On June 23, 2006, the Sant Nirankari Mission lost one of its distinguished luminaries – Bhagat Kotumal Hemrajani, popularly known as Bhagat Ji.  He was virtually a living embodiment of Gurmat.  Many called him a mobile university of Gurmat i.e. what Satgutu teaches us and desires to adopt in life. .  He was the Mission's top executive; hence the chief spokesperson for the word of the Master.  Prior to taking over as President of the Sant Nirankari Mandal on May 1, 2006 he was its Treasurer or Member Incharge Finance and Accounts for over 33 years.  He also looked after Transport, Establishment and welfare of the Sewadars for a number of years. 

Bhagat Ji breathed his last at 00.30 hrs (IST) on Friday at his residence in Sant Nirankari Colony, Delhi after a prolonged but intermittent illness.   He, however, never permitted ill health to overwhelm his spirit of devotion and dedication to Sewa (selfless service).  He attended office till he was last taken to hospital a week before he passed into his eternal abode.   He would not like the work to go into backlog.  Even at 79 his day began at 5.00 a.m. when some devotee volunteers well-versed in Accounts would also come and work in the office.  He would take a break at 9.00 a.m. only to get ready and be available in the office again from 11.00 a.m.  In the evening, he would preside over one Sangat or the other. 

Bhagat Kotumal Hemrajani was born in the family of Shri Bhoj Raj Hemrajani and Smt. Motilbai on February 12, 1927 in village Arazi in district Dadu Sindh (now Pakistan).  The family was a staunch follower of Sanatan Dharma but by 1947 almost all the members joined the Sant Nirankari Mission.  Bhagat Kotumal Ji also received Brahm Gyan in the same year through a distinguished Gyan Pracharak of the Mission, Rev Lal Chand Ji addressed with love as Lalo Ji.  Two of his sisters Kala Ji and Sundari Ji played an important role to inspire Bhagat Ji to join the Mission. 

After the Partition of India, the family migrated to Delhi in 1948.  After spending some time in a refugee camp, they settled in East Patel Nagar.  Bhagat Ji was already an employee of the Ministry of Rehabilitation in Sindh.  So, Migration was only a transfer for him and he joined the Ministry's office in Jamnagar House in Delhi. 

In 1949, Bhagat Ji completed his graduation in Science.  The same year in December he got married to a well-educated and homely girl Rupwanti Ji.  Bhagat Ji's first priority, however, was Sangat.  He would attend the Sangat in Pahar Ganj regularly.  One day when he was asked to speak something in the congregation, he narrated his own story.  Bhagat Ram Chand Ji, the then head of the Pahar Ganj Sangat liked the same and asked him to come for Sewa before the Sangat everyday.  Bhagat Kotumal Ji would come on a bicycle all the way from his residence in East Patel Nagar and reach Pahar Ganj at 4.00 a.m. to do Sewa and then attend the congregation.  His Sewa included cleaning the compound and toilets etc. sprinkling water and spreading the carpets for the congregation. Bhagat Ji also participated in the preparation and distribution of Langar.  Bhagat Ji would come for Sewa even when not feeling physically well.  Bhagat Ram Chand Ji who guided and supervised this Sewa was the greatest source of inspiration for Bhagat Kotumal Ji.  He learned all the principles of Gurmat in his company while enjoying full blessings from Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji also. No wonder, Bhagat Ji became a living example of cooperation, generosity and humility.

Bhagat Ji and Rupwanti Ji left East Patel Nagar in 1956 and started living at Satsang Bhawan Pahar Ganj.  This brought them further close to Bhagat Ram Chand Ji and the Satguru.  He, however, continued to show respect to his parents and other members of the family as usual.  The only change was that he devoted all his time, energy and resources (Tan-Man-Dhan) to the Mission and never looked back to the comforts of the family and its prosperity.  His priority was the Satguru, Sadh Sangat and their Sewa.  Whenever he visited the family, he only inspired them towards devotion to God.  Consequently, today all the families of his five sisters and the younger brother are whole-heartedly devoted to the Mission. For this they fondly called Bhagat Ji their 'Kul-Guru'.   Bhagat Ji was a source of inspiration for the family of his in-laws also to join the Mission. 

