-By Brig. (Retd.) Manmohan Singh
LONG before Baba Avtar Singh Ji declared Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji to be his successor, there were a lot of suggestions and speculations. Baba Avtar Singh Ji listened to all but kept quiet. At last, in 1962, he announced that Nirankar (God Formless) has asked him as to why he was not declaring Gurbachan Singh as his successor when there were no shortcomings in him. Immediately, Baba Avtar Singh Ji announced Baba Gurbachan Singh's name to be the Satguru and stepped down.
After announcing Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji as the Satguru, Baba Avtar Singh Ji conducted himself as a devotee till his end. Finally, one day when Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji met Baba Avtar Singh Ji to enquire about his health, the latter requested the former to allow him to leave the body and submerge in Nirankar. Baba Avtar Singh Ji touched the feet of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and saying "Dhan Nirankar" (Formless is great), left his body and submerged in Nirankar.
Once in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) when travelling with Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji we were passing through Udhampur, Babaji Ji stopped his car at a wayside dhaba (motel) and ordered tea for all of us. I asked Baba Ji why not have tea at some saint's place. Baba Ji replied that there was no Nirankari saint there. I said, why not send one there. Immediately after that I received orders for my posting at Udhampur and Baba Ji would stay with us whenever he came there.
While I was posted at Udhampur, once Baba Ji came to us. I did not know about his arrival and was having dinner in the Officers' Mess. Baba Ji kept on waiting for me. I came back after midnight and was surprised to see Baba Ji. He said that he had come to discuss an important matter with me. He wanted to acquire my house in Moga for establishing Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan there. I gladly agreed.
With the blessings of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji, I settled in Chandigarh after retiring from the Army. Whenever he came to Chandigarh, he would stay with us. With his blessings, my children were educated and well settled. My daughter was the youngest. After passing her M.A., she got a teaching job in the Punjab University. On the day she got her first pay, Baba Ji happened to be at our house. When she beheld Baba Ji, she was very happy and offered her pay to Baba Ji. Baba Ji blessed that she may get a permanent job and settle peacefully. Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji selected an Indian Doctor who had settled in America as a match for her. He did not mind caste, colour or creed and said that that would be the best match. The boy's parents were in Bangalore and wanted the marriage ceremony to be performed there. Baba Ji decided that the marriage be solemnised in Delhi and himself made all arrangements. Everyone was surprised that neither the families knew each other nor the boy and the girl had seen each other. With Baba Ji's blessings, the couple is doing well in America.
Once Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji was sick and admitted in a hospital at Delhi. I came from Chandigarh and immediately went to see him. He was unconscious. I could not bear that sight and immediately came back to Chandigarh.But I was greatly upset and again rushed to Delhi. This time Baba Ji up and sitting in a chair. I fell on his feet and wanted to wash his feet with my tears.
On the day Baba Ji was shot, he had gone out for a congregation. After the congregation, he said, "Some one is waiting for me." He came back to the Satsang Bhawan, Nirankari Colony and was shot by the one who was waiting for him!
When I heard about this, I immediately left for Delhi. Baba Ji's body was kept in the courtyard. Members of the Executive Body were standing by the dead body. I could not stand the sight, at which Baba Hardev Singh Ji asked me to go and do my duty. The next day we all went for the cremation.
Baba Gurbachan Singh, who lived all his life for Truth, ultimately died for the sake of Truth. Our real homage to him would be to spread the message of the Mission to every nook and corner of the world for which Baba Ji strove day and night.
Writers may kindly not that writings on Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji which could not be incorporated in this issue, will be published in our next issue.