ਹਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਹੋਂਦੇ ਤਾਣਿ ਜੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਤਾਣਾ ॥
ਹਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਹੋਂਦੇ ਮਾਣਿ ਜੁ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਮਾਣਾ ॥
ਹਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਛੋਡਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਹੋਇ ਇਆਣਾ ॥
ਹਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਖਸਮੈ ਦਾ ਭਾਵੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ॥
ਹਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਲੁਭਾਣਾ ॥
ਹਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਚਲਣ ਜਾਣਿ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਮਿਹਮਾਣਾ ॥
ਦੀਨ ਦੁਨੀ ਦਰਗਹ ਪਰਵਾਣਾ ॥੩॥ (੧੨)
 

I am sacrifice unto him, who makes not a show of his powers.
I am sacrifice unto him,
who lives humbly even when bestowed with honour.
I am sacrifice unto him, who acts child-like in spite of high wisdom.
I am sacrifice unto him, who cheerfully accepts Divine-Will.
I am sacrifice unto him,
who yearns to tread path of the Guru-Oriented.
I am sacrifice unto him,
who is aware of life-sojourn as temporary in this world.
Such a being is acknowledged in Faith-Godliness,
here in this world and hereafter.3. (12)
 

The above Pauri of Bhai Gurdas Jee very aptly describes the way of life in case of Bhai Pritam Singh Jee ‘Eiana’. Though he was only 20-22 years old, yet his bodily development and strength was reminder of olden brave and strong Singhs. However he never showed off his heftiness and was ever submissive. He was also a spiritual giant, but remained inconspicuous. He had earned a place of honour for himself at an early age and was being acknowledged by big Sikh chiefs, army officials and high state authorities. Yet all the recognition did not go to his head and he remained his normal humble self. He was never given to worldly clever manipulations. He was full of Gurmat, Divine, and Virtues like a store-house of wisdom and yet behaved child-like all the time. His talk reflected innocence and simplicity of a child, full of love and sweetness. Here was a case of wisdom of high order cloaked in child-like simple words. Such was his wont from the very beginning. His title of ‘Eiana’ was colloquially pronounced ‘Niana’ commonly. He was therefore popularly known as ‘Niana Jee’ because of his child- like language, full of loving sweetness.  The remaining lines of the above quote shall find application in his life in the following narration.

Before getting baptised, he was named ‘Bhai Surjan Singh Jee’ that got changed to ‘Pritam Singh’. However his old army associates kept calling him ‘Bhai Surjan Singh Niana’. Badungar Nagar is located at a distance of one and a half miles from Patiala. Well-known S. Joginder Singh Jee resided there. Adjoining his residence was located a Vet- hospital for the cavalry horses of Patiala cantonment. Compound walls of the two buildings were close to each other. ‘Eiana Jee’ was employed as dispenser in the hospital. In addition he looked after gardening in the compound and performed duties of ‘Granthi’ of the attached Gurudwara.

He had spiritual inclinations as he grew up in early life. There were frequent Kirtan Samagams at S. Joginder Singh’s place. He would come quietly and enjoy the blissful environment of SatSang on all such occasions. Soon after departure of visitors he would find time to enjoy company of Gurmukh Bhai Joginder Singh Jee.  Listening to his religious discourses, he would try to arrive at the ‘Essence of Gurmat’. Their relationship grew into mutual love. ‘Niana Jee’ was thus baptised into a practicing Singh of the Jatha with loving coaxing from Bhai Joginder Singh Jee.  There upon he would remain engrossed in Naam-Meditation all day and night.  Serving with hands, his mind would be devoted to Divine-Memory. He would rise early at 2:00 A.M., take bath and devote to daily recitation of prayers up to 4:00 A.M. Thereafter he would read ‘Divine Commandment for the Day’ from Sri Guru Granth Sahib and then start singing Kirtan all by himself. This used to be his routine. He was devoted to listening and performing Kirtan, unconcerned about any audience.  He would often be singing alone soulfully in sweet tunes.  He was an expert in playing harmonium and tabla. The remarkable thing about his Kirtan singing was that he would confine himself to pure text of Gurbani without any use of outside words. He would even discourage other Kirtaniyas from mixing outside words while singing Gurbani Kirtan. This act of Faith in purity of Kirtan had very salutary effect in army circles of Sikh- Sangats and his respect got enhanced. They gathered around him in a sizeable Jatha of army Kirtaniyas. This Jatha was specially sought in all Samagams in the army units. Many army officers got initiated into singing Kirtan, thus expanding band of ‘Nirban Kirtaniyas’ of ‘Pure- Gurbani’.

