Gursevak.com passionately promotes the work of Bhai Jaswant Singh Ji (Daudhar wale) aka ‘Bhagat Ji’, who has devoted his lifetime in the service of translating various Sikh scriptures. Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranwale lovingly used the word ‘Bhagat’ to address Bhai Jaswant Singh Ji. Following their footsteps, Singhs in Damdami Taksal started calling Bhai Jaswant Singh Ji, ‘Bhagat Ji’.
Recording seva of Bhagat Ji in 1960s
Guru Gobind Singh Ji started Damdami Taksaal with the main purpose of teaching the pronunciation and meanings of Gurbani. Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji, the 12th leader, headed the jatha for 39 years (February 1930-June 1969) and served the panth with devotion. Throughout this time as Jathedar, they travelled as far as Orissa in South East India and completed 27 kathas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and katha of Bhai Gurdas Ji Vaars, Bhai Gurdas Ji Kabits, Sooraj Prakash and Sri Dasam Granth.
Bhagat Ji joined Damdami Taksaal in 1961. They were blessed with the seva of recording the kathas. To accomplish this herculean task, Bhagat Ji had to travel with heavy audio recorders Grundig TK46 and TK40 (in the pic) that used electricity to operate. Since electricity connections to houses were not common in every village they travelled to, Bhagat Ji suffered electric shocks when trying to have a make-shift connection for the recorder.
Blessings given by Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji
After the ardas, Bhagat Ji started listening to the katha recordings and writing them down. Sant Kartar Singh Ji shared this fact with Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji and later they called Bhagat Ji and said, “Your pen will serve as a sword”. Indeed, the Gurbani meanings written by Bhagat Ji bring out the glorious messages of Gurbani in a unique never-seen-before manner. They revolve around the humility, courage and selfless actions of Gurus, Bhagats and Sikhs.
Another day, seeing Bhagat Ji’s devotion and selflessness, Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji blossomed with love and blessed them by saying, “Jowar, buddi nisardi hai.” (i.e. like the plant Jowar which bears fruit when it is fully ripe and tall, you will bear the fruit of seva in your older age). The legendary ardas of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Steek Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji completed the katha of Guru Granth Sahib Ji for the 27th time in 1967 at Ganganagar,Rajasthan, India. A little while later the entire jatha, went to Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji with a request to pen down the in-depth meanings (Steek) of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
It was decided that this project will be shouldered by 5 knowledgeable Singhs, namely: Sant Kartar Singh Ji, Sant Parmjit Singh Ji, Sri Mahant Vaidh Niranjan Singh Ji, Baba Boor Singh Ji and Bhagat Jaswant Singh Ji. Everyone did an ardas before the true Lord, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, for seeing this project through. Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji said, “from the five of you not everyone will see this through in physical form. But whoever is still alive should see this project through.” Out of the five, Bhagat Ji is the only one alive and he continues to pursue this mission.