Baba Kartar Singh Samparda/Chowk Mehta Samparda cont'd

Baba Inder Singh, the brother of the founder of this Samparda, Baba Sundar Singh, had dismissed Kartar Singh as being too young and lacking adequate experience and knowledge. Baba Mohan Singh on the other hand, had been with the Samparda for over 30 years, and in that time learnt all Sikh scriptures, Sikh and Hindu historical texts, Hindu scriptures, and had mastered Sanskrit and Urdu. In addition, he was considered a master of logic and reason and knew of Shastar Vidiya.

Sriman 108 Baba Inder Singh
The brother of Sriman 108 Baba Sundar Singh Nirmala, the founder of Samparda Bhindra

Kartar Singh had been with Samparda Bhindra for just over 11 years, and his study, knowledge and experience was very much inferior to those of Baba Mohan Singh. Even from the history of Baba Kartar Singh described in the Chowk Mehta Samparda Dam Dami Taksal-published, ‘Etehas Dam Dami Taksal Sankhep’ proves that he possessed nowhere near the extensive knowledge that Baba Mohan Singh had.

However, all this did not deter Kartar Singh and his followers as they went and established their base on a piece of land given them by Chowk Mehta Nihangs. It was the head of the Budha Dal, 96 Crore Jathedar Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh, who had to step in to cool relations between Kartar Singh and Samparda Bhindra. In fact the foundation stone of the Gurdwara at Chowk Mehta, Darshan Parkash was laid down by the venerable Akali Nihang leader, Baba Santa Singh Ji himself. Samparda Chowk Mehta claim that it was the Nihang leaders, Baba Sohan Singh ji Bidhi Chandia and Akali Nihang Baba Bishan Singh Baba Bkala Waley who tied the turban of succession on Kartar Singh.

Jathedar Baba Sohan Singh Ji Bidhi Chandia
10th Jathedar of the Bhai Bidhi Chand Nihang Dal

However, Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh stated to Nihang Niddar Singh that he himself tied the turban on Kartar Singh. Further, Baba Santa Singh, who has very close ties with Baba Mohan Singh, said that he and other Akali Nihang Dals stepped in to cool the situation between Chowk Mehta and Samparda Bhindra so it would not harm Sikhi ‘Parchar’ (preaching). The advice given to both factions at the time was to accept they had parted ways (which was known to happen amongst Nihang Dals in the past), and to concentrate on preaching in their respective regions.

96 Crore Jathedar Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh Ji
The present head of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa and Akal Takht, circa 1974