Singh Soorme: Issue 3

Singh Soorme issue 3 features articles on Singhs from the Babbar Khalsa Jathebandi, including unseen and rare pictures with Jeevanis written from first hand accounts of former Babbar Khalsa Singhs.

Features articles on:

1978 Massacres
Formation of Babbar Khalsa
Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar
Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar
Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar
Master Sukhwinder Singh Babbar

Clearing misconceptions regarding Sant Jarnail Singh’s Jatha vs Babbar Singhs

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1978 Massacre Shaheeds

On 13th April 1978, the Akhand Kirtani Jatha gathered together from all over India at Amritsar to hold their yearly Vaisakhi Smagam. Kirtan had started from Amrit Vela and at about ten o’clock an important message was received. The message said that the followers of Nirankari chief Gurbachan Singh were holding a procession in Amritsar and were shouting insulting slogans directed at Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Sikh religion.

The Sangat knew very well that the Nirankaris had been doing such things for several years. The Nirankaris had even gone so far as to give degrading names to prominent Gursikhs including Mata Tripta, Bhai Gurdas, Bibi Nanaki, Baba Buddha, Bhai Lalo and Bhagat Kabir. They scornfully referred to Guru Granth Sahib Ji as “a bundle of papers”, and they called Kar Sewa “Bikar Sewa”. The Nirankari leader is on record as saying that Guru Gobind Singh had made only Panj Pyare (Five Beloved) and that he would make ‘Sat Sitaare’ (seven stars). He had even dared to place his foot upon Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Since 1943 the Nirankaris have annoyed the Sikhs by distorting Gurbani to promote their warped ideals; just as many Sant-led movements do today. However it was during the 1970′s that the then Nirankari ‘Satguru’ Gurbachan ‘Singh’, went even further. He published articles stating that, Gurdwara Sarovars are pools which serve no purpose and they should be filled-up; Guru Gobind Singh Ji was either fighting battles or hunting and that he knew nothing about meditation; that no sensible person can call the writings in the ‘bulky miscellany’ (referring to Guru Granth Sahib Ji) a divine revelation.

Bhai Fauja Singh Ji heard the news from the loudspeaker when he was kneading the dough for the langar. He washed his hands and rushed to the congregation. He delivered a short speech, explaining the dire situation and drew a line, asking for those who are willing to accept martyrdom to cross it. Bhai Joginder Singh Talwara asked children and women not to go. However, many Bibian still insisted on going. After performing Ardas, the Gursikhs bowed before Guru Granth Sahib Ji and went off to Ramdas Niwas.

Upon reaching Ramdas Niwas they found that the procession had finished. The Gursikhs then decided that they should go to the place where the Nirankaris had gathered to hold a peaceful but resolute protest against the blasphemous insults directed at Guru Sahib. It is known that Sikhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and the Bhindra Jatha reached the Reego Bridge near Gobind Gar. Here, the Police stopped them. The Gursikhs demonstrated to the police about the insults being shouted at the gathering. These insults could be heard clearly from where they were standing. They told the police that they wanted to protest against the organisers of the gathering and the hurtful insults. A police officer told the Gursikhs that he would go and stop the Nirankaris and for them to remain there. The police officer went to where the Nirankaris had gathered and the Sikhs waited patiently for thirty minutes for him to return.

On his return there were more policemen accompanying him. D.S.P Joshi told the assembled jatha to go back and that the procession had ended a long time ago. But provoking speeches could still be heard on the loudspeakers. Then about five to six thousand uniformed Nirankaris rushed towards the group of about two to three hundred Gursikhs. Within seconds the massive force of Nirankaris mercilessly attacked them with pistols, rifles, spears, swords, bow and arrows, sticks, stones, acid bottles and home made bombs. The Gursikhs that were hit with bullets fell to the ground and were brutally butchered with swords, spears and axes. As the ground became covered with the bodies of the dead and wounded the police fired tear gas and bullets, but even that was directed towards the jatha, causing further injuries and death. In this way, the Nirankaris received greater assistance and were emboldened.

Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh

Bhai Fauja Singh Ji was fired upon by the Superintendent of Police, who emptied the bullets from his pistol into Bhai Fauja Singh’s chest. These were not the only bullets he was to receive that day, but he kept on standing, uttering only “Waheguru”. Two Sikhs attempted to carry the still breathing and chanting Bhai Fauja Singh to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, but were quickly arrested by the Police. Bhai Fauja Singh’s body was taken by the Police and put into the “dead wagon”. Again, another Sikh came upon Bhai Fauja Singh and found him breathing and still uttering “Waheguru”. He attempted to help, but half an hour later, when Bibi Amarjit Kaur arrived, Bhai Fauja Singh had attained martyrdom.

Bibi Amarjit Kaur with Shaheedi saroop of Bhai Fauja Singh

D.S.P Joshi was responsible for shooting Bhai Fauja Singh. He did not allow anyone to provide medical attention to Bhai Fauja Singh. Eventually the police took the bodies of the Shaheeds to the morgue. The wounded were taken to hospital.

