History of the Organization

Bhai Kanhaiya, after whom the Trust is named, was a selfless humanitarian, and a true Sikh of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

The Sikh Religion:

Guru Nanak was born in 1469, in Punjab, India to an affluent Hindu Kshatriya family. At a very young age, he seemed to recognize the fallacies existing in the teachings of the Hindu and the Muslim faiths. His father though a Hindu was the revenue minister for a tolerant Muslim ruler in the area, who tried to bring him up as per the traditions and rituals of the Hindu faith, which had been practiced for thousands of years in India. He was then sent to a Hindu Brahmin priest to learn Sanskrit (the mother of all Indian languages) and the Hindu Scriptures along with Math and other subjects and then to a Muslim priest to learn Persian, which was then the court language of the Muslim Emperors, then ruling India. He refused to accept, both the Hindu priest and the Muslim priest and his teachers, questioning their religious rites and while in class, gave them spiritual discourses, which astounded them and convinced them that young Nanak was no ordinary soul. They acknowledged the same to young Nanak’s parents.

Growing up, he ascertained that the existing religions in India were marred by practice of complicated rites, led by unscrupulous priests, preaching in languages (Sanskrit and Arabic) not understood by the common folk. The practice of these religions led to divisiveness among the populace, enslavement of women and a shameful exploitation of the masses at the lower end of the economic strata, leading to extreme unrest among them. All this was done in the name of an omnipresent, benevolent God.

Guru Nanak believed that people’s faith should lead them to a life full of joy, contentment and peaceful interactions with humans at large.

He enunciated his guiding principles for everyday living; namely, earn living by honest means, share earnings with the less fortunate, and always remember the Creator. Nanak stressed thatif one professes love for God, one must love His creation as well. He emphasized that we are all children of one father, The Lord God, and He loves every living being. Every living being has the same divine light of Almighty God within their souls. He taught, “Truth is higher than everything, but truthful living is higher, still.” He taught that no person is superior or inferior because of their caste, creed, lineage, race or religion, their wealth, or their gender. The only attribute that God considers while evaluating a soul is ‘their deeds’. He preached wisdom in the language of masses (both Hindu and Muslim), and they flocked to him in record numbers. They called him their Guru (Teacher).

Guru Nanak was followed by nine other Sikh Gurus.

Bhai Kanhaiya: A True Sikh and a real humanitarian:

Bhai Kanhaiya Ji was, enlightened with the Divine Naam by the Ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, who then commanded Bhai Sahib to leave Anandpur Sahib and to preach to the masses, to serve mankind selflessly, recognizing all as God’s children, and to spread the Divine message.

Bhai Kanhaiya left the Guru at Anandpur and proceeded towards the North Western frontier of Punjab. Bhai Kanhaiya noticed that the people of the area were experiencing a terrible scarcity of water. The villagers had to descend and then ascend a long dreary and treacherous mountain track to fetch water from a stream flowing at a distance of about 2 miles.

He then decided to establish an Ashram (sanctuary) with a rest house and a refectory (a free kitchen) for travelers and the destitute there, with the help of the inhabitants in the area. . It was open to all communities and people belonging to all faiths were welcomed all year round and around the clock. Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs spent nights there like real brothers and equally enjoyed all the available facilities and amenities. People of faith attended the daily religious congregation, devotionally, and with love in their hearts. All who attended the congregations were captivated with the selfless humanitarian service and the practical spiritual living. The selfless service rendered by Bhai Kanhaiya at the Ashram, impressed the general public and the establishment became famous for its humanitarian service throughout the country. Now there was no scarcity of water, as Bhai Kanhaiya had stored about 200 pitchers filled with water at the Ashram, and made them available twenty four hours a day. Travelers from all religions and castes who desired to spend the night at the ashram were, provide with free boarding and lodging (about 200 beds), indiscriminately. Every day was a festive day. They were holy congregations, and singing of hymns and praises of God and recitation of the bani everyday from early morning to the evening. It was a heavenly sight.

In 1675, the Ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur, was martyred along with three of his followers for refusing to convert to Islam, while protecting the rights of Hindu Brahmins. A deputation of top 500 Hindu Brahmins came to him, asking for protection from the Muslim Army who had given them a choice, either convert to Islam or die. The Guru, knowing what the price of his actions was going to be, asked them to send a message to the Emperor, that they all would consider converting to Islam if the Emperor could convert the Ninth Sikh Guru into a Muslim.

The nine year old son of the Guru, Gobind Rai who had been chosen by the ninth Guru as his successor, before he left to meet the Muslim Emperor, was converting all his followers into warriors to protect their right to practice their faith.

The Muslim Emperor was bent on propagating Islam by any means, so to quell the rebellion which was brewing in Punjab, as Sikhs had all become warriors and had become autonomous and fearless and people were flocking to the Tenth Guru by the thousands.

