One day, Harbhajan Singh (writer - Bhajan Bandigi Daa Pratap) was standing in a shop in Jabalpur that an english couple walked in and said fateh to him loudly. Harbhajan Singh was surprised to hear fateh from the English couple. Harbhajan Singh started talking to them and asked them how come they know so much about Sikhism. Upon this the English gentleman told him his story as follows:

""""I was the police captain in 1924 when Akalis launched Bhai Pheru morcha. I got special orders from the Inspectar General of Police to crush the Sikhs. I told him that I can do so only if I am given police party of my choice. At this he agreed and I hand picked ruthless and strong young guys from backgrounds such as Lyalpuri Jaangli, Jhelami Jaat. I took my police party to Bhai Pheru and sorrounded the the disputed site with wire and had my police party stationed there.

The first Jatha started from Amritsar and slowly reached Bhai Pheru after doing prachaar (preaching) in several villages on their way. On the day of arrival of Jatha at Bhai Pheru I asked my most tough Thanedaar to get me the list of all the members of Jatha together with their father's name and address. That afternoon I got surprised when I saw the list because everyone had listed Guru Gobind Singh as their father. I got really mad when I saw the list and said bad words to the Thanedar for failing to get even the name of their father.

The thanedar replied that he tried his best but no one in the Jatha gave any other name for their father but Guru Gobind Singh. My wife who was sitting beside me mocked me by saying that if you can't even get their father's name how the hell are you going to crush them. At this I vowed that I will eat my breakfast tomorrow only after getting their father's name from them.

Next day I chose 50 Badmash type policemen and asked them to pick 25 old and weak members of the jatha and ordered that let two policemen hold one Sikh and use whatever mean to make them spit out their father's name. I further said that whoever does it first will get gold medal and special reward. Hearing this the policemen started beating the Jatha members very severly till they got unconcious. Then they would bring them back to senses and beat them again. But none of them told their worldly father's name. All they would say was Guru Gobind Singh and Vaheguru. When they failed to get any results I asked the police officers to remove their belts and get the hell out of here. By that time it was 10am and I was feeling really hungry.

I chose another 50 policemen and asked them to do the same thing. I asked them to use very severe measures to torture. I put their hands upside down under the Charpai (indian beds) and made the police guys jump on the beds. The Sikhs were in great pain but they did not yield. I even made my policemen to put nails in thier buttocks but still they were unyeilding.

By 6pm I was badly tired and was extremely hungry. I lost all my pride and ego and felt totally helpless in front of those non-violent lions. I picked up the phone and dialed to the IG of police and resigned. The next day I took train to Bombay and went to England. I wrote it down on the resignation letter that no one should take panga with Sikhs."""""

I think that the Akalis of early last century made the Sikhs very proud by achieving so much non-violently.

Daas,
Kulbir Singh

thank you ji

bahut ghaint aa ji

ਜਦੋ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਦੇਸ਼ ਤੇ ਕੌਮ ਉੱਤੇ ਹਵਾ ਆਜਾਦੀ ਸਂਘਰਸ਼ ਦੀ ਵਗਦੀ ਏ

ਉਸ ਕੋਮ ਦੇ ਸੱਚਿਆ ਆਸ਼ਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਰਹਿਂਦੀ ਹੋਸ਼ ਨਾ ਸੀਸ ਤੇ ਪੱਗ ਦੀ ਏ

ਲੱਖਾਂ ਮੱਖੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਉੱਜੜ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਬੱਤੀ ਮੋਮ ਦੀ ਤਾਂ ਇਕ ਜਗਦੀ ਏ

"Mand " ਖੂਨ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾ ਦਾ ਨੁੱਚੜ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਮਹਿਂਦੀ ਹੋਰਨਾ ਦੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਤੇ ਲਗਦੀ ਏ

The Final Shaheed of Chamkaur Sahib
Sunday 18th of December 2005
Panthic Weekly Staff Columnist

(KP) -

From "Adarshak Singhnia" by Karam Singh


In the battle of Chamkaur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh jee and 40 starving Singhs fought against the Mughal army. The battle, which took place in Chamkaur Sahib's mud fort, lasted 72 hours and saw the loss of many Mughal soldiers, and also 36 of Guru Gobind Singh jee's companions along with the two Sahibzaadey (princes). Fighting an army of hundreds of thousands, Guru Gobind Singh jee gave an exhibition of his battle skills. Guru jee, following the orders of the Panth Khalsa (in the form of the Panj Pyaare) left the fort along with Bhai Daya Singh jee, Bhai Maan Singh jee, and one other Singh, after giving his clothes to Bhai Sangat Singh jee to wear. Only Bhai Sangat Singh jee and Bhai Sant Singh jee fought the battle to its end. They too were martyred. Seeing Guru jee's clothes on Bhai Sangat Singh jee, the Mughals were ecstatic. Taking him to be Guru Gobind Singh they cut off his head and took it to Delhi.

