A Visionary Leader Who Blended Spirituality with Compassionate Service

Brahma Kumar Nirwair, born on November 20, 1938, held several significant roles within the spiritual and humanitarian community. He served as the Secretary-General of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (PBKIVV) and was an esteemed member of the PBKIVV Management Committee. Additionally, he played a vital role as the Managing Trustee of the Global Hospital & Research Centre located in Mt. Abu, exemplifying his commitment to promoting health and spirituality. His multifaceted responsibilities reflected his dedication to the spiritual, administrative, and humanitarian aspects of his work.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES: B.K. Nirwair was born into an Akali family in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. From the young age of 13, he had a deep interest in philosophy and religious books and was inspired by the teachings and lives of Swami Vivekanand, Swami Ram Tirtha, Gandhiji, and Dr. Radhakrishnan.

After completing his schooling in Mukerian High School, he began higher studies in DAV College, Mukerian, but the pull to serve the nation motivated him to enrol in the Indian Navy on 20 September 1954. He trained in Electronics & Electrical Engineering, and while serving in the Navy for 9 years, he also participated in the Goa Liberation Movement in 1961.

INITIATION WITH THE BRAHMA KUMARIS SPIRITUAL INSTITUTION: A seeker of truth, he became a student of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (PBKIVV), also known as the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU), at the young age of 20 in February 1959. The experience of stepping into a Brahma Kumaris Centre for the first time was heart-warming and touched the core of his being. He felt he had finally found what he had been searching for since childhood: the true spiritual knowledge of Self, the Divine Being, and how to renew the spiritual relationship with the Divine.

Based on his close, personal association with the Founder of the Brahma Kumaris, Brahma Baba and other senior members of the institution, he was inspired to spiritually serve the world while serving in the Navy. While training under Brahma Baba over a period of a decade, he learned various means of carrying out Spiritual Service.

During the auspicious time of Shivratri 1960, Brahma Baba advised BK Nirwair to take a week’s leave from the Navy to visit Somnath to especially meet with the former PM of India, Shri Jawaharlal Nehruji, who had been invited for the inauguration of the rebuilt famous Somnath Temple. BK Nirwair was able to personally meet with the PM, share greetings, gifts, and prasad from Brahma Baba, and spiritual literature too.

By 1963, he had a clear vision about the path he had to take and so dedicated his entire life to the task of the Brahma Kumaris, under the guidance of his mentor and guide, Prajapita Brahma himself.

Thereby began his role of representing the Institution as a valuable and effective instrument to spread the teachings of the Brahma Kumaris, both in India and abroad. He was the brain behind many programs, conferences, retreats, and seminars organized by the PBKIVV. His interactions with others brought about tremendous change in the way people viewed themselves, which in turn helped shape the institution to which he owed his allegiance.

HONOURED TO RECEIVE MANY HIGH-LEVEL DIGNITARIES AT THE HQ, in particular:

• H.E. Giani Zail Singh, former President of India
• Hon. Shri Narsimh Rao, former Prime Minister, India
• Hon. Dr. Abdul Kalam, former President of India
• Hon. Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India

MANAGEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICE AT THE HQ: 

On 7 May 1970, he moved base from Mumbai to the Headquarters in Mount Abu to help manage the Administration office under the guidance of the then Head of Brahma Kumaris, Rajyogini Dadi Prakash Maniji. Dadi Prakashmaniji and BK Nirwair had served together since 1964, and so this loving relationship of trust carried on in Mount Abu on the service field for the next three decades.

He was the source of inspiration behind the setting up of large World Renewal Spiritual Exhibitions, Spiritual Art Galleries, the making of documentary films, and other projects on Spirituality in Art.

SERVICE AT THE HEADQUARTERS AND IN 5 CONTINENTS: In 1982, he represented the University at the Second Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD) held at the United Nations HQ, where he officially met the U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez De Cuellar and other dignitaries. During the 2-month service tour of the Americas, Caribbean, and Europe, he was also the Guest of former Vice-President of Guyana, Mr. Steve Narain.

