Beyond the Pages
I Read a Biography Expecting History. I Found a Guide for Life.
Today’s story is going to be different. Many of you may find it completely new, and perhaps even intriguing.
The book I’m talking about today is the biography of Bhai Amrik Singh Ji.
Bhai Amrik Singh Ji was born in 1948. He was the son of Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale who was the chief of the Bhindranwale Mehta Jatha.
He was well versed in Gurbani and Sikh literature and dedicated much of his life for Sikh missionary activities. He later became one of the Sikh community’s most prominent leaders along with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Recently, I read his biography, and it had a profound impact on me. It brought me closer to my dharma and encouraged me to become a better human being.
His story unfolds like this.
He was a young boy living in a village with his parents and grandparents. Among all of them, his grandfather spent the most time with him. He would tell him stories of the Sikh Gurus, the sacrifices of the Sikh martyrs as well as about the current political system. Most importantly, he introduced him to Gurbani, which contained lessons for every aspect of life — both worldly and spiritual.
These early teachings played a major role in shaping the person Bhai Amrik Singh Ji would later become.
Bhai Amrik Singh Ji was also a keen learner and a curious and sweet boy from a young age. He helped his elders in household chores and portrayed as a role model for his youngsters. His father, joined a larger group - the Bhindranwale Mehta Jatha.
He used to spend a lot of his days over that place only and he rarely came back home. But when he did, he always asked his son about his ਨੇਮ (nem ~ routine) and studies.
It reminded me that discipline is often at the core of a meaningful life.
As I read further, I saw a personality shaped by bravery, discipline, serenity, and an unwavering devotion to his Panth and community.
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You might not understand it or believe it, but the things about death I read in this book opened my eyes. His grandfather's last moments and the presence of his entire family around him was not only an event jotted down on those pages but the truth – the reality that occurred.
Here’s the paragraph translated for non-punjabi readers:
At that moment, Bapu Ji opened his eyes and said, 'Oh look, Kartar Singh, the sky has arrived to take us, the time for us to go has now come. Waheguru Ji's Khalsa, Waheguru Ji's victory.'
Everyone responded to Bapu Ji's victory loudly and Bapu Ji closed his eyes. Mata Niranjan Kaur Ji says that at that moment the whole room was filled with a golden light, eyes were opened and everyone started chanting Waheguru loudly. The next moment Bapu Ji's breath stopped and he left this world forever.
At that time, Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa was sitting on his seat at Sarhali. The great man suddenly got up in a hurry and shook (Baba) Bhai Thakur Singh Ji who was resting next to him. (Baba) Bhai Thakur Singh Ji immediately got up quickly after seeing Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa. Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa started saying to (Baba) Bhai Thakur Singh Ji, 'Thakur Singh, get up quickly and see that Jhanda Singh Ji is going to Sachkhand. He had come here to meet us, look, our room has become golden and our entire body has also become golden.' (Baba) Bhai Thakur Singh Ji, seeing this audacity of the great man and the nature's fate, stood silently and started chanting Waheguru-Waheguru.
What stayed with me wasn’t just the event itself, but the peace with which it was faced. It challenged many of my assumptions about death and reminded me of the strength that faith can provide in life’s most difficult moments.
So, what did I learn from the life of Bhai Amrik Singh Ji, and how does it apply to my own life?
- To always respect other souls.
- To follow my dharma.
- To be brave and stand for what is right.
- To pray to God and have faith in that prayer.
- To follow the discipline I’ve been given by God.
This book was more than a biography for me. It was a reminder of the values I want to carry in my own life.
I hope that through my experience of reading this book, you were able to take away something valuable as well.
ਯਹ ਰੁਤਬੇ ਲਹੂ ਬਹਾ ਕੇ ਲੀਏ।
These honors are achieved after shedding blood.
