SANT BABA JIT SINGH JI,
PRESENT CHIEF OF NIRMAL KUTIYA JOHALAN
Brief Background of Sant Baba Jit Singh ji
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji was born in village Kishankot (near Sri Hargobindpur) Tehsil Batala, District Gurdaspur. His parents were fortunate to be blessed with such a spiritual soul in the family. He studied in the school and cleared his matriculation examination.
In the year 1975, Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj the chief of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan took him under his fold. Thereafter he did not go back to his residence and started with his daily service at the Kutiya.
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji served his Gurudev Sant Baba Gian Singh ji and Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji Virakat with love and full faith. He remained close to Sant Baba Gian Singh ji from 1984 to 2001. He performed SEWA of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj with extreme humbleness. His SEWA included bathing Sant Baba ji, serving food, giving timely medicines and washing his personal clothes. He was fortunate to daily feel and touch the Holy body of Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji remained immersed in the SEWA of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj till his soul merged with the Eternal. Thereafter his complete attention was directed towards serving Sant Baba Harabhajan Singh ji Virakat with all humility, who took over as the Chief of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
Appointed Chief of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan
Fifteen AKHAND PATH Sahibs were started on 18th March 2002 at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan in the memory of Braham Giani Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh Virakat ji whose soul merged with the Eternal on 8th March 2002. The Bhog of the AKHAND PATHS was held on Wednesday the 20th March 2002 (7 Chet Samvat 2059)
A Sant Samagam was then held in the presence of around thirty thousand devotees.
Sant Baba Roshan Singh ji of Maqsoodpur from the faction of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji of Hoti Mardaan; Sant Baba Jagjit Singh ji of Sultanpur; Mahapurakh from Harkhowal Dera; Mahapurakh of Kaharpur Dera and Mahapurakh of Jiyan Dera were present on this day. Sant Gurbachan Singh of Pathlava, the General Secretary of Doaba Nirmal Mandal especially attended this function. Many other chiefs of Sant Samaj, Nirmal factions were also present.
The entire sadhu samaj, who had collected only a few months back at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan during the Bhog ceremony of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, was astounded to be there again so soon. No one was expecting another Dastar Bandi within such a short span of time. Nevertheless, with the support and declaration of the Chiefs of Nirmal factions and Nirmal sect, Sant Baba Jit Singh ji was appointed as the Chief of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, in place of Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji Virakat. Sant Baba Roshan Singh ji tied the customary turban on the head of Sant Baba Jit Singh ji and placed the traditional silken scarves in his turban.
Thereafter Sant Baba Jit Singh ji, the Chief of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan instructed Sevadar to offer a shawl and five hundred rupees each to all the sadhus present there on the occasion.
Every priest who participated in the recitation of Gurbani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib during the Akhand Paths was paid due respects and offered a shawl and two hundred rupees. The sevadaars were presented a shawl each. Thereafter Bhandara prepared in pure ghee was served to the respected Holy saints collected on the occasion and also to the entire sangat.
Administration of the Kutiya
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji the present chief of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan is ably looking after the administration of the Kutiya within the confines of the discipline and Code of Conduct initiated by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj and continued by Sant Baba Gian Singh ji and Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh Virakat ji. One can find the same peace and purity prevailing in the Kutiya, which was so dear to the earlier Mahapurakhs. The good deeds and Holy actions of the earlier Mahapurakhs are reminded to the sangat by Sant Baba Jit Singh ji through his discourses. He encourages other preachers also to narrate instances from the lives of earlier Mahapurakhs to the sangat. This ensures on the one hand for the sangat to remain in touch with the spiritual life led by the earlier Mahapurakhs and on the other inspires the sangat to follow a disciplined life as an Amritdhari Sikh.
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji is getting full cooperation of all the other sadhus of the Kutiya in the smooth administration of the Kutiya. He and his assistant are fully involved in all those works wherefrom they feel that the plant of Gursikhi would blossom. He inspires the public through his addresses and discourses to follow the true Sikh path. He tackles those gone astray individually. He concentrates towards increasing the number of Amritdhari Sikhs, both men as well as women.
His endeavor is to let the people find pearls and jewels from the Holy Book of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji by following the disciplined path prescribed by the Ten Gurus.
Celebrations of Gurpurabs are also carried out at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan with full fervor. In order to remember the earlier saints of the sect, three annual functions are held at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Celebrations for three days are held on these anniversaries. Sangat attends the congregations held in the morning as well as evening. Serving of snacks, milk and langar continues throughout the day. All eatables served are prepared in pure ghee. Preparation and serving of langar etc is undertaken by baptized Sikhs.
