(Photo: Sukhjinder Singh Grewal)
Mohali, Punjab (KP) - Bhai Jasbir Singh Khannewale, renowned Kirtani of the Sikh panth and the founder and President of the Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Charitable Eye Hospital, passed away on Saturday, October 14th. He reportedly suffered a heart attack.
His anti-Sanskar was performed at the cremations grounds of Mohali, where thousands of individuals including Jathedars, religious and political leaders came to pay their respects to the well known Kirtani and Kathakar.
He is survived by his wife Bibi Daljit Kaur, and two sons, Bhai Jagmohan Singh and Bhai Jatinder Mohan Singh.
Life of Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji
Bhai Sahib Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Khalsa Khannewale was born in Chakri Village in Pakistan. He was born in a simple family. His father Sardar Inder Singh was a custodian. His mother Sardarni Parvati Kaur, the housewife was a pious and religious lady and the source of inspiration for putting Bhai Sahib on this religious cause since his childhood. He was two and half year old when his parents shifted to Amritsar during the partition of the country. After that, the family shifted to Sangrur where Bhai Sahib received his academic qualifications. He used to take keen interest in religious study and usually had discussion on religious matters by giving all aspects of Gurbani while putting his point of view in each discussion/samagam. Then at the early age, suddenly he lost his father and the family, as per Hukam of Akal Purakh, took this tragedy.
From his early age, Bhai Sahib Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Khalsa was generous in making friends and was a force to stand against all odds on truth. He was very inquisitive about the meaning of life and had an inculcative belief in the unity of God and practised the philosophy/thought/of Gurbani in his real life. From the very early age, he was an unusually gifted child who learned quickly in all fields of life including academic, social, and religious aspects and would go deep to the heart in the study of each.
"He always preached the basic principles of Shabad Guru and all the illustrations in kathas always carried the authenticity of Gurbani as envisaged in Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji in its true spirit."
Later on, he shifted to Khanna and settled his business. As a young man, Bhai Sahib used to spend long hours absorbed in meditation and in religious discussions with holy men who used to come into his contact. Bhai Sahib, though he worked during the day yet in the ambrosial hours of early dawn, he used to meditate and recite Kirtan and make all Sangat to pray to God Almighty as envisaged in Gurbani.
As a Gursikh, he was always humble and deemed himself to be the servant of the Guru and Sangat. As a true Sikh and follower of the Sikh religion, he did not believe in caste and had a strong belief in the basic principles of Gurbani. He always preached the basic principles of Shabad Guru and all the illustrations in kathas always carried the authenticity of Gurbani as envisaged in Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji in its true spirit. He has traveled extensively throughout the country to spread the message of Sikh Gurus. Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji chose this medium to preach the message of Shri Guru Granth Sahib while giving the practical illustrations because it was easily understood by the population of the time. Wherever he went he always asked the people to follow the basic principles of Shabad Guru as Gurbani of Shri Guru Granth Sahib speaks on this line. He has also set up local cells at different stations to recite Kirtan where Sangat could gather to recite Gurbani for spiritual enlightenment of mankind. He has also opened various platforms for the service of humanity. He always inspired people to help the needy people irrespective of caste and creed. Always, he recited Kirtan and Kathas in the praise of God Almighty strictly on the lines of Gurbani and only Gurbani of Shri Granth Sahib Ji.
With the blessing of God Almighty, Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji started to build a Gurdwara with the help of Sangat at Sohana near Chandigarh. He had always been performing Nishkam Kirtan Seva throughout the country for Sikhi Parchar and social welfare. Also, with the inspiration and blessing of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, he had also been instrumental in providing ambulance services for accident and cases as well as first aid facilities at different highways. All his actions and works had always been as perthe philosophy of Gurbani and accoding to the principles of the Sikh Religion. He has also been awarded the award of "Nishkam Kirtan" on April 24th of 1996 by Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs.
He also talked about drug rehabilitation and always inspired the people to pursue the same. He spoke of AIDS control, eye donation, environmental pollution among some causes. He was also instrumental in spreading the message of the 10th Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, regarding Amrit sanchar and mobolized various preachers for Amrit Sanchar resulting in thousands of people receiving Amrit. On the occasion of the 300 year Anniversary of the Sikh Religion, with the blessing of Guru Granth Sahib, he inspired more than 12,000 people to receive Amrit, the latter receiving the same at Shri Anandpur Sahib, District Ropar, the birthplace of the Sikh religion.
(Source : Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Charitable Eye Hospital Trust, Sohana)