In every village it was announced that Guru Gobind Singh had been killed. "Look here is his chopped off head! His family is also finished. His two sons were killed in the battle and the two younger ones will also die abandoned. The revolution has been crushed. No one should go to the Chamkaur Fort. No one should cremate the dead Singhs."

A tight cordon was put around the Fort. As the soldiers were going from village to village making their announcement, the people were retreating in terror into their homes. However, in village Khroond, a daughter of Guru Gobind Singh jee, Bibi Harsharan Kaur, asked for her mother's permission to perform the final rites for the Shaheeds (martyrs). Her old mother replied, "It is total darkness outside and soldiers are everywhere around the fort, how will you even go near?"

Hearing this, Kalgeedhar's lioness daughter replied with resolve "I will avoid the soldiers and perform the cremation, and if need be, I'll fight and die."

The mother gave her courage and hugged her daughter, and then explained the maryada (tradition) to follow for the cremation. After performing Ardaas, Bibi Harsharan Kaur jee left for the Chamkaur Fort.

The battlefield, which saw iron smashing against iron, the bellows of elephants, the trotting of hooves, and calls of "Kill! Capture!" was now totally silent and enveloped in complete darkness. In such a situation, the 16 year old girl, Bibi Harsharan Kaur jee, avoided the guards and arrived at the Fort. She saw that bodies were lying everywhere and that distinguishing between Sikh and Mughal was very difficult. She still had faith and began to find arms with kaRas (iron bangles) and torsos with kachheras (Sikh undergarment) and heads with long kesh (unshorn hair). As she found a body, she would wipe the face of every shaheed (martyr). Both Sahibzaadey and about 30 shaheeds were found and then she began to collect wood. Fearing the approaching light of dawn, Bibi Harsharan Kaur jee worked very quickly and soon prepared a pyre. She then lit the fire.

Seeing the rising flames, the guards were shocked and advanced towards the pyre. Bibi Harsharan Kaur jee was seen in the light of the flames sitting beside the pyre. She was quietly reciting Keertan Sohilaa (prayer said at bedtime and funerals). The guards were shocked and confused as to how a lone woman could come into the fort on such a dark night. The guards asked in a loud voice, "Who are you?!"

Bibi jee: I am the daughter of Guru Gobind Singh jee.
Officer: What are you doing here?
Bibi jee: I am cremating my martyred brothers.
Officer: Don't you know about the order that coming here is a crime?
Bibi jee: I know it.
Officer: Then why have you disobeyed that order?
Bibi jee: The orders of a false king do not stand before the orders of the Sache Paatshaah (True King)
Officer: Meaning?
Bibi jee: Meaning that I have respect for the Singhs in my heart and with the Guru's grace I have done my duty. I don't care about your King's orders.

Hearing such stern answers from Bibi Harsharan Kaur jee, the infuriated Mughal soldiers attempted to capture her and attacked. Bibi jee grabbed her kirpaan (sword) and fought back with determination. After killing and maiming many soldiers, Bibi Harsharan Kaur jee was injured and fell to the ground. The soldiers picked Bibi Harsharan Kaur up and threw her into the pyre, burning her alive.

The next day the cordon around the Fort was lifted because it was clear that the Sahibzaadey and most of the Shaheed Singhs had been cremated. The ancestors of the Phulkiaan family, Rama and Triloka, then cremated whichever Singhs remained. The story of Bibi Harsharan Kaur jee reached Guru Gobind Singh jee Mahaaraaj in Talvandee Sabo (Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib).

Upon hearing of her daughter's martyrdom, the old mother thanked Akaal Purakh. She said, "My daughter has proven herself worthy." The story of the cremation of the Chamkaur Sahib Shaheeds will forever serve as a glowing star of inspiration for all Singhs and Singhnees.

Bibi Harsharan Kaur Part 1

Bibi Harsharan Kaur Part 2

We all know that the riots of 1947 were the worse that the Sikhs faced in the last century. Sikhs in 1947 lost all their property, money and many lost their lives. They chose to live in India and did not change their religion to secure their property, money or lives. After leaving everything in Pakistan Punjab, the came to East Punjab i.e. Indian side of Punjab and built everything from scratch. Then another massacre came in the 1980s when tens of thousands of Sikhs died for Sikhi.

