Sant Teja Singh ( May 14, 1877 – July 3, 1965 ) was the founder of the Baru Sahib in Himachal Pradesh and was one of the first Ambassadors of Sikhism to the Western world. He gave the message that there was nothing higher than hard work, honest living and devotion of career. His life would continue to serve as a beacon of light to all those interested in uplifting and serving humanity without any distinction of cast, creed, race, and colour. The proclamation describes Teja Singh as a humanitarian, scholar, and tireless advocate for Sikhs and other Indians in Canada, who dedicated his life to challenging inequality, fighting for a just society and serving without discrimination in accordance with the tenets of Sikhism. To pay tribute to him, Sikh youth of British Columbia celebrate Sant Teja Singh Day ( Canada Day ) each year on July 1st at Khalsa Diwan Society, Gurdwara Sukh Sagar, New Westminster, British Columbia. He established Kalgidhar Society which opened many Higher Secondary Schools in Punjab and Akal Academy is also being run at Baru Sahib.
He was born on 1877 to mother Sada Kaur and father Ralla Singh, a medical doctor, at Bolowali village in Gujranwala District British Punjab. He graduated from Government College Lahore in 1898 and passed L.L.B. examination from Law College Lahore in 1900. He did M.A. Degree in English in 1901. He did not practice law ad preferred to work as Head Master of High School, Bhera, in 1901. He also worked in North India Salt Department during 1902-1904. Teja Singh did not like that job and he joined Khalsa College Amritsar as Vice Principal and later Principal in 1904–1906. In 1906 he came in contact with Sant Attar Singh, Sur Sagar Sahib Mastuana, Sangrur, Punjab. He took Amrit ( Khalsa baptism ) and his name was changed from Naranjan Singh to Teja Singh. He went to England in 1906 and studied in University College London and Cambridge University up to 1908. During his stay in England he established Khalsa Jatha of British Isles in 1908. He joined Teachers College, Columbia University, New York Summer School with a scholarship in 1908. Later he joined Harvard University, USA and took the Master Degree in English literature in 1911. He also joined the University of California, Berkeley for a PhD in English but he had to quit after some months to serve the Sikhs and other Indian communities in Canada in a struggle to bring their families from India.
Teja Singh opened Sikh Dharmsala in London in 1910, Sikh Temple at Stockton, California in 1912, and Sikh Gurdwara Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 1912–1913. He also organized societies to manage these Gurdwaras. Teja Singh was a towering spiritual leader of the Sikhs and other communities, who had fought for the equal rights to the immigrants, specifically those who began coming to British Columbia from India during the end of the nineteenth century. This was the time when India was under the British occupation and most immigrants started arriving to this part of the world as British subjects in a hope for a better livelihood. However, they had to endure blatant racism as they were neither allowed to bring in their families, nor they had a right to vote. The authorities, who wanted to keep Canada as a white man’s land, adopted several policies that were aimed at discouraging permanent settlement of Indian immigrants in British Columbia.
Teja Singh was a man of ability and intelligence. Very few would get opportunities that he had at the start of his career as administrator head, civil servant, and the educational leader one of the best institutions ( Khalsa College Amritsar and Hindu University Banarus ) of his time. Similarly, he had many prospects to excel in the west. He had no ambition for his personal success. His master gave him a mission that ranged from organizing the community to ensuring freedom, peace, and spiritual poise in their lives. He transferred community wisdom to them that gave them courage to face unique challenges in their social and political life. He died at the village of Chima in 1965 and after his death Dr Kingra , Dr Kham Singh Gill, Dr Harcharn Singh Dhaliwal, Dr Baldev Singh Boparai, Dr Santokh Singh Sokhi and many others PAU professors contributed in this organization.
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