Bhai Rajinder Singh - Chaldha Vaheer Jatha

[OZsinghni]

Waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ke fateh

This is my first post on this web forum, however I have been reading many of the posts for some time. Many of the Sikh youth across countries may not be aware of an inspirational Gursikh - Bhai Rajinder Singh (Chaldha Vaheer Jatha). There are many who maybe unaware of Bhai Sahib's seva and contribution to the Sikh Panth. This article aims to raise awareness and inform the next generation. Currently, sevadaars across the world are working on gathering stories, video and audio footage from Bhai Sahib's missionary work across the world covering 40 countries over 20 years. This project aims to compile Bhai Sahib's biography (in both English and Punjabi) and DVD documentary for the 10^th anniversary on 10 November 2010.

Summary of Bhai Rajinder Singh life 1952 – 2000

Childhood

Bhai Sahib was a pioneer Sikh Missionary who travelled across the world spreading the word of Sikhism. He was born in 1952, the village Poonia (Nava Sher district), Punjab. His father Sardar Gulzar Singh and mother Bibi Surjeet Kaur were both Amrithdhari gursikhs. Bibi Surjeet Kaur's father Sardar Makand Singh had fought in Free India movement and played an integral part in the 'Babbar Akali Dal' movement before Independence. As a condition of his daughter's marriage he insisted that the boy must be Amritdhari and that is how Sikhi came into the family. From an early age Bhai Sahib was engrossed and attracted to the spiritual life and enjoyed doing seva (sweeping shoes) at the local gurdwara and being amongst nature and animals.

Migrating to the United Kingdom (UK)

Bhai Sahib was 15 years old when he migrated to United Kingdom, his father and brothers lived in Dudley (West Midlands, UK). He studied science at the Dudley College of Technology, later he went on to complete Bachelor degree in Metallurgical Science from Sheffield University. He would regularly join with his father and visit the Smethwick High Street Gurdwara. In the early 1970's there were very few gursikhs in Birmingham area and they would travel by bus to reach the gurdwara as many families did not own cars during those early days.

Taking Amrit

During that time when Bhai Sahib was approximately 19-20 years he approached one of the (Naam rasiya) Gursikh "when should a sikh take Amrit?, for which that gursikh replied: "Pavan Aramb Satgur Mat Vela" – meaning that as soon as the body has breath, you should think about the guru. Bhai Sahib was so moved by this gursikh's bachan that during the Akhand Kirtani Jatha (AKJ) Rehnsbahi at Smethwick High Street Gurdwara he took amrit, along with his younger brother Bhai Ajaib Singh, Bhai Kuldeep Singh and his sister Bibi Kirpal Kaur and brother in-law Bhai Surjeet Singh.

Jathedar of Akhand Kirtani Jatha (1978 to 1984)

Bhai Sahib became blessed with the naam ras and kirtain from that time onwards. In 1978 he was appointed the Jathedaar of Akhand Kirtani Jatha (U.K.) and served in this role until 1984. During this time Bhai Sahib played an active role in kirtain parchaar in the UK and Europe. He was self taught kirtani and had a sweet and melodious voice, he was softly spoken and touched many lives. As there were very few gurdwara's at that time Bhai Shib would organise regular rehnsbahi kirtain and amrit sanchaar's at his home residence.

His family

Bhai Sahib was married to Bibi Balbir Kaur in 1973, at Barking Gurdwara, London. He has three children, his eldest daughter Bibi Jatinder Kaur, who is married to Bhai Ranjit Singh (Brisbane, Australia), his second daughter Bibi Daljit Kaur, who is married to Bhai Jaspal Singh (son of Bhai Onkar Singh, Leicester) and his son Bhai Kulwant Singh who is married to Bibi Gursunder Kaur (from Italy).

Chaldha Vaheer Jatha

Seeing the footage and carnage from the 1984 attack on the Akaal Takht, Bhai Sahib made a conscious decision which compelled him towards undertaking Sikhi parchaar (tatt gurmat parchaar). Particularly, he was conscious that the Indian government would do whatever it could to exterminate Sikhs, the only option to counter that attack was to create more Sikhs who lived in the western countries (outside of Punjab). At this point he established 'Chaldha Vaheer Jatha' with its key mission to undertake International Sikh missionary work. At this Bhai Sahib resigned from his employment and self funded all of the travels and expenses with parchaar. He spread the word of Sikhism through Kirtain, parchaar, countless amrit sanchar's and youth gurmat camps. During the 20 years of seva Bhai Sahib was a Pioneer Sikh Parcharaks (Missionary) who travelled to many countries including: Europe (Holland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Ireland, Italy, Spain). Bhai Sahib resided in Amsterdam, Holland from 1980 to 1982 and assisted the sikhs there to establish the first gurdwara in Holland.