The astonishing thing is that the gathering of the Nirankaris continued for three-and-a-half hours after this bloody massacre had occurred. It has also become known that the D.C of Gurdaspur, Naranjan Singh I.A.S, and other senior officers were present in the gathering during the massacre. It is clear that the authorities of the Amritsar district allowed the Nirankaris to hold their procession in the Sikhs main city of Amritsar during Vaisakhi. The Police authorities are guilty of colluding with and allowing the Nirankaris complete freedom to kill at will, and not dealing with them properly at the right time.

Dalbir Singh produced a telling eyewitness account. Dalbir was a former communist who had devoted himself to trade union activities for more than a decade and is one of many who believe that the Nirankaris had fought the Sikhs with a pre-conceived plan. At the time of the clash he was a correspondent at The Tribune based in Amritsar. His report states:

“It was the afternoon of 13th April 1978. I had returned home from a routine walk around Amritsar. I was taking a nap after lunch when the telephone rang. Someone who refused to identify himself told me that several people had been killed during a shooting incident at the Nirankari convention. I rushed out to the stadium at the railway colony.

There were many dead bodies that were strewn outside the venue of the convention. I didn’t yet know what had happened. I wandered around and met Govind Singh, the son-in-law of the Nirankari chief, on the stage. Govind Singh first led me to a tent in which there were many armed persons. After entering it, he suddenly turned around to lead me to another tent in which some Nirankaris were chatting with the Deputy Superintendent of Police.

I approached him and explained that I had seen some armed men who might have been the killers. The officer completely ignored this information. The next day, the police searched the Nirankari centre in Amritsar for the killers and their weapons. They had let the killers scatter, when they could still have been nearby, only to catch scapegoats one day after the actual incident.” Dalbir Singh maintains that the local administration had allowed the main culprits to escape.

The government produced a panel of doctors for the post mortem of the dead bodies. It has become known that Mr Janjooha D.C ordered the post mortems to be done only by one doctor and the government orders were not correctly carried out.The D.C was also involved with the Nirankaris.

The press also printed the news details of the incident incorrectly. The Gursikhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and the Bhindra Jatha were called ‘fanatics’. Harbhajan Singh Yogi responded stated:

“Today I read the newspaper report in which it was said, ‘a body of fanatic Sikhs’. If doing Kirtan and defending the good name of our father Guru Gobind Singh Ji makes us fanatics, then we welcome this allegation. Remember, those who do not defend the honour of their father are never worthy of respect on earth. These martyrs of Amritsar have shown us that we shall live in dignity; if it is not possible, we choose to die with honour.”

The killing of the Gursikhs by the Nirankari leader Gurbachan Singh was a heinous crime. We ask from where and from who did the arsenal of weapons come from? By giving the order to kill the leader of the Nirankaris was the main guilty party of the bloody massacre and should have been punished according to the full weight of the law. However, the Indian government administration, it police and judiciary, were exposed as partners to the Nirankaris and guilty of failing to deliver justice.

The Amritsar Massacre set alight the flames of justice in the Panth by the martyrdom of thirteen Gursikhs and seventy wounded. Ten Gursikhs were members of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and two from the Bhindra Jatha. Many of them left wives and children. The Khalsa Panth will always remember the thirteen Shaheeds, as will their great Kurbani.

Funeral of 1978 Shaheeds

The funeral took place on Saturday 15th April 1978 outside Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib, in front of a congregation of about twenty-five to thirty thousand people. The thirteen martyrs were united on a single funeral pyre, to be cremated together.

Shaheed Jathedar Amreek Singh

Shaheed Jathedar Amreek Singh Ji was born 1957 to Harbhajan Kaur and Kundan Singh in the village of Kajala in Amritsar. He has one elder and four younger brothers.

After completing his primary education he was not interested in studying any more. He had a great love for Gurbani and Sikh History.

He was a very compassionate soul and felt distressed at the sight of needy people. To help them he gave money and things from his house and even the clothes he was wearing without any hesitation. Once when he was doing Sewa for the Guru’s Sangat, when he could not get the money he needed, he sold a ring made of gold from his home.

Shaheed Jathedar Amreek Singh

Though only a young man, he was honoured with the position of Jathedar at Sri Akal Takht Sahib because he persuaded many people to come here and take Amrit. He himself took Amrit from here six years earlier.

He had a daily routine of reciting Naam-Bani at Amrit Vela. No matter how late he was in Satsang the night before he would always be awake for Amrit Vela. At Rehras time in the evening, he would stop his work, no matter how important it was and be present for the Rehras Divaan and bring others with him. This was a part of his Nitnem. After the morning’s Nitnem he would not eat any food before doing Darshan of Guru Sahib.

Bhai Amreek Singh was always doing Sangat of Gurmukhs or Sangat at the Guru’s house, and he was always strict in his Rehni-Behni according to Gurmat Bebek. He also acquired a love for Sarbloh Rehni (eating in iron utensils). He would always keep his Bata (iron utensil) shining and would never let anyone who had not taken Amrit use it.

He persuaded the workers who helped his mother and father with the farming work and many other people to tread the Guru’s path. Even though his family was well off he still wore simple Gursikhi clothes. He would never tolerate anybody who showed disrespect towards Guru Sahib.