During these anniversaries sangat in thousands along with chiefs of various Dera’s, sadhus, saints, Mahapurakhs and the elite join in the celebrations. The final day is the day of the Bhandara. Many kinds of sweets, number of dishes prepared in pure ghee alongwith fruit is served in plenty to the sangat. The chiefs of other Deras are awestruck and captivated to observe the number of baptized Sikhs (both men and women) in simple prescribed dresses in the congregation.
Every sangrand the seekers are blessed with baptism of the ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword.
Participation in important Sikh celebrations
During the year 2004 the Sikhs celebrated with all fervor three grand historic occasions. Sant Baba Jit Singh ji and the Amritdhari followers of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan joined in the form of Nagar Kirtans in the following centenary celebrations:
a. 500th birth anniversary celebrations of the Second Guru Sri Guru Angad Dev ji at Khadoor Sahib on 17th April 2004; b. 400th Parkash celebrations of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar on 31st August 2004; c. 300th Shahidi celebrations of the two younger Sahibzadas of the Tenth Guru at Fatehgarh Sahib on 25th December 2004.
Musical bands, followed by five Sikhs carrying five Nishan Sahib, and the five beloveds walk in front of the procession. A vehicle carrying Sri Guru Granth Sahib with Sant Baba Jit Singh ji in attendance with the SEWA of ‘CHOR SAHIB’ led the long procession. On seeing the procession full of white clothed men with Gatra Kirpan on the long kurta/shirt chanting the Name of the Lord, people observing them were really impressed. There were many who asked the devotees, “From where has this sangat come? Who is this great Mahapurakh?”
A photograph on the last page of the book 'Nirmal Basant Bahar' depicts one such occasion of 31st August 2004 at Sri Amritsar. Three Army musical bands, a Police band and many private bands, led the procession with the Panj Piaras walking infront of the mini bus carrying the Holy book of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This Nagar Kirtan started about eight kilometers away from Sri Darbar Sahib. The sangat reached the city of Sri Amritsar in ten buses and 100 cars, jeeps and other modes of transport. Everyone participated in the procession by walking the entire way. There are other photos also in the book, which depict the presence of large number of baptized Sikh devotees of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji and the sangat of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan also participated in the KAR SEWA of the SAROVAR of Sri Harmandir Sahib in Sri Amritsar.
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji also attends on the SEWA of CHOR SAHIB of Sri Guru Granth Sahib during the two annual Nagar Kirtans celebrating the birth anniversaries of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji at Jalandhar City. Nagar Kirtans are also taken out in various villages on the occasions of birth anniversaries of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Tenth Guru Sahib and other Guru Sahibs, under his leadership.
The Shromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee has been sending special invitations to Sant Baba Jit Singh ji to join in the celebrations for observing important Sikh historic events. Sant Baba ji is requested to be present at the functions accompanied by hundreds of his devotees. Three main events attended by Sant Baba Jit Singh ji with hundreds of Sikh devotees accompanying him from the Kutiya in a convoy of transports, during the year 2006, were as follows:
1. 400th martyrdom celebrations of Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji at Tarn Taran Sahib on 30th May 2006. Robes of honor and mementos were presented to Sant Baba Jit Singh ji. 2. 400th celebrations of the establishment of Akal Takhat Sahib, Sri Amritsar on 2nd August 2006. Robes of honor were presented to Sant Baba Jit Singh ji by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takhat, Sri Amritsar and Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh ji, Head Granthi, Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar. 3. 300th Sampuranta Divas celebrated on the occasion of completion of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, at Sabo ki Talwandi, Damdama Sahib where also robes of honor were presented.
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji has also been attending the Hola Mohalla celebrations organized by the Sadhu Samaj and Nirmal Bhekh at Sri Anandpur Sahib. The celebrations are held a day before the full moon day. The Mohalla procession starts from the Domeli Dera. Passing through the main GT Road, bazaars of Sri Anandpur Sahib, it concludes at the Dera of Sant Santokh Singh of Paldiwale. The procession is stopped at all the Deras of various Bhekhs and Sant Baba Jit Singh ji is presented robes of honor at all places. A three-day Diwan is then held by the Sadhu Samaj at the Paldiwala Dera.
