Year of Death

Many people have passed away this year, and now one more prominent name has been added to that list: Giani Amolak Singh Jee.

Giani Amolak Singh Jee was a very complex person. He was the sharpest, most quick-witted person I'd ever encountered... Sometimes even giving off the impression of arrogance... yet when people saw him the least--behind closed doors, he was amazingly soft and humble.

His keertan was amazing... he was amazingly charismatic... but he wasn't just that simple, there was a lot more to him than that. From what I came to know about him, he was a Gursikh in so many ways. He was involved in activities for the panthic good, he did keertan like nobody else and the sense of confidence that he projected was like nothing most of us had ever seen. God bless him.

Two years ago, when Bhai Sahib (Jeevan Singh) was sick and had just suffered his stroke, and while he was staying at Aniljit Singh's house in Surrey--Giani Jee would visit him often. There was one time, when a friend of mine showed up at the house, opened Bhai Sahib's door and saw Giani Jee sitting on the ground massaging Bhai Sahib's feet. Giani Jee, a man of around 80 years old... was putting all his energy and effort into massaging someone else's feet. That's an image that most people can't imagine... There's this one line from that shabad.... Rus Amrit Naam Rus.....

ras a(n)mrith naam ras ath bhalaa kith bidhh milai ras khaae
The Essence of the Ambrosial Naam is the most sublime essence; how can I get to taste this essence?

jaae pushhahu sohaaganee thusaa kio kar miliaa prabh aae
I go and ask the happy soul-brides, "How did you come to meet God?"

oue vaeparavaah n bolanee ho mal mal dhhovaa thin paae
They are care-free and do not speak; I massage and wash their feet.