On Vaisakhi day Bhai Amreek Singh woke up at Amrit Vela and did his Ishnaan and Nitnem. He then went to the Gurdwara and then went to meet Jathedar Kala Singh who was staying at room number five at Guru Nanak Niwas. He then left his shoes there and bathed at the Holy Amritsar Sarowar. Afterwards he walked around Akal Takht Sahib, did Darshan of the Shastars, thought about the Shaheeds and did Ardas that he may also be able to give Kurbani for his Guru and Panth. He then walked around the Nishaan Sahib reading parts of the Hukamnama:

Kaya kagad mun parwana Sir ke lek na parey Iana
(Dhanasari Mahalla 5, Panna 662)

He met a Gurmukh on the way to the Divaan who says to him, “Singh of the Guru, today is the time for Kurbani, Guru Ji is in need of a head. The Singhs are preparing to go and stop the insults being shouted against our Guru, you should also be present”. Then Bhai Amreek Singh walks towards the Guru’s Army. As he was walking he was about to drink water to quench his thirst, when another Gursikh took the glass he reached out for. Then he did not care for water or langar or bother to put his shoes on, and went forward to offer Shaheedi. As he received bullets, he shouted out ‘Fateh’ and died a Shaheed.

Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Kurala

Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Ji was born in 1912 in the village of Kurala in the district of Hoshiarpur. His mother’s name was Dhan Kaur and his father’s name was Bhagwan Singh. In his early years he was educated at Moolak Kula primary school. His father was in the army and due to his bravery was awarded land in the village of Mintgomary in Pakistan, and so the whole family moved there. He completed his secondary education there and was married to Bibi Gurbachan Kaur. Bhai Avtar Singh was involved in agricultural work there until Pakistan was formed in 1947. He then returned back to his old village of Kurala and continued farming.

He came to meet Bhai Harnam Singh and Bhai Pritam Singh from Dasuha, and with their Sangat started to read Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh’s inspirational books. Upon reading he felt a strong urge to take Amrit and lead a Gursikh way of life, and he also began going to Gurmat Smagams around Talwara and Dasuha with other Gursikhs. He also went to Model Town Ludhiana and met Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh.

Bhai Avtar Singh finally took Amrit with his wife on 13th April 1961, at the Vaisakhi Smagam in Ludhiana. He started wearing the Khalsa uniform (Bana) and also took up the strict Rehat of eating in Sarbloh (iron utensils), which he carried on until the end of his life. Many families were influenced by his high standards of Rehat-Rehni and were inspired to take Amrit.

Bhai Avtar Singh used to visit all the places where the Akhand Kirtani Jatha Smagams were held to enjoy the Kirtan and Naam-Bani. In 1969 the Akhand Kirtani Jatha organised a Yatra to Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib by buses and Kirtan was performed at Gurdwaras along the route. Bhai Avtar Singh also took part in that Yatra and also took part in the Sewa of the Panj Pyare in the Smagams.

He had such a desire to do Bhagti that he left the accommodation of his village and erected a hut on his farmland far away from his village, where he performed Guru Granth Sahib’s Parkash and started living there until his last days. He would get up at 12 o’clock in the night and after having Ishnaan would start doing Naam-Abyass and continue this until daylight.

He started making arrangement to go to the Vaisakhi Smagam being held in Amritsar by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha. He said farewell to his family and told them to always follow a Gursikh way of life and to love one another and that he was not going to return. Bhai Sahib had decided to leave his home and to stay at the Khalsa farm in Gurdaspur and to accompany the Jatha to do Sikhi Parchar in the nearby villages. He arrived at the Vaisakhi Smagam at Amritsar and was the first person to give Shaheedi.

Bhai Avtar Singh Kurala Shaheedi Saroop

The Gurmukhs who eye-witnessed his Shaheedi say that when a bullet from the Nirankaris stuck him he immediately fell on the floor. But he quickly regained his composure and sat up cross-legged and started doing Nam-Abyass very loudly and then went into a deep meditative state. As he was sitting there, the Nirankaris smashed lathis on his bare head. Bhai Sahib remained sitting there upright and motionless until his last breath.

Shaheed Baba Darshan Singh

Shaheed Baba Darshan Singh Ji was born in the village of Nawan Vaironangal in the Tehsil of Batala at the house of Sardar Achher Singh. At the time of Shaheedi his age was between sixty-five to seventy years old and he was religious minded from childhood. His mother and father were Amritdhari and he took Amrit at the age of ten. Even though he did not get much school education, he was very good at Gurmat education. He was a Nitnemi and an accomplished Akhand Paathi.

Apart from the Panj Banis, his Nitnem also included Asa Di Vaar and Sukhmani Sahib. He remained single for the whole of his life. He stayed at Cheleana Sahib for twenty years and was present at the Shaheedi massacre there. Here he took part in the one hundred and one Akhand Paaths done for the Shaheed Singhs.Afterwards, two hundred and two Akhand Paaths were done for the Shaheed Singhs at the village of Kaleh, and Bhai Darshan Singh stayed there for one and half years doing Sewa of the Akhand Paaths.

Afterwards he stayed at the Gurdwara Guriana Sahib, the historical Gurdwara of the sixth Guru in Vaironangal. There he stayed as a Granthi and did a lot of Sewa teaching many people Paath from the Guru Granth Sahib and made them into Akhand Paathis. He would only eat Bebek food prepared by his own hands and always kept a Sarbloh (iron) Simrana in his hands.

Baba Darshan Singh Shaheedi Saroop

After doing Sewa at Guriana Sahib for about nine or ten years he moved to Dera Mehta. Here, Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa appointed him Jathedar of the land of the Dera. He carried out this Sewa until the end. He also used to give his pension to the Dera.

Shaheed Bhai Dharambeer Singh

Shaheed Bhai Dharambeer Singh Ji was born on 15th March 1953 in Delhi. His father’s name was Bhai Lal Singh and his mother’s name was Baal Kaur. His father was from the village of Sahowaal, Tehsil Daska, in the District of Sailkot in Pakistan.

His father and his two brothers started doing construction work at a young age. The three brothers used to go around the nearby villages for building work and they were fortunate to do the Sangat of Bhai Sahib Jawala Singh Ji in the village of Bhiki. This Gurmukh used to live in basic accommodation and constructed a very beautiful place for Guru Granth Sahib Ji where Amrit-Bani was read daily and pilgrims could get Langar and rest. Bhai Lal Singh and his smaller brother Bhai Gopal Singh were so influenced by the Granthis of the Gurdwara, Bhai Sobha Singh and Bhai Tarlok Singh, that they eventually decided to stay in the village (Bhiki) to continue building work.

After the formation of Pakistan they lived for a while in Hoshiapur, then in Delhi and finally they all met up in Amritsar. Here, Bhai Sobha Singh formed a Gurdwara in a Masjid and Bhai Tarlok Singh did Sewa of the Sangat just like him.With Satguru’s Grace they started Kirtan, Langar and Karah Prashad here just like the Bhiki Gurdwara in Pakistan.

Four of five families lived near this Gurdwara Sahib and Bhai Dharambeer Singh’s father and uncle (Bhai Lal Singh and Bhai Gopal Singh) also settled here with their families. By meeting this Gursikh Sangat they listened to Kirtan and Nitnem everyday and after a while Bhai Gopal Singh and Bhai Lal Singh started going to Akhand Kirtani Jatha Smagams and slowly both families took Amrit.

Bhai Dharambeer Singh took Amrit during his school education and he was also taking the Shromani Committee’s religious exams. After studying up to the tenth Class his life took a change in direction. At this time both brothers made a home in Ajeet Nagar and the smaller brother Bhai Gopal Singh opened a factory for making Kirpans. Bhai Dharambeer Singh learnt how to make Kirpans from his uncle and started up a separate factory where he worked for five years.

During this time he would also attend Akhand Kirtani Jatha Smagams and would take part in doing Sewa of Ishnaan of Harmandir Sahib during the night. Where he had great enthusiasm in listening to Kirtan, he was also very keen in learning Kirtan. He was learning the Harmonium and Tabla and had started to learn the Dilruba.

Since the start of his there were many Gursikhs who used to come to him. He had a lot of respect for them and did as much Sewa as he could for them. If any Gursikh needed money he would be happy to help and never asked for it back, even if he could only just get by himself.

Bhai Dharambeer Singh Shaheedi Saroop

The love and friendship between Bhai Dharambeer Singh and Bhai Fauja Singh Ji grew day by day and he always accompanied him for religious causes. Bhai Dharambeer Singh also accompanied Bhai Fauja Singh when they went to stop some thugs who were showing disrespect to Guru Granth Sahib at Guru Ke Mehal and Bhai Salo and had planned to attack Guru Ke Mehal. Stones and acid bottles attacked the Gursikhs and in that case the Gursikhs were arrested and Bhai Dharambeer Singh was jailed for about three months.

Bhai Sahib attained Shaheedi at a young age. He was due to be married.

Bibi Amarjit Kaur & Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh

Bhai Fauja Singh was born on 17th May 1936 in District Gurdaspur. His father Sardar Surain Singh was a middle class farmer. After the formation of Pakistan they moved to the village of Gazneepur, which is 6 miles on the Gurdaspur Dera Baba Nanak road.

During his childhood days Fauja Singh always used to be the leader of boys of a similar age in his village. He got baptised while he was studying in the tenth class, but because he did not receive the gift of Naam, the spiritual hunger inside him did not disappear and his mind was always elsewhere. At this small age he disappeared from home for one month and stayed with some Sants and Sadhs. After passing the tenth class he enrolled in Khalsa College, Amritsar, but still his mind was elsewhere. He then again disappeared. His family looked for him everywhere and even advertised in the papers. He stayed away from home for 2 years at the Deras of the Sants and Sadhs to try to satisfy his spiritual hunger. A false Sadh gave him a Mantar on which he meditated for 2 years. Then he was found and brought home and his family again put him into College.

