I had an opportunity to hear Singh Sahib, Jathedar Manjit Singh Ji while he spoke at the Chicago Gurdwar, then at his question Answer session with the Sikh youth and Sikh children, It was a treat to watch him and to hear him while he participated in Sikh youth affairs, and answered theirquestions. During this one week conference held in August 1993, one heard with great pride that Singh Sahib the Jathedar of the Akal Takhat “had become the talk of the town,” after his address “Shabad Guru.”
Listening to Singh Sahib, Prof. Manjit Singh Ji was an ennobling, comforting experience. This sensitive intense looking, unassuming man occupying the highest Seat in the court of the Guru, talked on the many varied aspects of human life in the light of Gurbani Gurbani or Guru’s Word, is his true guide and his very life he feels at home in the company of ‘Guru’s Sikhs, especially when they Bather around Gunu Granth Sahib.
My second meeting with Singh Sahib was in New York, where he came to inaugurate and steer the three day conference on Sikhism held at Gurdwara Sahib, Sikh Forum in Long Island. He listened to all the papers attentively and then provided his own views on subjects under study, most importantly, Singh Sahib, Prof. Manjit Singh Ji, fielded questions on the papers read by Sikh scholars. I thought Prof. Sahib enjoyed the questions from the audience; he seemed simply delighted to hear the youth. This, he said was an indication of their serious interest in their religious matters, and Singh Sahib’s most cherished project, as ‘the Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib is to see that Sikh youth should: become worthy of their glorious heritage.”
I was deeply moved/at the sight ‘of Singh Sahib sitting on the side Of Giani Harbhajan Singh Ji, currently the head Grantht at the Long “Island Gurdwara. He publicly eulogized Giant Harbhajan Singh Ji as his old teacher and said that his earlier association with Giani Ji was greatly instrumental in his deep under- standing and love of Gurbani, Singh Sahib was equally demonstrative of his affection for an old time colleague and the then Head Granthi at Takhat Shri Kesgarh Sahil Bhai Daljit Singh Ji, who is now the Granthi at the Richmond Hill Gurdwara.
I was getting more and more interested in the personal life of this public personality simply because of his unique ways he expressed his devotion for the Guru, his respect for his teacher, his uninhibited affection for an ex-colleagues, and his sensitive under- Standing of all the speakers, and humility in the midst of hundreds of admirers who gathered at the conference. He is by far the youngest most learned and articulate religious leader I have ever met in my life, I asked for an interview. My request was graciously granted with the help of Professor Balkar Singh, of Punjabi University, Patiala, who was also one of the presenters at the conference. Singh Sahib’s elder brother, Sardar Onkar Singh Ji gave heartwarming details of their family life, and their childhood memories.
Born on April 12, 1952, Bha Manjit Singh received his earlier education in different school Punjab, because his father was in government service. But his mother Bibi Naseeb Kaur laid the foundations of his true education, his real study of Guru Granth Sahib, She taught him to rise earl and do his Paath before sunrise.
The Gruru, she would say, listens to His Sikhs reciting Gurbani under the star studded sky, al close ‘quarters. After getting his high school diploma in 1967, Bhai Manjit Singh joined the Sikh Missionary col- lege at Amritsar where he secured the blessings of Giani Harbhajan Singh Ji at Bala Sahib Gurdwara. He was only 16 then.
At age 18, Bhai Manjit Singh Ji ‘was able to secure the position of Granthi in one of the leading Gunudwaras in Bombay. He started his higher education, through correspondence courses and com- pleted his BA with honors in Punjabi literature. The Sikh Sangat in Bombay has kept in touch with Prof. Manjit Singhever since.
His next assignment was in UP Nanak Mata, where Prof. Sahib became the Principal of Gurmat Vidyala. During his tenure of Nanak Mata, Prof, Sahib went to Singapore at the invitation of the Sikh Sangat living in Thailand. His career as a Sikh missionary took off!
Prof, Sahib has always looked for new challenges, and opportunities to develop his talents and Creative abilities through his deep study of Gurbani and Sikh history and along with that, he cultivate: his talent for music and thus be- came an outstanding keertania. Sikh Gurdwara in Nagpur pro- vided the right setting for such Outpourings of Prof. Manjit Singh’s spiritual faculties. He came to Patiala to join Punjabi University for a course in journalism, upon completion of which he ‘went back to Nagpur at the request of the Sikh Sangat there, Prof. Manjit Singh, in the back of his mind, perhaps knew that he was preparing himself to lead the des- tiny of the Sikh Nation. Having been a scholar of a very high or- der, with his depth of understanding of Gurbani, along with his training in music, all combined in development of his unique personality, he continued to grow in Stature and personal magnetism which among others attracted Prof, Darshan Singh, the then Jathedar of Akal Takhat, He offered Prof. Manjit Singh the position of Head Granthi at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Prof. Manjit Singh did not want to get involved in the politically charged situation, and decided to stay at Nagpur. But destiny proved stronger their Prof, Manjit Singh’s resolve to stay out of politics. In Feb, 1989, he was asked to come to Anandpur Sahib as the Jathedar of Takhat Shri Kesgarh Sahib, the duty he could not refuse, this position he held with such distinction that in 1992, when Bhai Ranjit Singh (still in jail) became the Jathedar of Akal Takhat, Prof Manjit Singh was approached to assume the highest responsibility of acting Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib, in addition to performing his duty as the Jathedar of Kesgarh Sahib. Thus the youngest and most highly educated cultured Sikh, Singh Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh, became the Jathedar of two Takhats – Shri Kesgarh Sahib and Shri Akal Takhat. Both duties he performs with personal dignity and grace, humility and love unparalleled, and Guru’s blessings he invokes at every step he takes.
Singh Sahib has made some difficult and crucial decisions from the highest seat of Akal Takhat Sahib regarding Pashaoura Singh’s and Piar Singh’s controversial re searches and their PHD dissertations, he invited Sikh scholars from both sides. Le, those who support and those who denounce their unholy approach to analyze the revealed Word of Guru Nanak, using the ordinary tools of academic research. He listened carefully to each side and gave his verdict according to the Will of the Guru. Singh Sahib has an uncanny sense of seeking the Guru’s guidance in the midst of perplexities of the politically fluid situation of the Sikhs all over the world, Subsequently, he organized seminars at Takhat Shri Kesgarh Sahib, “Sikh Raj Da Sankalp,” where scholars such as Dr. Kehar Singh, Dr. Balkar Singh, Dr. Gurnam Kaur, Dr. Prakash Kaur, and many others met and discussed the future of the Sikh nation while they gathered at the sacred soil of Anandpur Sahib. He has also organized two Khalca marches.
Lakhs joined the march from Guru Ki Vadali to Anandpur Sahib, Thus the Sikh Nation experienced a sense of identity and the Khalsa Spirit and the fervor which had subsided in the midst of political turmoil during the past few years.
Many Sikhs have questioned Singh Sahib about the leniency shown to But a Singh ‘but Sahib says that anyone who enters the Guru’s Darbar with a sincere desire to make amends, becomes worthy of the Guru’s mercy and his blessings. And then Singh Sahib says he followed the Guru’s
Guidance at that moment. It was not Singh Sahib himself, but the great Guru was pronouncing his judgment through him. It is quite heartening to hear this young leader of the Sikh Nation conducting his business at his beloved me Guru’s biddings.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 12, 1994
