Brief Jeevani of Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee Ambey-Maajraa -

Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee Ambey-Maajraa

• Bhai Talvinder Singh Jee Buttar

It is beyond one's ability to put the life stories of spiritually accomplished Gurmukhs—beloved ones of the Guru who are blessed from the very beginning—into words. This is because it is not possible for an ordinary person with worldly knowledge to recognize the aura of those who have reached a high avastha. Sree Guru Ramdas Sahib Jee says the following about such Gursikhs, who are blessed from above and have become one with God:

“ਜੋਤੁਧੁਸਚੁਧਿਆਇਦੇਸੇਵਿਰਲੇਥੋੜੇ॥”

Those who meditate on You, O True Lord - they are very rare.

“ਜੋਮਨਿਚਿਤਿਇਕੁਅਰਾਧਦੇਤਿਨਕੀਬਰਕਤਿਖਾਹਿਅਸੰਖਕਰੋੜੇ॥”

Those who worship and adore the One Lord in their conscious minds - through their generosity, countless millions are fed.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee - Ang 306)

Gursikhs come to this world to do good for others (ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰ). From the very beginning, they are given the seva of bringing peace to the suffering world and serving humanity. Bhai Gurdas Jee beautifully states:

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀਵਿਰਲਾਆਇਆ।

Rarely comes a benevolent gurmukh who serves others.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਸੁਖਫਲੁਪਾਇਆਪੁਗਵਾਇਆ।

The Gurmukh abandons ego and receives the fruit of delight.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਸਾਖੀਸਬਦਿਸਿਖਿਸੁਣਾਇਆ।

Only the gurmukh tells the story of the (grandeur of ) Word to the disciples (of the Guru) and never claims to tell something as his own.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਸਬਦਵੀਚਾਰਿਸਚੁਕਮਾਇਆ।

Deeply pondering over the Word, a gurmukh practices truth in his life,

ਸਚੁਰਿਦੈਮੁਹਿਸਚੁਸਚਿਸੁਹਾਇਆ।

He likes the truth, which resides in his heart as well as speech.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਜਨਮੁਸਵਾਰਿਜਗਤੁਤਰਾਇਆ।੧੨।

Such a gurmukh not only spruces his own life he rather gets the whole world across.

(Vaar 19, Pauri 12)

Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee (Ambey-Maajraa), who recently left his physical body, was a Gurmukh with such a life. Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee spent more than three decades in the sangat (company) of Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Jee. Bhai Sahib used to lovingly call him Preetam Singh 'Mastana'.

A true and miraculous event is connected to Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee's life, which shows the love for Kes (uncut hair) in the Gursikhi path and its power. It reminds us of the sacrifice of Bhai Taroo Singh Jee, who had his scalp removed to protect his Kes.

Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee was born in October 1899, in the village of Saunkanmind, Tehsil Pasrur, District Sialkot (in modern-day Pakistan). His father was Bhai Havela Singh, and his mother was Mata Lachhmi.

At the age of 13-14, he met Sant Harnam Singh Jee Kile Vaaley, who inspired him to take Amrit. In 1922, he met Dr. Basant Singh Jee Narowal (Also mentioned in Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Jee’s book, “Rangley Sajjan”). 

After Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Jee's release from prison, Bapoo Jee met Bhai Sahib in 1932-33 through Dr. Sahib, when Bhai Sahib would come to Sialkot for Shree Akhand Paath Sahibs and Rainsabaaee Keertans on Dr. Sahib's loving request. Bapoo Jee’s brother, Bhai Sudagar Singh Jee's wife, Bibi Ranjit Kaur Jee, was the niece of Dr. Basant Singh Jee.

He remained celibate his entire life and did not get married or get tied down by worldly attachments.

During the 1947 partition, Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee's family settled in the village of Rurki Jagowal near Malerkotla. In 1950, he and his younger brother Sudagar Singh got jobs as gangmen in the railway department at Mandi Gobindgarh, so they left farming and moved to Gobindgarh. One day, the DRM (Divisional Railway Manager) came for an inspection and asked for a matchbox to light a bidi (a small cigarette). When Bapoo Jee refused to give it to him, he was fired from his job just three months later. Because of the job, his younger brother, Bhai Sudagar Singh, sold their land in Malerkotla and bought new land in the village of Ambey-Maajraa, near Mandi Gobindgarh.

Around 1954-55, he went to meet Bapoo Sarain Singh Jee in the village of Chakanwali (Behlolpur) near Dera Baba Nanak. Bapoo Sarain Singh was the cousin of Dr. Basant Singh Jee and a close companion of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Jee.

While there, he felt an intense urge to have the darshan of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, which was just three or four miles across the border. With a deep longing to see Gurdwara Shree Kartarpur Sahib, he did an Ardaas (prayer) and plunged into the fast-flowing Ravi river. 

He prayed to Guru Sahib and recited Shabads, and a miracle happened: the river's water level dropped, and he crossed over to the Pakistan side. After doing an Ardaas of thanks for fulfilling his wish for Darshan, he let out a loud Jaikaraa (victory cry). 

The Muslims nearby were shocked and wondered, "Who is this 'Sikh' who has come here shouting a Jaikaraa?"

They immediately informed the army. The army arrested him and took him to Kot Lakhpat Jail for questioning. Inside the jail, the prejudiced Muslim prisoners and guards made a plan.

They thought that Sikhs love their Kes the most, and if they wanted to get the real secret out of this Sikh, they should cut his Kes. They believed he would then confess the truth about being a spy or a smuggler.

