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The Jatha of Shaheeds,led by Baba Deep Singh ji Shaheed has a glorious
and well recorded history. Interestingly, it’s the only Jatha or
Misal which has a well documented lineage and whose Jathedars were
all deeply spiritual, enlightened, selfless and courageous. They
derived their qualities, their virtues and their strength from Baani
of Gurus and from purity earned through a truthful and virtuous
living. In Sikh Dharam, we have concept of Bhagti-Shakti and
Piri-Miri. A Sikh derives his Shakti (power) from Bhagti (devotion
to Supreme Waheguru and Guru). Shakti which is earned through Bhagti
is used for betterment of society and Humanity as a whole. There is
a saying ‘Power corrupts’ but a Sikh who has been blessed with Power
by Guru can never be corrupted. He uses that power for Truth,
Justice and service of Humanity. Guru Gobind Singh ji gave power to
his Sikh in form of Kirpan(sword), but it was not to Kill, it was to
liberate. A Sikh bows to his Shastar as he sees it as his/her Guru’s
Nishani (gift), and Guru’s gift can never be used for unholy or
unjust reasons. When a Sikh holds Kirpan in his hands and fights in
battlefield, he’s fighting for Justice and Truth. When a Sikh kills
someone in battlefield, it’s an act of mercy, on Planet Earth, on
humanity and on the individual who has been doing evil, causing
immense pain to mother earth and humanity. A Sikh liberates him from
his evil deeds and does a service to humanity. This is the jeevan of
those God-conscious, enlightened, liberated and fearless Saint
Warriors who saw Waheguru in every atom of creation, loved him,
lived a life of purity, gave out fragrance of Love and Naam. Those
Gursikhs, who died in Shabad of Guru, sacrificed their self, their
ego at altar of Shabad were blessed by Guru with Immortality, The
Akalis (Immortals).
This brave squad of warrior saints, blessed by Guru Gobind Singh ji
to be his Laadliya Fauja (Beloved warriors) resided at Takhats (or
thrones ) of Guru. They owed their allegiance not to anyone else but
to Guru, living and dying for Guru’s cause. Loved and respected by
all, these brave immortals (Akalis) had reached awastha of ‘Nihang’
( dis-attached from Maya, The illusion) and were imbued in Naam of
Lord Waheguru. At Sri Damdama Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh ji tested his
Khalsa Panth once to see if the Sikhs were still having the same
Love and devotion as they had at Anandpur Sahib. Guruji took a
Khanda and asked his Sikhs for five heads. Singhs from majha area
were in Hazoori sewa of Guru Gobind Singh ji. As the Singhs heard
Guruji’s call, all of them ran towards Maharaj, presenting their
heads. Pleased with their Love and devotion, Guruji gave them title
of Shaheeds (Martyrs) who would live forever. These Gursikhs were
placed under command of Baba Deep Singh ji Shaheed (who had already
been blessed by Guru Gobind Singh ji with this title) and ordered to
serve Panth with utmost love and dedication. These blessed souls
lived together at Sri Damdama Sahib and served Panth in every Jang-yudh,
sacrificing their lives while fighting in frontlines. Historical
texts such as Pracheen Panth Parkash, Naveen Panth Parkash, Shamsher
Khalsa and othere texts have well documented history of this Jatha,
with names of these legendary warriors being part of household folks
of Punjab.
Some of the great Saint Soldier Akali Nihang warriors were –
Baba Deep Singh ji
Baba Gurbaksh Singh ji
Baba Naudh Singh ji
Baba Sudha Singh ji
Baba Karam Singh ji
Baba Natha Singh ji
Baba Dyal Singh ji
Baba Balwant Singh ji
Baba Prem Singh ji
Baba Heera Singh ji
Baba Basant Singh ji
Baba Mahit Singh ji
Baba Raam Singh ji Bedi
Baba Sajjan Singh ji
Baba Agarh Singh ji
Baba Naina Singh ji
Baba Kharag Singh ji
Baba Phoola Singh ji
Baba Tappa Singh ji
Baba Bijla Singh ji
Baba Hukam Singh ji
Baba Bulaka Singh ji
Baba Budha Singh ji
Baba Shaam Singh ji
Baba Karh torh Singh ji
Baba Jassa Singh ji Sarhali Wale
Srimaan Baba Deep Singh ji Shaheed was appointed by Guru Gobind
Singh ji Maharaj as General of the brave Akali Nihang Warriors, and
Guruji gave Khanda of his Grandfather, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji as
symbol of Jathedari to Babaji at Sri Damdama Sahib. These brave and
blessed souls went on to become Legends of Sikh history, being loved
and respected by all the Sikhs of all the times. Till today their
names infuse spirit of Love for Guru, sacrifice for Sikhi and every
true Sikh’s heart. There Jeevan was so pure that even the enemies
used to feel the waves of Naam and peace emanating from their
bodies. We Sikhs know about many of above named Mahapurakhs and
their jeevans, but there are others about whom we know very less.
With Maharaj’s kirpa, we would like to share with Sangat jeevans of
some of the above mentioned Warrior Saints.
