Baba Kharak Singh (14.5.1895 – 29.5.1986), son of Bhai Pala Singh, was born at village Barki (district Lahore, Pakistan). He began his career as a soldier with the British army but resigned the job after a short time. After leaving service he joined the Jatha of Baba Nidhan Singh. Baba Kharak Singh participated in Kaar Sewa at several places. In 1924, the S.G.P.C. launched Jaito Agitation. Baba Kharak Singh courted arrest and spent about 21 months in Jail. Baba Kharak Singh performed the Kaar Sewa of several Gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Dehra Sahib, Lahore. When he was performing the Kaar Sewa at Gurdwara Dehra Sahib, Lahore, some Sikhs approached him and requested him to built a fine Gurdwara at Bir Baba Buddha (district Amritsar). At first Baba Kharak Singh hesitated but when Baba Gurmukh Singh insisted, he agreed. Baba Kharak Singh spent several years at Bir Baba Buddha, where he got built a magnificent building of a Gurdwara, a public school, a secondary school and a college. The Gurdwara at Bir Baba Buddha Sahib has a very big building of Langar where thousands can dine together. The main hall of the Gurdwara is also very big and is a unique building. It has been built without supporting pillars. Later, he performed Kaar Sewa for construction of Guru Ram Das Langar at Darbar Sahib, a link canal to provide water for Amritsar Sarovar (Darbar Sahib), a bridge on river Beas at Goindwal and several other projects. He died after a short illness in 1986.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)