Satguru Baba Hardev Singh – A Guru For Our Time

The Sant Nirankari Mission has touched the lives and souls of millions, with its global effort to unite mankind for the greater good of humanity. The belief in responsible living in society, and equality within community life, became a central philosophy guiding the remarkable life of Satguru Baba Hardev Singh.

Baba Hardev Singh is the grandson of the then Satguru Baba Avtar Singh Ji and Jagatmata Budhwanti Ji. He was born on February 23, 1954, in Delhi into the family of Baba Gorbachev Singh Ji and Rajmata Kulwart Kam Ji. As the scion of a distinguished family, he was blessed spiritually and possessed an uncanny focus on small details, that would one day herald his ascent to spiritual leadership.

Baba Hardev Singh Ji received his basic educational training at home, and quickly achieved proficiency in Hindi, English and Mathematics. He attended a Rosary state-funded school in Delhi, where his teachers observed his incredible patience and attentiveness.

He was sent to a life experience school, Yadrendra state public school, in 1963 and finished the secondary school assessment in 1969.  He also had a passion for mountaineering.

Baba Hardev Singh Ji came back to Delhi after his training at Partala, furthering his higher education at a university in Delhi.

After the assassination of his father and spiritual master Baba Gubachan Singh Ji, murdered on April 24, 1980, by fundamentalist Sikhs, Baba Hardev Singh Ji had to deal with the loss of both his father and his spiritual leader.

Renouncing vengeance, and calling instead for resilience, persistence, and harmony, Baba Hardev Singh Ji was shortly afterward anointed as the new Satguru of the Sant Nirankari Mission. His steadfastness and stoic resolve in the face of the recent tragedy helped avert further violence and inspired a great many others.

Baba Ji preached the self-realization and actualization of all humankind.

“Real beauty lies in the mind, not in physical cleansing. Until the mind is embellished with divine virtues, there can be no cleansing. Human beings may well look impressive in their outward worship, but God knows the true state of their minds,” he once said, emphasizing God-knowledge and the acknowledgment of truth to be the essential need of each person.

During his leadership of the Sant Nirankari Mission, the Mission grew considerably, establishing a presence all over the world, and he traveled widely, sharing inspirational stories and devotionals to adherents from one corner of the globe to the other.

He also campaigned actively for environmental consciousness, encouraging the planting of trees and enhanced cleanliness.

The first-ever blood donation drive for the Sant Nirankari Mission was organized during the time of Baba Ji’s leadership, on the event of the yearly Nirankari Sant Samagam in November 1986.

In 2016, Baba Hardev Singh died in a car crash in Montreal, Canada. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP President Amit Shah shared their deepest and sincerest condolences.

His loss was felt by his millions of followers all around the world, comforted by his immortal words: “Love cures people, the ones who receive love, and the ones who give it, too.”