In December, 1960 when Bhagat Ram Chand Ji passed into his eternal abode, Bhagat Kotumal Ji became the Pramukh of Pahar Ganj.  He held this responsibility till March, 1975.  As a matter of fact, he began to be addressed as 'Bhagat Ji' when he succeeded 'Bhagat' Ram Chand Ji.

In 1967, Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Maharaj made him a Gyan Pracharak.  This made him all the more responsible for congregations along with other Sewa he and his esteemed wife were performing.  He started holding a congregation outside the office during lunch hour.  As a preacher he would always emphasize the need for devotion and dedication to Satguru and Sewa of the saints.  He described Sewa as a sacred seed that must bring the fruit.   He had cordial relations with Sangat so much so that he shared their weal and woe as a member of their family.  He maintained this quality till he breathed his last. 

Apparently, going by his office experience and spirit of devotion, Bhagat Ji was taken as Treasurer in the seven-Member Executive Committee by Baba Gurbanchan Singh Ji Maharaj in September, 1973.  He replaced Rev. Jugal Kishore Ji (Kabir Ji) who expired in May 1973.  After leaving office in Jamnagar House, Bhagat Ji would change his dress and go for one Sangat or the other.  From there he would come to the Sant Nirankari Colony and work in the Accounts Department along with Rev. D.R. Sikka, the present Member Incharge of the department.  Both of them would work up to 2.00 a.m. and then  take a break for two hours and return to the office at 4.00 a.m, when Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji would often join them and shower his benign guidance and blessings for about two hours.  From 6.00 a.m. would start Bhagat Ji’s daily routine to attend morning Sangat and go to office followed by evening Sangat. 

In 1976, Bhagat Ji and Rupwanti Ji shifted to Sant Nirankari Colony.  The change did not offer any additional worldly comforts, but it brought Bhagat Ji closer to Satgutu.

As Treasurer or Member Incharge Finance and Accounts, Bhagat Ji never departed from the principles of Gurmat.  His pleasantness, humility and patience never deserted him.  He would listen to every Sewadar in detail and give his decision keeping Gurmat in the forefront.  It does not mean that he overlooked financial rules; his final word would in any case be hued in Gurmat.  No wonder, every Sewadar received fatherly affection from him.  Bhagat Ji knew the art of conveying even his disapproval with grace. 

Along with Finance and Accounts, Bhagat Ji was looking after Establishment also first from 1985 to 1986 and then from 1996 to April 2006.  While dealing with Sewadars, he always bore their welfare at heart.  He was always prepared to help them whenever they mentioned some pressing need of unforeseen nature.  

Bhagat Ji was also the Member Incharge Transport from 1985 to 1996.  He was Chairman of the Managing Committee for Baba Gurbachan Singh Memorial College Sohna from 1975 to 1982.  Bhagat Ji was closely associated with the ‘Sant Nirankari’ magazine in Sindhi for a number of years.

It may also be mentioned that Bhagat Kotumal Ji remained a Member of the Working Committee right from its constitution in 1979 till he breathed his last. 

Thus, Bhagat Kotumal Ji lived up to his name as an ideal saint.  He does not need our remembering him.  Rather we need to remember his multi-faceted personality to seek inspiration and make our own life useful, noble and blissful. He was thoroughly humance, humble and modest. No wonder he received lot of appreciation and benign blessings from Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji, Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and presently from Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj.  We can certainly take a leaf out of his book. 

Bhagat Ji is survived by his esteemed wife Rupwanti Ji and two daughters Meera and Kaushal, both settled in America.  They are devout followers of the Mission.  His brother Vasdev Ji who is a retired Assistant Engineer from Ministry of Coal and Mines and sister More Ji are settled in Delhi while another sister Kala Ji is in Nagpur.  They and their families are also devotees of the Mission.  Similarly, the families of the other three sisters - the late Bhagwani Ji (Banda), the late Khemi Ji (Delhi) and the late Sundari Ji (Agra) are also devout followers of the Mission.

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