In 1986, Bhai Sahib undertook his first world tour with a small jatha including the late Bhai Rama Singh (who was very close to Bhai Sahib), Bhai Prithipal Singh, Bhai Hardiyal Singh and Bhai Shabeg Singh (Sydney). The world tour included: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Malaysia and Singapore. Bhai Sahib was the first parcharak to have ever travelled to these countries, as a consequence many sikhs took amrit during that time. From 1986 to his last days in 2000, Bhai Sahib travelled around the world including the following countries as well: USA, Canada, Kenya, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangkok, Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh. His parchaar included gurmat camps for children and youth as he believed it was critical to ensure that the next generation remained in Sikhi saroop and hold strong Sikh identity.

In November 1994, Bhai Sahib travelled to Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) for the first time and so moved at being at the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, that he continued to visit each year until 2000. Bhai Sahib from his daswand would take gurmat parchaar material for the Sikhs living in Nankana Sahib, who lived in harsh poverty (e.g. clothes, gutka (in Urdu), keratin audio, books). They loved Bhai Sahib dearly as he would converse with them and explain to them about Guru Nanak Dev ji's and how to be a sikh. Bhai Sahib established the 'Guru Nanak Model School' for the Sikh children of Nankana Sahib, this school provides Sikh children (approximately 100 Sikh families reside at Nankana Sahib) to learn about Gurbani, Gurmat, Kirtain, Tabla and Sikh History. He enjoyed listening to the children recite gurbani when he visited each year.

Bhai Sahib's final Journey 10 November 2000

Bhai Sahib always remained humble and never eluded that he had attained certain spiritual levels. He was very close to many gursikhs (Bhai Jeevan Singh, Bhai Rama Singh, Baba Takur Singh (Damdami Taksal), Bhai Harbajan Singh Yogi. He did not engage in petty politics of jatha-banday, he maintained that respect and love for gursikhs regardless of which maryada they followed. During the days leading up to him leaving the UK for his annual yatra to Pakistan, Bhai Sahib requested for his family to meet him. He had also phoned gursikhs indicating that this was his "akree fateh". His health deteriorated while he was on the yatra at Nanakana Sahib and Bhai Sahib insisted that he wanted to return to his home village (Poonia). However, his health became worse, Bibi Balbir Kaur took him to Jallandhar Hospital, and he suffered a heart attack at the Jalandhar hospital. Bhai Sahib had always desired to be cremated the 'proper' way and this was maintained by many gursikhs (Bhai Talwara Singh, Bhai Mehar Singh, Bhai Ram Singh, Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode) arriving for the antam sanskar. The former Akaal Takt Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti performed the Antam Ardaas.

Bhai Sahib's contribution to the Sikh Panth was given the highest honour in April 2004, whereby he was the first non-resident of India (foreigner) to have their portrait installed at the Ajayab Ghar Sikh National Museum in Amritsar. The former Akaal Takt Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti and the former head granthi and now current Akaal Takh Jathedaar Bhai Gurbachan Singh performed the ardaas and unveiling of Bhai Sahib's portrait.

If you would like to contribute to this project or have any stories, footage (audio and video), please contribute to the following blog: http://bhairajinders...r.blogspot.com/ or alternatively email Bibi Jatinder Kaur on jatk21@hotmail.com

The following footage has been uploaded to the web:

In Bhai Sahib's Memory:

Bhai Sahib doing kirtain during the first world tour in Australia (1986)

His Antam Sanskar footage:

Bhai Sahib's kirtain can also be accessed through the following link:

http://www.sikhroots...ingh%20(Dudley)

It is hoped that through reading and learning about Gursikh's life (Gursikha da jeevan), we can gain inspiration and motivation to become better Sikhs

Bhul Chuk Maaf

Jatinder Kaur

[guruvah]

Vahigurooo!

dass did write on Bhai Sahib some years ago on discoversikhi forum(which is no more around) ...all the writings(what dass heard from people who knew Bhai Sahib) and rare pictures are no more there. :sad:

in the link above there is also another picture of Bhai Sahib's meeting with Baba Thakur Singh in Malaysia.The sakhi is from discoversikhi forum.(though it has been edited)

remember Bhai Sahib from my childhood.

You might also want to contact those in Singapore like Bibi Heri Har Kaur,Bhai Ranjit singh,Bibi Gurmit Kaur and Bhai Balbir singh who had traveled with Bhai Sahib on his parchars. I am sure they would have plenty to share about Bhai Sahib!

Bhai Jasbir Singh Tapoban also did sangat with Bhai Sahib...along with Nashattar Singh(Sydney?). Gurdeep Singh(Depay) Sarablohi from New Zealand also.

When he came to Malaysia he use to go to places where Sikhs lived but no one wanted to go to do parchar.

Really Miss Bhai Sahib! :sad:

[GuruManeyoGranth]

Bhai Rajinder Singh Ji: an inspiring, humble, Ekta-loving and true PANTHIK Jathedaar of AKJ UK.

Waheguroo

[Gurdaspuria E12]

Dhan Guru Dhan Guru De Pyare

[guruvah]

One thought that comes to mind when thinking about Bhai Sahib is that he was truly a soul drenched in SatGuroo jis love and Gurmat Naam.

He was truly a very humble soul.

He faced difficult situations in life yet remained humble and meek.(those who know, know what dass means)

He was truly was a Hardcore Naam Abhiyasi whose surti was attached to Naam 24/7. (which shined through his character)