Jaswant Singh (Khoji)

Baboo Jaswant Singh 'Khoji'

Jaswant Singh Khoji (also known as Baboo ji ) was the founder of Braham Bunga Trust^[1] and Naam Simran congregation camps situated at Dodra. During his service with the Indian Army, while posted at Burma at age 24, he was baptised at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib Amritsar and began leading his life according to the principles and teachings of Sikh religion. In the army he served as a clerk and was nicknamed 'Baboo jee' by his friends. After retirement, with some of his old army companions from Burma, he started the movement of Sikh congregation Camps. He died in 1999. During his life time, he never advertised about himself or his works and then in later years of his life, he detached himself from the very congregation camps that he helped started in order to prevent people worshiping him. He lived the final days of his life in solitude restricted to his home with few of his friends. He was greatly impressed by the writings of Professor Puran Singh and Bhai Vir Singh, both of whom were great Sikh scholars and writers. During his visit to Calgary in 1981, he spread the movement of periodic Sikh congregation for Kirtan and Naam Simran of Almighty to the United States of America, Canada and other countries.

Works

Movement of Sikh periodic congregations

Singh started this movement in the village of Dodra in 1960 with some of his Burmese army companions. Initially, fortnightly congregations were organised in various villages. More recently, 2-day congregations take place in various Indian cities, especially in Punjab state. Annual 4-10 day congregation camps are also held in the villages of Dodra and Doraha^[2][3]

Establishment of Gurdwaras

1. In 1972 he established first Gurdwara in village Dodra on a plot of land donated by his army companion Subedar Kishan Singh.
2. In 1990 he, established bigger hall (200ftx150ft) in new Gurdwara Building in village Dodra.^[4] & established Braham Bunga Trust in 1983.
3. Established Gurdwara in Village Doraha in district Ludhiana in Punjab.

Writings

Books and spiritual writings of Baboo Jaswant Singh Khoji

Based on hymns of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, holy book of Sikhs, he wrote 132 articles in Punjabi on various topics about concepts and principals of Sikhism like Sangat, Haumai,^[5] Sabad, Dooja Bhau, Simran, Dharam^[6] or Mazahab, Bharam, Bandhan-Chhuttan.^[7] These are available in 13 books and have been published by Braham Bunga Trust.These books have been translated in Hindi and 5 articles are in English.

References