Sant Isher Singh Ji

Sant Isher Singh Ji was born of Mata Ratan Kaur, in the household of Sardar Ram Singh Nambardar, on 5th August 1905 at village Allowal, district Patiala.

The parents named their son Gulab Singh. Nobody knew that one day this "Gulab" (meaning rose) would spread his fragrance far and wide. He received the basic worldly education from the primary School of village 'Chulela'. For higher schooling he went to his uncle at Patiala and passed his matriculation examination from the Model School. Thereafter the worldly education could not hold his mind and in the state of asceticism he became the disciple of Sant Attar Singh Ji of Reru Sahib. By the inspiration of Sant Attar Singh Ji, he was baptized and was renamed Isher Singh. Thus motivated by the life and teachings of Sant Attar Singh Ji, he adopted the path of devotion and from him received the boon of propagating Sikhism through "Kirtan" (singing of hymns). When on 21st January 1927 Sant Attar Singh Ji left his corporeal being. Sant Isher Singh Ji became sad and disconsolate. In order to overcome this despondency, he set out on pilgrimage. After visiting Machiwara, Kiratpur Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Nankana Sahib and Punja Sahib he came to Rara Sahib and settled here. By virtue of his devotion he turned this deserted place into a sacred place that has become famous the world over. "A saint remembers the God and helps others remember Him also" following this principle he devoted himself to worship and motivated the people to be 'Gur-sikhs' and to follow the path, shown by the Sikh Gurus.

For nearly half a century, Sant Isher Singh Ji preached the Guru's message not only in India but also all around the world.

In 1949 he went on a 13 months expedition to Africa. There he gratified the spiritual needs of the Sikh congregation with lucid explanation of the Gurbani, interspersed with his melodious, captivating and soul lifting recitals (the 'Dharnas').

After returning to Punjab, he continued his mission by holding annual congregations (the Diwans). Devotees from various villages would converge to a central point. Vast open spaces in the cities also got grace by the congregations, he addressed.

Each string of congregation would be rounded off with 'Amrit Sanchar' (baptism into Sikhism). His soulful sermons motivated about six hundred thousand people to partake the 'Amrit' (the holy nectar).

On this very mission, to propagate Sikhism he also visited England in 1974 and 1975. Sadly on 26th August 1975, while sitting in meditation in Wolverhampton, England, he left the world for heavenly abode.

The body was brought to India and on 1st September 1975 it was submerged in the river Sutlej at Gurdwara Bibhaur Sahib (where Guru Gobind Singh Ji composed 'Chaupai').