Bhai Eiana Jee’s devotion to duty was also unique.  In the light of Gurmat he did his honest labor. He was liberal at heart and carefree by nature, independent and keeping to himself.  Humble at heart, he personified dignity of Gurmat. The care-free life that he enjoyed could easily invoke envy of a King. His wife also matched him in simple transparency of Gurmukh way of honest living. She too abided by the code for Baptised in Faith and remained obedient to her husband. The couple was contented with their simple living, blessed with patience and contentment of Gurmat teachings. Never would an unsavoury word escape from their lips, instead they were submissive and sweet in their dealings. They would ensure that whatever was said was in conformity with Gurmat. They enjoyed equipoise in both pleasure and pain, ever abiding by Divine-Will in gratitude to the Lord. As Guru-Oriented Gurmukh beings, they would shun all evil company.  Bhai Pritam Singh was great lover of treading Gurmat Path-Divine only. No greed could entice him to deviate from this Path.  He was not given to worldly pleasures and understood worldliness to be unreal. He treated life as a temporary sojourn. He would often say, “One is like a guest for brief stay at the inn-like world and must soon depart for the hereafter.”

His face induced a sense of peace in the beholders. He would attend all big Samagams of the Jatha after taking leave from his duty. He was an accomplished ‘Akhand Patthi’, reciter of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Kirtaniya. His voice was loud and clear that could easily be heard by all and understood.  He would ensure his presence at the annual Samagam of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee’s Gurpurb. All those Kirtan- lovers, who relished his Kirtan remained spell bound.  His singing of Asa-Di-Var Pauris was so soulful, that the essence of Gurbani would sink in every heart. If ever he missed Gurupurb Samagams, many of his fans would miss him too saying, “Why has not the Pauri-Singer Singh come?” In the life-time of Gurumukh Bhai Joginder Singh Jee, ‘Bhai Eiana Jee’ accompanied him to all the Samagams. After his death ‘Bhai Eiana Jee’ remained grief stricken, and mediating at Patiala. He would often repeat Gurbani quote:

 

ਜਿਸੁ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਿਉ ਨੇਹੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਮਰਿ ਚਲੀਐ ॥
ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਪਾਛੈ ਜੀਵਣਾ ॥

Proceed ahead of the Beloved in death.
It is disgraceful to out-live the Beloved.

SRI RAG-KI-VAR M:2 [83]

His tears flowed uncontrollably saying this quote. Such was true love that existed between Bhai Joginder Singh Jee and Bhai Pritam Singh Jee ‘Eiana’.

My visits to Patiala were also rare after Vir Joginder Singh Jee’s death. However whenever I chanced to visit Patiala, I made sure to look-up
‘Eiana Jee’ or send for him. I would wish to avoid visiting Badungar, because the place reminded me of Vir Joginder Singh Jee and old memories would make me restless. Thus such visits were very rare. I tried very humbly to coax ‘Vir Eiana Jee’ to come out of this grief and join in Kirtan Samagams whenever invited. He was of very congenial nature and accepted my heartfelt request.  He started visiting on invitation Samagams in Patiala cantonment and nearby places. His rare single-minded devotion made a deep impression on such occasions. Whenever he received my telepathic message, he would rush to Narangwal and engage in long session of spiritual discourses before returning. He was highly mindful of his Government Service duty.

He was still young when he received Divine-Call. Before the end, he would often repeat, “Think of departing as the world is only a visiting place.” He suffered from typhoid fever to cloak his death. Many well- meaning doctors and physicians insisted to treat him, but he would not listen envisaging Divine-Will.  With rising temperature, his Naam- Recitation became louder.  The beholders of this scene were flabbergasted. It is thus that he passed away in cheerful acceptance of Divine-Will.  All his associated of Kirtan Samagams gathered at Narangwal when the news spread.  All joined in this very special Akhand Patth and Akhand Kirtan in homage to him and in turn received Divine-Blessing of Naam-Nectarian. All those pining in love of separated soul were dealt with heavy dose of ‘Pineal Songs’ of Gurbani. Since the demise of Bhai Pritam Singh Jee ‘Eiana’ his close friends, Vir Parsan Singh Jee from Patiala, has taken his place in Gurmat Samagams, rendering useful service.  Master Joginder Singh Jee ‘Badundi’ was a close admirer and a friend. He must be treasuring in his heart more intimate details of Niana Jee’s life. He might one day share those at suitable opportunity.