Baba Harbans Singh

Baba Harbans Singh , who died in New Delhi on April 21, was an epitome of selfless service. If the historic gurdwaras in the Capital -- Bangla Sahib, Sisganj Sahib and Raqab Ganj -- have been renovated and given a new spacious look, it is because of the efforts of Baba Harbans Singh.

Gurdwara Raqab Ganj’s Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara Hall, a hall that was built under his watchful supervision. Known as “Baba with a basket,” he believed in leading kar sewaks from the front at the construction sites.

There is a long list of new buildings of gurdwaras, their langar halls and sarovars constructed or renovated under his supervision in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and Rajasthan. He dedicated his life to renovating historic gurdwaras and sarovars. This is why after Partition, he made a small place adjoining Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi as his abode. All his operations in the country were controlled from here.

The 88-year-old Baba was born at Noorpur Thal in Sargodha (now in Pakistan) on January 1, 1923. It may be a mere coincidence that at the time of his birth, the historic kar sewa of Sri Harminder Sahib was in progress. His father Asa Singh and mother Dharam Kaur were deeply religious.

In 1943, when Kar Sewa for the construction of historical shrines at Nankana Sahib was in progress under the guidance and supervision of Sant Baba Gurmukh Singh, he moved there. As ordained by Baba Gurmukh Singh, he resolvd to dedicate his life to kar sewa.

Initially, he worked under Baba Jhanda Singh, Baba Dalip Singh and Baba Jiwan Singh. At first, he was entrusted with the Kar Sewa work at Pehowa (in Haryana). He came to Delhi in 1976 and started the kar sewa of constructing a large sarovar at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib on June 6, 1976. Subsequently, the langar hall at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and the massive Diwan Hall Lakhi Shah Vanjara Hall were constructed at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj.