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<p class="C1">&#65279ATAR SI&#7748GH, SANT (1867-1927), of Gurdw&#257r&#257 Re&#7771&#363 S&#257hib at R&#257mpur, in Ludhi&#257&#7751&#257 district in the Punjab, was born in March 1867 at the village of Lopo&#7749, now in Far&#299dko&#7789 district. He was the son of L&#257l Si&#7749gh, the village headman. Atar Si&#7749gh was married in 1885 to Bishan Kaur of &#7788o&#7693arpur, a village near Samr&#257l&#257. A son, Indar Si&#7749gh, was born to them in 1887. On 8 June 1887, Atar Si&#7749gh enlisted in the 36th Sikh Battalion (present 2nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment). While in the army, he received the vows of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257. He was promoted sergeant on 16 June 1896. Once, while his battalion was in the Pesh&#257war region, he along with several of his comrades went to see Sant Karam Si&#7749gh of Hot&#299-Mard&#257n, who was then widely known for his piety. Atar Si&#7749gh, a devout Sikh, instantly fell under the saint's spell, and determined to lead a life of <i>sev&#257</i> (service) and <i>simran</i> (meditation). Once, while on leave from his regiment, he visited R&#257mpur where he found the old historical shrine, Re&#7771&#363 S&#257hib, commemorating Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh's brief halt under a re&#7771&#363 tree (<i>Mimosa leucophloea</i>) during his journey from M&#257chh&#299v&#257&#7771&#257 towards the M&#257lv&#257 country in December 1705, in a dilapidated state and determined to have it rebuilt. During his next leave, in 1901, he with the help of the local <i>sa&#7749gat</i> reconstructed Mañj&#299 S&#257hib, the inner sanctum. He spent his leave periods expanding the building and, after his retirement on 18 October 1907, he settled permanently at R&#257mpur. He developed Gur&#363 k&#257 La&#7749gar, and initiated monthly congregations on full-moon days. He also opened a school where young boys, especially the poor and the blind, were imparted instruction in scripture-reading and <i>k&#299rtan</i> or hymn-singing with a view to training them as preachers of Sikhism.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sant Atar Si&#7749gh died at Gurdw&#257r&#257 Re&#7771&#363 S&#257hib on 21 January 1927. He was succeeded by Sant Bhagv&#257n Si&#7749gh who kept the Re&#7771&#363 S&#257hib legend alive. Sant Bhagv&#257n Si&#7749gh continued to manage the Gurdw&#257r&#257 until his death in 1975.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> &#256z&#257d, Sohan Si&#7749gh, <i>J&#299van G&#257th&#257 Sant Atar Si&#7749gh</i>. Ludhiana, 1971<BR>
<li class="C1"> Mehar Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Amar Kath&#257</i>.<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">Bh&#257&#299 Kirp&#257l Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR>
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