In 1964, he got baptised at a smagam organised by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha. On Vaisakhi 1965 his marriage took place with Bibi Amarjit Kaur and on this occasion Bhai Jeevan Singh performed the Kirtan. At the age of 28 Bhai Fauja Singh again took up the appearance that was most loved by the Tenth Guru. Whoever the Guru blesses, he shows that person how to wear the uniform of Akal Purakh`s Khalsa army.

Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh playing gatka

Bhai Fauja Singh learnt Gatka and persuaded other young Sikhs to learn it as well. He was the best Gatka player in the area and there was nobody around who could beat him.

“I have been in the Jatha for quite a while now and have been lucky enough to meet many highly spiritual Sikhs of the Guru. Bhai Fauja Singh was different; he had Bir Ras and Nam Ras. Bhai Fauja Singh was always ready to fight against un-righteouness and stand up for the truth. Some highly spiritual Singhs from the Jatha told him to just meditate. They did not think that in these peaceful times there would be a need for our peoplc to give “Shaheedi”. The Sikhs gave “Shaheedi” at the time of the Gurus because the Hindu Rajas, Mughal and Pathan rulers where trying to destroy the Sikh religion. But now the situation was different. Some brothers even joked about his Bir Ras.” (Prof. Gurmukh Singh).

After 1970 Bhai Fauja Singh started doing a lot of Seva for Gursikhs. He worked around Amritsar. He used to spend all the wages he and his wife earned on the Seva of the Singhs. Bibi Ji told us that sometimes he used to say “All the money we spend on ourselves is wasted but the money we spend on doing Seva for the Gursikhs is not wasted and is saved in our bank”. Then he would say “The tenth Guru formed the Khalsa by shedding his blood. When this plant gets dried up, it needs more blood. Then the Guru`s beloved ones spill their blood to keep the Khalsa`s flag flying. This cycle comes approximately every 50 years”.

According to Bhai Fauja Singh the Khalsa Panth’s plant was drying up due to the cycle. He used to say to his companions that there is a lot of disrespect taking place of our religion and future generations will ask what were our forefathers like, who accepted everything quietly.

The words of Shaheeds are special. The spiritual bliss they get from reading verses like “Purja Purja Kat Marai Kab Hoo Nah Shadai Keth” only they know. Bibi Amarjit Kaur said that during his last six months, Bhai Fauja Singh kept saying to her, “Bring a picture of my dead body in front of you. Will you be able to bear it? Be strong and don’t despair.” Bibi Ji realised that one day he would give his life for the Panth.

Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh giving a speech

Bhai Fauja Singh used to say some very special things and everybody would wonder where he discovered these truths. He used to say that a greedy person could never be religious. To be a religious person you have to be honest and content and live by the Will of God. He had honesty, meditation and contentment. He ate what he received happily, and was never greedy, living by the will of God.

“I first met Bhai Fauja Singh in 1972 at the Darbar Sahib. He did not know me but he said his Fateh to me and met me like we had been old friends. He took me to where he was staying and kept me there for two or three days. During this first meeting he told me something very secretive that I am sharing with the readers after his Shaheedi. He told me that in his previous life he was in Baba Deep Singh’s Jatha and became Shaheed at Lohgarh. Now again he has done Shaheedi for the Khalsa Panth in the holy city of Amritsar near Lohgarh. Those that have seen and met Bhai Fauja Singh all agree that he was filled with the spirit of “Mohai Marnai Ka Chow Hai”.

Shakespeare said “What’s in a name?”, but the name Bhai Fauja Singh given to him by his parents, from the Hukamnama of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, was definitely a true picture of him. Bhai Fauja Singh really was a soldier of the Guru`s army in this and his previous life.” (Prof. Gurmukh Singh)

Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh

In August-September 1977 in Gurdaspur Jail, he wrote a poem under the title of Kurbani. This was probably his first and last poem because as far as it is known, he was not a poet. This poem was written 7-8 months before his Shaheedi. There are two main points that come to light. First is the declining state of the Khalsa Panth. The soul that has met the Khalsa in his last life and gave his blood for that Khalsa, how can he accept the present situation? Even though he was only 42 years old, because he had been doing the Seva of the Khalsa Panth, the one or two events that happened in Amritsar were intolerable for him. The incident that took place in the Misri Bajar in 1972 in which the Guru Granth Sahib Ji was treated with disrespect showed Bhai Fauja Singh’s true personality. He was a farm inspector at the time. Even the police were scared to arrest the criminals. Bhai Fauja Singh intervened and caught the criminals and punished them accordingly. He was very saddened by the fact that our Panthic leaders tried to keep the whole incident quiet in case it may lead to some Hindu-Sikh conflict. He could not understand how a Sikh could quietly sit by as somebody was insulting or treating the Guru Granth Sahib Ji with disrespect. He always had one question in his mind, “What has happened to the Khalsa Panth?”

The question arose again on 17th October 1975. The Sikh Sangats were celebrating Sangrand at Gurdwara Bhai Salo Ji. The Langar was being served at the time. Some thugs came and treated the Guru Granth Sahib Ji with disrespect and beat up the Sevadar and Granthi of the Gurdwara. They also made plans to burn down the Gurdwara Guru Keh Mehal that night. When Bhai Fauja Singh heard about this incident in the evening he got together some Singhs and went there straight away.

First they went to see the disrespectful treatment of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Gurdwara Bhai Salo and the damage done to the Gurdwara. After seeing this incident the Singhs started shouting “Sat Sri Akal” and went off to protect Gurdwara Guru Keh Mehal. The thugs surrounded the Singhs from tall buildings on all four sides and started throwing stones, bricks and acid bottles at them. Even though the Singh’s clothes and bodies were covered in blood, they did not care for their own lives and protected the Gurdwara from being burnt down. After 1972, this was the second painful event to happen at the Sikh headquarters, Amritsar. The Panthic leaders at that time pretended as if nothing had happened and accepted no responsibility even though so much damage had happened at the Gurdwara.

The result of these actions by the Singhs was that the troublemakers now knew that one lion among sheep was more than enough. After this second incident in 1975 Bhai Fauja Singh did not sit quietly at home. Guru Maharaj stopped his daily presence at the office at the end of October 1975. He received money sitting at home, and he assumed this to be God’s blessing. He said laughingly in Jan 1978 to Prof. Gurmukh Singh, “Satguru is having his Seva done and is giving my wages from the Punjab Government.”

Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh

After the 1975 incident Bhai Fauja Singh organised a new programme. He mentioned in his poem that, “the Joth (Light) in the Khalsa was disappearing and we will again awaken it”. In June/July 1976 a group of Singhs commenced religious preaching in 10 villages in Gurdaspur over 10 days. Prof Gurmukh Singh was lucky enough to be among this Jatha. Bhai Fauja Singh had a very bad impression from the previous incidents regarding Sikhs living in the cities, and thought that they were not prepared to sacrifice their lives.

So he turned his attention to the villages so that perhaps the sleeping Panth, which was asleep in village life, may be awakened by telling them; about Satguru`s history, performing Gurbani Kirtan and taking Amrit. This Jatha also held Gatka demonstrations. After the Kirtan, Bhai Fauja Singh would talk to the Sangat and this had a good effect on the Sangat. A similar Smagam was held in March 1977 for 15 days at Khalsa Farm, where Bhai Fauja Singh persuaded young Sikhs to learn Gatka and told them of the problems of the Sikh Panth today, they also performed Kirtan and meditated.

During this period, another incident happened which again showed the courage and spirit of Bhai Fauja Singh. The Police arrested a Hindu woman. During her interrogation, the Police officers began to rape her. Her husband, unable to stop her from being gang-raped, went to the magistrates to secure her release and file a complaint about the Police. However they refused to intervene. He then went to various pundits and mullahs for help, but none wanted to go against the Police. Eventually he went to the Singhs. People had informed him of a Singh called Bhai Fauja Singh of Amritsar. Bhai Sahib had become very prominent due to his fearless attitude. He immediately went to see Bhai Sahib, who at once with some Singhs went to the Police station. On seeing the pitiable state of the woman, he immediately released the woman, and severely punished the guilty police officers. Later he was sent to prison for this action. However he showed that the Khalsa which rescued innocent women in Sikh History, is still alive today to save humanity from injustice.

Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh

In the poem “Kurbani” Bhai Sahib warns the Khalsa Panth about the disrespect of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib taking place everywhere, which he could not tolerate. He could not accept the insults at Guru Maharaj from the Nakali (fake) Nirankaris. At the end of the poem Bhai Sahib writes that my head is yours, Vaheguru, and I shall offer it to you. Bhai Fauja Singh was a great soldier, who selflessly and joyfully spent his life in fighting against injustice and standing up for the truth.

For over 30 years the Nakali Nirankaris have tried to oppose the Sikhs. They would speak wrongly in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji; they would call the Kar Seva in Harmander Sahib, Bikar Seva; make fun of the Rehat-Rehni; say that Gurbani was meaningless, and insult the Panj Pyarai. Even though all this was happening the Sikh leadership closed its eyes and ears and did not care about the deeply hurt minds of the Sikhs. Because of this stance taken by the Sikh Panth, the Nirankaris grew in confidence. They grew so much in confidence that on the day of the birth of Khalsa, the Vaisakhi of 1978, in Amritsar, their leader sat under a canopy with a fan being waved over him, and held a procession through the streets boasting that Guru Gobind Singh Ji made 5 beloved ones and I have made 7 stars, (Sat Sitaraes).

At this time the Akhand Kirtani Jatha Smagam was taking place and Bhai Fauja Singh was doing the Seva of kneading the flour for the Langar. Immediately after hearing the news he went outside to where everybody was gathered. Together with some other Singhs, he made a decision on what to do and then started the Ardas. This was his Shaheedi Ardas and the last Ardas that he ever did.