In the next few days, I am going to write on selected incidents that occurred in Rawalpindi area of Pakistan, in March 1947. This area was worse affected by the riots of partition in 1947. The Sikhs were massacred by the Muslims of that area. The striking thing that I want to write under this thread is not that Sikhs got massacred but how bravely the Sikhs fought back aggression and how much they sacrificed to keep Sikhi. Some of the stories are very emotional and very hard to read. I am not sure if I can narrate these stories as well as they were narrated by the people who actually saw all this with their own eyes. I will try.


AREA OF POTHOHAAR I.E. RAWALPINDI AREA OF PAKISTAN

This area was the centre of Sikhi in those days. Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee writes that before he went to jail, this area was full of bibiyaan with dastaar and many families had adopted the strict Khalsa rehit. It was in this area where Sant Baba Attar Singh jee Mastuanawaale, did rigorous bhagti for many years. This is the land where great Sikh Siri Thakur Nihaal Singh, reputed to be a brahmgiyaani gursikh, did great preaching of Gurmat. This is where Baba Khem Singh Bedi did heavy parchaar of Gurmat and inspired many to take amrit of Guru Sahib.

Sikhi parchaar was so heavy in this area that even Brahmin Hindus adopted Sikhi and became tyaar bar tyaar Singhs. This area was very prosperous and Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee writes in one of his books that due to increase in maaiya, may Sikh families had become weak in Sikhi and had become more indulged in worldly pleasures. Who knows, maybe this is why this area was hit most severely by the riots of 1947


MASSACRE OF THEHA KHALSA AREA OF RAWALPINDI – MARCH 1947

This small town of Theha Khalsa was one of the main towns of Pothohaar (Rawalpindi area). Sikhs and Hindus living in this town were very well off. In total about 500 families lived in this small town. There were some Muslim families living there too but there was no communal problem at all.

In the fateful month of March 1947, riots started in other parts of Pothohaar. Actually it is wrong to call it riots because the Sikhs were not attacking anyone, just defending themselves. The Sikhs of Theha Khalsa town assembled at the local Gurdwara Sahib to discuss what to do. Sant Gulaab Singh was the undisputed leader of this village and he was from a very well-to-do family. His ancestral home was very big. During the discussions, he suggested that all the Sikhs of that village assemble at this house and stay there till the danger of riots is over. He said that it would be easy to defend if all the Sikhs stayed at one spot.

He further said that at this crucial time only Guru Sahib can help them.

SIKHS MOVE TO THE HAVELI OF SANT GULAAB SINGH

All the Sikhs after hearing the emotional lecture of Sant Gulaab Singh agreed to move to his house. They brought all their money, jewellery and gold etc, along with them and assembled at his house. In total about 1200 Sikhs and some Hindus assembled at his house. They fortified the haveli by making bunkers and replacing regular doors with heavy doors. They covered the walls of the haveli with shields of iron.

First of all they secured a large room and brought all Saroops of Dhan Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee over there. Over 36 saroops were brought to that room. Big tanks of water were filled and large quantity of fire-wood and grains was stocked up. The Sikhs were in great danger, so they all started doing paath day and night. They asked Guru Sahib for strength to save their faith.

MUSLIMS ATTACK THE HAVELI FILLED WITH SIKHS
On March 8, 1947 while the sangat was doing Siri Rehraas Sahib paath, many thousand Muslims came and surrounded the building. They were shouting “ALLAH HOO AKBAR”, “MUSLIM LEAGUE ZINDABAD”, “KAFRON KO MAAR DO” i.e kill the infidels. There must have been at least 6000 Muslims and all had weapons. Many had guns. Some were on horse backs and they were shouting anti Sikh slogans. They were uttering obscenities against Master Tara Singh and other Sikh leaders.

The sangat kept doing simran of Vaheguru Vaheguru. The Muslim crowd assembled in the school building. It is not clear what was decided in that meeting but when they came out of the meeting they started burning the shops and houses owned by the Sikhs. Then they attacked the haveli where all the Sikhs were present. The Sikhs had some guns and they kept the crowd away.

On one side of the haveli, they attacked with great vigour. Sardar Partap Singh, a very brave young man, took along with him about 8-9 singhs and attacked the attacking Muslims. They attacked with so much force that the Muslims were pushed back. One of the bullets hit Sardar Partap Singh on his leg.

The next day again the Muslims came back but this time they did not wait for the night. They came back around 10am. The Muslims again attacked but could not get in the haveli. Then the Muslims sent a representative to talk to the Sikhs holed up in the haveli. Sant Gulab Singh refused to accept their conditions that the Sikhs should disarm themselves.

