| Ramban, Dec 15: A renowned philanthropist and spiritual local saint, Sant Akali Mehar Singh passed away at Jammu after a brief illness, early morning today. Nonagenarian, Akali Sant Mehar Singh, a popular religious figure of Jammu province was a World War II veteran who after migrating from Muzafrabad, POK to Jammu had ultimately settled at Batote near Baggu Nallah. After donating a piece of land here he had established a Dera Gurdwara in the memory of Sant Rocha Singh and Sant Bhai Mela Singh in 1954 and later handed over its patronage to Sant Bachhitar Singh of Nangali Sahib,Poonch. These saints were the natives of his village in POK. Since then the hamlet around this Gurudwara was named as Sant Rocha Singhpura. For past 63 years he had been organising a grand two day Sarv Dharm Sant Sammelan every year in this Gurudwara at Batote in the memory of these saints, wherein many a prominent saints, spiritual preachers and prominent persons of all religions from North India including the state politicians besides local officers of civil administration, police and army had been contributing in promoting communal harmony besides disseminating the spiritual message. |
