Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

BHAI LADHA SINGH JI OF FARIDKOT91A room was set apart for prayers where Guru Granth Sahib wasinstalled. The lingering smell of flowers and agarbatti always remindedus of holy atmosphere. There were many Sikh artifacts like kirpans,khandas, chakras, arrows, daggers of various types; and on the wallspaintings & reprints of pictures from Sikh history. He had aharmonium and tabla for kirtan and many other musical instruments,such as piano, banjo, etc., for playing in leisure hours.Whenever we entered his home, Bhai Sahib was casually dressedin a chola, kachhera with wooden sandals on his feet and a small dastaaron his head, unless he was going out in a formal dress of achkan andchuridars.Language spoken between his friends included a number of “SinghBolas”. We children were addressed as ‘bhujangis’. I particularlyremember his friend Akali Kaur Singh Nihang dressed in dark blackAkali uniform. With his fair face, he always looked handsome anddistinguished. There were many others whom I do not remember byname, but were always friendly and benign, and exuded charhdi kala.In no way I can claim the above narration to be a comprehensivebiography, but to some extent it gives a glimpse into his life as a raagiand a preacher, and as a person whom we loved and respected.¤Beauteous are Lord’s lotus feet,And the instruction of God’s saints.Rare, is the pious person who is attached to them.Nanak, in the saints’ society,The love for Divine knowledge is awakened.On the very fortunate, is the God’s grace.– Guru Granth Sahib, p 380crn kml AwnUp hir sMq mMq ] koaU lwgY swDU ]nwnk swDU sMig jwgy igAwn rMig ] vfBwgy ikrpw ]