By Jaiteg Singh Anant
Bhai Sahib Jeevan Singh was one of those great personalities who’s image will forever remain in the minds of us all. He was very well respected by many around the world. He tread the true path of Gurmat, was always immersed in Gurbani and forever devoted to the Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Khalsa Panth. Bhai sahib was an epitome of humility, an honest and sincere human being who always wished for the wellbeing of others. His mind was always focused on guru sahib and he felt that god was always with him. Throughout his life he remained very humble, whilst always showing wisdom.
Bhai Sahib was born in 1926 in the village of Kot Rustama in the district of Jhang (now in Pakistan). His mother was named Kishan Kaur and father Mehtaab Singh. In 1943 he got married to Bibi Jogjnder Kaur from a nearby village. In the year 1945-46 he started doing Keertan Seva in Sri Baoli Sahib in Goindwal, but soon after in 1947 started doing Sangat with a Sindhi who used to do Kirtan at Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar. In the same year, Bhai Jeevan Singh met and started doing sangat with Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh, a Pioneer of the ghadar movement & Gurudwara Sudhar Lehar movement. This proves to be a turning point which changed Bhai Jeevan Singh’s life, and one which embedded him as one of the puratan keertania of the Akhand Keertani Jatha.
After some years in 1953-54 Bhai Sahib stared doing sangat with Prominent ragi Surjan Singh, but this didn’t last very long. He returned shortly after to Ludhiana and under the guidance of Bhai Sahib Randhir did Seva as a Keertani in Singh Sabha Model Town Gurdwara there. Here he stayed for many years along with his wife, brother-in-law Bhai Iqbal Singh and younger sister Bibi Sant Kaur.
By now, Bhai Sahibs sweet melodious keertan had stated reaching so far and wide, that the managing committee of Takht Sri Patna Sahib became so overwhelmed and impressed, they requested him to take up the Seva as hazoori ragi. For two months every year Bhai Sahib return to Punjab to collect wheat and donations for langar Seva at Takht Sri Patna Sahib. Gradually the managing committee became more and more pleased and respectful of Bhai Sahibs Seva and 1976 sent him on a Dharam parchar tour to Canada in his first foreign outing.
At this time Sikhs who had settled in foreign countries were drifting from Sikhi, and Bhai sahib realised that the was a great need for Dharam Parchar in the West. He started by distributing simranas, kirpaans, vajay (harmoniums), tablas, Gursikhi literature, Gurbani pothia, gutkay and Sura magazines to the younger generation in the West to keep them in touch with Gursikhi, Gur Granth Sahib and away from the drugs and alcohol which were prominent in the modern society. In similar fashion, Bhai Jeevan Singh also travelled to other countries across the whole world including America, England, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Holland, Australia, Singapore and wherever there was need for Sikh Parchar.
Their entire life was focused around remembering the one Lord and he was a great scholar of GurBani. He encouraged and started many institutions in England, America and Canada including Khalsa Schools, Khalsa Credit Union and magazines & newspapers from many gurdwaras. He always wished for the chardhi kala of the Sikh Panth. In the present day Sikh struggle, he helped many families of Shaheeds in their time of need, he helped the poor when they needed someone most without any monetary or other expectation in return. In fact, through his humbleness, he tried where possible to ensure his name wasn’t even highlighted.
On 7th January 2015, Bhai Jeevan Singh completed his earthly sojourn leaving behind many who loved and adored him, including his younger brother, Master Sher Singh; three sisters, Bibi Lashmi, Bibi Raj Kaur and Bibi Sant Kaur; son, Jaspal Singh and daughter-in-law, Bibi Inderjeet Kaur; grandson Jaskaran Singh; in addition to his dedicated sevadars Bhai Balvinder Singh and his wife. Bhai Balvinder Singh served Bhai Jeevan Singh uniquely until his last moments and as a result received blessings of Sangat all around the world. Bhai Sahib final Ardas program took place on 18th January 2015, at Bhai Gurdas Hall, Amritsar. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji’s irreplaceable and everlasting legacy will certainly be missed by the whole Sikh Panth.
