IN MEMORY OF THE LEADER OF THE NIHANG SINGHS,

THE LATE 96 CRORI JATHEDAR AKALI NIHANG BABA

SURJIT SINGH JI (1945-2014)

THE LEADER OF KHALSA PANTH AKALI, BUDDHA DAL,

PANJVA TAKHT, CHALDA VAHIR, VISHAV

WWW.BABASURJEETSINGH.COM

By Nihang Sher Singh & Akali Nihang Dr Kamalroop Singh

Jathedar Baba Surjit Singh ji was the 14th Jathedar or commander of the Buddha

Dal, the central organization of the Nihang Singhs. Baba Baba Surjit Singh ji did

Akaal Chalana (left for the abode of Akal Purakh) on 6pm on the 3rd

September,

2014, in Patiala jail. This brief obituary cannot do justice in describing his life,

achievements, and more importantly their love and divine presence that was

beyond words.

Baba Surjit Singh ji was born on the 7th

of June 1945 in Murar, Amritsar. Before

joining the Ladli Fauj (Beloved Army) of the 10th

master Sri Guru Gobind Singh

Sahib ji, Baba Surjit Singh ji served in the armed forces of the Punjab police, from

1964 to 1969. After Baba ji quit the armed forces in 1969, he went to Anandpur

Sahib, and did seva (selfless service) of the Sangat (Holy congregation) for three

months and then returned home.

BABA SURJIT SINGH AT THE AKALI PHULA SINGH BURJ IN 2005

PHOTOGRAPH BY KAMALROOP SINGH

Baba Surjit Singh ji officially joined the Nihang Singh HQ or the Buddha Dal in

1970, whereupon he was given a horse and Shastra (weapons used for warfare) by

the then 12th

Jathedar (Commander) of the Buddha Dal, the late Akali Baba Chet

Singh ji. Baba Surjit Singh ji was initiated into the Khalsa Panth in 1972, by the

Buddha Dal, who administered Amrit or Khande-ka-pahul (Divine Nectar of

Khalsa initiation) to him. After which Baba Surjit Singh ji was assigned the hardest

duty of Ghoreyaan di seva, or the selfless service of feeding, cleaning, and

grooming the sacred horses of the Guru, in the Buddha Dal.

Guru Gobind Singh writes in his scripture titled the Dasam Granth Sahib, and in

Sau Sakhi, that the seva of the horses is the highest in the Khalsa Panth. The Guru

said that one year of this seva is the equivalent to twelve years of any other seva. In

this way Baba ji actually achieved more than a lifetimes worth of seva in this very

life! In the words of the universal teacher, Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj: Jin

sevia tin paia maan. Those that serve are honored. Adi Guru Granth Sahib,

ang 2.This is why Baba ji was highly respected in the Nihang Singh Dals,

throughout the Sikh Panth, and by anyone else who had the good fortune to come

in contact with him.

Then Baba Surjit Singh participated in the karsewa of Sachkhand Sri Harimandar

Sahib (The Golden Temple), situated in Amritsar, for two years from 1973-75.

Afterwards, for three years, Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji followed a daily routine of

doing seva around the clock, and only taking very minimal rest. He would wake up

for amritvela (the sacred ambrosial hours before dawn) at 00:00 am (12 am).

Gurmukh laha lai gae manmukh chale mul gavai jio.19.

The Gurmukhs reap their profits and leave, while the self-willed

manmukhs lose their investment and depart.19. Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Sri

Rag, Adi Guru Granth Sahib, ang 74.

After which he would do ishnan (bathe himself) and sit for his Nitnem (Daily

Prayers), the daily routine of the initiated Sikhs in which the Sikhs read their daily

prayers that were assigned to them by the Tenth Master, Sri Guru Gobind Singh

Sahib, in the year 1699, after he had administered Amrit at Anandpur Sahib. After

completion of his Nitnem at 03:30 am Baba Surjit Singh ji would begin his seva

(selfless service), and would continue to serve till his mind and body would allow

him to do so. Baba Surjit Singh ji loved serving the Sangat (The Gurus

congregation) and would serve them with complete love and devotion whenever he

would be presented with the opportunity to do so.

PHOTOGRAPH BY NIHANG GURMANT SINGH

Shortly after the death of the Nagarchi Singh, (The Singh entrusted with the seva

of the War drum (Nagara)), Baba Surjit Singh ji was assigned the duty/seva of

being the Nagarchi Singh by the then Jathedar, Akali Baba Chet Singh ji. Again in

this new duty as a Nagarchi Singh, Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji served the Dal and

carried out his duties with enthusiasm (chardikalah) and wholeheartedly (Satiguru

ki seva safal, jai ko karey chit laie, Adi Guru Granth Sahib, ang 552).

