Baba Ishar Singh Nanaksar (1913-1963)

                         

  Homage to Baba Ishar Singh ji Nanaksar (1913-1963)

Sikhism, as founded by Guru Nanak Dev ,is a monotheistic religion but contrary to the popular belief it is not a monolithic religion. Sikhism is comprised basically of two sects. First, Amritdhari or baptised Sikhs also called Khalsa  panth and second, Sahajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs. Both these main sects are further divided into a number of sub-sects. Among the Amritdhari Sikhs, there are Akalis, Nihangs and those belonging to various schools called Taksals such as Damdami taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jathas, and Nanaksar Samparday among others.Similarly the Sahajdharis also have a few sub-sects.

 Nanaksar Samparday was founded by Baba Nand Singh at the village Kaleran in Ludhiana District of Punjab to preach the Sikh philosophy as contained in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) which is not only the holy book of Sikhs containing hymns by Gurus and saints, known as Gurubani, preaching universal message of love, truth and unity of God but also living Guru for the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh, last of the ten corporal Gurus of the Sikhs bequeathed Guruship of the Sikhs to SGGS for eternity and asked the Sikhs to revere SGGS as much as they had been doing in case of their previous ten Gurus. But gradually people starting drifting away from the message of Gurubani and SGGS. This is when Baba Nand Singh came on the scene and restored the respect of Gurubani and told the Sikhs to respect SGGS as living Guru as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh. .He spent most of his time in meditation and preaching the message of the Gurus. .He asked the people to devote not less than one tenth of their time and earnings in the way of God. He also emphasised the virtues of simple life, hard work and honesty. This made him popular even among non-Sikhs. Besides, there is a popular belief that he had the darshan (holy vision) of Shri Guru Nanak Dev while meditating at a Gurudwara in Ferozepur which was considered a divine intervention in his favour.

 He travelled all over the Punjab and to other places particularly Delhi and Dehradoon where he spent a considerable time meditating. Wherever he went, people came in large numbers to listen to his preachings. By the time of his death in 1943, he commanded a large following among the Sikhs which included among others the royal family of Patiala.

   Baba Ishar Singh, born in 1913 had been his  favourite disciple ever since he joined him  after taking a wow of celibacy at the age of just  18. He succeeded him and  carried on the job of Gurubani preaching following in the footsteps of Baba Nand Singh. He established a Gurudwara in Kaleran and named it Nanaksar, that became the headquarter of the sect in due course. He travelled to many places all over India and is believed to have baptised more than seven hundred and fifty thousand people. I consider myself fortunate for being one of those. Though I was a child at that time, I remember the event distinctly and cherish the memory. Actually our family is associated with Nanaksar since the time of my grandfather S Inam Singh who had the darshan of Baba Nand Singh. My father S Hardit Singh, a teenager boy at that time, was also accompanying him then. The association continues till date.

 Baba Ishar Singh was not only was popular among Sikhs, the people from of other religions also frequently visited him which included some leading personalities of his time. One of such persons was Goswami Ganesh Dutt chief priest of Laxmi Narayan Mandir , populary called Birla Mandir with whom he used to engage in long spiritual discussions.. Baba Ishar Singh usually stayed in the ridge area behind Birla Mandir when he visited Delhi. Seth Ghanshyam Dass Birla, the well-known capitalist and builder of the Mandir had particular respect for Baba Nand Singh whom he had visited during his travel to Punjab and was greatly impressed by him. Later,  he is also believed to have offered to contribute a large amount for building the Nanaksar Gurudwara but  Baba Ishar Singh declined the offer as he preferred small contributions by the community at large.
 Doctor BL Kapur, a well known physician of Delhi, was another such visitor.

Amidst the one of his meeting with Goswami Gansh Dutt, the Goswami ji got a call from Jawahar Lal Nehru the Prime minister of India, who revered Goswami ji as a guru, asking him to call on him at Teenmurti house, his official residence. Goswami ji pleaded his inability to do so immediately citing his engagement with Baba Ishar Singh. Why don’t you bring him along? Nehru asked. However, when told to do so, Baba ji expressing his reservations, declined politely. The conversation ended but on the very next day Nehru came to see Babaji personally with some of his ministers at Birla Mandir.

 On another occasion Babu Rajendra Prasad the President of India invited him to Rashtrapati Bhawan. He agreed  on the condition that Keertan (singing of divine hymns of Gurubani) will be performed at Rashtrapati Bhawan The arrangements were quickly made. My father was also present in the congregation who told me this anecdote.

Baba Ishar Singh left for his heavenly abode rather young in the year 1963 but by then he had firmly established the Nanaksar school of Sikhism which continues to serve the community with increased fervour.

 I pay my humble homage to Babaji on his 100^th birthday.