As on May 1, 2008

Rev. Raj Vasdev Singh Ji, less known by her original name Rajinder Kaur, is one of those time-devotees of Satguru, whose only aim of life is to be one whom Satguru loves and feels proud of. She is the first lady member in the Executive Committee of Sant Nirankari Mandal.

Rev. Raj Vasdev Ji became a Member of the Working Committee in April 2002.  On the same day Baba Ji nominated her to the Executive Committee and attached her to the Publication Department as its Additional Member Incharge.   She has also been given the charge of Sant Nirankari Public Schools as member Incharge since May 2005.  On March 24, 2003 she was given an independent charge of the production of Audio-cassettes, Audio-CDs, Geet Books and novelty items as also the sale of all the publication materials as Additional Member Incharge in the Publications Department.  From May 1, 2008 she was made Member Incharge of these subjects along with her on going responsibilities as Member Incharge Education (SN Public Schools).  At present she is serving in both the departments.  At the same time she is a well known name in the Nirankari world as a prominent writer, a reputed preacher and a pushing Sewa Dal Member.

Rev. Raj Vasdev was born in the family of Shri Buta Singh Ji and Mata Gomawanti Ji in Peshawar (now in Pakistan) on 5th May 1941. In worldly relations, she is closely related to shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji Maharaj who was real maternal uncle of her mother Smt Gomawanti Ji and Jagat Mata Budhwanti Ji, who was the only real younger sister of her father Shri Buta Singh Ji. Hence she inherited Bhakti from both her parents. The Divine spark of Shahenshah Ji through her mother and the humility, dedication and selfless service of Jagatmata Ji through her father came into her lot from the very beginning of her life.

Her father Shri. Buta Singh Ji was the true and faithful disciple of Satguru Baba Buta Singh Ji. The whole family was totally devoted to the Satguru. Baba Buta Singh Ji often used to visit the family. Hence Raj enjoyed the benevolence, love and affection of Baba Buta Singh Ji in her infancy. In 1943, Baba Buta Singh Ji abandoned his body and Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji shouldered the responsibility of the Sant Nirankari Mission. Hence she spent her childhood in the lap of Satguru Baba Avtar Singh Ji and Sadh Sangat, listening to their Parvachans.

Rev. Raj Vasdev has been fortunate enough to have Shri Joginder Singh Ji “Nirankari” (Ambala) as her elder brother. Nirankari Ji had been true disciple, a dedicated enlightened soul, a prominent poet, an artist, an untiring selfless preacher of the Mission; Her brother in law Shri Inder Singh Ji “Anthak”, (husband of her sister Kuldeep Ji, Sanchalika Mahila Sewadal, Patiala, PB.) had been a life time Geetkar and a true devotee. Shri Tejinder Singh Ji (husband of sister Daljit Kaur Ji), now Khetriya Sanchalak of Greater Delhi and all her brothers and sisters and their families are the devotees of Satguru and selfless servants of the Mission. Having been brought up in such an enlightened atmosphere, it is but natural that humanism is to the fore in her life-style.

Raj started her primary education after the partition of India in 1947. Before partition of the country, the communal riots broke out. Peshawar, being the frontier area, became the target of communal riots on 7th March 1947.   As a result her family shifted from Peshawar to Rawalpindi, where Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji had already settled. When the communalism made the atmosphere very tense, on the persuasion and repeated prayers of saints, Shahenshah Ji decided to move to Delhi.   So all the saints including the family of Raj Vasdev Ji joined the “Wah Camp” under the guidance and patronage of Seth (Baba) Gurbachan Singh Ji. Later on all these Nirankari families migrated to India. Shri Buta Singh Ji, settled at Ambala Cantt. He was allotted a house in Topkhana Bazar as claim for his huge property left in Pakistan and commenced his bakery business on Railway Road. This business flourished by leaps and bounds because of Shri Buta Singh Ji’s polite, humble and sociable nature, fair dealings and honest conduct and behaviour.

Raj passed her Matriculation from Khalsa School Ambala Cantt in 1958. She had been very intelligent in her studies. Her father was not in favour of higher education for girls. So Raj had to continue her university education as a private student. She passed her Gyani (Hons in Punjabi) and then B.A. examination full course with Mathematics A and B courses in 1964. She had been self-made girl throughout her career-making-period. Just to continue her higher studies, she started her teaching career in Punjab National School Ambala Cantt in 1958 after passing her Matriculation Examination. Mathematics being her first love, she was given the responsibility of teaching this subject to tenth class during the very first year of her teaching career. The blessings of Shahenshah Ji and saints and the inspiration of her mother gave her courage to go ahead to fulfill her ambition to achieve degree certificate.

