Giani Gurdev Singh Ji Manava Wale who was a renowned student of Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, merged back into Parmatma on 5th July 2021 the age of 97 after spending their whole life immersed in Gurbani, Sewa and Parchar. Let us take some time to look at the brief biography of their accomplished life.
Early Life Background
Giani Ji was born in 1924 to Bibi Partaap Kaur ji and Bhai Waryam Singh ji. They were actively involved in their family’s farming work. Giani Ji and their three sisters learned Gurmukhi from their mother who was influential in instilling Sikhi values and practices into them. From a young age, they got santhiya from Giani Harnam Singh Ji Patshah, a great Mahapurash who was also the classmate of Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji learning from Sant Gyani Sundar Singh Ji. From a young age Giani Ji and their family did Sangat of great Mahapurashs that used to come to their village and their house including Sant Gyani Sundar Singh Ji and their student, Sant Gyani Gurbachan Singh Ji (referred as Vadday Mahapurash or Sant ji after this).
How did they come into Bhindran Jatha?
One day, a Gyani Singh from Ropar visited Vadday Mahapurash and requested for a young Singh to marry his daughter. Vadday Mahapurash then sent a Singh to go to Gyani Gurdev Ji’s village and get them to come to Bhindran. Gyani Ji’s marriage was fixed right away which also became the way they got into the Jatha. This is because when they were going to go back home, a Singh said to their father that they should leave Gyani Ji here in the Jatha while their father replied that he shall send them back when they finish harvesting their crops. Gyani Ji then pleaded to their father for them to stay at Bhindran to which he agreed.
Eventually Giani Ji began to stay in the Jatha officially at the age of 10, where they completed their santhiya. Their santhiya consisted of learning 3 or 4 Angs a day which they would practice repeatedly throughout the day. When Sant Ji would do Hukamnama Katha they would also repeat specific panktiyan continuously, for example the two following shabads:
ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਖਤ ਦੋਖ ਨਸੇ ॥
Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of the Parmatma's Darshan, all pains run away.
ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਹੋਵਹੁ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਜੀਅ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਬਸੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Please, never leave my vision, O Parmatma; please abide with my soul. ||1||Pause||
and
ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਉ ਮੋਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਲ ॥
If it pleases You, then cherish me.
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪਿਤਾ ਕਿਰਪਾਲ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
O Supreme, Transcendent, True Guru, I am Your child, and You are my Merciful Father. ||1||Pause||
Giani Ji would stand behind Sant Ji fanning them and listening to Sant Ji read Gurbani in benti Roop. Sant Ji would read 2.5 angs in three hours then do Chaur Sahib and say Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji I am yours and then remember all the Gurus. They also explained that whenever Sant Ji would do this, they also memorized all these shabads too because they were standing behind fanning. Proceeding to do Ardass, Sant Ji would after that do 12 to 13 Parkarma of Guru Mahraj and continuously Metha Tek. Gyani Ji used to explain how doing Sangat of Sant Ji and watching their Bhagti influenced their own jeevan. Gyani Ji were very close and loved by Vadday Mahapurash - they even used to sleep near them. Gyani Ji also learnt gatka from Nihang Singhs that come and learn in the Jatha. While staying in the jatha, Giani Ji also did Sangat of Sant Baba Nand Singh Ji, Sant Baba Jawala Singh Ji Harkhowal and many other saints. After about 5 years living in Jatha, at the age of 15, Gyani ji got married.
Granthi Singh Seva
After their wedding, Gyani Ji came to meet Sant Ji and the rest of the jatha in Ganga Nagar where they did kirtan. One day, a Sikh asked Sant Ji for a Granthi and asked for the Singh who did kirtan, referring to Gyani Ji. Sant Ji thought this was a great idea because Giani Ji’s two younger sisters who were married to Sant Ji’s sons also resided here. They were given Granthi duty from Sant Ji themselves. However, Gyani Ji expressed that they did not want to take the Sangat’s money which would be offered during Granthi seva as Gurmat doesn’t encourage a Ghristi (householder) to use Sanggat money and declined humbly. Sant Ji closed their eyes for a little bit of time and said “you are right, but if all Sikhs were to say it is wrong to use money from the gurdwara, who will use it then? From today onwards I will take care of your salary, just remember to respect the Sangat and keep fear of Akal Purakh at the forefront of your seva. You must never renounce your nitnem, if one day you do not do it, do two the next day. You also should not have a second salary and must give dasvandh from your salary as a Granthi. Gyani Ji opened a separate bank account for their dasvandh money and kirtan money which they would give to the Sangat whenever needed. From that day, Gyani Ji became responsible for Granthi seva.
