Sant Baba Harnam Singh

Sant Baba Harnam Singh Ji was born in the village Dhugga Kalan, Tehsil Dasuya, District Hoshiarpur in July 1897. Their father was S. Achhar Singh Ji and their mother was Bibi Narain Kaur Ji. Baba Ji had four brothers and two sisters. Baba Ji learned Gurmukhi from their village Granthi. They were only teenager when they lost both parents. They began to help their brothers in the field of cultivation but internally he remained deeply spiritual as they knew that the real goal of human life was to unite with the Almighty.

Baba Ji’s met with an Udasi Sadhu by the name of Santokh Das (whom they served for 11 years). Meeting with Sikh Saints proved fruitless as everyone they met merely wanted to recruit them as their chela. Baba Ji then went into a state of Bairaag and after three days, did ardas and heard a message asking them to take Amrit. Baba Ji did this when they were 21.

In 1947 after the partition, Baba Ji’s family shifted from Sargodha to Dhoul Pur (Rajasthan). One day when Baba Ji was deeply engrossed in meditation they received a message asking him to preach the principles of Sikhism and go to a deserted and barren place at a distance of 4 to 5 miles in the eastern direction of their and to village and make the place a centre.

Baba ji went to this place which was then known as Ram Pur (Theh) where they did a great deal of deep meditation. Numerous Naam seekers and spiritual inquisitives began coming to Baba Ji who used to give them guidance. Weekly Naam Abhiaas Kamaaee Smagam began and thousands of men and women came in contact with Baba Ji to benefit from their darshan and gain spiritually.

Great Mahapurakhs like Sant Baba Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale 13th Mukhi Damdami Taksal and current Jathedar Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindrawale met and were deeply impressed by Baba Ji.

It was baba Ji's desire to see the entire “Khalsa Panth” in Chardi Kala and he meditated purely for this cause from Vaisakhi 1976 to Vaisakhi 1979 and did Ardaas. This was the time when emergency had been declared in India. Even in this crucial time Baba Ji joined hands with Sant Baba Kartar Singh Ji and other Sikh leaders to awaken the sangat by arranging religious processions, meetings and discussions. One such procession was started from Gurdwara Ram Pur Khera to commemorate 300 years of martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

Baba Ji arranged for roads, bridges and buildings to be constructed. Khalsa Schools and colleges were given immense financial help, the poor students were given higher education to get good jobs. Free eye camps, free medical facilities were given to the needy. Even now with the co-operation of saadh sangat this practice is continued by Baba Ji’s successor Baba Sewa Singh Ji in which permanent allopathic and homeopathic clinics, centre for eye treatment having modern facilities, old age care home, keertan vidayala, training institute for Sikh preachers have been setup and providing free service.

Baba Ji dedicated their life to Guru Sahib and the Khalsa Panth. Even in the last days of their life they did not hesitate joining the Dharam Yudh Mocha in 1982. Though Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale tried to persuade Baba Ji not to go to the jail due to their old age and unsound health, they along with thousands of their followers went to the jail and helped the morcha financially.

While in jail Baba Ji baptised many Sikhs. Ultimately, due to the harsh jail conditions, Baba Ji’s physical condition worsened and although he was given expert medical treatment, and under the Hukam of Akaal Purakh, breathed their last on 4th January 1983 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. They were honoured as a “Shaheed” at their Dusehra (Antim Ardaass).