Mussoorie mourns Baba Hardev’s demise
Tribune News Service
Mussoorie, May 13
A pall of gloom descended on Mussoorie as local people came to know about the death of Baba Hardev Singh, spiritual head of Sant Nirankari Mission, in a road accident in Montreal, Canada, today.
Baba Hardev Singh was fond of the hill town and had spent a lot of time, especially during summers, at his Nirankari Bhavan residence on the Camel’s Back Road in Mussoorie since his childhood.
A condolence meeting was held at the Satsang Bhavan here. Harbahjan Singh, zonal in charge of the sect in Mussoorie, said it was a grave loss to the Nirankari family. They prayed for peace to the departed holy soul. Hymns dear to Baba Hardev Singh were sung during the condolence meeting and devotees from around the town prayed in unison.
Harbahajan said Baba Hardev Singh during his discourses used to say, “You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough.” Babaji worked it right. He worked to bring humans closer through his teaching of love, brotherhood and non-violence.
He said it was an irreparable loss but Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh would remain an inspiration to us all.
Sandeep Sahni, president the Uttarakhand Hotel Association, said we were saddened by the news of the death of the great seer who brought immense social changes in the country. Baba Hardev, when in Mussoorie, loved walking around the town and met everyone with a gentle smile that would be long remembered. Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi extended his condolences to the bereaved family. He said the seer was playing a great role in bringing purity in the lives of the people.
Former Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola termed Baba’s death as a great loss to Mussoorie where he spent quite some time contemplating about the well-being of his followers.
Nirankari Mission volunteers in charge Khushpal Singh said they got the news that Baba Hardev Singh was killed in an accident while travelling in a vehicle from America to Montreal in Canada. The steering wheel of the vehicle got locked is being cited as the reason for the accident, he added.
He said Baba Hardev Singh was attached with Mussoorie began since his childhood. He visited the town along with his grandfather Avtaar Singh and father Gurbachan Singh. He opened a Satsangh Bhavan in Mussoorie. He took over as the spiritual head of the mission on April 24, 1980, and propagated the message of “World is One”, said Khushpal Singh. At present, the sect is spread across the world with more than 125 branches that carry out philanthropic activities on a daily basis.