Bhai Fauja Singh Shaheedi Saroop

On the day of Vaisakhi 13th April 1978 about 125 Singhs went to peacefully protest against the Nirankari procession and against Nakali Nirankari Gurbachan Singh’s insults against the Gurus. Bhai Fauja Singh was barefooted and all the Singhs were reciting Gurbani. The Nakali Nirankari army fired at the unarmed Singhs, and Bhai Fauja Singh and 12 other Singhs became Shaheeds and 70-75 Singhs were wounded. After his Shaheedi, the Leaders and Jathedars of the Panth stated that Bhai Fauja Singh and the other Singhs had given “Shaheedi” for the great task from which we had been hiding. They had not only woken the Panth, but also made us stronger, so that we can pay more attention to this in the future.

Shaheed Bhai Gurcharan Singh

Shaheed Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ji was born at the house of Bhai Daleep Singh Ji, an agricultural inspector and Narain Kaur on 10th October 1946 in Rurka Korad in Jullunder. Bhai Daleep Singh was transferred to Ludhiana when Gurcharan Singh was about three years old, and the whole family took Amrit at Narangwal. Bhai Gurcharan Singh’s father, Bhai Daleep Singh was one of the close associates of Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji.

Bhai Gurcharan Singh’s primary education was in Gidarwaha, Tehsil Mukhtsar and he studied up to the ninth class at Nathana in Batinda. He passed his tenth class in his village Nangal, Tehsil Moga at Guru Nanak High School and then left studying to do farming. In 1965 he was admitted into the Agricultural University and after passing his exams he was employed in Malowal (Ferozpur) in 1967 and in a block in Ferozpur in 1968. Then he started doing government service and was sent to Hargobindpur in Gurdaspur. In 1972 he left this and in 1973 was again employed by the Punjab Agricultural University.

The young Gursikh enjoyed doing Langar Sewa of the Sangat during Smagams and would never get tired of doing Sewa day and night. From a young age he enjoyed going to the Sangat to listen to Kirtan and would always sit right in front of the Kirtani Gursikhs. He would go around the houses to call youngsters who were interested in listening to Kirtan and would sit them on the front and rear of his bicycle and take them to join the Sangat.

With Guru Ji’s Grace he learnt the Nitnem of the Panj Banis by memory in his seventh class, and when he went to the village of Nangal in Faridkhot he would do the Sewa of reading Sukhmani Sahib at the Gurdwara Sahib at Amrit Vela. Bhai Gurcharan Singh never had any bad feelings for anyone and if some person did not speak to him due to some differences then he would personally go around to their house and humbly talk to them.

Once when he was about five or six years old the whole family went to Narangwal to meet Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh. Everybody lovingly embraced Bhai Sahib and Bhai Sahib picked up all the children. When his turn came he embraced Bhai Sahib in such a way that he would not let go of him and they did Naam Simran together for a long time.

He would help the needy without any hesitation and used to take responsibility of Sewa of sending food to patients in hospital in the morning and evening. His would do this Sewa twice a day, go to work and would go to study in evening classes and also found time to come and join the Sangat. He had a very close and loving relationship with Bhai Fauja Singh Ji and was greatly influence by his fearless attitude.

He gave more importance to meeting and doing Darshan of Gursikhs than even to his most important duties. On 15th April 1978 he was to attend the first exam for his degree, but he thought it more important to go to join the Sangat at the Akhand Kirtani Smagam for Vaisakhi in Amritsar on 12th April where his father, Daleep Singh was also present. To Bhai Gurcharan Singh the best revision and preparation for life was Gurbani which he followed to the letter such as:

‘Gur Kee Ninda Sunai Na Kaan’, and ‘Sura So Pachanyeh Jo Larai Deen Keh Heth. Purja Purja Kut Marai Kabhoo Na Shadai Keth’

By Bhai Jasbir Singh (son of Shaheed Bhai Hari Singh Ji).

Shaheed Bhai Gurdial Singh

Shaheed Bhai Gurdial Singh Ji was born in 1946 in village Modai in District Amritsar. His father’s name was Bhai Sohan Singh Ji and his mother’s name was Gulab Kaur Ji. He was married to Bibi Jagir Kaur and had four children.

From a tender age Bhai Gurdial Singh was an amazing soul. In his youth he went on to pass his tenth class in the government school in Attari and then started helping at home with the farming work.

Bhai Gurdial Singh started doing Sehaj Paath Abyass of Guru Granth Sahib. From the beginning, he did Paath from Laridaar Saroop (Guru Granth Sahib composed of words linked together) and slowly he learnt to do Akhand Paath. He then started doing Sewa of Paath near and far from his village and never took any money in return.He then started going to Mehta and other places for Satsang. He took Amrit from Bhindrawale Jatha in 1976. At that time his wife was not ready to take Amrit but later on she also agreed. He would rise daily at Amrit Vela, do his Nitnem and recited Sukhmani Sahib as well. He also studied religious books and used to acquire these from his close friends. At the time of his Shaheedi he was reading ‘Gurmat Nirnai Bhandar’.

With his loving persuasion many other Sikhs in his village also took Amrit. He was always the main organiser for arranging programs at the Gurdwara and at other religious events. Everybody used to take advice from him before going ahead with any event.