Marriage:
On 19th April 1964, she was married to Vasdev Singh Ji, a very dedicated, clear hearted and selfless worker of the Nirankari Mission. Shri Vasdev Singh Ji was bestowed with Brahmgyan by Satguru Baba Avtar Singh Ji in 1958 when he was posted at Jind as an Electrical Engineer in Pepsu Electricity Department.  After he attained Brahm Gyan, his whole family became the follower of the Nirankari Mission. The marriage was celebrated in Topkhana Bazar, Ambala Cantt where Bhapa Ram Chand Ji (Kapurthala) was standing on the Bridegroom’s side and Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji and Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji were performing the role of both worldly as well as spiritual father on the bride’s side. On this day, the marriage of Raj Ji’s elder sister Kuldeep Kaur Ji was also sermonized with Shri Inder Singh Ji “Anthak” of patiala (Punjab). This marriage party was headed by Bhai Sahib Amar Singh Ji of Patiala, who happened to be the god father of “Anthak” Ji.

After the marriage, Raj Ji started living with her inlaws at Hoshiarpur. Raj Vasdev Ji had been very fortunate to have such an inspiring and pushing life-partner. It was totally Shri Vasdev Singh Ji’s persuasion and assistance that Raj Ji could do her B.Ed. and M.A. English from M.G.N. College of Education, Jalandhar and from Govt. College Hoshiarpur after marriage.

Service Career:

In 1968 immediately after passing her M.A., Raj Vasdev ji got lecturership in Govt. College, Kapurthala on adhoc basis.  She served this college for two and a half months but this period became a turning point in her life. During this period, she stayed at Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan, Kapurthala. Under the guidance and patronage of Bhapa Ram Chand Ji she learnt the depth of Gurmat from this scholar of spirituality.

In 1969 she was appointed as lecturer in D.A.V. College of Education Hoshiarpur. But after a few months she had to shift to Nangal Township as her husband Shri Vasdev Singh Ji had already been transferred to Bhakhra Dam Nangal Township (Pb.) as S.D.O. Here she joined as an Instructor in National Fertilizer Factory, Naya Nagal. She was the only lady in this vast establishment of the employees and apprentices. She was in a fix whether to accept this offer of job or not and went to Kapurthala to get final word in this respect from Bhapa Ram Chand Ji, whom she revered as next to Satguru. Bhapa Ji encouraged her by saying that Nirankar is with her, so she should accept the offer in family interest.  This gave her the requisite self-confidence and she joined the post.   

After a few months, she got the post of Principal first in degree college, Ahmed Nagar and then in Jawaharlal Nehru College, Mandi Gobindgarh. This Municipal College was taken over by the Government in 1976 following the 1978 episode of Amritsar, she was transferred to Government College Karamsar but was retransferred to Government college Gobindgarh only after eight months.  Then, she served this college from August 1970 up to 31st May 1999 till the day of her retirement with the exception of eight months.

Family:
Raj and Vasdev Ji have four daughters. Their first daughter Parneeta was born on 1st Feb. 1967 and married to Shri Surinderpal Singh Ji (Pali Ji), the youngest son of  Shri Gurbax Singh Ji “Raj Kavi”. Now she is the mother of two sons. Navpreet was born on 24th March 1973. She is married to Shri Amarjot Singh (Rajan Ji) son of Martyr Aalla Singh Ji of Sangrur and is now settled in U.S.A.  She too has one son and one daughter. Third daughter Sharnjeet, born on 13th Nov 1974 is a doctor and is married to Shri Manish Khanna S/o Shri R.S. Khanna and renowned geetkar of Nirankari Mission Rani Khanna Ji. Dr. Sharan & Manish Khanna are now settled in Delhi and now are parents of a sweet daughter. The fourth sweet one Gurpreet, born on 20th October 1978, married to Shri Gurmohan Arneja son of Bachittar Arnjeja and Shri Surjit Singh Ji Arneja  is now settled in Montreal (Canada). All the daughters and their families are devotees of the Mission.

As a Sewa Dal Member:

Since the family had a tradition to serve Satguru and the saints the children of the family learnt how to do Sewa in the golden period of their lives.

As the Sanchalika of the Mahila Sewa Dal of Gobindgarh unit, Raj Ji took keen interest in preparing ladies and Bal Sewadars to participate in various activities. The Bal Samagams became an integral part of Gobindgarh Sadh Sangat. These programmes were quite informative and interesting. In 1974, for the first time in the history of Sant Nirankari Mandal, an English medium workshop for 3 days was organized at Gobindgarh in which two representatives from each major city participated.

Bal Samagam of two/three days’ duration became a regular feature of Gobindgarh Sadh Sangat. In these Samagams Bal Saints from the Northern area (from Jammu to Delhi) used to participate and take part in Painting, Essay writing, Skit, Declamation contests, Quiz competitions. Gobindagrh was thus always a center of various activities and Raj Ji played a key role to manage all these activities and conduct the programmes. 

As a Gursikh:

A staunch follower of the Mission, Rev. Raj Vasdev Ji is a dedicated and submissive Gursikh. Though she belongs to the Guru Parivar, yet she never claims any privilege for the same. Simple living and high thinking has been her life-style. She loves to surrender to the Sublime Will of Nirankar. She always says, “We human beings little know what is good for us and what is in our interest. So whatever our Supreme Father does is in our favour. We should willingly and smilingly accept whatever He (God) offers to us.”