 Baba
Balwant Singh ji
– Babaji lived in Jatha of Baba Deep Singh ji and served Khalsa
Panth. In the Battle of Gohalwarh, when Jatha Shaheedan fought for
liberation of Sri Darbar Sahib from Afghans, Babaji led the charge
of Nihang Fauja. He first took out General Rustam Khan whose head
was cut down by Babaji using his Chakkar. At this, another General
of Afghan army who was brother of Rustam Khan, Zabardast Khan
challenged Babaji for a one- on-one duel. Babaji accepted the
challenge and as the warriors fought,both armies stood and saw the
battle. After a tough battle, there was a ‘Saanjha vaar’
(simultaneous strike) and heads of both were cut at same time. As
Babaji fell, Akali warriors were infuriated at shaheedi of jathedar
and charged furiously in battlefield whereas afghan battalions ran
away seeing their general dead.
Baba Dyal Singh
– Babaji joined the regiment of Shaheeds at very young age and
lived at Sri Damdama Sahib. Seeing his administrative qualities,
Baba Deep Singh ji appointed Baba Dyaal Singh ji alongwith Baba
Natha Singh as administrator of Sialkot after Misal took over the
area. Baba Dyaal Singh and Baba Natha Singh ji built famous
Gurudwara Babe di Ber at Sialkot. Babaji fought bravely in many
battles and was leading light of Misal Shaheedan. In Battle of
Gohalwarh, Babaji was the first to take down General of Pathan Army,
Amir Jaan Khan.
Bhai Bulaka singh
– He was incharge of Intelligence wing of Khalsa Panth, a master
of disguise. It was Bhai Bulaka Singh who informed Khalsa Panth
about Beadbi happening at Darbar Sahib both the times, first when
Massa Rangarh committed the sacrilege and second when Ahmed Shah
Abdali desecrated Darbar Sahib. Bhai Bulaka Singh ji attained
Shaheedi in Battle of Gohalwarh alongwith Baba Naudh Singh ji at
Chabba village.
Baba Shaam Singh ji
Shaheed
- Another brave General of Misal Shaheedan, Babaji stayed with
Baba Deep Singh ji at Damdama Sahib. After Babaji’s Shaheedi in
1758, he camped in parkarma of Darbar Sahib with Jatha of Baba
Gurbaksh Singh ji Shaheed and attained Shaheedi in 1762, defending
Sri Darbar Sahib.
Baba Karhtorh Singh
– His real name is not know to anyone, but he was given this name
by Singhs of Jatha as he was master of breaking Fort gates and
entrenchments of enemy forces, carrying out surprise attacks from
behind enemy lines and creating secret paths for Singhs to enter
forts of enemies. Babaji was master of Guerrilla Warfare and led
many attacks on invading Mughal and Afghan Forces.
Baba Mahit Singh ji
– He was a Brahmgiani Gurmukh who was one of the Singhs who
lifted their heads in Battle of Gohalwarh along side Baba Deep Singh
ji. Legend is that after Baba Deep Singh ji lifted his head on his
left palm, Baba Mahit Singh ji too asked permission to do same,
which Babaji allowed him in Guruji’s Hukam. Babaji placed his head
at place of Ram sar sarovar.
Baba Raam Singh ji
Bedi
– Babaji was from family of Baba Kaladhari ji, the 8th descendant
of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He lived at Guru Kanshi Taksal and was one of
the greatest Vidya Gurus of his time. He was brother of Baba Ajit
Singh, Father of Baba Sahib Singh ji bedi and it was he who actually
gave Vidya to Baba Sahib Singh ji Bedi at very young age. In 1797,
during attack of Ahmed Shah Abdali’s grandson Shah Zamaan, Baba Ram
Singh ji Bedi was marching alongwith a small Jatha of Shaheed Misl
towards Sialkot, when on the way at village Paropi Baba Ram Singh ji
saw a battalion of Afghan army looting and burning innocent
villagers and kidnapping woman. Babaji challenged them and a fight
broke out. In this fight, Babaji’s head was severed from his body
and Babaji fell. Afghans thought that all Singhs have died, and as
they moved to kill and loot innocent villagers, suddenly Babaji rose
from ground, lifted his head in hand and started fighting. Seeing
the dead rise again, Muslim army ran away and few who tried to fight
were killed by Babaji. After the dushts ran away, Babaji sat down at
the place and left his body. A memorial was raised in memory of Baba
Raam Singh ji at the village Paropi (present day Pakistan), which
was desecrated after the partition in 1947.
Baba Agarh Singh ji
– Baba Agarh Singh ji was nephew of Shaheed Baba Mani Singh ji
and son of Bhai Nigahiys Singh ji, who presented a horse to Guru
Gobind Singh ji Maharaj when he came to Alamgir. Baba Agarh Singh ji
took his vidya from Baba Mani Singh and stayed with him at Sri
Amritsar Sahib.
