Professor Uday Singh was a very prominent Sikh not only in Toronto but worldwide. He was born in the October of 1925 and left this world in the November of this year which means he lived for over 88 years.
His life changed when in the early forties he met famous Sikh saint and freedom fighter Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee. From that time onwards, he lived a life totally dedicated to the Sikh faith. He did Sangat of Bhai Sahib jee for about 2 decades. Bhai Sahib's unconditional and overflowing love totally filled his life. Professor Uday Singh jee had great love and faith in two Sikh personalities – Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee and Sant Attar Singh jee Mastuanewale. When we used to enter his home, the giant pictures of Bhai Sahib and Sant jee used to adorn in his living room. He spoke very affectionately and lovingly about them. Professor jee used to say that he felt the presence of Bhai Sahib jee very strongly sometimes and he had dreams about him all the time. He also used to talk about Bau Mal Singh jee quite bit.
Prof jee used to narrate his memories with Bhai Sahib with great passion. It was always a delight to hear about these memories from his mouth, over and over again. Prof jee was pursuing the exam for ICS (Indian Civil Service) but Bhai Sahib sensing the futility of doing so since it was not in his destiny to pass this exam, admonished him against writing this exam. Prof Uday Singh jee, wrote the exam many times, without letting Bhai Sahib know but he failed all attempts. Prof Uday Singh had thought that Bhai Sahib did not know about his attempts to pass the exam but once Bhai Sahib unwittingly mentioned to him about the exams, which left him greatly embarrassed for not listening to Bhai Sahib jee. There are many other tales of him and Bhai Sahib that he used to narrate.
Professor Uday Singh jee described a very wonderful mystical experience he had through Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee. Once Bhai Sahib embraced him with love and this brought Amrit throughout his body. He could feel sweetness of Naam in his throat and this sweetness was literal and not metaphorical. Gurmukhs of reach high spiritual states start feel the sweetness of Naam on their tongue, throat and even every cell of the body. He has explained about this incident in detail in his book called "I made friends with a Saint".
There is another aspect of his life that if not touched in this obituary, will render it incomplete. Professor jee was a fierce supporter of the independent nation of the Sikhs. He never forgave the Indian government for the 1984 attack on Siri Darbar Sahib. He remained committed to the Sikh cause of freedom, throughout his life. His daily Ardaas always included demand for the freedom of Khalsa Panth.
Many years ago, around the martyrdom day of Siri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib jee he did a Sangati Ardaas that reflected his true inner feelings. He address Siri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib jee in the Ardaas and said, "Look O Sache Paatshah, You attained martyrdom for their religious freedom, You watched with Your own eyes the torture and martyrdom of Your beloved Sikhs – Bhai Mati Daas, Bhai Sati Daas and Bhai Dyala jee but look how these ungrateful people have returned Your favour by desecrating Your Darbar Sahib, by killing thousands of Your sons and daughters and by torturing your children in the most inhuman way. O Sache Paatshah, these Akritghan (ungrateful) people deserve to be punished. Kirpa karo. Sikh Panth noo Azaadi Baksho (bless the Sikh nation with freedom)". After this Ardaas, Hukamnama Sahib was taken and it was the most Mangalmai I ever heard.
Professor Uday Singh was totally unbending when it came to the Laridaar Saroop of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee. He considered it a great mistake to have Padchhed Saroops. He used to say that only Laridaar Saroop is the Guru of Sikhs and Padchhed Saroop is not the Guru of Sikhs. He never did Prakash of Padchhed Saroop in his whole life and he always gave Santhiya of Gurbani Pothis from Laridaar Sanchees. This Daas learned to consider only the Laridaar Saroop of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee as the true Gurdev of the Sikhs, from him.
Professor Uday Singh was a great Daani (charity giver) and gave millions worth of property and money to the Sikh nation. The Bhai Randhir Singh Trust in Ludhiana was built pretty much entirely on the money donated by him. Two Akal Academy schools are running on the properties donated by him. He owned 10 acres of land here in Toronto which included his home as well and he used to mention that he wished that he could setup a world class Sikh university at that location but the City of Caledon was so unyielding that they did not even let him run a simple Gurmat and Punjabi teaching school, let alone set up a university over there.
For as long as he was able bodied (till couple of years ago), he always used to get up at Amritvela and never ever missed doing the Paath of Siri Sukhmani Sahib. He was a true lover of Siri Sukhmani Sahib. His son-in-law Dr Mahesh Inder Singh narrated an interesting memory of the time when he first met Professor jee before marriage. Professor jee asked him only one question – "Do you do Sukhmani Sahib every day". He did not seek any other qualification for his son-in-law because he knew that one who does Siri Sukhmani Sahib everyday, would not lack anything in life.
Another fight that Professor Uday Singh did fought all his life was against such people who had made permanent control over the Gurdwaras. He was of the opinion that no person or persons or organization should have permanent control till eternity over the Gurdwara Sahibaan. He felt that the Gurdwaras were not being managed efficiently and effectively to derive maximum benefit for the community. He was banned from entering many Gurdwaras but he stayed adamant in his stand. At one time, Professor jee had 500 students who were thirsty for learning Punjabi but not a single Gurdwara was willing to give him accommodation to run this school. For this reason he ended up buying his own place where he ran the Gurmat school during the last few years of his life. If Professor jee had his own place or if he had been accommodated by some Gurdwara 20 years ago, he would have taught many times more students and this would have changed the demographics in Toronto but alas, this was not to be.
Professor jee had come up with such a magnificent way of teaching Punjabi to the kids that within 2 months he used to enable his students to move from Punjabi alphabets to doing Paath of Siri Sukhmani Sahib. He used to give great emphasis on Muhaarni and he was of the opinion that the Gurmukhi language is superior to all languages of the world.
The true tribute to Professor jee for would be to firstly become Tyaar bar Tyaar Gursikhs with Amritvela, Rehit and Baani/Simran. Secondly, his mission to teach Punjabi and Gurmat to the coming generations should be undertaken with same zeal as him. Thirdly, we should all propagate the Laridaar Saroop, which is the original Saroop of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee. This would be true Shradhanjali to him.
Bhul Chuk dee Muaafi jee.
Kulbir Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
