Obituary: Though Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Khalsa has left for Sachkhand, he will always be remembered for his great services to the society in general and to the Khalsa Panth in particular. He was the founder and Chairman of the number one eye hospital of North India. Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Cheritable Hospital is now a multispeciality hospital where economically weaker people need not pay anything for their treatment.
Bhai Sahib's voice will always be listened through his Kirtan CDs. I have never seen any one doing Kirtan with such a love like him.
Just one month before his demise, I visited his residence at Akal Asram Sohana where I found him unhealthy and taking rest. He blessed me by placing his hand on my head. Earlier I met him personally 4-5 times at Akal Ashram. He told me to meditate on the meaning of first 5-pauris of Japji Sahib everyday for 30 minutes. He told this would develop love for Gurbani.
From The Tribune:
Religious preacher ‘Veerji’ dead
Mohali, October 14
Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Khalsa Khannewale, a prominent religious preacher who was affectionately called “Veerji”, died here this afternoon.
According to the information, Bhai Jasbir Singh suffered a heart attack when he was at Gurdwara Akal Ashram in Sohana. He was immediately taken to Shri Guru Harkrishan Charitable Hospital , but doctors failed to save his life.
Mr Manjit Singh Sethi, a former municipal councillor, said the body of the preacher was kept in a mortuary in Fortis Hospital. The cremation would take place tomorrow. A ‘shok’ march would be taken out from Sohana at midday and after passing through various areas of the town it would reach the cremation ground.
Mr Hardeep Singh, a member of the SGPC, said Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji had a massive following not only in India but also abroad. His death had created a large vacuum.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, OSD to the Chief Minister Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha and Deputy Commissioner Tejveer Singh mourned the death of the Sikh preacher. They said his death was a big loss not only to Punjab but the entire country.
Condoling his death, Mr Joginder Singh Sondhi, president of the Gurdwara Coordination Committee, said the death had caused a great loss to the Sikh community.
Veerji earlier lived in Khanna, but he later shifted to Mohali. He had got Gurdwara Akal Ashram constructed in Sohana with the help of sangat. With the objective of serving the poor, Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Charitable Eye Hospital Trust, Sohana, was constituted in 1993. A modern and sophisticated eye hospital was set up to serve millions of eye patients of the country irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. No patient, rich or poor, whether he could pay or not, left hospital without proper treatment. Expenses on surgery and medicines are charged from persons who can afford to pay.
Veerji had always been performing nishkam kirtan seva throughout the country for Sikhi parchar. He had also been awarded for nishkam kirtan in 1996 by the Akal Takht. As a true Sikh and follower of Sikh religion, he did not believe in caste. He travelled extensively throughout the country to spread the message of Sikh Gurus.