How did Gyani Ji come to UK?
Gyani Ji first went to Nairobi, Kenya when they were requested by Gyani Pritam Singh Ji Likhari ji as Sanggat there wanted to have a proper Granthi Singh. There Gyani ji had darshan of great kirtania like Bhai Dharam Singh Ji Zakhmi. After serving the Guru Ghar in Kenya, Gyani Ji came to the United Kingdom on 8th April 1977. They then did Sewa as a Granthi Singh at few Gurudwara Sahibs across UK - in fact the Nishkam Sewak Jatha Gurdwara on Martindale Road was founded by Gyani Ji by having a Maharaj saroop in a small house. They started actively teaching Santhiya in the UK as well, producing a large number of Vadyarthis who are currently not only Paathis, Kathavachaks but also Santhiya teachers themselves. Gyani Ji used to teach anyone even if there’s any small child who wanted to learn. In 1984, after the attack on Darbar Sahib, Gyani Ji had the desire to do 12 Paths of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Mahraj in remembrance of all the Shaheeds. This desire can only be if they stop their Granthi duty, so they gave up the duty and started this Sehaj Path larhi at the house of a member of the Sanggat. They used to read 101 Angs first in the morning and only then have something to eat.
They also travelled for Parchar to a few other countries like Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States and also lived for three years in Canada. Gyani Ji also got hundreds of Akhand Paths done in memory of Vadday Mahapurash at all five Takht Sahibs and various other places. This practice was continued by them even until last year (2020) where they got a few Akhand Paths done in UP and Mehron. They were also particular to having Akhand Paths done in full maryada which is why they chose Mehron Vadiayala to do Akhand Paths since 2003 as Akhand Paths are done in full proper Maryada there. Mahapurash Baba Surjeet Singh Ji Mehron and their Vadyarthis loved Gyani Ji a lot as Gyani Ji were also the classmate of Baba Teja Singh Ji Nihung Singh (founder of Mehron Vadiayala) and they used to spend some time there in Mehron each time they visited India.
Routine
Gyani Ji used to wake up at 1a.m. without an alarm clock, they would then do simran or read either some Mahapurash jeevani (Biography) or other Granth for an hour. After that, they will listen to Asa Di Vaar from Darbar Sahib while resting then proceeding to their Nitnem. Gyani Ji would not eat until they finish their Nitnem and while doing they would not talk to anyone, reciting their Nitnem with full Sahaj. They had all 5 Banis, Sukhmani Sahib and Asa Di Vaar memorised. They also used to listen to their students Santhiya without referring to anything. It is also believed by some of their students that they had the whole of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Mahraj memorised. Even at the age of 96, when they were losing a lot of their memory, they still remembered all the Gurbani Ucharan they learnt in their life. The rest of their day was spent teaching Santhiya to their students. Before having their meal, they used to recite five Mool Mantars and five Gurmantars then proceed to eat. Gyani Ji like few other students of Vadday Mahapurash always emphasised on chewing the food properly.
Teachings
The life of Gyani Gurdev Ji itself is a teaching for us as they were truly an embodiment of how a Gursikh should be like. A common saying by Gyani Ji was “Gurmukhi sikho, likho, parho ate ghar Punjabi bolo” - to learn, write, read Gurmukhi and to speak Punjabi at home. Gyani Ji always emphasised “Bani Parho Naam Japo” and “Vaheguru Kaho, Sada Sukhi Raho” - that the only way we can make our life fruitful and attain bliss is by reciting Gurbani and constantly reciting Parmatma’s Naam. They also showed us how to truly do Sewa as even at a very old age, they did not leave their Sewa to teach Santhiya and any other Sewa they could afford to do. Giani Ji spent their entire life devoted to doing seva of the Panth and may we all too implement their teachings and exemplary jeevan to make our jeevan fruitful.
Dhan Guru Dhan Gursikh Pyare!
One day, a Gyani Singh from Ropar visited Vadday Mahapurash and requested for a young Singh to marry his daughter. Vadday Mahapurash then sent a Singh to go to Gyani Gurdev Ji’s village and get them to come to Bhindran. Gyani Ji’s marriage was fixed right away which also became the way they got into the Jatha. This is because when they were going to go back home, a Singh said to their father that they should leave Gyani Ji here in the Jatha while their father replied that he shall send them back when they finish harvesting their crops. Gyani Ji then pleaded to their father for them to stay at Bhindran to which he agreed. 