During crucial period of Nirankari Mission's history, she faced so many hardships and risks of life. Letters of threat used to come to their house. Attempts were made to arrest her husband Shri Vasdev Singh Ji. A force of about 50-55 policemen seized their house and searched it but couldn't find anything objectionable. Her husband remained at the hit-list of fanatics but it was purely Satguru's blessings that he survived to serve the Mission.

Thereafter she managed the family affairs and spared her husband to serve the Mission. Even today, both husband and wife are complementary to each other and support each other in missionary works. Their ambition is to lead purely a dedicated life.

As a Parcharak:

Raj Vasdev Ji was blessed with Gyan Pradan Patra in November, 1979, but her zeal to convey the message of Satguru was perceptible even in her childhood. At the age of ten-twelve years, she started delivering the message in the Sangat.

Public speaking was in fact a God gift bestowed upon her even at Training College she was adjudged as the best speaker of the college. Throughout her life, she had been utilizing each occasion to deliver the message of the Master to the masses. While in Government service in college, she was entrusted the duty to conduct the Public functions on national days i.e Republic Day and Independence Day every year. Here also, she would often quote from Satguru's Discourses (Parvachans). She never hesitated to disclose her identity as a Nirankari follower. Even today she is known as Nirankari Madam in her city i.e. at Mandi Gobindgarh and surrounding areas.

Raj Ji came to Gobindgarh in August 1970 to join college service.   She started regular Sangat and open programmes there. With Satguru's blessings, the number of missionary saints began to increase.         

In 1972  Sangat started in the premises of Nirankari Satsang Bhawan and the Sewa of Bhawan construction came to the lot of Shri. Vasdev Singh ji and other saints. After this the Bhawan became the center of various activities. English Samagam, Sewadal Camps, Bal Samagams and celebration of main social festivals in Sangat became the routine work.       

Besides, taking interest in the local activities, Raj and Vasdev Ji never shirked to go to those remote areas where travelling was so inconvenient and risky. During 1981, Raj Ji and Vasdev Ji along with their daughter Parnita went to Assam, far off area of Nagaland to spread the message of Truth, non-violence and peace. The touring party happen to visit Ledo (the last border railway station of India), Tinsukhia, Dibrugarh Lumding, Digboi, Gohati, Demapur etc. cities of Assam and Nagaland.

The couple has toured almost all the states of India and abroad. All vacations, holidays and leave permissible to an employee were utilized for this purpose.

With Baba Ji’s blessings, the couple visited Europe, Canada and America in 2000. In 2005, they again visited U.S.A. and Canada and toured almost each branch of Sant Nirankari Mandal in these countries. During this visit, Shri Vasdev Singh Ji, Up Mukhya Sanchalak, Sewa Dal presided over U.S.A.’s “Manav Ekta Samagam” at Washington D.C. and Raj Ji Canada’s “Manav Ekta Samagam” at Montreal on 23rd & 24th April 2005. Sangats and Sewa Dal Camps/ Meetings were organized at almost each branch of the Mission in U.S.A. and Canada.          

At Canto (Michigan) the whole audience in the Sangat was English knowing and English had been the medium of expression throughout the Sangat. The Sangat was so impressive that a few research scholars of the university became ready to attain the knowledge of God. With the blessings of the Satguru, they started attending the Sangats. Similarly in the Community Center Hall of Annarbor university (U.S.A.) Raj Ji delivered lecture on “Spirituality and Social Service” and answered the questions of the audience.  The students of various origins and directors attended this Programme.

During March/April 2005, the couple visited Pakistan. There too, many seekers of truth were initiated into the Mission. Since Raj Ji and her husband Shri Vasdev Singh Ji are well versed with the knowledge of Islam, Christianity, Budhism, Sikhism and almost all the established religions of the world.  Their knowledge of Kuran and Islam went a long way to discuss the real teaching of Prophet Mohamad with rational minded Muslims. The result was that about 9-10 Muslims attained Brahmgyan and more than forty Hindus also were blessed with this spiritual knowledge during this tour.

As a writer:

“Pen is mightier than sword” is a true saying. Printed words go a long way to spread the message of Truth, Peace, Unity, non-violence and humanism. In the field of Nirankari literature, the name of Raj Vasdev is quite famous. She writes in association with her husband Shri. Vasdev Singh Ji. Both are ardent readers as well as writers of spiritual books. There is originality in the subject-matter and spontaneous flow in style. A number of books that depict the history and philosophy of the Nirankari Mission are written by this couple. A few prominent names of their books are:- Vartman Roohani Lehar (Hindi and Punjabi), Pooranta Ki Disha Mein (Hindi), Poorantai Wal (Punjabi) Gursikh (Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Bangla), Sant Nirankari Mission Ke Jyoti Stamb, Sant Nirankari Mission De Chanan Munare (Punjabi) and Prathana. Her many write-ups can be found in the monthly magazine “Sant Nirankari” (Hindi, Punjabi, English) and annual souvenirs and Mission's periodical “Ek Nazar”.

She often writes poems too. She had been presenting herself as a poetess in many Samagams in the decade of seventies/ eighties, but her renowned field is that of prose. May Satguru bless her to serve the Mission and humanity by her pen-power too.

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