A True Disciple

On 20 September, 1947, only a few days before going to Amritsar for treatment of his illness, the Great Master set up a plan for the Dera’s administration under three committees, with himself as the President and Sardar Bahadur (Maharaj Jagat Singh) as Vice-President of each committee. When he left for Amritsar, he asked all the Dera’s administrators and main sevadars to continue their seva under Sardar Bahadur’s supervision and gave directions that none of them should come to Amritsar.

In the first week of October, Sardar Charan Singh arrived at Dera on his way to Amritsar from Sikanderpur. He found that except for Sardar Bahadur, there was no other administrator or responsible sevadar present in the Dera. Not knowing that Hazur had directed all sevadars and officials to remain at the Dera, he asked Sardar Bahadur Ji, “Why don’t you come to Amritsar with me in my car? I’ll drive you back here this evening.” Sardar Bahadur replied, “Maharaj Ji’s orders are to stay in the Dera. I cannot come with you.”

Sardar Charan Singh drove on to Amritsar. He narrated his conversation with Sardar Bahadur Ji to the Great Master and informed him that Sardar Bahadur was the only sevadar present in the Dera. Tears came to Hazur’s eyes; he said, “Of all the people in the Dera, only Jagat Singh has obeyed me.” All the other Dera administrators were in Amritsar on one excuse or another.

The next day the Great Master told Sardar Charan Singh to drive back to Beas and bring Sardar Bahadur to him, but Sardar Charan Singh said that without clear, unambiguous orders from Maharaj Ji, Sardar Bahadur would not leave the Dera. Hazur then had Rai Sahib Munshi Ram note down a letter for Sardar Bahadur, asking him to come to Amritsar. On reading the letter, Sardar Bahadur accompanied Sardar Charan Singh to Amrtisar. During this short visit, Hazur arranged for all Dera bank accounts to be operated by either himself or Sardar Bahadur, or the survivor of the two.

At the Dera on the 20 March, 1948, about two weeks before he was to leave us physically, Hazur Maharaj Ji summoned Sardar Bahadur Ji and asked him to assume the burden of mastership. Sardar Bahadur replied with folded hands, “Hazur, this Emperor’s throne befits only an Emperor. May you live with us forever. I am only a slave.” Choked with emotion, he left the room. Maharaj Ji sent for him again, repeated what he had said before, adding, “These are my orders.” Sardar Bahadur bowed his head in submission at Hazur’s feet and left, tears streaming from his eyes.
_{Heaven on Earth}