The Man who burnt all his Bridges to reach the point of no return!

True story of the first Passionate Idiots!

The Man who burnt all his Bridges to reach the point of no return!

~ 1993 ~

The dingy rickety bus took a sharp turn over the precarious mountain curve and the young woman with a baby over her shoulders, leaned over for support on her man who stood out from the crowd of unruffled village folks that the HP Roadways bus roof was full of. This young man’s countenance was full of grit and a positive aura with eyes that looked very sharp and intelligent. His silhouette against the backdrop of the orange evening sky looked significant enough for most of the other travellers who peered at this couple that looked ‘out of place’ and too calm in this chaotic humdrum setting.

The young man looked at the setting sun with a curious tight smile on his face with a determination that was enduring and eyes afire with expectation. His face kept an eye on the large trunk that rested tied to the roof railing with all his life’s belongings packed in it. Soon his thoughts drifted to his last call a few hours back as a Medical Specialist at Maulana Azad Medical College. After writing the final prescription for his last patient, he had dropped his last few visiting cards into the waste-basket. One card had slipped from his hands and landed on his shoe. Silently, he picked it up and looked at it for the last time. His gaze stuck for a few moments on the name “Dr Davinder Singh, MBBS, MD”. Promptly, he looked away and muttered under his breath “I need to burn all my bridges”. He packed up and stepped out of his office chin up, never to look back.

He was jolted from his stupor by the wail of 3 yr old Amrit who decided it was time for her feed. He lovingly looked at his baby girl’s eyes as if he could see his future beckoning from within and then his gaze shifted to his wife of five years, Dr Neelam Kaur. He looked at her proudly for having stood rock-solid with him in these testing times. He felt that she had lived up to her solemn marriage vows and it felt reassuring that his pillar of strength was intact and glowing. The road was racing past him and he caught a fleeting glance of a milestone proclaiming ‘Rajgarh – 35 Kms’.

~ 1987 ~

Davinder Singh’s thoughts drifted off to the life-changing moment that was unique because of the solitary moment of meeting Baba Iqbal Singh ji of Baru Sahib at a friend’s place at Delhi in 1987. Davinder was fixated when his eyes fell on Babaji’s serene face and he gawked when he heard him speak in an unhurried baritone voice “Aao Doctor Sahib, tusi tey badi vadi degree kamaii hai” (Come Doctor Sir, you have earned a very high degree). Dr Davinder Singh stopped in his tracks, trying to unravel whether there was a hidden message in this statement. He had heard a lot about Babaji and had been trying to meet him for the past two years unsuccessfully. Davinder folded his hands in reverence, bowed his torso and greeted him softly, words eluding him. Babaji was speaking on the issue of “sacrifice for human welfare” which according to him was the real definition of ‘Kalgidhar’. The old man’s words seemed much profounder than whatever he had ever gathered about Kalgidhar. He was pleasantly surprised with the fact that something that he had associated with royalty and dressing up; was in fact much intense and significant and had something to do with a unique sacrifice that the world would remember for ever.

Caught in turmoil ever since the tragic riots of 1984, Davinder had decided to submit his life for Sewa for service to the downtrodden. He had opened a clinic in Tilak Vihar, the hot bed resettlement colony of riot victims and had been serving the unfortunate widows and children there. With his savings and influence as a Doctor, Davinder had been sending many kids to school in the local area. Today, he felt an urge to share his spontaneous thought of submission for selfless service to the under-privileged. Politely with hands folded, he reached out to Babaji and whispered “Maharaj, mainu vi sewa da mauka devo, mai is moh maaya tun door jaana chahanda haan” (Sire, please give me an opportunity to join you in service, I wish to stay away from materialistic world). The old man looked up askance and said “Achha, hmmm….!” (Okay, hmmm!). His experienced eyes were watching Davinder’s father, Brigadier Samloke who looked crestfallen and white-faced at this proposal from his son on whom he invested his sweat and blood. Babaji said again “Beta teri hajey ithey badi lodh hai. Ithon hi sewa kar” (Son, your presence is required more here). Although Davinder said “Satbachan” (Rightly said, Sir) but sleep eluded him that night.

