|
 Baba
Avtar Singh Ji was born in a small village named Latifal
in Jhelum District (Pakistan) on December 31st, 1899 in
the family of Shri Mukha Singh Ji and Smt. Narayani Devi
Ji. At the age of only 6 years Baba ji loosed the care of
father and Mata Narayani Devi requested Shri Nandlal ji to
take care of education of child Avtar. Extra ordinary
intelligent 12 year old Avtar came to Rawalpindi where he
worked as domestic servant and also as a porter at railway
station. this was the beginning of determined life with
firm faith in goodness. In the 1919 he was part of the
procession in relation of freedom. He got married with
Budhwanti ji.
Baba Avtar Singh ji recited Gurbani regularly. Impressed
by his interest, Dhanna Singh who used to supply milk at
the bakery persuaded him to meet Baba Buta Singh Ji. And
the holy meeting took place on the 25th of May, 1929. Baba
Buta Singh Ji found him so keen to know the Truth that he
revealed God-Knowledge to him instantaneously. Baba Avtar
Singh Ji felt fully convinced of the Reality. Baba Buta
Singh Ji and Baba Avtar Singh Ji started working together
and the movement gathered momentum. The two were together
for about 14 years. On many occasions, Baba Avtar Singh
Ji's honesty, sincerity, devotion and dedication towards
his True Master and the Almighty was put to test. Every
time, he proved up to the mark and won praise from the
True Master.
Baba Avtar Singh Ji succeeded Baba Buta Singh Ji and
preached the divine message during the period 1943-62.
Following the Partition of India in 1947, Baba Avtar Singh
Ji had to shift from Rawalpindi to Delhi. In 1948 Baba
Avtar Singh Ji founded Sant Nirankari Mandal and got it
registered with Headquarters at Delhi. Establishing
branches in various cities with Pramukhs-incharge also
came in the priority agenda of the Master for streamlining
the spread of the Mission. For this very purpose, Sant
Nirankari Sewa Dal also came into being. Publication wing
was set up for books and periodicals. Books containing
philosophy of the Mission were attempted by scholar
missionaries with deep inspiration from the Master. Avtar
Bani has been a unique contribution by the Master himself.
One of the unique things related to Baba Avtar Singh ji is
that during his life time itself he took a decision to
revert from the Sat guru to an ordinary devotee. While
addressing a congregation in Delhi on December 3rd, 1962,
he took the gathering by surprise as he said that
hereafter they should address Gurbachan Singh Ji as Baba
Ji. He asked them to no longer address him as 'Seth Ji' or
'Bhapa Ji' but show him the same respect as they had been
showing to himself. With this the Sat guru stood
manifested in Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji. The next Annual
Nirankari Sant Samagam which opened on November 5th, 1963
was, of course, the first occasion when the devotees from
all over the country saw Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji as the
Spiritual Head of the Mission.
Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji decided not to have any
commemorative function or congregation on the 17th of
September, the day when Baba Avtar Singh Ji breathed his
last in 1969. Instead he exhorted the devotees to pay
homage to Baba Avtar Singh Ji on the 15th of August when
they were already paying tributes to Jagat Mata Budhwanti
Ji. The 15th of August was subsequently named as 'Mukti
Parv' i.e. Spiritual Liberation Day. While the nation
celebrates the Independence Day and express its gratitude
to those who laid down their lives for freedom, the
Nirankaris add another dimension, stressing the need for
spiritual liberation of man, the liberation of Soul, and
remembering those who dedicated their lives for this noble
cause. |