar(propagation of faith) by facilitating the

education of countless Gursikhs. Themany Gianis, Kirtanis and Granthis acrossthe world can attest to this fact.

In 1999 many Amrit Sanchars were heldand miracles such as Amrit coming out ofthe walls were witnessed by those gettinginitiated, this happened on a number ofoccasions during Baba Jees leadership,but it was very prevalent in 1999. BabaJee used to ensure that those Singhswho conducted Amrit Sanchaars were ofa strong discipline and at times Baba Jeewould order them to do certain numbers ofrecitations.

For example on one visit to Sri HazurSahib Baba Jee told all the Singhs thatthey have to recite 25 Sri JapJee Sahibson a daily basis, whilst they are at SriHazur Sahib and if they dont they willget leprosy. One of the Singhs who wasinvolved in the seva for Amrit Sanchaarschose not to do the full 25 Sri JapJeeSahibs and a few Singhs were suspiciousof this, they asked him and he wouldntgive a straight answer and they said you

should accept Baba Jees command. A few days passed like this and thenthey noticed he had started developingdeformities on his skin, they then scornedhim and told him you are getting leprosy,dont waste any more time, get yourrecitation on track and catch up, on theSri JapJee Sahib recitations that you havemissed. He did this and he made a fullrecovery.

Many people questioned Baba Jeespowers and knowledge, just because theychose to speak very little. Gurbani says:

To speak too much and babble isuseless. Even without our speaking, Heknows everything.(Raag Dhanasree, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee,661)

The Sikh of the Guru speaks less,sleeps less and eats little.(Bhai Gurdas Jee, Vaar 32)

They also say Baba Jee did not teachGursikhs himself, but those who met or did

Sangat of Baba Jee would see the lifestyleof a true Gursikh in front of their eyes, thuslearn by seeing true Gurskhi Jeevan (Sikhlifestyle). Baba Jee would teach thosewho wanted to learn from them and thosewho did their Sangat would be given new

teachings everyday. Just spending oneday with Baba Jee would tire a normalperson, the non-stop reading of Gurbaniand doing Sangat, which is all that theydid, they did not like wasting their breathby talking but chose rather to engrossevery second in to devotion.

One Gursikh did get Santhiya (learning thecorrect pronunciations) off Baba Jee, andmany did think about getting Santhia offBaba Jee, but were too scared of followingtheir commands on the level of recitationrequired and they would not tolerate anyslackness in the student.

In the Pothi (anthology) Gurbani PaathDarpan, the Taksal Maryada (conduct) forlearning Santhiya is outlined, it states thatwhen having Santhiya the student shouldread the relevant sections of Gurbani

Paath Darpan 25 times (this is to checkpronunciations and learn where to pauseand take breath) and then read the GurbaniPaath that they are having Santhiya of 25times as well.

For example if one were having Santhiya of10 Ang of Sri Guru Granth Sahib on a dailybasis, this level of recitation would takethe average person 6-8 hours. But havingSanthiya from Baba Jee was even stricter,the Gursikh who did have Santhiya fromBaba Jee was only taught 2-3 Angs and

then he used to have to go away and readthose 2-3 Angs for about 8 hours at a timeand then return for his next lesson.

Even those Gursikhs who used to reciteGurbani to Baba Jee on a daily basiswould be told of their mistakes in theirrecitations and once Baba Jee made onesuch Sikh recite Sri Jaap Sahib 100 timesas he had minor pronunciation errors.

In terms of other organisational impactsthe Damdami Taksal has been opposedto the interference with Sikh affairs by

political parties and especially so in thecustodianship of Gurdwaras. Many Sikhsagreed with this view and to increase thepolitical leverage of this voice, Baba Jeecreated the Sant Samaj.

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The Sant Samaj was a coming togetherof an array of saints and traditionalschools of thought (sampradiyas), theyacted as a catalyst for parchaar whendoing joint programmes and had a veryclose relationship with Singh Sahib BhaiRanJeet Singh Jee (ex Jathedar of Sri

Akaal Takhat Sahib).

If any edicts they opposed were underdiscussion by the SGPC, they manageda collective representation and became aforce to be reckoned with.

Sadly after Baba Jees demise, the SantSamaj has little unity and direction.

Respecting Gurbani

When Baba Jee was only a few years oldeveryone in his village noticed he wasdifferent from ordinary children. Insteadof spending time talking or playing BabaJee would immerse himself in Seva andin Naam Simran at all times. One time asthe children were playing outside, somevillagers saw Baba Jee carrying someplanks of wood. They began to wonderwhat Baba Jee was doing.

Using a few tools he had borrowed fromsomeone Baba Jee started to work on

the wood he had bought while constantlykeeping the name of Akaal Purakh onhis lips. After a few days Baba Jee had

nished his work, and the villagers whowere watching what Baba Jee was doing,saw that he had made a Manjee Sahib(small throne). Baba Jee took this ManjeeSahib into his house and placed a newcloth on it, along with a new RumallaSahib. When he had done this he placedhis Gutka Sahib (small prayers anthology)on the throne. Baba Jee also made aChaur Sahib. After preparing some sweetswith the help of Mata Prem Kaur Jee,Baba Jee called out to all the children inthe village to come to his house.

They were curious as to what Baba Jeehad been doing, so almost all the children

who heard Baba Jees call went to hishouse. As they entered Baba Jees househe asked them to remove their shoes andwash their hands, feet and faces withwater that he had brought in a jug. Hethen took them inside and told them tobow before their Guru (the Gutka Sahib/ Gurbani).

After all the children had done darshanof Guru Sahib and had spent some timereciting Gurbani, Baba Jee began todistribute the sweets that he had prepared

with his mother.

Baba Jee taught the Gursikhs who were lucky enough to do their sangat the following lessons in respecting Gurbani:

Always read Gurbani from an elevated physical position, so for example if you are going to read Gurbani in your living room,1)sit on the sofa which is at highest level from the oor, so that when you are reading Gurbani it is from the highest pointpossible. The aim being that you dont sit on a higher point to conduct worldly actions but then sit on a lower point whenreading Gurbani;

Baba Jee always ensured that the sevadar who would be reciting Gurbani to them was seated on a platform higher than2)them and at the end of the bed where Baba Jees head was, to ensure that Baba Jees feet would not be in the direction ofthe Gutka Sahib or towards where Gurbani was being recited;

Baba Jee always ensured that they never slept with their feet towards Gutka Sahibs or towards photos of elevated Sikh3)personalities that we all respect

Baba Jees advice to all that visited them for anything was always simple; read and recite Gurbani. This is what they did their wholelives and this what they preached. If you want to have a glimpse of the true life of Baba Thakur Singh Jee, I suggest you try spendingone day where you dont talk to anyone and all you do is Simran & Gurbani Paath for 24 hours. Then we may come near to knowingthe exalted state that Baba Thakur Singh Jee had and the spiritual enlightenment that such heartfelt meditations bring.

The passing of Baba Jee has left a void in many peoples lives, which can only be lled by obeying their commands to recite and pray,day and night. We can only become great like them, by doing what they did, live and breathe Sikhi.

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Authors Concluding Remarks

Five years on from the passing of BabaJee, no biography has been written, norhas a true commemoration been builtto them. Unfortunately, at Mehta whereBaba Jee was cremated, there have beenno efforts to build a memorial to them.Instead the current custodians of Mehtahave chosen to put up a billboard aboutthe Taksal at the place of cremation. Wehope and pray that the Sangats wishesto build a commemoration to Baba Jee atMehta are ful lled one day.

Much has been said about Baba Jee andmuch slander has taken place, Guru Sahibin the form of Bhagat Kabeer Jee instructsus:

Slander me, slander me - go ahead,people, and slander me.Slander is pleasing to the Lords humbleservant.Slander is my father, slander is mymother. ||1||Pause||If I am slandered, I go to heaven;The wealth of the Naam, the Name ofthe Lord, abides within my mind.If my heart is pure, and I am slandered,Then the slanderer washes my clothes.||1||

One who slanders me is my friend; theslanderer is in my thoughts.The slanderer is the one who preventsme from being slandered.The slanderer wishes me long life. ||2||I have love and affection for theslanderer.Slander is my salvation.Slander is the best thing for servantKabeer.The slanderer is drowned, while I amcarried across. ||3||20||71||(Raag Gauree, Bhagat Kabeer Jee, 339)

Let no one slander the Saints, becausethe Saints and the Lord are one.(Raag Sohee, Bhagat Kabeer Jee, 793)

We should refrain from idle gossip andslander. Are we ourselves spirituallyelevated to comprehend all that God doesand the ways of His Gurmukhs?We wouldbe better guided to stay quiet on suchmatters or we will ourselves drown asBhagat Kabeer Jee has stated above.

Those Gursikhs who are truly gifted andblessed by Vaheguru (The WonderfulEnlightener) are not subject to vice andvirtue, Maharaj says,

One who knows the Lord in the fourthstate, is not subject to virtue or vice.(Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee, Raag Gauree,943)

These Gursikhs get to a stage called TuriPad or what is commonly referred to asthe fourth state of mind which is aboveRajo, Tamo & Sato Gun (actions of status,passion and virtue). They become trulyimmersed in Vaheguru and become nolonger bound by actions. Maharaj says,

The Supreme Lord (God) and Hisdevotees are one and the same. Thereis no fraction of duality in them (nodifference between them).

(Sri Dasam Guru Granth Sahib, 136)

As it is impossible to describe God andput His praise into words, similarly it isalso a nigh-impossible task of trying todescribe His Gurmukhs. The glimpsesdescribed herein of Baba Jee, are simplythat, glimpses. They are a mere stonesthrow into the ocean that was BabaThakur Singh Jee.

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Documents

Glimpses of Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji