Continued...
First-ever youth Akhand Paath Sahib
From 6th to 9th November 2008, Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK organised the first ever national Sikh youth Akhand Paath Sahib (continuous non-intermittent reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) at Gurdwara Singh Sabha Coventry. The Seva was co-ordinated by Bhenji Daljeet Kaur Ji and Bhai Jaspal Singh Ji from Leicester. The paatth (reading) was recited
solely by the youth, in particular youth who had not done paatth in Sangat before. The Seva was carried out by around 50
Amritdhari Singhs and Singhnian from across the UK. Each
person was allocated 20 Angs (respected word for pages) with an
estimated time depending on the individual's ability. Individuals were given time to practise and seek help with pronunciation beforehand. Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji along with other elder Gursikhs of the Jatha like Bhai Jarnail Singh Ji (Leamington-Spa), Bhai Bhupinder Singh Ji (Coventry) etc. sat in the Sangat and
listened to the entire Paatth to ensure that Gurbani was read
correctly. It was amazing to hear Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji repeat lines
of Gurbani without looking at the computer or any Pothi (scriptural volume) and correcting
Paatthis (readers) where they unintentially made a mistake. It just shows how much
abhiyaas (practice) they had of listening and reading to Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji. The final Ardaas was done by Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji. During the Ardaas he became emotional and tears ran down his face. He was so emotional that at one point he struggled to speak. Bhai Sahib expressed his joy that the youth of UK were now not only able to do Kirtan, but also on their way to becoming Paathis. Perhaps he was reminded of his promise he made to his comrades of the Sikh freedom struggle that he would dedicate his life to building up the Khalsa in the West. After the bhog (completion), Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji, as the Jathedaar of Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK, gave a siropa
(robe of honour) to each and every person who took part in the Seva. Bhai Sahib was a firm believer that along with Naam Simran and Kirtan, a Gursikh should read and also try to understand Gurbani.
ਹਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਜੀਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਪੜਿ ਬੁਝਿ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਵਣਿਆ ॥
I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to those who read of the Lord, who understand and enshrine Him within their minds.
(Maajh M:3, Ang 127)
Final meeting with Bhai Shingara Singh Ji
Bhai Shingara Singh Ji was one of the early Gursikhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha to come to the UK. He moved to the UK in 1963 and was one the few Gursikhs at the time who kept Sarbloh Bibek (discipline of eating food cooked and served by Gursikhs in iron utensils) and wore Khalsa Bana (attire). He had brought a large Sarbloh Baattaa (bowl) and Sarbloh Khanda (double-edged sword) with him from Punjab, and arranged the first Amrit Sanchaar organised by Akhand Kirtani Jatha in the UK. Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji met Bhai Shingara Singh Ji in 1976 in an Amrit Sanchaar organised by Akhand Kirtani Jatha in Southall. Since then, they enjoyed one another's company in walking the Guru's path. Two weeks before Bhai Shingara Singh Ji left this world, he started making all his
arrangements for his funeral. He took a Gursikh with him to a Sikhi shop, DTF in Birmingham, and
brought all his Kakkaars to wear on his funeral day. He also brought the
cloth for his Bana (dress) which he wanted to wear on his funeral, and gave his daughter the tailor's details from whom he wanted to get it sewn from. He organised the Gurdwara for his funeral and also completed a Sehaj Paath (complete reading) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji up to Salok Mahallaa Nauvaa(n). Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji and Bhai Shingara Singh Ji were very good friends. On Wednesday 29th June 2011, Bhai Sahib went to see Bhai Shingara Singh Jee around 7pm, after Bhai Shingara Singh Ji had made a few requests for Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji to come and visit him. Their meeting lasted until 9pm that evening. The following morning after completing Amrit-Vela, Bhai Shingara Singh Ji left this world.
ਜਿਸ ਕੇ ਜੀਅ ਪਰਾਣ ਹਹਿ ਕਿਉ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮਨਹੁ ਵਿਸਾਰੀਐ ॥
ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥੨੦॥
We should not forget that Lord-Master from our minds who has given us our soul and breath. (Whilst your alive,) resolve our own spiritual affairs with our your efforts. ||20||
(Aasa M:1, Ang 474)
The ability to read people's mind
There are numerous accounts of Bhai Sahib being able to read people's minds and know people's inner thoughts. Once Bhai Atma Singh Ji (Coventry) accompanied another Gursikh to Bhai Sahib's house in Leamington Spa. Whilst the other Gursikh was engaged in a conversation with Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji, Bhai Atma Singh Ji had the thought what he should do with his Lareevaar Sencheeaa (small scriptural volumes) as he can now read Gurbani on his devices. Soon as this thought came to him, Bhai Sahib stopped the conversation with the other Gursikh and looked at Bhai Atma Singh Ji, and said, "If you have Sencheeaa at home, then you should read from them!" He then casually carried on his conversation with the other Gursikh. Bhai Atma Singh Ji was left amazed how Bhai Sahib read his thoughts and gave him a timely response. During Amrit Sanchaars Bhai Sahib would know whether someone is telling the truth or lying. This is a quality that many Gursikhs in the past who did Seva in Amrit Sanchaars had. Bhai Manpreet Singh Ji (Derby) shared how someone told Jathedaar Ji that he and his wife had been refused Daat (gift) from the Panj Pyaare (the reason being they were told to wake up Amrit-Vela and keep Rehat for 6 months first). The other Gursikh asked if Jathedaar Ji could tell the Amrit Sanchaar Sevadaars to please bless them with the Guru's gift sooner. Bhai Sahib looked into Bhai Manpreet Singh Ji's eyes and said, "You still believe that you can live and make do without Naam?" Bhai Manpreet Singh Ji shared that he had in the back of his mind that he had already taken Amrit and didn't think Naam was that important, although he was going to the Panj Pyaare to ask for this gift. Bhai Sahib had read his inner thoughts and feelings. This reassured Veer Ji that Naam was important.
ਨਾਨਕ ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਨਿਰਮਲੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਇ ॥੨॥
O Nanak! Those who chant the Lord's Praises 'Vaahu! Vaahu!' become pure and obtain the knowledge of the three worlds (past, present and future). ||2||
(Gujri M:5, Ang 515)
Life partner being Saadh Saangat
Mata Nirmal Kaur Ji, Singhni (wife) of Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji, would always accompany Bhai Sahib when going abroad for Seva or attending Keertan programmes. Mata Nirmal Kaur Ji said to me, "I am so lucky that I was married to Jathedaar Ji. I passed my life with great peace and pleasure. I never had a bad moment with him." Mata Ji said that she never had argument with Bhai Sahib but then she said, "We actually would only have arguments over one topic." She said, "That one topic was... who would wake up Amrit-Vela first." Mata Ji shared that if she woke up at 12am and got in the bathroom first, Jathedaar Ji would call out, "It's my turn first. Have a shower after me." This is the enthusiasm and thirst Bhai Sahib had for Amrit-Vela. Sometimes Mata Ji would wake up 11.45pm so she could get her shower first and sit down first for Simran. She said she would quietly get up and try to enter the bathroom but Bhai Sahib would say from the bedroom, "I can hear you! You know after so many years that its my turn first for a shower and then yours." Both Bhai Sahib and Mata Ji would wake up 12am and sit together to do Naam Abhiaas. After Naam Abhiaas they would recite Nitnem Banis together and then read Sehaj Paath together. Bhai Sahib's Ji's Nitnem included reciting Panj Granthi. They would then take time to do a Sehaj Paath, where one would read the Sehaj Paath from Guru Granth Sahib Ji's Lareevaar Saroop and the other would read the translations of the Paath read from a a Steek Senchee (translation volume) written by Giani Harbans Singh. Every day at 11am they would sit together to watch Kathaa on TV and then discuss what they had learnt. A true couple which personified Gurbani's message of making one's family into Saadh Sangat, the True Company.ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਥਾਨੁ ਬਸੰਤ ਧੰਨੁ ਜਹ ਜਪੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ॥
ਕਥਾ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਅਤਿ ਘਨਾ ਸੁਖ ਸਹਜ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮੁ ॥੩॥
Blessed is that place, and blessed are those who dwell there, where they chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord. The place where the Sermon and the Praises of the Lord take place very often, becomes full of peace and tranquility. ||3||
(Bilaaval M:5, Ang 816)
Love for Gurbani
Bhai Sahib was blessed with being able to memorise a lot of Gurbani. To the point that he could sit in an Akhand Paath and correct the Paathis without looking. Bhai Sahib shared that he memorised Gurbani by writing it down on cards. He would keep these cards with him and refer to them everytime he forgot a line. Whilst driving trucks, Bhai Sahib would put small cards with Gurbani written on them on the dash board and whilst driving he would keep reciting a Shabad over and over again. In this way, he learnt many Banis and many Shabads. Truly, Gurbani was Bhai Sahib's life. Bhai Sahib stressed the importance to memorise Nitnem. Once Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji along with Bhai Rama Singh Ji and other Gursikhs travelled to Thailand to spread the message of Sikhi. On the return flight, there were quite a few Gursikhs
together in the plane.
Suddenly, Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji, who knew Bani by heart, started the Nitnem. Everyone listened to
the Paatth of the Five Banis, One Singh looked at the time and asked, "Bhai Sahib, why did you
start the Nitnem so early?" The England time at the time was 3am. In this way,
due to force of habit, Bani is timed and recorded in the minds of Gursikhs and the Paatth starts
automatically. Bhai Sahib also put equal stress on learning the correct pronunciation and meanings of Gurbani. Once at the Derby Vaisakhi Smaagam, the youth were reciting Nitnem in Sangat at Amrit-Vela. Bhai Sahib spoke to Bhai Hardip Singh Ji from Slough afterwards and said, "Today the youngsters reading Nitnem made so many mistakes. With such incorrect proncunciations how do they expect Gurbani to wash away the filth of their vikaars (corrupt thoughts)? Gurbani is very powerful in cleansing the mind, however only if one reads it correctly."ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੀ ਜਿਸੁ ਕਿਰਪਾਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਵਸੇਹਾ ॥
The spiritual-life giving Bani (Word) of the Perfect True Guru dwells in the heart of one who is blessed by the Guru's Mercy.
(Raamkalee M:5, Ang 961)
Departing for the Guru's Abode
Bhai Sahib became physically weak and was admitted into his hospital in mid-November 2019. In hospital hundreds of Gursikhs from across the country came to give their respects to Bhai Sahib. It came to a stage that the hospital had to say no to visitors. During Bhai Sahib's last days, he was still committed to his Rehat of waking up 12am for Naam Abhiaas and only ate home-made food. Mata Nirmal Kaur Ji stayed with Bhai Sahib in the hospital room and together would do Nitnem. A day or so before leaving this world, Bhai Sahib began to talk about the Shaheed Singhs (martyrs) of 1984 and the Sikh freedom struggle. It was as if each Shaheed Singh whom Bhai Sahib had done Sangat with was coming to visit him one by one, and as they appeared to Bhai Sahib, he would begin talking about them. Bhai Sahib shared visions of Sachkhand and how beautiful it is with the Gursikhs in his hospital room. Whilst Benti Chaupai Sahib was being recited, Bhai Sahib commented that it was raining. When the Gursikhs said that it wasn't raining, he replied that it was pouring down with Guru's blessings. On Tuesday 19th November 2019, Bhai Sahib was induced into coma. During coma, a patient cannot move or speak and is put to sleep. However, before Bhai Sahib breathed his last, he spoke twice in a loud voice, "Vahiguru..., Vahiguru....". It is amazing that those who are not in coma and seem fully aware, struggle to say Vahiguru's Name, however a Gurmukh in coma can still speak Vahiguru's Name. Bhai Sahib will be remembered as role model saint-soldier and beloved Gurmukh.ਚਲਿਆ ਪਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਵਾਰਿ ਵਾਜਾ ਵਾਇਸੀ ॥
Such a mortal departs with honour and respect; their life is beautified and redeemed, and the heavenly trumpets resound with their glory.
(Soohee M:1, Ang 730)
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