Bhai Kanhaiya also went to visit the Tenth Guru, who had now baptized tens of thousands of people into one race of equals, and was baptized himself. The Tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh was now defending himself against the tyranny of the Muslim Emperor and the upper class Hindus including the 22 Rajput Hill Chiefs as well, who had turned into adversaries, as the Guru preached against their Caste System and elevated the lower castes into their equals.

They had turned against the Guru because of his teachings of equality, worship of One Formless God and his administering Amrit (Holy Water) to the Khalsa, as these tenets were against their creed and established customs. The hill chiefs were active in their mischievous designs. The Guru's forces in all their skirmishes had defeated them, not once but repeatedly. It became evident to all the 22 hill chiefs that their armies would not be able to withstand the Guru's might. They then called in the help of the Imperial Army through the Muslim Governor of Sirhind, who immediately got the Emperor's sanction.

Soon, an army of ten thousand men was dispatched to Anandpur under the command of two generals. They joined forces with the hill-chiefs and jointly made an attack on Anandpur. A bloody battle ensued.

The news that the Guru had been attacked spread all around like wild fire and it brought to Anandpur, the town settled by the Ninth Guru, thousands of Sikh horsemen from far and wide.

The enemy was determined to eliminate or destroy the Guru. The Hill Chiefs and the Imperial forces brought reinforcements and made several attempts to break the Sikh line of defense but failed. They were soon convinced that it was beyond their power to defeat the Sikhs in open warfare. So they decided to set up a blockade. They besieged the fortress for two months, in vain.

This defeat of the Hill Chiefs could not settle their differences with the Guru. They again went and approached the Governor of Sirhind for help. The Governor had already been instructed by the Muslim Emperor, Aurangzeb, to march against the Guru in an alliance with the Hill Chiefs. So, Wazir Khan, the Governor of Sirhind made another assault on Anandpur in October 1702. The Sikhs, though greatly outnumbered by the enemy, fought with their usual zeal and courage and amazed the governor with their heroic and persistent resistance.

Bhai Kanhaiya, as instructed by the Guru, looked for opportunities to serve water to the wounded and thirsty in the battlefield. He fearlessly, entered the battlefield in the thick of battle, went on serving water and giving first aid to friend and foe, indiscriminately. The Sikh soldiers who were fighting against great odds were not pleased with Bhai Kanhaiya serving the enemy soldiers as well. They thought he was a spy. A complaint was lodged against him, with the Guru, who called Bhai Kanhaiya into his presence immediately, and asked for his explanation against the charge. Bhai Kanhaiya bowed reverently and submitted, "My Lord, ever since I touched your lotus feet, I do not see the difference between men. I see your image in every one. You have so enlightened my eyes that I see no one else but you. I see your All Pervading Divine spirit everywhere and in all. I serve none else but you, my Lord! It is you who have taught me, Lord.

(From the Sikh Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib):

O my eyes, the Lord has infused His Light into you; do not look upon any other than the Lord.
Do not look upon any other than the Lord; the Lord alone is worthy of beholding.
This whole world which you see is the image of the Lord; only the image of the Lord is seen.
By Guru's Grace, I understand, and I see only the One Lord; there is no one except the Lord.
Says Nanak, these eyes were blind; but meeting the True Guru, they became all-seeing. ||36||
					(Guru Granth Sahib, Anand. Ramkali M. 3, Page 922)
					

The Guru was, extremely pleased with the spirit of all embracing love and selfless service exhibited by Bhai Kanhaiya. He applauded him for his humanitarian service. The Guru hugged him to his bosom and then from under his cummerbund the Guru brought out a box of his special ointment and asked Bhai Kanhaiya Ji to provide first aid to the wounded, as well. The Tenth Guru then blessed him with a boon and prophesied that Bhai Kanhaiya will start an organization of similar minded individuals, who will selflessly serve humanity. (Similar to the Red Cross Society tending sick and wounded in war, enjoying privileges under the Geneva Convention of 1864).

Thus, Bhai Kanhaiya founded a society for selfless humanitarian service, in the year 1704 AD, serving one and all, indiscriminately, which was about one hundred and sixty (160) years ahead of the Red Cross Society.

The society founded by Bhai Kanhaiya is known by the name of 'Seva Panth'.

