Shaheed Bhai Manjit Singh aka Museebat Singh

Bhai Manjit Singh aka Museebat Singh was born in 1956 and was one of 3 brothers, with elder brother Bhai Darshan Singh and younger brother Bhai Surinder Singh (Ragi). Bhai Manjit Singh studied till Metric at a school run by the management of Khalsa College and during this period took Amrit at Khalsa College.

Upon completing his education Bhai Manjit Singh gained employment as a lathe operator where he proved to be an expert in his field. In a conversation with Mata Kartar Kaur, she narrates “from the very beginning Manjit Singh had no strong personal attachment to his family, instead was always eager to support others. Often with his wages he would pay the school fees of local students or buy books for their studies.”

Around 1978-1979 Bhai Manjit Singh was wed to Bibi Sharanjeet Kaur but continued in his active role of sewa along with taking care of his household duties.

Sant Jarnail Singh

In the late 70’s and early 80’s a new Sikh leader and SaintSoldier by the name of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale had taken Punjab by storm, thousands of Sikhs travelled across Punjab for glimpses of the warrior and to listen to his soul awakening speeches. Bhai Manjit Singh was one of these thousands.

Subsequent to meeting Sant Ji, Bhai Manjit Singh came home and expressed his delight and stated that he had finally found what he had been looking for, having been blessed by Sant Ji, Bhai Manjit Singh had a purpose in life – to protect the honour of the Sikh faith. From then on Bhai Manjit Singh visited Sri Darbar Sahib daily to listen to Sant Jarnail Singh’s speeches.

One day, Bhai Manjit had told his family that he was leaving to visit Sri Hazoor Sahib. On August 20, 1982 news began to circulate that in protest to the Governments harsh treatment towards the Sikhs, Bhai Manjit Singh had hijacked a plane leaving from Udaipur to Delhi.

Talking about the hijacking incident Mata Kartar Kaur said:

“Around mid-morning there was commotion in the area that Museebat Singh had hijacked a plane. The immediate thought running through my mind was could this be our Manjit Singh? By evening the news had been confirmed and with the rest of the family I reached Sri Darbar Sahib hoping to meet Sant Jarnail Singh.

Upon reaching Sri Darbar Sahib we met with Bhai Ram Singh (Ragi) and explained the situation who then introduced us with Sant Jarnail Singh. Sant Ji instructed the Singhs to provide the family with a room in the Serai, but on my request we were given a room at Guru Nanak Niwas.”

Mata Kartar Kaur revealed that Bhai Manjit Singh had initially planned on taking the plane to Libya, however was told by the pilot that the plane did not carry enough fuel to do so. Then Bhai Manjit Singh instructed the pilot to take the plane to Lahore, but the plane was not permitted to land as the Indian Government had already lodged protest with Pakistan. The plane circled above Pakistan for some time until eventually they returned back and landed at Raja Sansi Airport, Amritsar with the intention of refuelling.

Whilst landed at Raja Sansi airport Bhai Manjit Singh released many of the passengers aboard before giving himself up on assurances that he would not be harmed. However, as Bhai Manjit Singh came out of the plane he was shot at a point blank range by DSP Bachan Singh.

Notably the treatment given to Sikhs for hijacking a plane differs highly to the 2 Hindu brothers whom had hijacked a plane in protest of Indira Gandhi’s arrest. This is highlighted in a speech by Sant Jarnail Singh (May 1983):