In attempts to share the spiritual wisdom with opinion leaders from various professional fields, he shouldered the responsibility of acting as Secretary-General in International Conferences. The International Headquarters in Mount Abu hosted a number of such conferences since 1983 on the themes of “Universal Peace”, “Global Cooperation for a Better World”, “Universal Harmony”, “Spiritual Response to Changing Times”, “Our Efforts for a Value-Based Society”, and many more. Many distinguished dignitaries inaugurated these conferences: former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, former Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, and others like Mr. Robert Muller, the Dalai Lama, Lord David Ennals, and Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A HUMANITARIAN AND WRITER: BK Nirwair showed competence not only in spirituality but also in humanitarianism and penmanship. His unconditional love and respect for humanity could be felt within seconds of meeting him.

His deep concern for fellow human beings transcended all barriers of colour, caste, and creed. This was substantiated by his brainchild, the J Watumull Global Hospital & Research Centre, Mount Abu, inaugurated in October 1991, where he served as Managing Trustee. Today, GHRC promotes positive health by incorporating spirituality in modern medical practice and creates a spiritual model of healthcare.

This was followed later by the creation of the Trauma Centre, Eye Hospital, Nursing College (Abu Road), and the management of BSES MG Hospital at Andheri, Mumbai, which presented a new model of healthcare, offering a judicious mix of spirituality and modern medicine.

CREATION OF LARGE RETREAT PLACES AND COMPLEXES OF THE BRAHMA KUMARIS FOR SPIRITUAL SERVICE OF HUMANITY: He has been instrumental in overseeing the setting-up of major complexes of the Brahma Kumaris since 1974:

Gyan Sarovar – Academy for a Better World’, Mount Abu, 1992 – a community development project consisting of a complete village complex on 25 acres of land, which includes:

• Universal Harmony Hall, which seats 1600 individuals and provides simultaneous translation in more than 16 languages. It features both heating and cooling systems, and excellent acoustics.
• A complete modular solar steam cooking system of 24, 7.5 square metre parabolic solar dishes capable of providing 2,000 meals per day.
• The International Centre for Higher Learning has 13 seminar rooms with seating capacities ranging from 75–150 individuals.
• A residential complex which offers accommodation for 350-400 people.

‘Shantivan’ Complex, Talheti, Abu Road (Raj): The main attraction is its massive, awe–inspiring Diamond Hall, inaugurated in December 1996, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the institution. Majestic in art, architecture and equipment, it has the distinction of being able to seat 20,000 people! The complex includes a main conference hall, six smaller halls and residential buildings that can lodge 15,000 guests. It also has the largest parabolic solar device in India, which provides steam heat for cooking, and together with wind energy, provides electricity for computers, the telephone exchange and emergency lighting systems.

‘Om Shanti Retreat Centre (ORC)’, Goregaon (near New Delhi) – a sprawling 28-acre complex built in peaceful surroundings, located 70 km away from the national capital New Delhi at Bhora Kalan, on Pataudi Road, in district Gurgaon. ORC consists of seven 200-seat seminar/training halls, an 800-seat mini-auditorium, a 2,300-seat auditorium, a meditation room and pyramid for the practice of Rajyoga meditation.

‘Spiritual Art Gallery’, Agra

‘Shanti Sarovar Retreat Centre’, Hyderabad

Manmohini Van Complex, Abu Road

These creations were all under the divine guidance and blessings of Dadi Prakashmani (former Administrative Head) and Dadi Janki, present Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris, respectively.

A GIFTED WRITER AND SPEAKER: He was the Chief Editor of the Monthly English Spiritual Magazine, “The World Renewal”. He wrote several articles on spirituality in Hindi and English.

An eloquent orator, he delivered many lectures on the practical techniques of adopting spirituality in daily life, several of which were compiled into the following books: “Spiritual Treasures” and “Insights of a Rajyogi”.

AWARDS: BK Nirwair received several prestigious awards, including:

• Human Rights Association, Delhi, Excellence Award
• ‘Rising Personalities of India Award’ by International Penguin Publishing House in 1999
• Morarji Desai Peace Education International Award for Year 2001
• Bharat Gaurav Award’ awarded by the Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha at the British Parliament in July 2016

His lifelong mission was to guide society towards a life of dignity, peace, and welfare. In his own words:

“I experienced deep peace every day because I chose to live life under God’s guidance and support.”

He gave each one the love of a mother and the guidance of a father, solving their problems with love and might. BK Nirwair left his mortal coil on 19th September 2024; we will deeply miss the mighty support that has now found a place in the subtle region.