Happy Birthday Bibiji!
Today is the birthday of a great soul, a true Gursikh, and the person I have regarded as my mother for my entire adult life – Bhai Sahiba Bibi Inderjit Kaur, wife of Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji. To me, she is known in my heart simply as “Bibiji”.
Bibi Inderjit Kaur was born on January 22, 1935, in the town of Wazirabad in the district of Gujranwala which is now part of Pakistan. She was born into a devout Sikh family with a powerful lineage. Her great-grandfather was Bhai Sahib Abnasha Singh who was a known and respected saint and healer of his time. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh was stricken with small pox as a child, he was brought to Bhai Abnasha Singh for treatment. Ranjit Singh came in royal splendor with great pomp and show, and Bhai Sahib admonished him saying, “You should not have come with all this nonsense. You have disturbed my meditation!” But ultimately he did bless Ranjit Singh and assured him that even though he had already lost one eye to the disease, he would heal and his other eye would be preserved. Later in life when Maharaja Ranjit Singh held rule over the Punjab, he bestowed the title of Bhai Sahib to Abnasha Singh in acknowledgement of his deep spirituality. He told Abnasha Singh to circle as many villages as he could on horseback in one day, and these he gave to him as a jagir, or land grant, in gratitude for healing him as a child.
Another great Sikh is in Bibiji’s family tree is the brave and loyal warrior, Hari Singh Nalwa. Once in the early 1990’s I was with Bibiji and the Siri Singh Sahib in India and we all went to Hardwar to see the river Ganges. In the old days, the genealogy of the great families where kept by the family Brahmin in Hardwar. Once a year, the devote Hindus would go for their purifying bath, and at that time would sign their family book, recording the births and deaths that occurred that year. As Sikh families sprung from the ancient Hindu bloodlines, some also continued the tradition of keeping their family records in Hardwar. So that day when we visited Hardwar, I learned for the first time of Bibiji’s eminent family and that her family lineage was recorded there. The old Brahmin priest brought forth “the book”, and we all signed our names as having come with Bibiji to the Ganges. Four or five pages back in the book, there in bold black ink was the signature of Hari Singh Nalwa – the one who defended the Khalsa against all odds. Right there on the page, the gallant handwriting jumped out me! And next to his signature was another one easily recognized. On that day, Maharaja Ranjit Singh himself had signed the book as the guest of Hari Singh. Not only his signature, but his royal seal was proudly displayed. The two great men came for a cool bath on a hot spring day. It was right there in Bibiji’s family book, five pages back in history from our own signatures.
Bibiji came to the United States in 1973, following her husband on the mission of the Guru’s Path. I remember her spending long days in the kitchen, cooking endless pranteh for the hungry young people that were always coming to see the Siri Singh Sahib. She taught me, among many things, how to cook a good Indian meal. I think of her, and my heart thanks her every day as my rolling pin sculpts a round piece of dough into a perfect chapatti. But a kitchen has not yet been built that is big enough to hold her. Bibiji went back to school and earned her PhD in counseling, serving the sangat with endless hours of compassionate listening and words of guidance. With a relentless devotion, she has feed, taught, counseled, consoled, and cared for three generations of sangat in the West.
Col Jagjit Singh Guleria wrote about her, “As a wife, she is neither the “better half”, nor “the other half” of Yogi Bhajan. Rather, she is a perfect profile of him – a harmonious blend of two souls.” Those words now ring with the melody of truth as she serves the panth in the years since the passing of the Siri Singh Sahib. The Akal Takhat Jethadar has honored her work in the west with the title Bhai Sahiba – the chief minister of Sikh Dharma International. She is known all over the world for her religious work, for her wisdom, for her philanthropy and for her dignity. But for me, she is still my Bibiji. Happy Birthday.
— Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola New Mexico
Picture of Bibiji from 1960
17 Responses to “Happy Birthday Bibiji!”
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIBIJI!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALOT AND THANKS FOR BEEN THERE FOR US.
AKAL SAHAYEE
KAUR
Happy Birthday Bibiji,
I only know you from what i read about you and about Yogiji, but from what all i have read about you it feels like i have always known you.
Thank you for making many lives realize my waheguruji,
Happy
Waheguru ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru ji Ki Fateh Bibi ji,
Thunanu Janamdin diaan Lakh Lakh Wadhiaan Hove Ji !
Many Many Happy Returns of the Day Bibi ji !
Jan 22 is my birthday too !!!
Happy BIrthday Bibiji!!!
Blessings,
Sat Sang & Adarsh
All the blessings and love for Bibiji, your inspiration and your example had reached all over the world and will keep guiding us
huge hug from the Sangat of La Paz, Bolivia..
sham K
Bibi Ji,
You have always been an inspiration to me and my family. We love you.
Sat Naam.
Bibiji, i have never met you or yogiji but i want to say you are both beautiful people. Have great birthday!
Ravinder Singh
Dear Shanti Kaur,
That was quite a beautiful piece of material you have written. I think the quote of:
>
should be the premise of what a marriage is all about. We all should achieve that state.
Thank you.
Bibi Ji, Happy Birthday. Hopefully, I will have the honor of being in your sangat.
Satnam
Respected Bibi Ji,
Happy b’day to you. May GURU bless you, so that people like us get inspiration and learn how to really live the life from your words.
Many Many Happy Returns of the Day, Bibi ji !
Gurdev Singh
SAT SHRI AKAL BIBI JI…MAY WAHEGURU FULFILL YOUR ALL DREAMS WHICHEVER YOU HAVE SEEN TO SERVE THE HUMANITY….AND MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY…
RANJEET SINGH
FROM CHANDIGARH(INDIA)
Happy Birthday dear Bibiji a few days late. One of the great pleasures of my life is that my dear son, Hargobind Singh, now 13, shares your birthday. He was, in fact, born about 10 days before his due date, and I always felt his soul wanted to share that special date with you.
Siri Singh Sahib ji always told us that saints are born on the 22nd of a month. In you we see that is so true! Thank you for all you give us.
Waheguruji ka Khalsa Waheguruji ki Fateh,
I just wish for one chance to be able to meet Bibiji soon cos I have lost my chance of meeting Siri Singh Sahib. I wish to God for many more years for Bibiji to guide and care for the younger generation ahead.
Jasvinder
I’m a Mona Sikh, but love my faith deeply. God Bless Bibiji and I hope Wahaiguruji bestows his glory on all our sisters to be like this Great and Grand lady. I will soon have my kesh. One thing, all sisters please love our Singhs for what they are!!! Raj Karega Khalsa-Gurfateh!!!!!!!!!!
This is to greet you and wish you a very very good day for today and always.
I am your brother, if you remember. We met at Cape Town in South Africa and also visited your home.
Advise when you are next in N.Delhi.
Prabh Sharan Singh Uppal
Prabh Sharan Singh Uppal is my real name.
I am son of Parduman Singh Uppal of Wazirabad,(who stays at Chandigarh) District Gunjranwala and grandson of Bhai Kirpal Singh Uppal of Wazirabad, who himself was great grandson of Bhai Abinasha Singh Uppal.
My address is.
312, Sector 4, R.K.Puram. New Delhi-110022.
Tel No. 26162781 (res).
With best wishes,
Prabh Sharan Singh Uppal
Respected Bibi jI,
S.S.A.
Please accept belated birth day greetings.My late wife Jagdeep and I had the honour of interacting with you and Yogi Ji long back at Patiala and Chandigarh.
J.S.Ahluwalia.
Former Chief Commissioner Of Incometax
Chandigarh
[email protected] .com