Sant Baba Prem Singh
Sant Prem Singh (1882 - 1950) was an important social, political and religious leader who was also a visionary and a social reformer. He worked for Sikhism through Amrit Sanchaar and played an important role in revitalizing the Lobana community. He always stressed the importance of education and opened many educational institutes for this purpose.
Childhood
Born in 1882 at Khori Dunna Singh, a village in Gujrat district in house of Sardar Vasva Singh. His mother died when he was very young. His father married again, but his step mother, as often happens, didn't give him the attention and love that his birth mother had. Fortunately his grandfather Sardar Arur Singh gave him good parvarish. When Baba ji was 15 years of age his grandfather also died. Sardar Beer singh, a neighbour, helped this child a lot. His village had no means of public transportation so the clothes sellers would travel village to village on bysycles. A cloth seller named Sardar Ram Singh of bura vali village who traveled through the village one day spread the word that he was in need of some help. Hearing of the opportunity Beer Singh told him of Prem Singh. Soon Prem Singh was working with Ram Singh selling cloth.
Dera Morala Sahib
His spiritual path was started at Dera Murala sahib. Sant Baba Prem Singh liked the roohani sakhshiyat of Baba Bishen Singh. As a youth he learned Panjabi and KIRTAN at Morala Sahib. Sant prem singhvishwaas in nishkaam sewa, nitnemi jeewan and leen in gurushabad. In 1908 he was nominated as Sant of the Dera by Baba Bishan Singh. Henceforth he took a keen interest in his community. Some say that in 1905 Baba Prem singh was elected as spiritual leader of that dera and in 1907 Baba bishen singh left for his the heavenly abode, after that Sant Baba Prem Singh worked for the dera including aiding in the construction of a new building and langar.
Amrit Sanchar
Sant Baba Prem Singh's main motive was to do amrit sanchaar. In 1911 - 1912 he started this great work from his village khori duna singh and other villages in district gujrat. In 1921, he constructed a Sikhi Bunga in Nankana Sahib. In 1945 he became a MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) and went to Uttar Pardesh, Madhya Pardesh, Pilibheet and Hazur Sahib and did amrit sanchaar.
Politics
Sant Prem Singh preached Sikhism enthusically and remained a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee from 1926 to 1950. He also became a member of its executive committee in 1948.
In 1926 he became a member of SGPC and in 1937 he became a member of Karajkarniya committe of SGPC. While involved with the construction of Takhat Patna Sahib baba ji was also a member of 5 Memberi Committes of that time. At Harimandir Sahib the baba ji did sewa for har ki pauri.
In 1937 he became the MLA of gujrat district then sargodha district. Sant Prem Singh was an active Lobana participant in the Akali Movement. He sent a Jatha of 25 Lobanas for the Morcha under Giani Chet Singh. He campaigned for the membership of Legislative Assembly and was elected twice, in 1937 and then in 1946. He remained its member upto his death in 1950.
Samaj Vihar Sudhar Movement
He was a prominent leader of Vihar Sudhar Movement.
- Samaj vihar Sudhar: Baba Ji did various cobnferences for sudhar of Society.
- He continued Jihaad for various social Kuritiyan like rumour mongering, Consumption of drugs, Alcohol and intoxicants, various rituals performed during Marriages like Jaimala, Dowry etc. He did various conferences in Shekupura, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahore. He was against egoism, selfishness as these were against Sikh Philosphy.
Against Caste-ism
Baba Jee was a Sikh who was, as all Sikhs are susposed to be, against caste-ism. He did amrit sanchar among the Ramdasiya and the Megh communities and tell them the updesh of brotherhood in sikhism. In 1927, he insisted that the SGPC pass the Jaat Paat Torhu Mata, but casteism exists even to this day.
A Champion of Education
He championed the education of children opening many educational institutes.
- 1921 He opened first Guru Gobind Singh khalsa Lobana high school in tanda village of district gujrat
- 1944, Sant Prem Singh khalsa high school, at babakwal in district shekupura
- 1945, Sant Prem Singh khalsa high school, at khori doona in district guijrat
- 1946, Sant Prem Singh khalsa high school, in bhatnura lobana Jalandhar.
He regarded education as the best means of upward social mobility. Many schools were started under his guidance.
Sant Prem Singh preached Sikhism enthusiastically and remained a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee 'til his death.
Sant Baba Prem Singh died in 1950.
The death anniversary of Sant Baba Prem Singh falls on June 2.
