Samparda Bhindra cont'd

After great success in spreading Khalsa Sikhism in the Punjab and beyond, in 1918, Baba Sundar Singh established a ‘Dera’ (teaching base) at his home village of Bhindra.

Sriman 108 Giani Sundar Singh Ji Nirmala
Baba Sundar Singh was 40 years of age when this photograph was taken

From the evidence presented, it can be seen that ‘Samparda Bhindra’, through its tradition of ‘Santhia’, via the Nirmala and Sewa Panthi influence, can be traced back to Dam Dama Sahib where Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh taught this skill to the Sikhs. The Samparda lineage, as given by Dr. Sher Singh in the Bhopa Rai-published biography of Sant Niranjan Singh is given below:

Bhindra list:
1. Giani Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
2. Giani Bhai Diwan Singh Ji.
3. Giani Bhai Gurdial Singh Ji.
4. Giani Bhai Khajan Singh Ji.
5. Giani Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh Ji.
6. Giani Bhai Amar Singh Ji.
7. Giani Bhai Ram Singh Ji.
8. Giani Bhai Chanda Singh Ji.
9. Giani Bhai Daya Singh Ji.
10. Giani Bhai Bhagwan Singh Ji.
11. Sant Baba Harnam Singh Ji.
12. Sant Baba Bishan Singh Ji.
13. Sant Baba Sundar Singh Ji.
14. Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji.
15. Sant Baba Mohan Singh Ji.

It has to be noted that the list above varies a great deal from that given by Baba Kartar Singh of Chowk Mehta (see Baba Kartar Singh Samparda). Unlike the list provided by Chowk Mehta, the list of ‘Samparda Bhindra’ Gianis provided by Baba Mohan Singh is, with the minor exception of Bhai Khajan Singh, vouched for by Baba Mani Singh Samparda of Sewa Panthis from Bhai Mani Singh to Baba Gurbachan Singh. One minor point is that the same Gianis are given the title of ‘Sewa Panthi’ instead. Then again, Nirmalas point out that many of the above ‘Gianis’ were actually Nirmalas in the strictest sense.

Baba Sundar Singh eventually passed away on 15th Jan 1930. He was succeeded by, the dynamic and vibrant Baba Gurbachan Singh, a Nihang Singh of the Budha Dal.

Sriman 108 Giani Sundar Singh Ji Nirmala
Photograph of the late Baba Sundar Singh after he passed away in the village of Bhopa Rai

It has to be noted here that the Gianis of various Sampardas freely mixed with each other, for at the end they were but Sikhs of the one same Guru.

Bhopa Rai
A fine Gurdwara marks the place where Baba Sundar Singh passed away