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 aba Isher Singh Ji was born village of Jhorran, Tehsil Jagraon, district Ludhiana on March 26,
1916 to the respected S. Bagga Singh J i and
Bibi Partap Kaur Ji. It is said that from
birth Baba Ji’s soul merged with a higher
spirituality. He continuously mediated
with a merciful, peaceful heart that was
imbued with an unparalleled spiritual
energy bestowed on his shoulders by Akal
Purakh himself.
Baba Isher Singh Ji had four
brothers and two sisters and from his
early childhood days, he was focused
on a deeper, more superior existence,
devoting his deeds to a lifestyle founded
by Guru Nanak Sahib. From the earliest
age, Baba Ji would assemble children of
the same age and partake in spiritual
discussions and the recitation of Gurbani
and Path. In his youth days, Baba Ji
started helping his mother and father in
running the household and performed
traditional agricultural work but would
forever attune his concentration to the
intoxicating ambrosial nectar of Naam
Simran while doing his tasks.
Baba Isher Singh Ji continued to
share his divine insights with local
residents and worked rigorously to
provide earnings, food and belongings to
all. He saw God’s light in all and forever
yearned to be in the presence and Sewa of
Gursikhs.
In 1929, Baba Nand Singh Ji of
Nanaksar-Kaleran came to village
Jhorran, as part of the Amrit Parchar
campaign. It was during this visit that,
destiny played a role in the meeting of two
great minds. This initial visit was of an
angelic nature. Baba Nand Singh Ji saw
the light of Sikhi shine in the younger
Baba Isher Singh Ji and instantly
commenced his praise of the young saint.
While residing at Village Jhorran, Baba
Nand Singh Ji remarked that he needed a
chief attendant who was young, pious and
of a religious disposition from that
village. He further added that the
attendant should be a man of firm
determination and capable of
entertaining the fear and anger of the
Master as well as love for him.
After their work on the family lands,
each of Baba Ji’s brothers was granted a
reward for their service in harvesting the
wheat crop. However, Baba Ji used his
entire share in preparing Parshad for the
offering of Baba Nand Singh Ji at
Nanaksar-Kaleran. His longing for
Service and Simran increased manifold.
Baba Nand Singh Ji asked Baba Ji's
mother “how many sons do you have” to
which she replied “five." Immediately
Baba Nand Singh Ji questioned whether
she could "spare one for sewa” to which
she affirmatively replied in hukam. Baba
Isher Singh had his prayers answered.
From this moment onwards, Baba
Isher Singh Ji served as the most devoted
Gurmukh Sewadar (personal attendant)
to Baba Nand Singh Ji. Baba Ji's sewa and
responsibilities increased rapidly and
when he was just 27, Baba Isher Singh Ji
became the Hazoori (chief) Sewadar. Baba
Ji's soul was abundant in Naam Simran
and he used this undying commitment to
serve Baba Nand Singh Ji with
unmatched devotion. Baba Ji was always
attentive while on duty as the Hazoori
Sewadar and he performed his sewa
through treacherous domains barefoot
without ever uttering a single complaint.
He sacrificed all personal comforts and
was ever vigilant towards his duties.
Prior to Baba Nand Singh Ji left for
his heavenly abode in 1943, he assembled
his closest sewadars (associates) and
uttered that Baba Isher Singh Ji had
performed perfect sewa and was the only
one entrusted to take further the mission
of Guru Nanak Sahib. Baba Nand Singh
Ji instructed them to show utmost respect
to Baba Isher Singh Ji. Upon Baba Nand
Singh Ji's departure to heaven, Baba Ji
could not bear the separation and
returned to a place outside of Village
Jhorran and devoted himself to seven
years of continuous recitations of the Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Without the
presence of a true master, Nanaksar
turned into a different place. Initially,
Baba Ji had no desire to occupy the
location due to the misuse it encountered
at the hands of selfish and irresponsible
people. Furthermore, the sacred system
of worship imprinted by Baba Nand
Singh Ji had been tarnished by
wrongdoers. In response to the decline of
the shrine, humble devotees congregated
at Village Jhorran to earnestly request
Baba Ji to restore the sanctity of the holy
place.
Baba Isher Singh Ji engraved a
whole new chapter and set Nanaksar’s
maryada in impervious stone. In addition
to the Kirtan and Akand Paths of the Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Baba Ji also
started Nitnem and Kirtan at many other
Gurdwaras situated at Jhorran, Bhadaur,
Barnala, Barundi, Samadh Bhai,
Dehradun, Ludhiana, and Seerah.
Baba Isher Singh Ji’s legacy coupled
two fundamental tenets which hold the
key to salvation in this life and beyond. In
the first, Baba Ji stressed the ceaseless
message of Guru Nanak Sahib
concerning universal brotherhood and
doing well for all. He emphasized the
eternal spirituality of the Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji and explained that in
order to escape the clutches of physical
and emotional suffering, one must
confine in the teachings and recognize the
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the living
divinity of our ten Gurus and that one
should never distinguish between the
divine scripture and our Guru Ji’s as they
are of an identical roop, jot and atma
(body, light and soul). The second legacy
specifies the necessity of giving your
head to Guru Gobind Singh Ji through
taking him as your father through the
process of Amrit and attaining true
liberation to surpass the fear of death. |
Baba Isher Singh Ji strongly
emphasized the need to become
Amritdhari. He would visit countless
villages and cities throughout India to
advance his Amrit Parchar, and the
scenes witnessed at these locations were
truly staggering as entire villages would
come to a halt, and all persons (young or
old) would flock to his diwans in the
masses to take the holy nectar from the
Panj (five) Pyare.
