Dedication

This section is dedicated to

Giani Makhan Singh Ji
Bhai Avtar Singh Ji
Giani Lal Singh Ji
Akali Kaur Singh Ji,

and

Giani Nanak Singh Ji.

Giani Makhan Singh Ji
Born in village ‘Muhaarhi’ in ‘Suba Sarhad’ (now in Pakistan), the late Giani Makhan Singh Ji was my grandfather. He belonged to a family with agricultural background. He spent some years in the city of Rawalpindi in Punjab state (now in Pakistan). After 1947, he came to India with his family members. He had to spend his days in refugee camps, where he lost his mother and a daughter. He spent some years as a farmer in Haryana state. He also served as ‘Granthi’ (Sikh priest) for several years. I was lucky to have received a concealed treasury of mysticism from him. Years have passed by; he still comes in my dreams to guide me during difficult times.

Bhai Sahib Avtar Singh Ji
Born in village ‘Muhaarhi’ in ‘Suba Sarhad’ (now in Pakistan), the late Bhai Sahib Avtar Singh Ji was my father. He was a great ‘Katha-kaar’ of Gurbani and Sikh history. He was a great scholar of Punjabi and ‘Braj’. He knew ‘Orria’ language as well. He was student of Nihang Tehal Singh Ji and Principal Ganga Singh Ji. He spent two years in jail during ‘Punjabi Sooba agitation’ by Shiromani Akali Dal. On a bicycle, he traveled almost every part of India. He also had worked in a steel plant and a coal mine. He served as ‘Granthi’ and ‘Katha-kar’ in different states of India. He left for his heavenly abode in 2004.

Giani Lal Singh Ji
Late Giani Lal Singh Ji was my maternal grandfather. Born in ‘Suba Sarhad’ (now in Pakistan), Giani Lal Singh Ji was a great ‘Keertani’. He had deep and practical knowledge of ‘Hindustani’ classical music. After Indo-Pak partition, he settled down in ‘Maharashtra’ state of India, where he was a head teacher in a government school. After his retirement, he came to Chandigarh. His memories are still fresh in my mind, – he was a vast ocean of spiritual knowledge.

Akali Kaur Singh Ji
Akali Kaur Singh Ji, a well-known Sikh personality, was born in Kashmir state. He preached Sikhism in Kashmir, Suba Sarhad and Afghanistan. In 1948, when Kashmir was attacked, he led the Kashmiri Sikhs and reached Punjab. He spent his life in selfless service of these Sikh refugees. He wrote many books and was an active preacher and promoter of the social upliftment of women. He died in Patiala city.

Giani Nanak Singh Ji
Giani Nanak Singh (‘Rishi’) Ji originally belonged to ‘Suba Sarhad’ (now in Pakistan), who spent many years in Rawalpindi city in (Pakistani) Punjab. After Indo-Pak partition in 1947, he chose the city of Safidon (now Haryana state) for his residence. He was a scholar of Punjabi, Braj, Urdu and Sanskrit. He preached Sikhism in and around the city of Safidon. He was a great lecturer and a good writer, but unfortunately, most of his writings could not be saved after his death. I have had a chance to read some of his original handwritten notes and concise articles, which are evidence of his great knowledge.