We are persuaded by the teachings of our Guru to undertake selfless service. But this world is full of people who are unable to digest the appreciation of others and find fault in them. Such people are not afraid of making false and baseless allegations against individuals who serve to help others. A jealous colleague criticized the sincere efforts of Brigadier Jaswant Singh and a complaint was sent to higher authorities against him.
The persons who follow the path of truth have to face one or the other kind of problems but there is always a way out already arranged for them by the Almighty.
A few months after the completion of the construction of the road, Brigadier Sahib received a show cause notice from the Government. The Government had received a complaint that Government machinery, equipment and employees had been used for civil work, which was not connected to Army work.
Brigadier Sahib and Nambardar Didar Singh were quite close to each other. Brigadier Sahib shared the information with Nambardar ji. After sharing, he said, “I do not regret anything. I am not afraid of any consequences. The Government machinery was used for a social cause. I am sure Sant ji Maharaj will not let any harm come to me.”
Nambardar ji said, “I will request Sant ji Maharaj in this regard.”
Next day Brigadier Sahib went to pay his homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Nambardar ji was also present there. Sant Baba ji said, “Sahib! Sit down on the mat.”
Brigadier Sahib pulled a mat and sat on it.
Nambardar ji informed Sant ji Maharaj about the show cause notice sent by the Government and then said, “Maharaj! Please be merciful and help him.”
Sant Baba ji responded, “I had not asked him to work. He has done it on his own and now should face the consequences.”
Brigadier Sahib was not expecting such a reply. He became a little afraid. But he was sure there must be some hidden secret in the words of Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji did not speak further and instead started striking the ground lightly with his stick. The end of his stick then started making lines on the ground. It seemed as if Sant Baba ji was writing something and observed carefully what he had written. The environment all around was peaceful. There was no sound to be heard.
After quite some time Sant Baba ji smiled and said, “Sahib is not an ordinary officer. He is intelligent and will handle the situation.”
Nambardar ji thought that the word ‘SAHIB’ was used for Brigadier Sahib whereas Sant Baba ji had pointed to the real ‘SAHIB’ – The One Lord.
The report of the enquiry reached the Defence Minister of India at Delhi. Sardar Swaran Singh, of village Shreen Shankar happened to be the Defence Minister at that time. He had come to pay homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, many a times with Sardar Karam Singh Kirti, MLA, Punjab Assembly, elected from the Jalandhar constituency. When the file was put up to the Defence Minister, he asked for personal appearance of Brigadier Sahib.
Brigadier Sahib appeared before Sardar Swaran Singh. He explained the correct position. He also informed that the oil and diesel used for running the machinery and the trucks had been paid for and was not a burden on the Government. He also said that if ordinary people can undertake selfless service then there should not be any harm for the army personnel to join for a social cause. The construction of the road was already going on and would have been completed by the devotees of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, but my personnel were fortunate to be involved in such a service.
When Sardar Swaran Singh came to know that the construction had been carried out on the link road leading from main Jalandhar Cantt – Hoshiarpur road to Railway Station Bolina Doaba, he folded his hands in respect and bowed his head at the feet of Sant Baba ji.
Sardar Swaran Singh immediately ordered for the closure of the file. He said to Brigadier Sahib, “Brigadier Sahib! You have done a marvelous work by constructing the road lead238 ing to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. In case such a work is again required to be done, then please do not hesitate to take five bull dozers instead of three to complete the work quickly.”
Brigadier Sahib was perplexed to hear the words of the Defence Minister. He had been thinking that at least a punishment in the form of ‘Warning’ would be awarded to him. His lips were sealed and he could not say anything and instead bowed his head on the feet of Sant Baba ji and thanked him. He prayed in his mind, “Sant Baba ji you are great. You made your own devotee to sit for judgment on my case. I had never thought that such a difficult position in which I had landed could be solved so easily. You only know what you do. I cannot even understand about why you do what you do.”
The marks on the ground made by Sant Baba ji and the smile on his face afterwards were in fact the orders for the closure of the file. Sant ji Maharaj had observed the happenings in the future and knew about the result of the enquiry as arranged by the ‘SAHIB’.
Brigadier Sahib came to pay his homage to Sant Baba ji and thanked him.
The family of Brigadier Sahib including his wife, his elder son who was in the Army, his daughter and younger son all visited Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. All continued to be regular visitors and received blessings from Sant Baba ji.
1. Public Works Department popularly known as PWD looks after the construction and maintenance of roads. When the officials in PWD came to know that the devotees of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj of Nirmal
Kutiya Johalan had constructed a road, there was a lot of discussion amongst them. The officials were really surprised to hear about such an arduous task having been performed. One official visited the site for inspection. He came to Sant Baba ji and paid his respects. He said, “Maharaj ji! The work of the construction of the road is a great achievement and it will be helpful to all the
people living nearby.”
Sant Baba ji said, “This is indeed an unpleasant thing to have happened.”
These words were uttered in a matter of fact way.
The official understood that Sant Baba ji did not like to be praised.
Under normal circumstances whenever a new road gets constructed, a known
person of the area inaugurates it and a ceremonial stone bearing his name is
displayed at the site. The official was so impressed with the work done and
the modesty of Sant Baba ji that he said, “Sant ji! I promise that my department
will now undertake the concrete and tar work on the road. It will however
be ensured by me that no ceremonial stone is displayed nor any inauguration
of the road is undertaken.”
Within a short span of time this approach road became a metalled road.
2. There were two paths on the boundary of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, one on the east side and one on the west side. The paths led the villagers to village Johal. These could not in any circumstances be known as paths since they were neither straight nor were smooth to tread on. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj instructed his sewadars to straighten and broaden the paths for helping the villagers to walk comfortably. With the help of a tractor the two paths were broadened, straightened and smoothed out with mud for regular use by the village folk without any difficulty.