In a first, Savinder Kaur, wife of late Hardev Singh, will head Nirankari Mission

After the death of Baba Hardev Singh, the leader of the Sant Nirankari Mission, some news reports speculated that his daughter would take over. Now, according to a report in the Hindustan Times, the decision was taken on Tuesday night that his wife Savinder Kaur will head the spiritual organisation. Kaur, who married Hardev Singh in 1975, will reportedly be the first woman to head the sect that was founded in 1929, the HT report also added. A report by Zee News noted that Kaur hailed from Uttar Pradesh and that she used to accompany Baba Hardev Singh at every congregation, sitting on his right as an equal. It also added that she asked for the followers to be friendly with each other and take the mission forward as willed by the former leader. A report by the website India.com said that Kaur was given the ceremonial ‘dupatta’ during a ceremony on Tuesday and a 21-member management committee was also present. [caption id=“attachment_2787534” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Hardev Singh.Photo credit: Facebook, Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh[/caption] On 13 May, Hardev Singh, 62, was killed in a road accident in Canada. Hardev Singh is the son of assassinated Nirankari head Gurbachan Singh. After his early schooling at Rosary Public School, Sant Nirankari Colony, Delhi, he joined Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, a boarding school, in 1963. On completion of his schooling, he studied in Delhi University. In 1971, he joined the Nirankari Sewa Dal as its primary member. After the assassination of his father Gurbachan Singh, who was then head of the Sant Nirankari Mission in 1980, Hardev Singh succeeded as the ‘Satguru’ of the organisation. Sant Nirankari Mission was established in 1929, by Buta Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Hardev Singh terming it as a “tragic and great loss to the spiritual world. My thoughts are with his countless followers in this sad time.” Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh mourned the death of Baba Hardev Singh. In a condolence message, Khattar described Hardev Singh as a “great spiritual leader” who would be long remembered for his tireless service to the humanity. His death is a great loss to the spiritual world." Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh said Hardev’s death “is a great loss not only to his followers but also humanity as a whole since he was a great spiritual leader.” The former chief minister said, the spiritual void created by his death will be very difficult to be filled. “I personally share the grief of the family and followers over this great loss”, he said. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat described Hardev Singh’s death as an “irreparable loss to humanity.” “Baba Hardev Singh ji’s work in the field of spirituality cannot be forgotten. He added a new dimension to the Nirankari Mission. His death is an irreparable loss to humanity,” Rawat said in a statement. Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress President Kishore Upadhyay also condoled his death saying his words of wisdom in a terror-torn world were like a guiding light in a room filled with darkness. With inputs from PTI