When 6-7 Muslims tried to cut Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee's Kes, he prayed to the Guru to let him live up to his Sikhi, keeping his Kes until his last breath. 

Such a miracle happened that Bapoo Jee's Kes became like sarbloh wires and could not be cut.

Bapoo Jee used to say that a very bright light appeared around him, and five Singhs stood around him like an iron shield. Among them were Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Jee, Sant Javala Singh Jee Harkhowal, Dr. Basant Singh Jee, Sant Harnaam Singh Jee Kile Vaaley, and another Singh. Seeing this amazing miracle, all the prisoners and staff in the jail became fearful of him, and some started to respect him, calling him a 'Zahar Peer' (a living saint).

Meanwhile, in India, Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Jee started working for his release with the Home Department of India and the Pakistan government. He even hired a lawyer in Pakistan to fight his case.

The interrogating officer had recognized his spiritual state and, when presenting the case in court, he gave a statement saying, "This simple Sikh came to light a lamp at his Pir's (Guru Nanak Sahib's) grave in the dark of night and didn't realize he had crossed the border."

But at that moment, Bapoo Jee spoke up, "But I came during the day!"

Hearing this, the lawyer told the judge that this person was not mentally well and should be released. The judge acquitted Bapoo Jee. After spending about six months in the Pakistan jail, he returned and started living again in his village, Ambey-Maajraa.

Another miraculous event from 1955-56 is connected to his life. Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee used to spend all day and night in meditation and reciting Naam under a simple hut he had built in his fields in Ambey-Maajraa.

One day, the sixth Guru, Shree Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee, gave him direct Darshan and made him aware of a ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਅਸਥਾਨ / Itihaasik Asthaan (historic place) in Mandi Gobindgarh that the Guru himself had blessed with his presence.

Later, when the site was excavated, a platform of old bricks and two Lirpans were found. Today, the Gurdwara of Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee Patshah stands beautifully at that spot.

Bapoo Harbhajan Singh Jee of Panjokhra Sahib says that Bapoo Preetam Singh was such a dedicated sevak, so helpful to others, and so devoted to meditation that he would listen to Rainsabaaee keertans the whole night standing up.

Despite being humble, full of love for Akaal Purakh, and having a calm nature, he was also very firm in Gurmat Rehat Maryada.

Around the 1940s, when the Congress party had taken control of the Shiromani Committee, a very large Akali Dal conference was held near Mandi Gobindgarh. Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee also went to listen to the conference.

Master Tara Singh was speaking and said, "A great crisis has befallen the Panth."

Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee suddenly stood up from the crowd, went onto the stage, and said with passion, "The Guru Patshah's Panth has not faced any crisis, nor is it in any danger.

The only thing in danger is your seats of power. The Guru's Panth will remain in Chardi Kala (high spirits) until the end of time."

One incident took place around 1988-90, during the period of militancy in Punjab, when Indian paramilitary forces would not listen to any reason or appeal before killing Sikhs.

Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee had started to build an underground room (bhora) near his house in the fields in Ambey-Maajraa. But he suddenly gave up the idea and left it half-dug.

One day, CRPF soldiers passing by saw the bunker-like place and became suspicious. They went into Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee's room and saw kirpans, shields, spears, and shastars.

After seeing this, they told Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee, "Come with us to the police station."

Bapoo Jee replied, "I will get ready, then you can take me wherever you want."

Bapoo Jee went into the room with Shree Guru Granth Sahib Jee, did an Ardaas, and came out fully ready, wearing a shield on his back, a sword, and other shastars.

He said to the CRPF men, "Now, put handcuffs on me and arrest me."

An unseen miracle occurred, and the CRPF men couldn't find the courage to go near Bapoo Jee. As Bapoo Jee moved towards the CRPF men, they would back away. In the end, the security forces returned from there.

Like this, there are many other miraculous events connected to his life, about which a whole book could be written. Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee was around 113 years old when he did Akaal Chalanaa, but until his last breath, he remained steadfast in his discipline of Sarbloh Bibek and never missed waking up at Amrit Vela, washing his Kes, or his Nitnem. Bapoo Jee lived in a bhora he had built in Ambey-Maajraa and was always listening to Gurbani and meditating on Naam. Singhs from the Akhand Keertani Jatha from far and wide would come and stay with him and would observe Amrit Vela in his sangat.

On May 9, 2013, after completing his Nitnem, around 8:45 AM Bapoo Jee went to merge with Akaal Purakh, while meditating on Naam, sitting perfectly fine in his bhora.

Whatever words he happened to speak would come true. There was deep love and respect between Bapoo Bala Singh Jee of Guru Kee Vadaalee and Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee Ambey-Maajraa.

Bapoo Bala Singh Jee used to say that Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee Ambey-Maajraa was an enlightened soul and an accomplished sant.

Singhs say that a short time before Bapoo Bala Singh Jee passed away, he came to visit Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee in Ambey-Maajraa.

Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee told him, "Your time to leave this world has come, and soon after you go, I will also leave."

These words of his also came true exactly as he said them. A few months after Bapoo Bala Singh Jee passed on, he too departed for the Guru's abode.

Bapoo Preetam Singh Jee Ambey-Maajraa lived his whole life in a hidden and simple state, but after he revealed the location of Shree Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee's place, a large number of sangat started coming to him out of devotion.

He would always say, "Shree Guru Granth Sahib Jee is our Guru, have their darshan every day."

He was strictly against personality worship and the 'deravad' (culture of saints and their establishments), which is why a short time before he passed away, he strictly told his family, "After I leave my body, do not build any dera (shrine) here. Immediately after I pass, cremate me, and by evening, cool the ashes and immerse them in water.”