Tossing and turning on bed, he was torn between thoughts. The relaxed and powerful face of Babaji kept haunting him. One part of him wanted to leave everything and surrender to Babaji and the other part reminded him of his father’s efforts as well the impending marriage in December 1988 with a sweet young Doctor that his family had chosen. Somehow he drifted to sleep with a conviction in his mind for earning his father’s blessings yet choosing to walk the path that he had decided upon.

His meetings with Babaji kept on happening and each time he fell deeper in love with the wise old man. He could not resist sharing his mind with Babaji and felt ever peaceful with the serene words of wisdom that he heard from him. Everytime he met Babaji, he felt him to have sensed his father’s discomfort of seeing his son walk the path less taken in this world. Five years passed by; Dr Davinder Singh and Dr Neelam Kaur were blessed with a lovely daughter, Amrit Kaur in 1990 but the young man was obsessed with his idea of joining Babaji at Baru Sahib. One fine day before Baisakhi in 1993, he had a chance meeting with Babaji in Delhi. Gathering up all his courage and wit, Davinder walked upto Babaji and said “Babaji, mainu apni sewa tey jorh lovo varna mainu kidrey hor sewa layi dhakkey khaney paingey” (Babaji, please allow me into your service or else I may have to roam around for some other place). Suddenly a thread broke somewhere and Babaji looked intensely at him with a wry smile and said “Achha? Chal tu Baru Sahib aajaa. Pandrah din reh key saara kujh dekh lai phir apaa agey di vichaar karangey” (Is it so? Okay you come to Baru Sahib for 15 days, stay there and see for yourself and we shall discuss after that).

~ 2013 ~

Those 15 days never came. The Doctor couple had started with the Akal Charitable Hospital. Gradually, they started handling the school, successfully did their B.Ed defying all advice from their teacher colleagues and Dr Davinder Singh was appointed as the Principal of Akal Academy, Baru Sahib. Later, he was also appointed the Secretary of the Trust. And today he is the Director of all Akal Academies while Dr Nelam Kaur is Principal, Akal Academy, Baru Sahib. 

What these two Passionate Idiots set-off, was a wave of young people sacrificing their careers, wealth, jobs and comforts to join the noble mission of Sant Attar Singh ji and thereafter providing an impetus to the dreams of Baba Iqbal Singh ji seeing the light of the day with a rural education revolution. 

    

Kinetising Tomorrow! - Akal Academy, Baru Sahib

A walk across the Akal Academy campus is an absorbing experience.
The atmosphere is distinct, simple with modest uncomplicated approach, rich with the spirit of potential, the heritage of past achievements, and the vitality of inquiry and discovery.
So much happens here. This rural school holds the promise of a different life. A sophomore discovers inner peace and happiness. An inquisitive child identifies the power to unburden by confession. An asthma patient lives longer and better. An artist creates unforeseen beauty. An old couple realizes the real essence of their lives. A teacher hones a revolutionary theory. A widow finds her esteem restored. An athlete achieves a championship dream.
Akal Academy Baru Sahib is an unsung unassuming fountainhead that for decades now has been advancing all aspects of life: education, health, socio-economic-moral empowerment. We map the child's heart to create an enabler that spreads love and compassion. We examine the society around us, its advantages and its threats, and develop ways to make the globe a safer, peaceful, sustainable, sensitive, more equitable
place. Our 60,000 students explore the finer aspects of micro-organisms, Newton's laws, Polonium -- the new entrant in the periodic table and the subtle issues of human values, pardon, inner awakening; all in the same breath.
Our 129 schools or shrines of education nurture and attract the simplest and most deprived human talent and open a window to science, art and elevated thinking. Our libraries connect scholars from rural rustic background across global developments. Faculty in our schools and colleges motivate, stimulate and challenge our students, who respond by exploring worlds inner and outer, they never before imagined. Our alumni are equally outstanding, shaping society with their leadership; creativity and innovation yet remain
firmly rooted to the basic values and stand out with their simplicity and sensitivity.
It is this breadth of accomplishment and activity - in young rustic unsung heroes and beyond - that separates Akal Academy from other institutions.
Students and faculty have the opportunity to achieve more at Akal Academy than anywhere else to transform their society and community.
This is why our campaign is KINETISING TOMMORROW!