The 12th

Jathedar, Akali Baba Chet Singh ji, seeing his love, devotion, and the

years of service that Baba Surjit Singh ji put into the Buddha Dal, led him to

bestow the Farla, and thus make Baba Surjit Singh into a Mahakal Singh or

General. The title of Mahakal is considered one of the highest honors in the Sikh

world as the Farla decorated of the top of a Sikhs dastar (Turban), represents the

Holy Nishan Sahib also known as the Holy Victory Standard (Flag) of the

Sikhs. It is one of the purest symbols of the Sikh faith and has always been held

high and regarded with utmost respect by the Sikh congregation. Millions of Sikhs

sacrificed their lives, so that the Gurus Nishan Sahib, entrusted to the Sikhs by the

Tenth Master is still held high up in the skies.

Shortly after the Death of the 12th

Jathedar Akali Baba Chet Singh ji, Akali Baba

Santa Singh ji was elected the 13th Jathedar (Commander) of the Buddha Dal.

Jathedar Baba Santa Singh ji then entrusted Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji with many

important tasks and duties. Baba Surjit Singh ji continued to serve the Buddha Dal

and the Sangat wholeheartedly and at the same time carried on with his devotion

towards God. Now Baba Surjit Singh ji would wake up at 12 am and would recite

his prayers for eight hours that is till 8 am in the morning, every day.

Baba Surjit Singh ji also served the 13th Jathedar (Commander) Akali Baba Santa

Singh ji, and seeing his love and devotion, Akali Baba Santa Singh ji appointed

Baba Surjit Singh ji as his second in command. This meant that Baba Surjit Singh

would be in charge of the chakkravarti Dal, or the moving Battalion, which

consisted of the Gurus horses, and Singhs. They would go village to village

performing Akhand Paths (continuous scriptural recitals), and doing Amrit Parchar

(initiation ceremony into Khalsa). In this Dal was the strictest of bibek or physical

cleanliness, which meant all food must be cooked in fire wood, in sarbloh (iron

utensils), all water must be from a well or river (tap water was prohibited), and

even cleaning of teeth had to be done with a woodbrush, and not a plastic

toothbrush (no chemical products are allowed in Buddha Dal). The encampment

was ordered by Guru Gobind Singh never to stay in one place for more than three

days. This is a very difficult tradition or maryada, and even during and after 1984

when Nihang Singhs were being hunted down by some corrupt Police and Army,

and the whole of the Punjab was in chaos, the brave Baba Surjit Singh single

handedly kept this tradition from breaking.

During his years Baba Surjit Singh ji performed many extraordinary feats through

his prayers and devotion towards Akal Purakh. A childless couple, who had been

married for 27 years, that hailed from the district of Gurdaspur, in Punjab, visited

Baba ji and requested him for a blessing of a child. Baba Surjit Singh ji humbly

folded his hands and prayed to the Divine Guru of the Sikhs, Adi Sri Guru Granth

Sahib ji Maharaj and requested the Merciful Master to bless the childless couple

with a child. The Singhs were astonished when the same couple paid a visit to

Baba Surjit Singh ji, holding a newborn baby in their hands.

One author of this obituary was at Akali Phooli Singh Burj in 2005 and had the

great blessing of spending some time with Baba Surjit Singh ji. By that time Baba

ji was established as a loyal and devoted servant of the Guru Khalsa Panth, where

he had selflessly served the Guru's horse for over thirty years. He had been through

many hardships but had remained tyar bar tyar (ever ready). Baba ji said that

nowadays people try to control the five thieves or Panj Chor (lust, anger, greed,

attachment and ego), but he said this was a very deep process. He said people have

forgotten firstly to control their jealousy and gossip. He said both these things were

causing conflict in the Guru Khalsa Panth. He then quoted a Nihang Singh oral

tradition (bola) about the Chugal and Mughul, and how in the Dal (spiritual army)

this is unacceptable. He said now is the time to do meditation and selfless acts,

simran and seva, and be tyar bar tyar, always ready! He said Let us all make an

effort to be happy for others, to control our tongue about other people, to avoid

causing conflict, and look at our own intentions and actions before anybody else.

This is the first step to controlling the five thieves.

DIWALI AT AKALI PHULA SINGH BURJ IN 2005

BABA SURJIT SINGH, WITH BABA GAJJAN SINGH, AND BABA TRILOK SINGH

PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAMALROOP SINGH

In 2005, due to this great sacrifice of Baba Surjit Singh, and the ailing health of the

13th Jathedar Akali Baba Santa Singh ji, he declared Baba Surjit Singh ji as the 14

th

Jathedar (Commander) of the Buddha Dal. See

www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050417/punjab1.htm. After this the S.G.P.C and

Akali Dal selected Balbir Singh put in a false case against Baba Surjit Singh, and

he was tortured and imprisoned. Due to the protests of Nihang Singhs he was

subsequently released, and Balbir Singh asked him to give him the leadership of

the Buddha Dal, to which Baba ji replied to him, How can I be a traitor and

overturn the order of my mentor Baba Santa Singh Ji?

