1008 Sant Baba Hari Singh Ji

1008 Sant Baba Hari Singh Ji Naiki Wale was born on June 16, 1909 in village Daulatpur in the district of Nawashehar. His father’s name was S.Ralla Singh and mother’s name was Ishwari. S.Joginder Singh was his elder brother while he had three younger brothers namely S.Sohan singh, S.Dilbagh Singh, S.Durga Singh. Sant ji had three sisters also: Bibi Ratan Kaur, Bibi Dhanti and Bibi Kartari. They belonged to “Shebe” caste. The main occupation of his ancestors was to sew cloths (tailoring). In his initial years he was also given the training for the same. 

When Sant Ji was seven years old, he was sent to Gurudwara Thali Sahib School in Daulatpur. This Gurudwara was built in the memory of Shri Chand, the elder son of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. After his school was over Sant Ji used to stay in the Gurudwara to serve. Soon Sant Ji started wearing ‘chola’ and used to walk barefoot. He was a good tailor and cloths sewn bye him was in high demand. At the age of 15 Santji became a master in tailoring. Seeing their good work in tailoring, his father along with Sant Ji’s brother Joginder Singh sent them to Delhi to spread their business. They opened up their shop in Chandni chownk and within a short span they became famous . Now they were recognized as best tailors. After six months they shifted to Puna and worked there for one and a half year. Thereafter they shifted to Sikandrabad. Since Santji had a religious bent of mind, he could not adjust with the work .He left Sikandrabad and came back to Daulatpur. He again started serving in the Gurudwara and most of the time kept himself busy in meditation. Now he started attending the company of saints.

As his parents wanted him to marry, he tied the knot with Bibi Amar Kaur. As per his brother Dilbagh Singh he didn’t see the face of his wife and never visited his in-laws house.

When a baby was born in his brother’s house, Sant Karam Singh (langroye wale) came to attend the ceremony of Akhand path and impressed Sant Hari Singh Ji a lot following which he started serving and living with the former in langroa village in the district of Jallandhar. Sant ji’s parents were worried about his future. One day he came back his village along with Sant Karam Singh Ji. His elder brother Joginder Singh wanted Sant Ji to live separately as he was not taking interest in household work. Finally, Sant Ji left his home and went in search of God . His parents tried to located him, but without success. He could not be found in the places he usually frequented, nor was he with Sant Karam Singh Ji. 

Many days later, once some people from his village went to Makhsoospur village, where they heard of a sage living in the Gurudwara of Panjaur village. They approached the sage and were happy to know that it was Sant Hari Singh Ji. On being persuaded to go back to his village,Sant ji threatened to even leave Panjaur. His mother asked him to “think of his wife, her future”. Santji replied that he had never accepted her as a wife and it was just for their sake he married her. He even said that he would not mind if she marries someone else. ,His parents asked him to give it in writing. Sant Ji went to Tehsil Garhshanker and gave his consent in court. Finally, Sant Ji left his family and his wife was married to his younger brother.

Now santji started living in the house of S.Mela Singh who was a priest in the Gurudwara Mahadihana in Panjaur. He used to serve in the Gurudwara and ate whatsoever given by the “sangat”. He used to walk barefoot. Sometimes he got so lost in the simran of God that he even forgot to tie his turban. 

One day Sant Ji wanted to have a separate place (bhora) to meditate so that no one could disturb him. As per his wish the people of Panjaur built a bhora. He meditated for 7-8 years there. A food plate was kept in the stairs of the bhora. Sant Ji used to come out at midnight when everyone was asleep. For almost two years he didn’t contact anyone. The Gurudwara building was expanded as more and more people started visiting it. Now people from far off places come to Sant Ji seeking his blessings. He found all these very distracting for meditation. So he built a hut outside Panjaur in Alawalpur. Sangat even started to visit this hut. Now he started roaming from one place to another. 

Sant-Ji had a great love for animals. S. Inder Singh recounts an interesting incident. One day a person came on his horse to sell mangoes. Somehow the horse slipped and the mangoes fell down. The man started beating his horse. Sant Ji stopped him but the man started arguing with him. Sant Ji then paid the man price of the horse and mangoes and then served the horse. He even had a goat with him. 

The great saint left for heavenly abode on March 14 1969. Towards the end of the life Sant ji was in Mananhana village. Gurudwara Harisar has been built to keep alive Sant-ji's  memories. And people from far places come to pay obeisances at the Gurudwara.