Attending Sant Sammelans
Sant Baba Jit Singh ji has an impressive personality and commands respect due to his services towards the Sikh Panth and spiritual harmony among the masses. He has been instrumental in establishing a healthy rapport with the elders of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee, Nirmal Bhekh and Sadhu Samaj. Saints, sadhus and chiefs of other Deras’ regularly visit the Kutiya and especially during the three annual celebrations at the Kutiya. Sant Baba Jit Singh ji is also invited by the saints, sadhus, chiefs of other Deras’ to attend the functions held at their Deras’. Sant Baba Jit Singh ji reciprocates by gracing these occasions accompanied by large number of devotees. Sant Baba Jit Singh ji amongst others has attended the following functions:
1. Two days celebrations at Nirmal Panchayati Akhara, Kankhal (Haridwar) of 108 Sri Mahant Giandev Singh ji Maharaj. 2. Annual celebrations at Nirmal Ashram, Banga, on the invitation of 108 Sant Baba Bhag Singh ji Maharaj. 3. Annual celebrations at Pathlava Dera, on the invitation of 108 Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh ji Maharaj. 4. Annual celebrations at Harkhowal Dera, on the invitation of 108 Sant Baba Didar Singh ji Maharaj. 5. Annual celebrations at Domeli Dera, on the invitation of 108 Sant Baba Pritam Singh ji Maharaj. 6. Annual celebrations at Nanaksar Dera, on the invitation of 108 Sant Baba Ghala Singh ji Maharaj. 7. 300th celebrations of the establishment of Damdami Taksal (where young Sikhs are imparted knowledge about the recitation of Gurbani and meanings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib) at Sabo Ki Talwandi, Damdama Sahib was attended on the invitation of Sant Harnam Singh ji Khalsa, Chief of Damdami Taksaal, Jatha Bhindran Mehta, District Amritsar. 8. He was also invited by Sant Harnam Singh ji Khalsa, Chief of Damdami Taksaal, Jatha Bhindran Mehta, District Amritsar to attend the Damdami Taksal celebrations at Fatehgarh Sahib in February 2006 on the occasion of VISHAV SIKH VIRSA SAMBHAAL SAMMELAN (International Seminar on preservation of Sikh Heritage), where large number of devotees of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan attended.
Respect flows freely for Gurudev
Recognising the service of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji towards the Sikh Panth, his portrait was ceremoniously established in the Central Sikh Museum, Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar by Sant Baba Jit Singh ji.
A portrait of Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh Virakat ji Maharaj was ceremoniously established at Baba Baghel Singh Museum, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib at Delhi on 17th May 2006.
During the ceremony of establishing the photographs of the great saints at Sri Amritsar and in the city of Delhi, a large procession was taken out led by musical bands. Sangat from Punjab, Delhi, from other states and from foreign countries had collected in large numbers to participate during the occasion.
A book titled ‘NIRMAL BASANT BAHAR’ in Punjabi was got published by him from Golden Press of the SGPC, Gurdwara Ramsar, Sri Amritsar. This book depicted the life and times of Braham Giani 108 Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. The manuscript of the book was presented for review to Sikh literates and highly acclaimed saints. The congratulatory messages received from these Sikh dignitaries were published in the book. The book was released in the month of January 2006. The book was personally presented to high dignitaries by Sant Baba Jit Singh ji Maharaj. The book has been presented to many high officials of the Government, leading politicians and the Sikh sangat having intense love for Sikhism.
The English translation of this book had been desired by many devotees of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan living abroad. The book in hand is therefore especially translated to benefit the youth and elders who find difficulty in reading the Punjabi edition.
Construction of New Buildings
Keeping in view the needs of the sangat, Sant Baba Jit Singh ji has been instrumental in carrying out the construction of buildings at many places managed by Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Some of the buildings constructed are mentioned as follows:
1. A langar hall at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. 2. Car/Scooter parking in front of the main gate of the Kutiya, to accommodate the vehicles of the sangat in an orderly manner. 3. A water tank of high capacity at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. 4. A Yaadgiri Diwan Hall at Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj at village Marula, District Hoshiarpur. The hall has been constructed in the memory of Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji Virakat. 5. Langar halls for preparation and serving of langar to the sangat at the Tap Asthan at village Bhatolian, District Hoshiarpur. 6. Langar halls for serving langar to the sangat and storing food grains at Gurdwara Dasmeshgarh, village Paili, District Nawan Shahar. 7. The Sanctum sanctorium at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib, Cheevin Patshah, Kot Khurd, District Jalandhar, covered with transparent glass in beautiful wooden frames. 8. The Parikrama of the Sarovar and the path leading from the Gurdwara premises to the Parikrama at Gurdwara Ramsar, Cheevin Patshahi, village Kot Khurd, District Jalandhar laid with marble stone.
At the end, there is no hesitation in mentioning that the sangat of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan continues to be blessed by Sant Baba Jit Singh ji. Ever increasing number of devotees is found at the Kutiya. People narrate about the different instances of their wishes being fulfilled. The faith of the sangat is increasing day by day and is the reason for the fragrance of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan spreading throughout the country and abroad.