In the Lap of God! - Published in 108 Shades of Divinity: A sacred journey across India!

In the Lap of God!

My Homage to Harimandir Sahib!

A sacred journey across India through 108 places of worship of nine religions, 108 shades of divinity marks the coming together of three talented writers Anju Poddar, Late Mukul Singhal and Sethu Vidyanathan. It highlights India’s myriad holy places of nine different religions. In an effort to reach out to the younger audience of today who look at pilgrimages as long and arduous, this book will encourage them to set out on a journey to attain their quest for a connection with the divine.

The book also features successful entrepreneurs, media professionals, actors, philanthropists and many creative minds who have shared their views on religion, their beliefs and what keeps them going. 108 Shades of Divinity takes you through India’s breathtaking landscapes en route holy shrines evoking the spiritual side of the reader. The book explores the significant places of worship of Hindus, Buddhists, Jainism, Sikhism Muslims, Christians, Parsees and Jews.

It was a dark cold night with a strong breeze on 29 Jan 2013 at Amritsar's Ranjit Avenue as we stepped out of the hotel at 3 am.

In a few minutes we landed up at the rear entrance of the Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, as most of the world knows it. Walking barefoot on the white marbled floor across the front of the community kitchen (langar) hall sent a chill up the spine. Clutching the shawl tightly, I was already weighing the possibility of moving without the holy dip at the pool (sarovar). 

Gliding through the cold water in the 'feet-wash basin’ made me realize that my resilience was better than what I had assumed. As I stood at the centre of the gate (Dwar), the sight of the golden abode held me spellbound with its serenity. As I stepped onto the periphery ‘Parikrama’, I bowed prostrate in reverence, more in submission to the surreal atmosphere.

          Suddenly, the inertia vanished and I was surprised at the pace at which I shed my clothes and ambled into the pool. The first impact of the cold water on the body was shockingly freezing but the speed did the trick and I was fully submerged in the chilly nectar for a few seconds. The thermal shock turned into a warm strength that enveloped me as soon as I was out. Quickly, I dressed up and moved on with a new found energy. The shining lights and the reflection of the golden aura in the waters coupled with the soulful touching kirtan that wafted across, gave a heavenly feeling to the whole atmosphere.

             
          I walked across the Parikrama with quick steps and reached the viewing entrance Darshani Deorhi that is the entrance to the divine islanded temple. The kirtan got more louder as I approached the main temple and the view got closer. As I stepped onto the sanctum sanctorum, I was surprised at the jostling yet silent crowd at that hour. The sight of the holy Guru's empty palanquin (palki) and the kirtan going on did bring about an atmosphere that was charged with divine overawing presence. Slowly, I bowed down to my knees and touched my forehead to the carpet. The moments froze as I felt the urge to remain in that submissive mode for a long time. I brought myself up and walked to the first floor through the narrow curving staircase. Picking up the prayer book (Nitnem Gutka), I sat down close to the railing wherein I could see the empty palanquin from the top.

           The feeling was as if the time had frozen and there was no sound except the touching kirtan going on. In some time, I finished my prayers and leaned my head on the railings. It felt like I was in God's lap, cocooned from the materialistic Kalyug heat. The warmth of that feeling brought small droplets of tears in my eyes as the 'viraagmayi' kirtan notes turned reclusive and detached. It felt better and more secure than the childhood memories of the warmth of my mother's lap. I was in a stupor and hypnotised by the symphony that the kirtan strings played with my heart chords. Eyes closed, I was trying to live every second through the divine words that were in the air. It felt as if I was just one step away from meeting God.

       
            I don't even recall the time that was spent away in the melodious harmony. Soon, the palanquin (Sawari Sahib) of the holy guru was brought in with chants of prayers. We all stood up and the supplication (Ardaas) was performed. The magnificent sight was beholding and gripping. The kirtan resumed after the holy sermons were read out from Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

           I walked out slowly, took the hot sacred sweet pudding (Karah Parshad) from the volunteer (Sewadar) swaying to the kirtan beats unconcerned of the chilly breeze blowing on his face. As I was walking out, I felt dissapointed that it was only a couple of hours that I could spend at the Golden Temple.