Then Akali Baba Santa Singh the 13th Jathedar died on the 8

th of August 2008 at

the age of 90. After nine days of scriptural recitals for the passing of Baba Santa

Singh, at its closure or bhog, Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji was formally initiated to be

the 14th Jathedar (commander) of the Buddha Dal on the 18

th of August 2008 with

the formal turban tying ceremony.

Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji was an exceptional leader and executed his duties and

commands with precision like that of a General. The entire Sikh congregation

loved and revered Baba Surjit Singh ji.

In the year 2009 Jathedar Baba Surjit Singh ji along with 22 other Singhs were

arrested on false charges and were presented to the session court of Punjab, India,

this was due to a political coup on the Buddha Dal by the S.G.P.C Akali Dal

alliance. The court ordered a legal case to be commenced and till its completion

through a final verdict by the Judge and Jury, the sessions court ordered the

Punjab Police to arrest Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji and place him in the Patiala jail.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfJ1qXCsZM4) In the Patiala Jail,

Jathedar Baba Surjit Singh ji, along with 22 other Nihang Singhs (some have never

been charged) have spent the better part of 5 years, while the case continued. The

Sangat in UK organized a revision of the evidence against Baba ji, and a leading

expert in this field found the evidence against Baba ji was unreliable and did not

merit him being in jail.

BABA SURJIT SINGH IN CHARDIKALAH AT HIS COURT APPEARANCE IN PATIALA

False witnesses, corrupt officials, and long court dates delayed Jathedar Baba Surjit

Singh jis case and even till this date there has not been a final verdict by the

Punjab and Haryana High court.

While in the Patiala Jail in Punjab, Jathedar Baba Surjit Singh ji led a life of

example and changed the lives of many inmates of the Patiala Jail. He inspired

many of them to lead a life of devotion, as commanded by the Supreme Gurus of

the Sikhs. Baba Surjit Singh ji initiated many inmates hem into the Khalsa Panth.

He inspired many of them to shun their old ways of crime and to correct their

wrong doings.

Even the Jail authority and the officials of the jail noticed a change in their prison

after Jathedar Baba Surjit Singh ji had been brought there as an inmate. Several

Prison authoritys would seek his guidance and respected him.

BABA JI PICTURED IN JAIL, FILMED BY NAV KANDOLA

From the prisoners, the policemen inside the jail, to the jail warden, all would seek

his holy company. This verse by Guru Gobind Singh Ji sums up the life of Baba

Surjit Singh:

Bravo to that being, who remembers Hari through his mouth and reflects

in his mind about the war of righteousness; who considers this body the

war of righteousness; who considers this body as transient, ascends the

boat of Lords` praise and ferries across the dreadful ocean of the world;

Who makes this body as the abode of forbearance and enlightens it with

the lamp of intellect and who taking the broom of knowledge in his hand

sweeps away the rubbish of cowardice.2492.

Despite being in jail, Jathedar Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji continued with his daily

routine and prayers and continued living in a state known as chardikalah (A state

of positivity). Baba Ji organized 40+ Akhand Paths of Adi Guru Granth Sahib,

Dasam Granth Sahib and Sarbloh Granth Sahib while in jail in just five years.

Unhygienic food and unsanitary conditions at the Patiala Jail caused Jathedar Baba

Surjit Singh ji to fall ill in the year 2011. By June 2013 Jathedar Baba Surjit Singh

jis health started deteriorating, and Baba Surjit Singh ji was taken to P.G.I

Hospital Chandigarh, Punjab, for regular weekly checkups. By the year 2014 his

health worsened and he spent the best part of two or three days of a week at the

P.G.I hospital in Chandigarh. Finally, due to acute illness, Jathedar Akali Baba

Surjit Singh ji breathed his last breath on the 3rd of September 2014 in the Central

Patiala Jail, Punjab. Jathedar Akali Baba Surjit Singh ji was truly an exceptional

soul, sent down to this world, by the Almighty Lord to carry out his tasks. Today

the entire Sikh world mourns the loss of one of its greatest leaders.

The Path Bhog in remembrance of Jathedar Baba Surjit Singh Ji Buddha Dal was

held on the 12th of September 2014 at Gurdwara Lakhi Jangal Sahib (Goniana

Mandi, Bathinda). The new leader 96 crori Akali Baba Prem Singh Nihang from

Mata Sahib Kaurs Gurdwara at Hazur Sahib was selected as the next head of the

Buddha Dal. May Vahiguru bless him with chardikalah and continuing to inspire

us all, as he has already done so for decades.