GURBACHAN SINGH BHINDRANWALA
Giani Gurbachan Singh (12.2.1902 – 28.6.1969), son of Bhai Rur Singh, was born at village Akhara (district Ludhiana). From his early childhood he had an interest in the study of scriptures. He began studying Hindu literature from Sadhu Mahant Lal. Within a short time he had studied Ramayana, Mahabharata, Yog Vashishat and the other books of the Hinduism. By the age of 17, he had studied the whole of Guru Granth Sahib, the Dasam Granth, several books of Sikh history also. In 1920, he was married to Bibi Bishan Kaur. She bore him two sons.
After some time he joined the Gurdwara Aakhand Parkash, at Bhinder Kalan, established by Giani Sunder Singh. He learnt a lot of religious literature from Giani Sunder Singh. Giani Sunder Singh was very much impressed by Giani Gurbachan Singh’s devotion and intelligence.
Giani Sunder Singh died on February 15, 1930. After his death the jatha (followers of Sunder Singh) chose Giani Gubachan Singh as the successor of Giani Sunder Singh and the in charge of the Dera. [Giani Sunder Singh belonged to village Bhindran. His successors chose Bhindranwale as suffix of their names].
After this, Giani Gurbachan Singh, along with several followers, travelled far and wide and initiated Khande Di Pahul to several thousand Sikhs. He constructed and renovated Gurdwaras at Nabha, Manavan, Panjokhra etc. He conducted 1313 Aakhand Paaths (non-stop recitation of Guru Granth Sahib), delivered serialized discourses on Guru Granth Sahib for 26 times. He imparted religious education to a large number of his students. Beside his missionary activities, he also wrote a book Gurmukh Parkash Granth. Another of his work Gurbani Path Darshan is a commentary on the recitation of hymns of Guru Granth Sahib. Giani Gurbachan Singh’s writings show an impact of Vedanta ideology as he had studied a large number of books of Hinduism. Giani Gurbachan Singh breathed his last at Chowk Mehta (district Amritsar). Gurdwara Gurdarshan
Parkash has been built in his memory. Giani Kartar Singh Bhindranwale succeeded him.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)