Present Activities of the Trust:

Bhai Kanhaiya Charitable Trust is an organization that was first organized as a Public Charitable Trust under the Indian Income Tax Act of 1961, on June 21, 1994. It is managed by a Board of Directors, lead by their Chairman, Mahant Kahan Singh, the 13th spiritual descendant of Bhai Kanhaiya, himself. The Trust was formed to provide free food to the poor, free drinking water, by distribution and by installation of tube wells in rural areas, to construct and maintain free Charitable Hospitals and dispensaries for the needy, to build and run schools and colleges for educating the poor and for vocational training, to arrange pilgrimage tours, to organize free Eye Care and Dental Care Camps, to construct and maintain public places of worship, to donate to other charitable and religious institutions which are not for the benefit of any particular religious community or caste, to organize religious and educational seminars and to do any other charitable acts for the general public. The Trust continues to support all the above causes. It is however, one of several institutions under the kind and benevolent guidance of Mahant Kahan Singh, of the ‘Seva Panth’ and the chief preceptor of the Ashram known as Tikana Bhai Jagta Ji in town of Goniana Mandi, located in the state of Punjab in India.

EDUCATIONAL & OTHER SERVICE INSTITUTIONS RUNNING UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF MAHANT BHAI KAHAN SINGH JI SEVA PANTHI

1. Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Abohar.
2. Mahant Gopal Singh Insititute of Competitions & Employment. (I.A.S & P.C.S. Coaching Center) Patiala.
3. Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Bathinda.
4. Guru Tegh Bahadur Charitable Hospital, Ludhiana.
5. Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa Polytechnic & Engineering College, Chhapianwali, Malout (Mukstar).

INSTITUTIONS RUNNING AT TIKANA BHAI JAGTA JI, GONIANA MANDI

1. Bhai Asa Singh Girls Degree College (Punjabi. Univ., Patiala)
2. Bhai Asa Singh Girls Collegiate Secondary School
3. Bhai Jagta Singh High School (Punjab Education Board)
4. Mata Tripta Charitable Trust(Regd.)
5. Bhai Kanhaiya Seva Society
6. Guru Nanak Library
7. Seva Panthi Gurmat Vidyalaya
8. Dastar Sikhlai Center.
9. Bhai Kanhaiya Charitable Hospital
10. Baba Jagta Ji Charitable Trust (Regd.)
11. Bhai Kanhaiya Charitable Trust (Regd.)
12. Bhai Kanhaiya Seva Jyoti (Punjabi Monthly)
13. Bhai Seva Ram Vachittar Shala (Museum)
14. Mahant Bhai Tirath Singh Charitable Hospital, Bathinda-Jaito Road, Akalian Kalan.
15. Matrimonial Office
This organization has donors/contributors in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia.

Near Future Plans:

Bhai Kanhaiya Charitable Trust is now planning to raise funds for four projects, three of which will be in a rural area in Punjab, India.
1. A state of the art Multi-Specialty Hospital including a modern Cancer Center
2. An excellent School incorporating spiritual knowledge within the curriculum.
3. A Nursing College for Women with residence facilities.


To elaborate further, here are small write-ups on each of the above projects.

Bhai Kanhaiya Sevapanthi Multi-Specialty Hospital & Cancer Center:

In 3 Districts of Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar, in the state of Punjab, groundwater has been contaminated by excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and some say fly ash from the Bathinda and other Thermal Power Stations in the area. The contamination is so bad that teams of research scientists and toxicologists have confirmed that some groundwater has between 20,000 and 50,000 times the EPA recommended range of uranium in groundwater. Some families in the area have between 3 and 7 members diagnosed with cancer. 88 percent of children tested within the ages of 3 and 12 have 20 times the cancer allowed by health experts, in their urine and hair samples, showing immediate and chronic exposure to uranium and other toxic metals like barium and lead, as well.

The Ashram, Tikana Bhai Jagta Ji in Goniana, under the benign leadership of Mahant Kahan Singh, has received from a donor in Goniana Mandi, a 7.5 Acre tract of land on Bathinda-Jaito Road, which is about 3 miles away from the main ashram. The land has now been leveled and the boundary walls have been built. We are awaiting the ‘Change of Land Use’ approval from the authorities in Bathinda, following which we plan to construct the Out Patient Department and acquire Mobile Cancer Screening Vans.

The Cancer Center/Multi-Specialty Hospital will be built in two stages. The first stage includes building a state-of-the-Art Diagnostic laboratory and an Outpatient Treatment Center and buying 2 mobile screening and early detection units to be sent to villages to inform as well as test the residents. The second stage will be building a 150 bed hospital with at least 4 Operation Theatres and other related facilities.

A Nursing College for Women:

With the lack of employment in the area and bearing in mind the female foeticide rates in the state, it would a great advantage to women if they could be trained as nurses to fill the acute shortage in India and in other nations in the West. This will make women in Punjab more independent and will secure their futures.

School for Children incorporating spiritual knowledge into the Curriculum:

There is a need in this world for more modern education, including computer science and technologies, however that knowledge, if is provided along with spiritual guidance and religious education, it will lead students to become better humanitarians, turning this world into a better place. They will learn to use their successes for the benefit of their fellow man as well.