As on May 1, 2008

As on date Rev. Kirpa Sagar is a Member of the Executive Committee of the Sant Nirankari Mandal. He is Incharge Publications (Production), including production of VCDs/DVDs, Press and Publicity Department as also the Computer and Internet Department.

Kirpa Sagar was born on April 15, 1935 in Village Sunnar Khurd, District Jalandhar in Punjab. His parents - Shri Piarey Lal and Smt. Parsanni Devi, were part of a joint family. Though not very well off, the family enjoyed lot of respect in the village and the surrounding area for their love for and faith in Gurbani. One thing that distinguished the family was their liberal approach to religious and social matters even though surrounded by orthodox village folk.

Child Kirpa Sagar had to walk to the adjoining village Rurki for his primary education. Later, he did his Matriculation in 1951 from Khalsa High School, Bundala, about 4 kms. from his village. Then, he joined Ramgarhia College, Phagwara, about 8 kms. from Sunnar Khurd and did BA with Honours in History in 1955 and MA in History in 1957, from Panjab University.

Kirpa Sagar was a brilliant student throughout. While at college, he was known not only for his good performance in the classroom, but his interest in social and cultural activities also. He was President of the College Union during 1956-57, when he was awarded a certificate for best social service. Even in the village, he organized students, club that would clean the whole village every Sunday and arrange free milk for comparatively weak children every day.

In 1958, Kirpa Sagar came to Delhi and joined Diploma in Journalism, which he passed in 1959, again from Panjab University. By this time, the career for him - Journalism, was clearly determined. In fact, his last working day in the Department of Journalism i.e., April 18, 1959, was his first working day as Assistant Journalist in the Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. By dint of his hard work and aptitude for the profession, he rose through the ranks with confidence. He entered as a direct recruit by the Union Public Service Commission at two levels, first as Assistant Information Officer in January 1964 and then as Deputy Principal Information Officer in September 1977. Besides Press Information Bureau, Kirpa Sagar headed several other Media Units, including All India Radio (News Services Division), Doordarshan (News), Directorate of Field Publicity, Song and Drama Division, Research and Reference Division and Registrar of Newspapers for India. From November 1981 to February 1984, he was Chief (Media) in the Department of Family Welfare.  Here too he held all-India charge. He sought voluntary retirement in April 1992, exactly one year before he was to superannuate; he was working as Registrar of Newspapers for India.

Throughout his career, Kirpa Sagar was known for his brilliant approach to whatever subject he was called upon to handle. He was not only a successful news-reporter, editor and media co- ordinator, but an excellent PR person also. He also impressed the audience as an orator or public speaker. So, he would plan, organize and conduct publicity programmes with remarkable success even under challenging circumstances. Wherever he was posted, he enjoyed perfect rapport with the government departments on the one hand and the media persons, on the other. Many a time, he was transferred only for a greater challenge. He was also known for his obedience towards seniors and the loving care he extended to his colleagues. And the most striking aspect of his personality was that he was found always relaxed, positive and humble. No wonder, he always enjoyed love and respect from all those who came into contact with him.

Kirpa Sagar was married to Asha Suman on November 7, 1959 at a simple ceremony. He has three sons and one daughter. The two elder sons had to pay the price at school for his frequent transfers, which included new postings on promotion also. At home, Kirpa Sagar could not claim as brilliant a success simply because he had hardly any time to spare from his official duties. But still he commanded lot of love and respect amongst his kith and kin as also in the society. In particular, he enjoyed the blessings of his elders in abundant measures.

Kirpa Sagar’s association with the Sant Nirankari Mission dates back to December 1973, when he received Brahm Gyan in Bhopal through one of the most distinguished Missionaries, Dr. Partap Singh ‘Kanwal’ (Kanpur). Rev. Beant Singh Ji, the then Parmukh, Bhopal and a colleague of Kirpa Sargar - Rev. Ish Kumar Ji, were the saints who introduced him to the Mission. Kirpa Sagar was lucky enough to be blessed by Baba Gurbachan Sigh Ji and Nirankari Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji in Gwalior, the very next Sunday. Ever since, as he puts it, whatever he became and whatever he did not become, was due to the grace of the Satguru and his teachings.

Since Kirpa Sagar came from a family deeply in love with Gurubani, he picked up the Mission’s ideology without any difficulty. In fact, he lent all his Information, Education and Communication (IEC) experience to promote its message in all its aspects. Simultaneously, he started helping the Mission in media publicity. From Bhopal, he came to Jalandhar in November 1974, where he spent about three years, before he came to Delhi. In Jalandhar, he received lot of blessings from Rev. Kulwant Singh Ji (now in Canada) and Rev. Gobind Singh Ji (now General Secretary, Sant Nirankari Mandal).  In early 1978, Kirpa Sagar took over as Dy. Principal Information Officer in PIB, Bombay. Here he received lot of love and affection from Rishi Vyas Dev Ji and assisted Rev. V.J. Lulla Ji and Rev. Chhabra Ji in publicity work. From Bombay, he came finally to Delhi in August 1980.

