Reincarnation

(Hindustan Times,22 July 1983)

This topic is of interest to many. Here are two incidents about which I have personal knowledge.

A fairly well-placed American came to know that an old American lady had the capacity to tell one's past life. For no rhyme or reason he got interested and approached the lady. This happened in the US. She told him that in his precious life he had a younger brother and that both had been very attached to each other. On being questioned further, she told him that his younger brother was now living in India, as a Sikh gentleman, that his name began with a G, and that the American would find him as soon as he landed in India.

Things were left at that. A few months later, the American had occasion to go to Manila. During his stay there, he learned that there was an old lady in the outskirts of the city who could tell about one's past and predict the future. He met her, Strangely her version matched exactly the one given by the American lady.

He was now fully convinced that what he had been told by the two women was not just coincidence. So, instead of returning to the States as planned, he changed his course and set out to India. In Delhi, having nothing specific to do, he went to the Tourist Department to hire a car to visit the Taj Mahal and other places. A car was given to him; On the way he enquired the driver's name. "Gurmeet Singh," was the reply. There was no doubt in the American's mind that he had located his brother. But he kept mum. At the end of the trip, he tipped the Sardarji lavishly and also jotted down his address. Gurmeet did not attach any special significance to this except feeling happy that after a long time he had got a tourist who was liberal with tips.

Thereafter, correspondence began between the two. For Gurmeet's sister's marriage, the American sent a substantial sum. Later, he disclosed to Gurmeet what he had heard from the two different ladies, and asked him if he would care to come to the States and live with him. He then helped Gurmeet to buy land in the Punjab for the members of his family and arranged for Gurmeet's immigration to the States. Gurmeet (with his wife and children) and the American are now living together happily, with Gurmeet in no cashing in on the situation but devotedly attached to his elder brother.

Another instance in which a colleague of mine was involved went like this. He and a relative were once passing through the interior of Punjab in a bus. At a particular spot, the relative shouted to the driver to stop the bus, although his destination was far far away. He got down and ran across the field shouting: "They have broken my leg; but I won't spare Man Singh. I will shoot him. Let me get my gun." He ran towards the Police Station. This was the first time that he had set his foot in that area, but he passed through the various roads as though he knew exactly the way to the Police Station. On reaching there, he looked here and there and asked the police officials. "Who has changed the set up here, my room used to be here; and where is my gun? I used to hang it here." My colleague, who was following, was flabbergasted, unable to make anything of it.

On thorough Investigation, he came to know from an old man of the locality that, about fifty years or so ago, there had been some very notorious dacoits in the area: Man Singh was their chief's name. The then SHO of the Police Station, a devoted police officer, had faced them boldly, but the dacoits had cut his leg in two. Despite this he had taken a vow to contain them, but he had died of the injury a few days later.

The names uttered by my friend's relative and the other details matched exactly the story narrated by the old man. My friend strongly feels that his relative was that SHO in a previous birth.