Bhai Gurdial Singh Shaheedi Saroop

Bhai Gurdial Singh went to Amritsar the day before the massacre. He wanted to do Darshan of the Guru’s Darbar, to bathe in the Amrit Sarowar and had a desire to meet Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala. On the day of Vaisakhi, after doing Ishnaan and Nitnem, he went to the Divaan at Manji Sahib. He was listening to the Kirtan, when he decided to leave with the Gursikhs who went to protest and courted martyrdom.

Shaheed Bhai Harbhajan Singh

Shaheed Bhai Harbhajan Singh Ji was born on 17th April 1947 in the village of Bhattian in Gurdaspur. His father Sardar Jagat Singh was a Gursikh since 1923-24 to the present. Whenever I speak to him about Harbhajan Singh’s Shaheedi, he has an immediate shine in his eyes and tells me in a very cool and calm manner that his son has managed to achieve so much in his thirty-one years and has managed to get much further than us. He says with great humbleness that he is very proud that his son has given Shaheedi to protect the honour of the Khalsa Panth and against the disrespect shown to Guru Sahib.

Bhai Harbhajan Singh’s mother is also an Amritdhari Bibi. On her son’s Shaheedi she thanked Akal Purkh, as Guru Sahib’s Hukam is:

Jis kee basat this agay rakeh Prabh ki agay maneh matheh

She did not shed one tear and even tried to stop anybody else who was crying. His mother, Harbans Kaur has a very gentle personality and never even speaks loudly to anyone at home. Most of what Harbhajan Singh achieved was due to his Gurmukh mother and father.

Bhai Harbhajan Singh Shaheedi Saroop

Shaheed Bhai Harbhajan Singh Ji leaves behind his wife Joginder Kaur Ji who wears a Keski and three children, Baljinder Singh, Kulwant Kaur and Balkar Singh. His wife is living in Chardi Kala according to God’s Will. Bhai Harbhajan Singh has three brothers: Sardar Niranjan Singh who is a teacher in a government school, Sardar Gurmeet Singh who is with the BSF and Sardar Hardev Singh who is a farmer. He also has two sisters who are married. He was the only one who was Amritdhari out of his brothers and sisters.

Bhai Harbhajan Singh studied up to the tenth class in the government school of Kahnuwaan. After his this he began studying for some time in college, but then enrolled to do a course in Agriculture at Ludhiana University. After completing the course he started working as an Inspector in Gobindpur block. About three years ago he took Amrit with all his family at the Akhand Kirtani Jatha Smagam at Batala on Guru Nanak Ji’s Gurpurb. He used to enjoy wearing fashionable clothes. A little while after taking Amrit he started wearing the Khalsa Bana with Damala and blue Chola. He had a glowing face, a special shine in his eyes and was always in Chardi Kala.

Bhai Harbhajan Singh had the courage to always speak the truth to somebody’s face and would never agree to anything that wasn’t based on Gurmat. From the day he took Amrit he was a complete Bebeki, so much so that he only drank milk milked by the hands of an Amritdhari. He was admitted to hospital for a period of time, but he would not allow the doctors to touch his hair and left his fate in the hands of Akal Purakh. Guru Sahib healed him and made him well again quickly.

He would get up at Amrit Vela to do Naam Abyass according to Guru Sahib’s Hukkam. After Naam-Abyass he would recite the Banis of Japji, Jaap, Swaya, Chopai and Anand Sahib. Whenever he had more time he would also recite Asa Di Vaar, Sukhmani Sahib, Shabad Hazarai Pathshahi Dasvi and Shabad Hazarai Patshahi Panjmi. After Nitnem he would do Darshan of Guru Sahib and only then would he have something to eat.

He very much enjoyed performing and listening to Kirtan. He would sit the whole night, singing with the Kirtanis and doing Naam-Abyass. He would never sing a Shabad without first learning it by memory. Whenever he met another Gursikh, it would always be with great humbleness. He would go so far as to hold the other Gursikhs hand and start kissing it. He would always embrace Gursikhs and do Naam-Abyass with them and it would seem that they had not seen each other for ages. Whenever he met me, it was always in a very loving manner. Bhai Harbhajan Singh was also very close to Bhai Gurdial Singh Ladupur Ji, Bhai Joginder Singh Ji Nenokhot, Bhai Bakshish Singh Ji and Bhai Sarbjeet Singh Ji Udonangal. Once he met Bhai Surbjeet Singh who had his beard tied up at the time. Bhai Harbhajan Singh told him it was not becoming for a Gursikh to tie up his beard. Bhai Sarbjeet Singh immediately opened his beard and never tied it up again. This is an example of how other Singhs respected him.

Bhai Harbhajan Singh had great respect for Master Niranjan Singh Ji from Gurdaspur and greatly enjoyed his Kirtan.

Whenever he met Master Darshan Singh Ji Basrawa he would run to touch his feet and would never stop no matter how much Master Darshan Singh Ji tried. He had so much love for his fellow Gursikhs. Bhai Harbhajan Singh Ji gave so much to the Guru-Panth in his young age. According to the Guru’s Hukkam,’Thun Munn Sabh Sonp Gur Ko Hukam Munia Payai’, he gave everything to his Guru.