Giani Sant Singh Maskeen

 

Sant Singh Maskeen

was without any doubt the most respected, admired and known religious scholar and spiritual teacher among Sikhs. Sant Singh Maskeen was born in 1934 in Bannu District of present day Pakistan. Sant Singh Maskeen lived in Alwar, Rajasthan for most of his life. In fact Sant Singh Maskeen lived the last 57 years of his life in Alwar. Giani ji was awarded the rare and prestigious title of “Panth Rattan”. This title denotes appreciation of service done for Sikh panth and means “The Jewel of the Nation”. Sadly Sant Singh Maskeen passed away on 18^th February 2005 due to a heart attack.
Sant Singh Maskeen

Sant Singh Maskeen Ji

was not only respected just by Sikhs but he was a respected figure among Hindus and Muslims throughout the world. Sant Singh Maskeen was very secular at heart and once even agreed to perform katha in a Muslim mosque. Giani ji had studied Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji deeply and had a deep knowledge of Vedas. He was fluent in Hindi and Punjabi but also had a command over Urdu and Persian along with basic knowledge of English. He often quoted religious texts from Islam, Hinduism and from other religions. Sant Singh Maskeen used to particularly mention Banis of Bhagats in Guru Granth Sahib which has references to Krishna, Ram and other Hindu deities. He often used to mention that in order to understand Gurbani we should have basic knowledge of Indian traditions and culture. He was a well read person and often quoted Bulle shah, Ghalib and other poets. He was very secular in his thoughts and spread the message of equality of Guru Granth Sahib throughout the World. Sant Singh Maskeen Spread the message of Gurbani in various countries including US, Canada, United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore and Middle East. Many people who were not even Sikh followed him and respected him deeply.

Sant Singh Maskeen was among millions of people who had to leave their ancestral homeland due to partition of India in 1947 and endured the violent phase and settled in Alwar, Rajasthan where he spent last 57 years of his life. He held Gurmat Samagams on 1^st, 2nd and 3^rd march every year for 4 decades. Thousands of eminent Sikh scholars, preachers and thousands of devotees came to participate in these Samagams.

Early Life of Sant Singh Maskeen

Sant Singh Maskeen’s parents were Kartar Singh and Ram kaur. He received his proper primary education but his higher education was interrupted due to partition of India. Death of Giani ji’s father in 1952 brought a major change in him and he started feeling sad and isolated himself from worldly issues. This is when he started learning Gurbani. In fact he became so engrossed in Gurbani that he soon became a narrator.

Sant Singh Maskeen had a very simple lifestyle and was an advocate of simplicity. He looked distinguished in his white clothes and a black turban. He was a down to earth person and had a simple lifestyle. He preferred staying at the Gurudwara and preferred Langar served at the Gurudwara to lavish meals. It would be foolish not to mention the great role he played to rejuvenate the demoralized Sikh after Indian army’s attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Sant Singh Maskeen along with professor darshan Singh provided the healing touch to Sikhs. Through Gurbani Sant Singh Maskeen helped to counter the most difficult period for Sikhs in recent history.

Sant Singh Maskeen was a prime figure in Sikh community for nearly 5 decades. He was dedicated to cause to Sikhism. Sant Singh Maskeen was a fearless preacher and was rational in his outlook. He followed the concepts of Gurmat and Gurbani. His knowledge was not confined just to Gurbani and he had a deep knowledge of Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist scriptures. He successfully spread the message of Gurus in Europe, Asia and America. He was popular abroad and his discourses were well attended. He authored more than a dozen books and numerous CD’s which have impacted the life and thinking of people in India and around the world.

His sudden demise in 2005 has created a void which is going to be very difficult to fill. The loss of Giani Sant Singh Maskeen is not just a loss to Sikh community but is a loss for the whole world.

Sant Singh Maskeen Ji's response to operation Blue star

This is the katha that

Sant Singh Maskeen

did in response to the operation blue star. This pretty much represented the feeling of the whole Sikh community of being cheated and being discriminated in their very own country.

Sant Singh Maskeen Lifestyle and Background

Sant Singh Maskeen Background

It’s said that background and events that occur in one’s life have a deep impact on the personality and thinking of the person. It can be considered true in case of Sant Singh Maskeen too. Sant Singh Maskeen belonged to a modest Sikh family and was the only son of Kartar Singh and Ram Kaur ( Sant Singh Maskeen’s Parents). He completed his primary education at Governement Primary school but due to partition of India his secondary education was interrupted. Partition of India was a very unfortunate incident in the history of India and the atmosphere during partition was very violent as there were riots and mass killings everywhere. Sant Singh Maskeen had to leave western part of Punjab and had to move to India due to this turmoil. After the 1947 partition of India Sant Singh Maskeen moved to Alwar in Rajasthan where he then spent most of his life.
More on Sant Singh Maskeen ji

Sant Singh Maskeen

called it God’s grace that they reached India safely because thousands of Hindus and Sikhs were murdered by muslims on their way to India. Sant Singh Maskeen along with his family reached Alwar in Rajasthan safely where he lived for the last 57 years of his life. Partition of India was a very hard time for families who had to leave their ancestral homelands.

Other than partition of India the other event that had a major impact on Sant Singh Maskeen was the death of his father in 1952. After the passing of his father Sant Singh Maskeen became very sad and disconnected himself from the world. He became very lonely and sad and eventually left home to learn about Sikhism and gurbani. This can be considered as a turnaround point in Sant Singh Maskeen ji’s life. He became very engrossed in Gurbani and soon became a narrator.

Sant Singh Maskeen

Sant Singh Maskeen

then started preaching Gurmat and teachings of Sikhism and gurbani. He had to face difficulties and had to struggle a lot because he was not financially very sound. He however was not among those men who give up hopes easily. Sant Singh Maskeen used to walk long distances to attend gurmat samagams and to attend religious meetings and congregations. He remained firm in spreading the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and had to face a lot of challenges but he remained strong and never gave up. His only source of income was whatever offered by the sangat out of respect and affection.

Sant Singh Maskeen was very concerned about management of gurudawaras and always insisted on a proper system of management of Gurudwaras. He insisted that this was the main cause of fighting among Sikhs and this should be resolved and a proper system of management be constituted.

Sant Singh Maskeen was known for his simpicity and humbleness,he was a very simple person and an advocate of simplicity. He used to wear simple clothes and a black turban. He preferred the meal at langar to lavish meals. Sant Singh Maskeen is a true example of simple living and high thinking. He was a down to earth and a very simple person. It would be very difficult to fill the void that has been created by the death of Panth Ratan Giani Sant Singh Maskeen.