Basant Singh, in particular, had the unique distinction of living with Shri Nathji and serving him for a period that spanned nearly twenty years. He had met him sometime in 1927 in Amritsar and remained with him till 1947.
It was well-known to those who knew Shri Nathji intimately that his programmes were divine, made at the calling of thirsty souls. Even a brief evening walk in the garden was not a chance event. During his sojourn in Amritsar, he had gone out for a walk in a garden. There in the garden, he had met Basant Singh, who was instantly attracted towards him. A hidden chord in Basant Singh’s soul was touched by Shri Nathji, and a lasting relationship was formed that was to exist over twenty years or more. His had been a tormented soul that had sought solace. Shri Nathji was to him, like an ocean in the desert of life. He recognized Shri Nathji like a drop recognizes the ocean. He saw the Divine Form of Shri Nathji and forgot everything else.
The past life of Basant Singh had been full of turmoil. He had been in love with a woman. The fire of love had burnt Basant Singh’s heart to ashes. The woman was already married, and therefore the fulfilment of such a love was impossible. Basant Singh had never been able to lift this burden from his soul. It was a pain, which he had thought, would last till eternity.
Immediately after he met Shri Nathji, he found himself a changed man. The attractions of the world ceased to have a hold on his heart. He had delivered his heart to Shri Nathji. Ordinary love had turned into Love Divine.
He served Shri Nathji and Shri Babaji Maharaj at Amritsar and Lahore, and, later, was a personal attendant to Shri Nathji. The total period spanned over twenty years.
Sardar Basant Singh looked upon Shri Nathji as the living embodiment of the teachings of the Sikh gurus. He looked upon him as the Kalki Avatar. Shri Nathji said: I often feel that I am a Sikh.
As Shri Nathji’s bodyguard, Sardar Basant Singh would turn away even rich and powerful visitors if they came at odd hours. There was the Rai Bahadur who begged for a moment with Shri Nathji, and who placed his turban at Basant Singh’s feet. But Basant Singh was adamant. Take back your turban, he said to the Rai Bahadur, I do not accept bribes!
Sardar Basant Singh’s loyalty to Shri Nathji was so great that he would not brook the slightest disrespect to him from any quarters, and, despite Shri Nathji’s restraining influence, would be quite prepared to challenge any number of people to a show of strength.
There was the time when Basant Singh found himself surrounded by a large group of hecklers and revellers who sought to disparage his belief in Shri Nathji and Shri Babaji Maharaj.
The place was a crowded bazaar in Amritsar. Hot verbal exchanges soon led the crowd to fall upon Basant Singh. The thin, frail body of the valiant Sardar was no match for the combined strength of the crowd. But Shri Nathji’s divine power was within him. He had a small brass vessel, a lota, in his hand, which he began to swing around himself with such ferocity that the crowd was kept at bay. It was a vivid portrayal of the legendary Samson, acting with the strength of God, keeping the armies of the Philistines at bay with only the jaw-bone of an ass in his hand.
Basant Singh remained with Shri Nathji all throughout his sojourn in the Punjab and later in U. P. for years. He would be seen with Shri Nathji in diverse places like Lahore, Mussoorie, Dehra Dun and Lucknow. Indeed, during those early days he was the only constant companion that Shri Nathji had. Of his service and devotion, Shri Nathji would say:
Sewak ko sewaa ban aayee
Hukam boojh param pad paayee
It becomes a servant well to serve,
In obedience lies the highest status of his life.
Shri Nathji greatly admired the Sikhs for their spirit of service. Indeed, no other person served him for twenty years at a stretch again in life, as did his loyal attendant and devotee, Sardar Basant Singh.
In the year 1947, Sardar Basant Singh had to return to his home-town in Faridkot, where his father who was a granthi, a Sikh priest had passed away. It was a sad day when the loyal servant had to part from his master.
At the time of parting, Shri Nathji said to Basant Singh:
Basant Singhji, you have served me loyally for twenty years. Tell me, what may I do for you in return?
Basant Singh said:
There is only one thing that I want, only say: Basant, you are mine! – Basant too meraa!”
He went away in body only. His heart was left forever at Shri Nathji’s feet. Many years later, when Shri Nathji sent his prasaad of cardamoms to Basant Singh to Faridkot through a messenger, Basant Singh raised the prasaad to his eyes, and knelt down on the ground and offered his prostrations to the cardamoms.
Sardar Basant Singh never survived the separation from his master. If he could not be with him physically, he had to be with him spiritually. He was the only man who could boast of having spent twenty years of his life with God upon earth.
Shri Nathji never tired of speaking about Basant Singh to people. He would be always waiting for someone to come from Faridkot to give him news of his beloved Basant Singh.