 After Shaheedi of Baba Mani Singh ji, Darbar Sahib
was overtaken by Lahore Government who imposed restrictions on Sikhs
visiting there. Baba Agarh Singh ji along with handful of Singhs
from Baba Mani Singh ji’s family moved to Damdama Sahib. It was here
when both Jathas of Damdami Taksal merged. While Singhs started
their routine sewa of Vidya and Santhya at Damdama Sahib, Baba Agarh
Singh ji started going out on campaigns with Baba Deep Singh ji. He
always had one wish, to somehow take revenge of Shaheedi of Baba
Mani Singh ji. In August 1745, after Zakriya Khan, Governor of
Lahore died, his son Yahya Khan took on administration of Punjab. He
sent out Mughal army to capture and kill Sikhs from villages,
cities, hills and forests.
This campaign was led by notorious
General Moman Khan, responsible for Shaheedi of Gusikhs like Baba
Taara Singh, Baba Mani Singh, Bhai Taru Singh and Bhai Mehtab Singh
ji. During one of the raids near Kahnuwaan in Gurdaspur, on banks of
River Ravi, a small group of Singhs of Misal Shaheedan led by Baba
Agarh Singh ji were surrounded by Moman Khan.
Baba Agarh Singh saw
it as a golden chance to finish Dusht Moman Khan. Singhs worked on
strategy and lured Mughal forces deep in Jungle. As the Mughal Army
entered the dense forest, Singhs, who were known as Kings of Forest
pounced upon Mughal army and started Chatka of mughal army. Here
Baba Agarh Singh ji, in a hand to hand fight, chopped off head of
Dusht Moman Khan, thus taking revenge for death of thousands of
innocent Sikhs and presented his head before Khalsa Panth at Damdama
Sahib, where he was given a Siropa, Siri Sahib and a Horse by
Panth’s Jathedar Baba Kapoor Singh ji. Babaji took part in Battle of
Sirhind in May 1763, when eight Misals of Khalsa Panth united and
destroyed city of Sirhind (as per bachans of Guru Gobind Singh ji).
Governor of Sirhind Jain Khan and his nephew Said Khan led Mughal
Army, and in the ensuing battle, Baba Agarh Singh ji and Said Khan
shared a ‘Saanjha Vaar’(simultaneous stroke) due to which heads of
both warriors were cut at same time. Babaji attained Shaheedi in
Sirhind in 1763.
( On Chandigarh- Hoshiarpur road is village Tutomajra, where Babaji
stayed for many years and did intense Bhagti and Jap-Tap. At
Babaji’s Tap-Asthaan , a Gurudwara sahib has been built by Jathedar
Baba Nihal Singh ji, Misal Shaheedan Harianbela Dal, and Misal looks
after sewa of this holy Asthaan)
Baba Kharag Singh
- He was nephew of Akali Baba Naina Singh ji and lived with him
at Sri Akaal Bunga. After Babaji went to sachkhand, Baba Kharag
Singh ji assisted Akali Baba Phoola Singh in sewa of Sri Akaal Bunga
Sahib. While Akali Baba Phoola Singh ji went for political
negotiations or military campaigns, Baba Kharag Singh ji stayed back
and looked after sewa.
Baba Bijla Singh ji
– A Brave warrior of Misal Shaheedan, he earned this name because
of his skill in using Kirpan and other Shastars on enemies. He
struck his enemies with lightening speed and led attacks of Khalsa
Fauj from front. Babaji attained Shaheedi at a very young age.
Baba Tapa Singh ji Shaheed
– Baba Tapa Singh ji got this name due to nature of his Naam-Kamai and Jap-Tap. In days of peace, when there were no battles, he used to sit in Samadhi for days at a stretch. He was
respected by one and all in Dal Panth. After spending his childhood
in blessed care of Baba Deep Singh ji, Baba Tapa Singh ji came up to
be a blessed Saint soldier of Khalsa Panth, ever ready to lay down
his life for Panth. He started looking after sewa of Takhat Sri
Anandpur Sahib after Baba Gurbaksh Singh ji moved to Sri Amritsar.
Here he did parchar in countryside and gave Amrit to thousands. He
was a blessed flower of this garden of Shaheeds, blessed by Guru
Gobind Singh ji. Created in Taksal of Guruji, Babaji was treasure
for Khalsa Panth. Akali Baba Phoola Singh ji lived at Sri Anandpur
in holy company of Baba Tapa Singh ji. Baba Tapa Singh ji did
parchar in Ambala, Kurukshetra , Karnal and other areas of present
day Haryana. Details of his Shaheedi are not available sadly in our
history books or oral tradition.
There are hundreds and hundreds of other Mahaan Shaheeds whose
history has been lost due to negligence of our writers of those
times. Infact, it’s only Akali Baba Phoola Singh ji who has been
mentioned in 19th century history of Akali Sikhs, and even his life
was written after70-80 years after his Shaheedi, first by Baba Prem
Singh ji Hoti Mardan. Others brave Shaheeds and Akalis have been
overlooked or have been intentionally erased from our history, but
as the saying goes, Truth can never be hidden, Jeevans of these
Mahaan Shaheeds and Akali warriors are coming to forefront again.
They are the shining stars of this Panth, whose lives will keep
illuminating our paths in these dark times of Kalyug, inspiring
generations after generations of Sikhs to live and die for Guru, for
Love of Guru.
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