Khalsa Ji: a lady born to a house of Pundits, having got the votes of the people, became Prime Minister of India. This is Bibi (lady) Indira Gandhi. In 1977, according to her deeds, a judge of the Supreme Court sentenced her to a few days in prison. To serve this sentence she went to Tihar Jail. Nobody slapped her, she had no wounds. No one used any disrespectful word. A judge had sentenced her. But her colleagues, Pandey and others hijacked a plane to protest their Bibi having been sent to prison. What was the punishment given (to them) for this hijacking? They were given tickets for becoming members of the Legislative Assembly, one in U.P. (Uttar Pradesh) and the other in Bihar. On the other hand, on September 14, (1981) in Chando-Kalan, two busses belonging to the Jatha (Sant Bhindranwale’s group) with copies of Sahib Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in them, were doused with kerosene and set on fire by government officials including Bhatti (a police official) and some others like him. After that, on September 20, (1981), in Chowk Mehta, I offered myself for arrest after offering prayers to the Guru in the presence of the Congregation. The entire Panth, (including various) associations and organizations, had assembled there. In spite of my surrendering peacefully, Khalsa Ji, one and one-half dozen Singhs, our turbaned Sikhs, were put to death (by the police). When the young men of the (Sikh) Nation did not find any redress or justice coming from any quarter, in order to do what they could to direct the attention of the entire public and the government to this atrocity, to point out what the government had been doing to the Sikhs, they hijacked a plane. These five Sikhs, Gajinder Singh and others, who are in Pakistan, have been exiled. In addition it was said: “These persons are our accused, our criminals, they should be handed over to us, we have to sentence them to death.” If a plane is hijacked for the sake of a lady of the Pundits, there is the chair (public office), but if a plane is hijacked for the Beloved (Guru) of the Sikhs there is exile! Hijacking a plane for a lady of the Pundits is patriotism, but, if a Sikh hijacked a plane to protest (the treatment of) his Beloved (Siri Guru Granth Sahib), Manjit Singh was shot to death at Raja Sansi airport on August 20, (1982). This is an evident sign of slavery. Pandey and associates did not damage the plane nor did they hurt any passengers. Nor did these Sikhs, in all three hijackings, harrass any passenger or damage any planes. But, what is the rule? For a fellow with a turban, there is the bullet, there is the crippling injection, and there is exile. However, if one says “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, Hare Rama,” there is the chair (appointment to high office). This is a sign of slavery, Khalsa Ji.

Mata Kartar Kaur remained at Guru Nanak Niwas for almost a year, before returning home for the Sri Akhand Path Sahib for Bhai Manjit Singh. In June 1984, when the Indian army attacked Sri Darbar Sahib, Mata Kartar Kaur and Bhai Surinder Singh were both inside the complex.

Bhai Surinder Singh was unlawfully kept in Ajmer jail for a year then transferred to Jodhpur jail after being framed in false cases. During this time the rest of the family was continually harassed and arrested by the police but thanks to local villagers were released each time. To this very day, the police still harass Mata Ji and the family

Mata Kartar Kaur was kept imprisoned for 3 months then sent to Ludhiana prison for a further 3 months. Mata Ji still remembers the days when Baba Thakur Singh Ji would visit the prisoners in B-Block. The Singhs would tell Baba Thakur Singh that Mata Ji is mother of Bhai Museebat Singh then Baba Ji would stand up in respect of Mata Ji. Mata Ji also commented on the present state of Mehta Chowk and how the presence of Baba Thakur Singh is deeply missed. Now, left with just their memories, Mata Ji continues to live life in less than glorious conditions, but within the will of Satguru.

Written and compiled by NeverForget84.com
With excerpts of Mata Kartar Kaur interview from Singh Garj magazine, August 2008.

Shaheed Baba Jang Singh

Shaheed Baba Jang Singh was born in village Mahel Kala in 1937, into the house of Sardar Bishan Singh & Mata Harnam Kaur. In 1950 Baba Ishar Singh Ji (Nanaksar) visited this village for a keertan smagam, Baba Jang Singh was very impressed by the divan and left for Nanaksar with Baba Ishar Singh Ji. At Nanaksar Baba Jang Singh performed his duties with utmost respect and dedication.

