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