           Only if I could freeze those moments and put them in a time capsule that could be revisited when the pressure and toll of this chaotic world overtakes you!

Aao Guru Ki Kashi Chaliye! - Davinder Pal Singh Indian Idol 6 - Akal Uni...

The Lion walks alone! - A Passionate Idiot's story Part - 3

How an angry young man labelled as an enthusiastic fool by most, turned the
tables and bought himself 'near salvation'! The story of Jasbir Singh Sahni, 
who today is a pillar of Sewa for The Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib. 

1981-1983

A young Jasbir blossomed into a teenage, with dynamic, non-worldly and sometimes maverick thoughts on how to help others to alleviate their pain. The angry young man’s exterior was cushioned with sharing the pain, anguish of others and being sensitive to the needy. This compassionate aspect of his personality generally landed him in many unsavoury situations just because people around him never saw the reason of him trying to help a downtrodden or even somebody who was passing through bad times. Plodding on gradually with his own learning of every aspect of life seen through the words of wisdom of Guru Granth Sahib ji, Jasbir started spending more and more time in the company of the Spiritual Compilations of the Gurus which lead him to he started realizing the third dimension in most day to day affairs. Most of the time he was absorbed in self-contemplation in search of inner peace, trying to find the ‘purpose’ in life. 

In the back of his mind he kept on searching for that elusive proverbial divine rainbow. The question hankering his mind looped in and out while he tried to share this with many, to seek his answers, but was mostly laughed away as being whimsical.

With that purpose to search, he was always attracted to Saints and so-called learned people to find a simple reason for his life. Some told him that he would enjoy the highest of wealth; some of them said that he would have a long life but a few of them never talked about these things. One fine day while cycling to his father’s shop, he overheard a neighbor ‘Duggal Uncle’, talking about the visit of some Baba ji from Baru Sahib. Curious as usual, Jasbir decided to switch his day’s errands and move on to an audience with the holy man.

A baffling sight awaited him there, when he saw an bespectacled elder dressed in achkan (a buttoned Indian dress with a high band collar) with a white turban and equally white beard. There was an ‘out of the ordinary’ peace radiating on his face but he looked more like a well educated senior officer rather than a Baba as he was being addressed. Jasbir’s thoughts got more compounded when he heard the old man speak. With a deep throat baritone voice, Baba Iqbal Singh was discussing excitedly about developing a unique project on the land of Baru sahib, Himachal Pradesh, that his own spiritual guide and teacher Sant Teja Singh, (MA Llb, A.M. Harvard) had founded in 1956. Jasbir sat with rapt attention and heard out Baba Iqbal Singh narrating his own experiences as a youth and the inspiration that Sant Teja Singh had instilled within him when he had first met him at Khalsa College, Amritsar in his student days.

The saintly person’s face reflected divine radiance with his eyes brimming with energy, boring through furrowed white brows. The youngster was amazed to know that Babaji was working as Director Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh Government, a highly respected post and he was celebate after a decision that he took when he was only 14, much younger than Jasbir was during that time.

With both hands cupping his face, Jasbir hunched with his elbows on his knees listening to Babaji; “Life is worthless without a purpose” he heard Babaji say and a strange feeling arose in him since this exactly was the question that was hankering him. The next words shook him thoroughly; Babaji was gazing lovingly at him and asked “What is your aim in life young man?” Jasbir could hardly mumble anything before Babaji continued “Life is meant for a purpose. And without sacrifices no purpose can be achieved”. Leaving the young man saddled with lot of thoughts, Babaji left for Himachal in a few moments.

Tossing and turning around on his bed that night, the words kept on resounding in his ears; purpose, sacrifice, achieve!. It seemed to him that there was more than a message in these words and he could not agree any less that these were the most practical and simple words that he had heard since a long time. The composed face of Babaji had left a deep impact on his fickle mind. He had heard Babaji speak emotionally about Sant Teja Singh’s experiences with Sant Attar Singh; who showed him the true path of sacrifices and trained him to develop a humble mind despite being Harvard educated. This unpretentious humble old man seemed to be different from most of the others that Jasbir had come across since long. 

Contd..... (wait for part 4)