In 1961 Baba Ishar Singh Ji visited Delhi for a smagam and on his return stopped at Karnal; here the sangat requested Baba Ji to construct a Gurdwara for the sangat (congregation). This task was started by Baba Sadhu Singh in 1963, after Baba Ishar Singh Ji had passed away. In 1972 the Gurdwara building was complete and thousands of devotees came to visit the Gurdwara and seek blessings of Guru Sahib. In 1981 on request of the sangat, the foundation stone was laid for a langar hall in dedication to Mata Sahib Deva on the GT Road bypass at Karnal, where 24 hours langar was served to the devotees. Baba Jang Singh Ji was at the forefront of this seva.

From the very first day Baba Jang Singh Ji entered Nanaksar till his last breath Baba Ji was ever immersed in Naam Simran and seva of Guru Ji’s sangat. There are very few individuals who are blessed with attributes of spiritual and physical power and strength, Baba Ji was one of them.

Inevitably one who takes birth has to leave the earth one day, but some deaths are such in which eternal existence is hidden. These deaths are granted to the brave individuals who surrender there lives for truth and justice. Baba Ji fell into this category, he could not stand the injustices and atrocities carried out upon innocent Sikhs. Baba Ji fought against these oppressors head on.

The Dharam Yudh Morcha led by Sant Jarnail Singh alongside the Shiromani Akali Dal had become the talk of the whole nation and a headache for the Indian Government. During the Morcha a bus full of captive Singh’s was taken to a railway platform at Tarn Taran and collided with an oncoming train, in which 34 Singh’s attained Shaheedi. This new wave of atrocity deeply touched the hearts and minds of the entire Sikh community and it became apparent to that the Singh’s were deliberately massacred by the government.

Floods of sangat from many different areas began to emerge to pay their respects for the Shaheed Singhs. The sangat gathered at Amritsar and set off towards Delhi to let the tyrant leaders at Delhi know that there voices cannot be silenced.

The first night the sangat stopped at Fategarh Sahib and second night at Mata Sahib Deva langar hall in Karnal. After performing his langar seva duties Baba Jang Singh also joined the sangat in their march to Delhi.

Upon reaching the parliament, the sangat was fired upon on, Baba Jang Singh marched towards the front and a hail of bullets riddled his body.

Baba Jang Singh Ji’s final rites were performed by Baba Sadhu Singh (Nanaksar) on the 23rd of October 1982, many Sikh personalities came to pay there respects. Even till this day thousands of devotees visit Karnal Gurdwara Sahib where talk of Baba Ji’s sacrifice and seva is ongoing.

Article taken from Sikh Shahadat magazine.
Translated by NeverForget84.com

Sant Jarnail Singh giving speech during the Dharam Yudh Morcha

Sant Bhindranwale was accused of terrorism and various other crimes by the Government and the national media. On the 20th of September 1981, Sant Ji offered himself for arrest. Sant Ji was released after the Central Home Minister, declared in Parliament on 14 October 1981 that there was no evidence against him.

In 1982 Sant Ji launched the “Dharam Yudh Morcha”. These were peaceful protests to support the implementation of The Anandpur Sahib Resolution. During these “Morchay” thousands of Sikhs courted arrest. Despite the governments attempts to malign Sant Ji, he stirred a consciousness amongst the Sikhs of the noble teachings of the Guru tha neither must Sikhs oppress and neither should they live under oppression.

“…For the Sikh faith I am ready to sacrifice everything I have… For the safeguard and protection of the Sikh religion we must all be united… I can die but cannot see the desecration of my religion.”

Due to the rise of Congress, State sponsored terrorism against the Sikhs commenced. Hundreds of Sikhs were killed in fake encounters by the Indian security forces. The Sikhs feeling helpless turned to the message of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, endorsed by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale – “When all other means fail, it is right and just to raise the sword”.

Indira Gandhi undertook a campaign to undermine the Sikh faith and persecute the Sikh people with a view to win over the Hindu vote in India. The Hindu psyche was poisoned against the Sikhs by manipulative use of state media and mischevious use of political fiscal resources. This resulted in the Indian masses wanting the Delhi government to deal more forcefully with the Sikh civil rights campaign.