Ever since, Kirpa Sagar has been in constant touch with the Mission’s headquarters. He assisted the Press & PR Department particularly during Samagams. Soon after he retired from Government service, on a loving persuasion from Rev. Khem Raj Chadha, Secretary, Sant Nirankari Mandal, he dedicated his services to the Mission and started working for the Publications Department and assisting Rev. J.S. Chugh, Secretary in the Press & PR Department, regularly. ‘Stream of Thoughts’, an English translation of ‘Vichar Pravah’ in Hindi based on the holy discourses by Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj was his first significant contribution to the Publications Department. Then, he wrote ‘Understanding the Sant Nirankari Mission’, a small booklet specially designed to cater to the needs of the media - persons. ‘Enlightening the World’ based on the world salvation tour (1994) by His Holiness was the first book he edited. Later on, ‘Enlightening the World Part-II’ was also given its final shape by Kirpa Sagar. Similarly, he edited ‘A Great Master,' and gave final shape to the line-to-line translation of ‘Sampuran Avtar Bani’ into English prose by Rev. Amrik Singh IAS (Retd), now Secretary, Sant Nirankari Mandal. Subsequently, he played a key role in translation of ‘Sampuran Avtar Bani’ into Saral Hindi also. Another significant contribution by Kirpa Sagar to the Publications Department was ‘The Choice Today’.  Another book he has translated from Hindi into English is ‘Gurudev Hardev’ – (Part I and Part II) written by Rev. J.R.D. Satyarthi.

On the Internet side, Kirpa Sagar has been associated almost right from the launching of the Mission’s Website in 1996. While the initial matter was compiled by Rev. C.L. Gulati, Chandigarh, the final shape was given to it by Kirpa Sagar, under the able guidance of Rev. Bhupender ‘Bekal’ and with the benign blessings of His Holiness, of course. Subsequently, the matter was given the shape of a book and published during the Golden Jubilee Samagam in 1997 under the title 'A Mission For All’.  Kirpa Sagar edited the special souvenir in English brought out on this historic occasion. At the same time, Kirpa Sagar has been preparing audio, visual and written reports for Internet covering every important occasion, particularly the Annual and State-level Samagams, the world salvation tours by His Holiness and the Mission’s important activities in India and abroad.  He has also edited a number of holy discourses by Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and Nirankari Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji and provided on audio for the benefit of the Internet users.

In the Press & Publicity Department, besides covering the Mission’s activities including Samagams and salvation tours by His Holiness, for the newspapers, All India Radio and TV Channels, Kirpa Sagar has made a significant contribution in the production activities of the Sant Nirankari Studio. Initially, he worked under the guidance of Rev. Bekal Ji and assisted him in the editing of the Annual Samagam Video cassettes.  From 1996 onwards, however, he has been doing this work almost independently. He has been editing the video cassettes based on Baba Ji’s Vichars, which have been shown by various TV Channels and Cable operators not only in India but in other countries also.

Kirpa Sagar has enjoyed the benign blessings of His Holiness all along. He was blessed by Baba Ji on October 1, 1995 with the permission to reveal Brahm Gyam on his behalf. On March 18, 1998, he became a Member of the Working Committee and then a Member of the Executive Committee on March 1, 1999 - all with the benign blessings of His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj. Initially, Kirpa Sagar assisted Rev. J.R.D. ‘Satyarthi’ as Additional Member Incharge Publications Department and the Department of Computer and Internet. From April 8, 2000, he was given the charge of Computer and Internet department independently.  After Rev. J.S. Chugh merged eternally with the Almighty Nirankar on July 31, 2000, Kirpa Sagar was given the responsibility of the Press & Publicity department also w.e.f. August 10, 2000.

Earlier, Kirpa Sagar was made a Member of the Advisory Committee attached to the Press & Publicity Department in 1990, where he continued till he became its Chairman in August, 2000. Similarly, he was made a Member of the Publications Advisory Committee in 1993 and here also he continued till he took over as Addl. Member Incharge of the Publications Department in April 1999.   Since April 1,2002, Kirpa Sagar has been the Member Incharge Publications Department.  From March 24, 2003, however, the Addl Member Incharge Rev Raj Vasdev Singh working with him was given the independent charge of the production of Geet Books, Audio-cassettes, ACDs and novelty items as also the sale and distribution of all publication materials.  With effect from May 1, 2008 all these subjects were clubbed into a separate department.  So, from May 1, 2008 Kirpa Sagar is Member Incharge Publications (Production).

Similarly, Nirankari Studio was detached from the Press and Publicity Department and placed under the charge of Rev Rajnish Kumar Jhamb, with effect from May 1, 2006.

Kirpa Sagar has been making a significant contribution to promote the Mission by his participation in various activities conducted by other departments also.  For example, be presided over a Seminar or Universalism and Peaceful Co-existence held at Rajpura in Punjab in February 2007.  In July, 2007 he presided over a symposium on ‘Spirituality – A Way of Living’ in Mumbai and an inter-faith meet on ‘Spirituality – A Roadmap to Peace’ in Bangalore.  Kirpa Sagar plays a key role in every Media Training Workshop organized by the Press and Publicity Department.

Today, Kirpa Sagar is one of the active members of the Executive Committee. Though settled in Faridabad, he is attending to his responsibilities at the headquarters of the Mission in Delhi regularly. He receives lot of love and respect from Sadh Sangat for the effective way he puts across the Mission’s message. May His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj bestow him with ability and strength so that he continues to serve the Mission with greater and greater zeal, sense of devotion and dedication.