Joginder Singh 'Noor', popularly knows as 'Noor' Nirankari and a member of the Sant Nirankari Mandal's Working Committee ever since it was formed in 1979, breathed his last in Delhi on Sunday, November 26, 2006.  He was 67.

As soon as the information reached His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, he cut short his spiritual tour of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and rushed back to the Headquarters.  On Monday, he consoled and blessed the family, gave shoulder to the dead body and led the funeral procession.  His Holiness Baba Ji, Rev. Nirankari Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji and Pujya Mata Sawinder Ji were present while the body was consigned to flames at the electric crematorium.  Thousands of relatives and friends of the family and devotees of the Sant Nirankari Mission also attended the funeral ceremony.

A special congregation was held on November 29, 2006 in the Samagam Ground to pay tributes to 'Noor' Nirankari and take inspiration from his life.  Addressing the gathering, Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj said that the greatest quality of 'Noor' Nirankari was that he loved to be in the company of saints.  Right from the days of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji he addressed the congregations and preached the message of the Mission.  He used his poetry as an effective medium to project the Mission's views on various subjects.  He was known for his humour.   He always tried to be gay and keep others laughing.  Even in his last days, he attended the congregations in spite of ill health.  No doubt, he has taught his family also to remain in the company of saints and attend congregations regularly.

Rev. Nirankari Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji also spoke on the occasion and said that like a true devotee 'Noor' Nirankari always looked towards Satguru for anything and everything he needed in life.  He knew that the world may only mislead man and let him down.  It is Satguru only who shows the right path and stands by his devotee. 

Other speakers remembered 'Noor' Nirankari as a person who always tried to keep smiling and make others smile in this world of tension, where every rich and poor is yearning for happiness, love and peace.  He never allowed his kinship with Guru Parivar to come in his way so far as his faith and devotion towards Satguru is concerned. 

Joginder Singh 'Noor' was born on August 10, 1939 at Latifal (now in Pakistan) in the family of Baba Avtar Singh Ji and Jagat Mata Budhwanti Ji.    As we know, Baba Avtar Singh Ji was the Spiritual Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission from 1943 to 1962.  In 1940, however, the child Joginder Singh was adopted by Rev. Man Singh and his esteemed wife Man Kaur Ji as their son.  Like Baba Avtar Singh Ji they were disciples of the founder of the Mission, Baba Buta Singh Ji and devout followers of the Mission.  They brought up 'Noor' Nirankari in the most spiritually fragrant atmosphere and awarded him all the advantages of Satsang, Sewa and Simran right from his childhood. 

As soon as Joginder Singh 'Noor' stood on his own feet, he was married to Bhagwant Kaur Ji, daughter of Mata Agya Kaur Ji and Rev. Babu Mahadev Singh Ji, another devout couple actively associated with the Mission.  This brought 'Noor' Nirankari still closer to the Mission.

In 1977, Joginder Singh 'Noor' was made a Gyan Pracharak.  So, he preached the message of the Mission extensively.  At the same time he was closely associated with Publications and Press and Publicity departments of the Sant Nirankari Mandal.  He was a Member of the Governing Body of the Baba Gurbachan Singh Memorial College, Sohna for a number of years.  He became its Vice-President in 1998.  As mentioned above, he was a Member of the Working Committee ever since it was constituted in 1979. 

With his pen name 'Noor', Joginder Singh appeared to be a born poet.  He wrote his first poem at the age of 13 in 1952.  After this he continued to march on this path with greater and greater aptitude, confidence and success.  He became known for conveying even the most serious kind of message while laughing. 

In order to improve his poetry further, he became a literary disciple of the well known poet of the Mission Puran Parkash 'Saqi' on March 15, 1975.  Naturally, he devoted his pen to the Mission only.  He had full faith and devotion for Satguru.    He always highlighted the kind of life a true devotee may lead.

The first collection of poems in Punjabi by 'Noor' Nirankari was published in Devanagari script under the title 'Noor Hi Noor' in 1975.  The second collection containing his poems in Hindi came in 1998.  Its title is 'Noori Darpan'.  Soon thereafter a collection of his Punjabi poems was brought out in Punjabi script under the title 'Sochan Noor Diyan.'

'Noor' Nirankari's deep spirit of devotion influenced his family also.  While his elder son Sharan Noor is assisting the Publication Department of the Sant Nirankari Mandal actively, his younger son Narinder Pal Singh is a known preacher.  His daughter Naveen Kaur is also known for her faith and devotion in Satguru.  His esteemed wife popularly addressed as Chachi Ji is a living example of service to others (Sewa).  She attends congregations regularly.

Even though not very advanced in age, 'Noor' Nirankari was not keeping good health for quite some time.  This, however, did not dissuade him from undertaking Parchar tours in the various parts of the country.  More recently, he had to confine himself to Headquarters.  But here too he would not miss a programme addressed by His Holiness.  It is worth mentioning that 'Noor' Nirankari attended the 59th Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam on all the three days from November 11 to 13, 2006.

Soon after the Samagam 'Noor' Nirankari was admitted in the Metro Hospital in NOIDA.  It was here that he breathed his last in the afternoon on Sunday, November 26, 2006.

'Noor' Nirankari will always be remembered for living a tension-free life as also for a deep spirit of faith and devotion towards Satguru. 

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