Baba Isher Singh Ji had such a
magnetic attraction in his saintly eyes
that one would totally surrender after his
holy darshan. Many non-believers came
to him for discussion and to debate their
ideologies but in an instant they fell at his
holy feet and begged for sanctuary in the
house of Guru Nanak Sahib. There were
always huge gatherings in hundreds of
thousands wherever he held his diwans
(from Northern. Eastern. Western, and
Southern India). Baba Ji always began his
discourses with a Shabad. followed by
Kirtan and Katha.
Baba Isher Singh Ji's mission was to
propagate Bani (Daily Prayers) and Bana
(by becoming an Amritdhari Sikh). To
give one example. Baba Ji once went to
Kanpur, and the devotees came out there
with an industrialist, who owned acres of
lands and many factories. The devotees
spoke very highly of this individual and
informed Baba Ji of his great wealth and
financial achievements. After their
discussion, Baba Ji asked the
businessman about how much time he
devotes to Gurbani. He replied that he has
no time since he has a very busy schedule
due to his business ventures. After
hearing his response, Baba Ji responded
back in an instant, “The devotees were
telling me that you are very wealthy and
gifted, however, in my opinion, you're
nothing more than bankrupt.”
To give another example. Baba Isher
Singh Ji went to Patna Sahib during his
voyage to Calcutta. There was an
individual who came for the first time to
have Baba Ji's darshan and listen to his
holy discourses. He was a clean shaven
man whose name was Bakhshi Singh. He
was a very wealthy and successful
businessman who owned his own
transport company. He was immediately
awestruck by the depth and substance of
the discourses received. After the initial
encounter, Bakhshi Singh started coming
to Baba Ji's diwan everyday as he longed
to hear more anecdotes to improve his
existence. However, after a couple of days.
Baba Ji announced at his diwan that he
would be continuing his journey to
Calcutta. In front of the entire sangat,
Bakhshi Singh stood up and requested
Baba Ji with folded hands to give both the
town and himself another week. Baba Ji
told Bakhshi Singh he would agree to his
request only if he makes some
contribution to him. Bakhshi Singh
thought that since many saints had come
and gone from Patna Sahib, he could use
his previous methodologies and give a
lump cash amount in return for another
day or week. Realizing that he was very
wealthy and that any offering was in his
range, Bakhshi Singh agreed to give Baba
Ji any donation.
At his agreement, Baba Ji said,
'Bakhshi Singh, What you have thought of
in your head is nothing compare to what
I'm looking for. My offering is way more
than you could ever imagine". Bakhshi
Singh was startled by Baba Ji's statement,
but again thought of doubling his last
offer and once more spoke in front of the
entire sangat that he was in complete
agreement with Baba Ji's bheta (offering).
However, Baba Ji again questioned
Bakhshi Singh’s contribution, and said
‘‘our demand is way more than what you
have thought of this time around also.”
Again, Bakhshi Singh agreed to whatever
bheta Baba Ji would ask, and again
reiterated that he would definitely give
the donation, and said he “will not back
away from his word.”
Baba Ji again asked (one final time)
"Bakhshi Singh, you’re giving me your
word in front of everyone, so think once
again, and don't back out." When he
agreed for the last time, Baba Ji shocked
him by telling him, "I'm not here to collect
your money I'm asking you to become an
Amritdhari along with your family so you
could devote your time to the Guru as in
spite of your wealth and business, I've
never met a man as poor as you."
Immediately, Bakhshi Singh in awe and
disbelief at what had just happened (as for
the first time in his life, his wealth was
considered worthless) started to cry and
pleaded for eternal forgiveness. Baba Ji
stayed at Patna Sahib for another week
and administered Bakhshi Singh and his
family with the holiest gift imaginable
Kaligdhar's Amrit.
Baba Ji incessantly affirmed that
Sikhi cannot be demolished by anyone, in
fact, those who try to demolish Sikhi will
get annihilated themselves.
In spite of the hundreds of
thousands of people to witness Baba Isher
Singh Ji’s Amrit Parchar at any given
time, there were strict orders in place for
no advertising or announcements to be
made.
Baba Ji addressed his last
congregation at Nanaksar in the Diwan
of Pooranmashi on October 3, 1963.
During this most divine discourse, Baba
Ji gave countless indications that he
would soon leave to merge in Guru Nanak
Charna. Three days later, on October 7,
1963, three days later, when he was only 47
years old, after the evening '
Kirtan Darbar, Baba Ji's
soul returned home.
Principal Balbir Singh
Hansra
M.A.
E-Mail: [email protected]
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