NATHU RAM BECAME SAHIB SINGH
During the summer vacations, he came back to his village Therpal. One early morning, some one knocked at the door of their house. On opening the door, Nathu Ram saw a young and sturdy Sikh standing before him. He recognized that he was the same Maharaj, who had turned a “Sanyasi”, with head tonsured, living in a cottage at some distance from their house. He was the grandson of his grand-mother’s sister. His Name was now DHARAM SINGH. Nathu Ram was greatly impelled to become Sikh immediately. He narrated to Dharam Singh, what he had been thinking since the days he had been a student in the middle school, and also about his friend Tulsi Ram. Dharam Singh immediately took both, Nathu Ram and Tulsi Ram, to a place near Pasroor city, where people were initiated to Sikhism by taking Pahul (Amrit). Both the boys received the Amrit and became Sikhs. When told to receive the changed names, the boys replied, they had already chosen their respective names. The organizers agreed. Nathu Ram said, that his new name would be “Sahib Singh”; Tulsi Ram said, his new name would be “Jagjodh Singh”. Every one came to know that these two boys had become Sikhs. But the boys did not know how to get their names changed in the school records.
LOVE FOR STUDY OF SANSKRIT LANGUAGE
There used to be held inter-religious debates on many issues in Pasroor. Although Sahib Singh could not follow the frequent quotations made in Sanskrit by Arya Smajist Hindus, yet he was greatly attracted to the language. He resolved that he would learn this language, and in the high school he would study Sanskrit instead of Persian Language, He had learnt Gurmukhi alphabets the very next day he received Amrit, and was regularly reciting the Gurus’ Compositions.
He learnt the alphabets of Dev Nagri script (Hindi) in a couple of days.. At that time many friends and teachers told him, not to change the language, as the time left for the examination was very short (3 months only). Sahib Singh insisted that his language subject would be Sanskrit. He went to the Sanskrit teacher, who greatly encouraged him and promised all types of guidance. He began spending all of his time on study of Sanskrit language. In three months’ time he attained so much proficiency, which others could not attain in 3 years. In high school he always attained the first position in Sanskrit.
HIS FATHER’S DEMISE
Sahib Singh was at the school in Pasroor, when he received the sad news of the death of his father, which took place on July 20, 1907. He came home and was told that it was the last desire of his father that the family members should, at any cost, arrange for his education upto the Xth Grade. “This dedication to my education of a poor and illiterate father, needs to be greatly glorified. No one can dispatch food and other articles to the deceased ancestors. The deceased needs the love or a heart felt prayer to the Lord for him”, said Sahib Singh. At that time Sahib Singh was 15 years and 5 months old. We are told that he ever regularly prayed for his father. Sahib Singh had three younger sisters, the aged mother and his own wife. The whole burden of the family’s sustenance, fell on the tender shoulders of his two younger brothers, who were 11 and 13 years old, who during the life time of the father had become Sikhs too. During the period Sahib Singh was studying at the High School at Pasroor, his dutiful younger brothers used to carry wheat flour and other food supplies for him from their village
When Sahib Singh was studying in the 9th Grade class at Pasroor High School, a new teacher, named Pandit Vitsata Persad, was posted there to teach 9th and 10th Grade classes. He was exceptionally a very kind hearted person. This teacher set the Question Paper on Geography in the quarterly test for the 10th Grade class. He was greatly impressed to examine Sahib Singh’s answer paper and wanted to see him. On the answer paper name of the student written was “Nathu Ram”, while he was a Sikh boy. To solve the mystery, he took all the answer papers with him and appeared before the 10th Grade class. He asked Nathu Ram to stand up. On hearing this, Sahib Singh stood up. On his inquiry, Sahib Singh explained that on his becoming a Sikh, his name had not been changed in school records. On hearing the whole story, Pandit Ji developed great affection and regard for Sahib Singh.
After the summer vacation of 1908, the schools were closed twice for more than a month and a half, as at that time the whole of Punjab was severely affected with the scourge of the severe malarial epidemic. Sahib Singh also greatly suffered from this pestilence. Now the month of December had set in, and he was continuously suffering. The fees for final 10th Grade examination were due to be remitted by the students during this month. Pandit Vitsata Persad arranged for the move of Sahib Singh from his village to Pasroor, made special arrangements for his stay in the hostel and put him under the treatment of a physician of the local hospital. Sahib Singh soon recovered from the disease and his examination fee was also remitted in time. As long as he remained under treatment, all food supplies were provided from Pandit Ji’s own house. The money for examination fee was arranged by his widowed aunt, who borrowed money from a money lender by keeping her ornaments as surety deposit with him. As there was two months’ time left at his disposal to prepare for the final examination, after about four months’ absence from the school, Sahib Singh made preparation for the examination in four subjects, instead of five subjects. Out of 33 students, 10 students could only pass the examination, and Sahib Singh topped the list of all successful candidates.
He got temporary employment in Sangla Middle School for few months. Thereafter he wandered in the streets of Lahore and Amritsar in search of job, but with no success. Sahib Singh states, “At Amritsar, when I lost all hope of securing any employment, then in Ram Bagh I sat down under a tree, wept bitterly – I made lamentations to the Creator – telling Him, I return Your rosary, I cannot meditate on You in this state of hunger and distress.” He thus returned to his village empty handed.