This way the fight went on for 2 more days. Finally on the last day, the Muslims came with bombs and said that they would bomb the haveli if the Sikhs did not get out of there. The Muslims promised by swearing on the Koran that they were only interested in the gold and money and not in killing anyone. The Sikhs had no choice but to get out. They did ardaas and moved out, leaving all belongings behind.

After the Sikhs came out, they got surrounded by the large crowd of Muslims. The Sikhs arrived at the sarovar of the local Gurdwara Sahib. The pathaans armed with latest weapons surrounded the Sikhs sitting around the sarovar. The Sikhs were chanting “Satnam Siri Vaheguru”. By then about 10,000 Muslims came where the Sikhs were. Along with them, they had a dozens of barbers lined up to cut the hair of Sikhs. Children were crying for food and milk. Old and young were helpless to do anything. The whole scene was a scene from hell.

SHAHEEDI SAAKA

Sant Ghulab Singh jee writes as follows:

“by this time Sardarni Lajavanti Kaur asked me if she could go to the well by my hut. I took her to the well and everyone washed their faces and drank fresh water. There were 90 bibiyaan (Sikh females). Many were unwed young girls. My granddaughters, grandsons, nieces, and other related women were there amongst them”.

“Soon a person came and asked me to go to the Gurdwara Sahib where the aggressors (jarvaane) were troubling the sangat. He said that the sangat was calling me. I said Sat Sree Akaal to bibiyaan and started walking towards the Gurdwara Sahib”.

“The well was about 200 feet from the Gurdwara Sahib. When I reached there, a Muslim leader came up to me and asked me, “So what have you decided?” I found out that the singhs had been given half an hour to accept Islam or else they get ready to die. The Singhs present there said to the Muslims that they would do what Sant jee (this daas i.e. I) tell them to do”.

“Dhan Pita Kalgidhar! I laughed after hearing this from the Muslim leader. I said, “Your cruel and tryant emperors like Aurangzeb and Farukhsiyaar too could not do anything to the Sikhs. What can you do, when they could not do anything. Do what you want to do. We will never give up Sikhi and will never become Muslims”.

“When I came to the Gurdwara Sahib, some pathaans and thugs from Punachh and Mairabaad sensing that the bibiyaan were alone at the well, reached there and surrounded the well. They addressed the bibiyaan, “Now we are going to take away your daughters and sister and will marry them after converting them to Islam.” At that time Sardarni Laajavantee Kaur could not resist Bir Rass anymore and said, “Scoundrels! Who can touch the daughters of Guru Kalgidhar. From the time we took amrit, we accepted death as reality and don’t fear it.”

The Muslims thugs got angry hearing such answer from Sardarni Lajavanti Kaur. They moved forward towards her. Sardarni jee was holding her 5 year old granddaughter and a grandson. She loudly said the jaikaara, “Bole So Nihaal!! Sat Srree Akaal!!”. Saying this she jumped in the well, in order to avoid getting her granddaughter and herself raped by the Muslims. Within seconds all Sikh women jumped in the well. All 90 jumped in. A person came running to me and told me the whole incident. After hearing this incident, all Sikhs present there said, “Dhan Gursikhee!! Dhan Guru Kalgidhar! I dashed towards the well”.

“At that time what to talk about the pathaans but all aggressors were shaken from within. They were saying that who can kill such people who can sacrifice their lives to save their honour.”

“When I reached the well, my granddaughter, Harbhajan Kaur, my daughter-in-law Kartar Kaur and one sister-in-law Sardarni Ram Rakhee were crying as the well was full and they did not drown. By then 87 lives had been taken. They were taken out of the well. I was baffled. I uttered, “Dhan Gurdev, these daughters of yours have passed your test. Please show me the way too. At that time I had clear darshan of Dhan Guru Nanak Dev jee and Hazoor said, “You still have to see more of this bloodshed. You have to do some more sewa of sangataan”.

“After this bloody massacre, the Muslims got scared and started running away but some scoundrels were left. All Sadh Sangat came to my house and stayed there for the night. Muslims tried to find a lone Sikh to convert but could not convert anyone”.

“I climbed a tall tree and saw a scene from hell. 87 lives had been sacrificed. The towns of Dera Khalsa, Kallar, Thamali, and Beval were burning. At that time I sang out baani to get peace of mind”

“At amritvela, I got darshan of Guru Kalgidhar jee and he said that our test was over.”

The above was written by Sant Ghulaab Singh and I have made a humble effort to translate the quoted paragraphs above. In any case, the military arrived soon and everyone was taken to the camps. The shaheedi of Sardarni Lajavanti Kaur and other Sikh women, saved the remaining Sikhs.

by Bhai Kulbir Singh

nice ji ....  8->

orkut toa... :blah: