Part 11 The Shaheedi of Bhai Mani Singh ji

I will now tell you the Sakhi, the true Sakhi, which cannot be disputed.  Listen oh saints, listen with love.  Bhai Mani Singh ji kept Sikhi while achieving the greatest Shaheedi.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was a really wise Saint.  (He was from the Rajput clan of Pawaar.  His ancestors were from Jaisalmer.  When Maharaja Santal Pawaar’s kingdom finished in the 15^th century, the Pawaars came to Nahn, near Paonta Sahib.  They then came to Alipur, Multan.  Bhai Moola ji was a Sikh.  His son was Bhai Baloo ji who served in Guru Hargobind Sahib ji’s army.  Bhai Baloo ji killed Murtaza Khan who arrested Guru Arjan Dev ji and took him to Chandoo’s home.  Bhai Baloo ji took the revenge by killing Murtaza Khan in the Battle of Kartarpur.  Bhai Baloo ji had 12 sons.  One of them was Bhai Mai Das ji.  Bhai Mai Das ji had 12 sons of which, one of them was Bhai Mani Singh ji.  Bhai Jetha ji was the eldest brother who died in the Bhangaani Battle, serving Guru Gobind Singh ji.  The second brother was Bhai Dyala ji, who was boiled in Delhi in the presence of Guru Tegh Bahadhur Sahib ji.  Only one brother, Bhai Amar Chand ji died a natural death.  The 11 brothers were all Shaheeds.  Bhai Mani Singh ji’s eldest son was Bhai Chittar Singh ji who was 65 when he died along with his father.  Bhai Bachittar Singh ji was the second son.  Bhai Uday Singh ji was next, who was the general of the Khalsa forces.  He died on the Shahi Tibbi, fighting the Turk forces.  He fought for 4 and a half hours.  The next 3 sons were Bhai Ajab Singh ji, Bhai Ajaib Singh ji and Bhai Anik Singh ji who fought and died in the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib.  One son was Bhai Bhagavan Singh ji Rehitnamia, who wrote a Rehitnama.  He too was a Shaheed.  Bhai Bachittar Singh ji’s 2 sons died in the battle of Chappar Chirri, when Baba Banda Singh ji attacked Sirhind.  Bhai Mani Singh ji’s Bhooa was a woman who debated and defeated the scholars in Shah Jahaan’s court.  This family had many Shaheeds.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was born in 1644 CE.  He was 22 years older than Guru Gobind Singh ji.  He served in the Guru’s home since Guru Hari Rai ji’s time.  He was an excellent scribe, who scribed Guru Granth Sahib ji in Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo.  Baba Deep Singh ji was his protégé.  When the Minas left Sri Harmandhir Sahib, Bhai Mani Singh ji became the Pujaari of Harmandhir Sahib.  The Minas had Harmandhir Sahib for about 125 years.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was given the status by Guru Gobind Singh ji.  Mata Sundri ji reconfirmed the status of Pujaari.  His history was written by Bhai Seva Singh ji, Shaheed Bilaas Bhai Mani Singh.)

Bhai Mani Singh ji was a Jatti, Satti and a great Dhyani.  He was a Hatti Tappi and the greatest scholar.  He followed Gurmat.  He had great tolerance for pain.  He was a great warrior.  He was a complete Bhagat of Karma and Dharma.  He was the Gyaani of the highest level.  He was a Brahmgyaani who only saw his Aatma.  He didn’t see his body.  He had molded his life by the words of the Satguru.  He stayed in the presence of the Satguru, all the time.  He followed Gurmat with the utmost completeness.  He was a Brahmgyaani because he would eat the leftovers of Guru Gobind Singh ji.  For this reason, he was very stubborn when he gave his Shaheedi.  He taught Gursikhi to Gursikhs.  He made them complete.  If a Sikh broke a rule, he would give the Sikh a Tankhaa.  He planted the seeds of Gurmat, which we follow today.  He taught Sikhi to all 4 castes, to be great Gursikhs.  He did the Katha of Gurbani and the history of the Gurus.  (Bhai Mani Singh ji wrote the Sikha di Bhagatmala – the Sakhis of the Gursikhs mentioned in the 11^th Vaar of Bhai Gurdas ji.  Bhai Mani Singh ji also wrote a Janamsakhi of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Vazubal Arth was a Rehitnama written by him.  His two students: Bhai Bhagat Singh ji wrote Gurbilas Patshahi 6ve and Bhai Koer Singh ji Kalaal wrote Gurbilas Patshahi 10ve; which they heard from Bhai Mani Singh ji.  Baba Deep Singh ji was also a student of Bhai Mani Singh ji.  Bhai Mani Singh ji also scribed Dasam Guru Granth Sahib ji.)  Some knowledge he wrote as direct dictations from Guru ji and some he wrote on his own. 

Mata Sundri ji looked after the Maryada and administrative logistics of the Panth while Mata Sahib Deva ji was always immersed in Bhagti.  Mata Sundri ji sent Bhai Mani Singh ji from Delhi, giving him special instructions: “there is money that is offered in Amritsar.  Give that money to the Sikhs.”  Mata ji used to send money to the Patna Sahib Sikhs as a Bank Account.  She then wanted the money in Amritsar to stay there.  Mata ji gave all that money to the Khalsa.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was now in charge.  That money used to go to Patna before.  By Mata ji’s command, the money was kept with Bhai Mani Singh ji as Satguru ji’s joy was upon the Khalsa.  Mata ji surrendered the money to the Khalsa for this reason.  Satguru ji had said: “the Singhs are dear to me.  They are my sons and grandsons.”  Satguru ji said: “daan deeyo inhi ko bhalo; ar aur ko daan na laagat neeko – the offerings given to them are only good.  Offerings to anyone else will not fall into prosperity.”  Bhai Mani Singh ji was the highest Pujaari.  He had the most trust in the whole Panth.  Satguru ji trusted him the most as well.  Bhai Mani Singh ji sat at the Akaal Boonga, on the Takhat.  He was extremely faithful to the Satguru.  Bhai Mani Singh ji attended Baba Ram Rai ji’s Barsi on Guru ji’s behalf.  There was a Ram Rai Masand who spoke ill words towards Guru Gobind Singh ji.  Bhai Mani Singh ji picked up the Masand and broke his back.  He was very strong as well as being a skilled warrior.  If someone made mistakes at Amritsar, Bhai Mani Singh ji would punish the Singhs. 

Bhai Mani Singh ji decided to make Pothis of Gurbani for the ease of doing Santhya.  Panj Granthi, 22 Vaara, Bhagat Bani etc. Pothis were made.  There was also a Saroop made with Aad and Dasam Bani together in one (which is now at the home of Sardar Gulab Singh ji Sethi in Delhi).  Bhai Mani Singh ji compiled the Saroop by Mahalla and Bhagat instead of the Raags.  This looked like the Gurbani had been separated.  The Sikh Sangat said: “your limbs will be cut, just as you separated the Gurbani.  You shook the limbs of the Guru so your limbs will be cut!”  The Sikh Sangat gave Bhai Mani Singh ji such a curse.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was cursed with this.  Bhai Mani Singh ji heard this and got worried.  He didn’t want to make the Panth upset.  He thought: “the Sangat’s words will not be false.”  He said to the Panth: “I accept your curse.  I stand before you with my hands folded and ask you to forgive me.  The Guru is in the Sangat; the Sangat is the form of the Guru.  There is no difference between the Sangat and the Guru.  I accept your words on my head.  I now wish for a boon: may my Sikhi remain stable when I am being cut.  As my limbs are cut, I wish not to turn my back from the pain.  May I not feel the pain.  I don’t wish to have any obstacles in my Sikhi.  I wish to give my head upon the actions of the Turks.  May I not be upset when my limbs are cut.  I feel joy in keeping my Sikhi.  What is the poor body?  The Sikhi should remain stable.  The body comes and goes.  Sikhi is hard to find.”  The Sikhs agreed to Bhai Mani Singh ji’s request.  The 5 Singhs did the Ardaas: “the Sikh’s Sikhi will remain stable.”  The Singhs did the Ardaas.  When the Khalsa did the Ardaas, Bhai Mani Singh ji’s tasks were a success.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was happy to know he was going to remain steadfast in his Sikhi, even though his limbs were going to be cut.  He knew he was going to be able to tolerate the pain. 

After many years, the time came for the Shaheedi.  The Mela of Diwali had come and Bhai Mani Singh ji had convinced the Turks to let him celebrate the Mela.  The Turk authorities decided a tax amount of 10,000 Rupees.  Bhai Mani Singh ji agreed to the amount.  A police officer was posted to receive the tax from the Sikhs.  The Turk Navaab said: “do the Mela for 10 days.  Don’t worry about anything.”  Bhai Mani Singh ji sent letters to the Khalsa to tell them about the Mela.  The Singhs came to Amritsar and set up their Dheras.  Divaan Lakhpat Rai (Lakhoo as the Khalsa referred to him as) began to conspire with the Turk Navaab and said: “the Singhs are mischievous and are always ready to fight.”  The Navaab then sent soldiers to be posted all around Amritsar.  Divaan Lakhoo was in charge of the regiments.  He was instructed by Zakaria: “go to Ram Teerath and set up your Dhera.  Without the Singhs coming, don’t do anything.  If the Singhs see the army, they will stay pressed upon.  They won’t cause problems.”  Lakhoo was given these instructions.  What is going to happen, cannot be stopped.  Nobody could reverse the words of the Panth.  When two armies come face to face, there can’t be peace.  Bhai Mani Singh ji’s time for Shaheedi was coming near.  The Khan’s wisdom turned on him.  The Navaab’s wisdom became corrupt.  He wanted to make fire and gunpowder meet.  There can’t be two kings in one country, there can’t be two carefree lions in one jungle.  If they come together, there can’t be peace.  When the Singhs heard that the Turk army was there, they became suspicious.  They thought to themselves: “this army is here to kill us.  Since when have they been our brothers?”  The Singhs were advised by Bhai Mani Singh ji to leave Amritsar.  The Singhs left towards their jungles.  Some had taken the bath in the Sarovar and some were to bathe still.  They were all told to leave by Bhai Mani Singh ji.  The Mela didn’t happen and so the tax of 10,000 wasn’t paid.  This was fate.  It was to be like this.  As the Sangat said, the day came.  What was to happen to Bhai Mani Singh ji, that plan was coming into play.  Bhai Mani Singh ji figured this out.  Some Singhs stayed with Bhai Mani Singh ji.  They didn’t leave his side; who loved him dearly.  The tax amount couldn’t be filled.  It was not even half.  Conflicts arose.  The Singhs never backed down from a fight.  This was their personality so Bhai Mani Singh ji sent them off, thinking: “they will never back down from a fight.”  Lakhoo came to Amritsar.  The Singhs that he saw, he fought them and arrested them.  He took them to the Navaab.  The famous generals were arrested along with Bhai Mani Singh ji.  Such was fate.  It was supposed to be a Mela where the Khalsa grew but it turned out to be a tragedy.  The Singhs were presented to the Navaab.  The Qazis influenced the Navaab.  The Navaab said: “pay our tax.”  The Lahore Singhs said: “we will give you the money in a few days.  Release Bhai Mani Singh ji.”  The Shahukaars of Lahore came to the court and tried to convince the Navaab.  Bhai Mani Singh ji had refused their offers as he knew it was his time to go.  He said: “we won’t pay anything to the Sarkaar.  This is my time for Shaheedi.  It is time for the words of the Khalsa to come to fruition.  I want this to come.  I will have my limbs cut for the Khalsa.  The Khalsa has said this.”  Divaan Lachi Ram, Divaan Kora Mal and Bhai Surat Singh ji were there.  Bhai Mani Singh ji said: “I have no money to give you.  You can take my life, like paying cash.”  The people of Lahore got together.  They brought bags full of money to bail Bhai Mani Singh ji.  Bhai Mani Singh ji saw his time and told the Sikhs to go back.  He said: “the Sikhs’ words cannot be reversed.  You can try but it won’t work.  The time of the curse is near.”  The Navaab called the Qazis and Mullahs.  He made them sit close.  The Qazis said to the Sikhs: “become Muslim and we will let you go.”  The Singhs said: “we won’t lose our faith.  We will make the same choice in every birth.”  The Navaab asked the Qazis: “how should they be killed?  Bhai Mani Singh does not agree to the conversion to Islam.  What does the Quran say to this?”  The Qazis issued the Fatwah: “Mani Singh shall be cut, limb by limb.  The world should see what the consequences are.”  Fate spoke from their mouths.  Their mouths were the keys to the curse of the Sangat.  When they opened up their books, such a phrase came that the person shall be cut limb by limb.  The words of the Singhs cannot be reversed.  Bhai Chittar Singh ji (son of Bhai Mani Singh ji) and Bhai Gulzara Singh ji (student of Bhai Mani Singh ji) were also sentenced to death.

The Navaab gave out the orders: “cut him “band band,” limb by limb.”  The Singhs were taken into the custody of the executioners.  They were taken to the Nikaas Chownk, where the public executions took place.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was reciting Bani.  He had risen above his body.  He saw his Aatma as his real self and saw his body as a vessel made of earth.  The Chandaal was going to separate Bhai Mani Singh ji’s arms and legs.  The Chandal said to Bhai Mani Singh ji: “I will separate your 2 arms and 2 legs.”  Bhai Mani Singh ji heard this and said to the Chandaal: “do you not know what a band is?  I will tell you what a band is: you must cut me from every bend and joint in my body.  Use your clever in such a way.  Separate the 3 bends from every finger of mine.”  He put his finger on the block.  The Chandaal cut every bend from all his fingers.  He then had his wrist cut.  The Chandaal got anxious and nervous.  He was about to cut Bhai Mani Singh ji’s shoulder when Bhai Mani Singh ji put his elbow forward.  The Chandaal cut the elbow and then cut his shoulder.  First the right was cut and then the left.  Every bend was cut.  Every knuckle and bend were cut.  After cutting both arms, Bhai Mani Singh ji put his toe forward.  The toes were cut, followed by the heal and then the knee.  A Syed Fakir saw this drama.  He was left breathless seeing this.  He was waiting for Bhai Mani Singh ji to make a sound from his mouth.  He said: “oh Khuddah!  If this man would say a word, it would be true and powerful, crossing 7 foreign lands.  I know of a Sidh named Dhandli whose student was given pain.  His pain was so deep that his words destroyed 18 cities.  But this Sikh is Khuddah himself.”  The Chandaal took out his Tulwar and took Bhai Sahib’s head off.  Bhai Mani Singh ji recited Bani after his head was cut.  He had no pain whatsoever.  He was formless.  His mouth recited Bani from his mouth.  He was reciting Sukhmani Sahib: “neh kich janmay neh kich murray – nothing is born, nothing dies.”  Everyone dies but only his death is a success whose love for the Master lives beyond the body.  “Kabeer jis marnay te jag darray meray man anand, marnay hee te payeeai pooran Parmanand – Kabeer, the death that the world fears, my mind finds it bliss, (because) by dying can one find the ultimate bliss.”  Mansoor had his hand cut with one strike and the world sang his praises: “Mansoor, Mansoor!”  Bhai Mani Singh ji suffered many cuts, having his limbs cut by every bend.  There was a Rishi who was hung.  His body remained for many days.  Bhai Mani Singh ji suffered more and was martyred.  When Bhai Mani Singh ji’s head was cut, his Sikhi proved to be stable.  The world yelled Hai, Hai in agony.  The hearts of the Singhs yelled Jai, Jai!  The Sikh’s Sikhi remained stable.  The curse of the Sikhs, he tolerated it on his body.  He became the Sardar of the Shaheeds.  He became the guard of the doors of the home of the Sahibzadas in Sach Khand.  Bhai Mani Singh ji did this great task.  It was 1794 Vikram.  I, Rattan Singh, heard this Sakhi from my father, Bhai Rai Singh ji (son of Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji) who had seen the Shaheedi of Bhai Mani Singh ji with his own eyes.  I have written it as I heard it.

Part 12 The Bhatts of the Time Praise Bhai Mani Singh ji

He was the highest Sikh among the Sikhs and the highest Bhagat among the Bhagats.  The foundation of Sikhi was Bhai Mani Singh ji.  The world praises Bhai Mani Singh ji.  He gave his life with faith, without having any doubts.  The Sikhs were impressed and the corrupt were destroyed.  He killed them with the sword of Gyaan.  The one who is called a Gursikh, that is what he achieved.  There is no king or pauper compared to him.  Bhai Mani Singh ji accepted death by the words of the Khalsa.  He took it as a boon.  He sat in the Nikaas Chownk and departed, sounding the Nagaras.  The other Singhs that were arrested with Bhai Mani Singh ji, they were killed on the Charkharis in the Nikaas Chownk.

Part 13 The Sakhi of Nadar Shah

In 1795 Vikram, the Khan Bahadhur Navaab gave the Singhs a lot of pain.  He was a corrupt sinner.  When Bhai Mani Singh ji was killed by cutting his limbs, other Singhs were arrested from the villages and killed.  They were told to convert to Islam but they accepted death.  Some were given the Charkhari and some were hung.  Some were blasted by canons and some were cut by knives.  Some had their heads smashed with heavy clubs.  Some were drowned and some were dragged, tied to elephants or horses.  Some were buried alive and some were hung.  Some were shot.  Bhatt Bhikhay ji’s generations, 7 people were buried alive.  The Singhs were killed in the thousands.  It is hard to count.  Zakariya Khan killed many.  Some were seated in lines and had their heads cut with a sword.  Some hand their hands cut and some had their legs cut.  Some had their eyes taken out and some had their heads taken off.  If they found someone with uncut hair, child or senior, they were killed.

Among them, Bhai Hakeekat Rai ji was killed as he was related to the Sikhs.  He was 17 years old, who studied in a Madrassa.  As Baaniyas wish to eat meat but don’t have the money; they sauté rocks and pretend it is meat; that is how the Hindus or Sahijdhaaris were arrested and killed, not being able to capture the Singhs.  When the Khalsa was given a lot of pain, there were cries in every direction.  The yells were heard in the court of the Parmeshwar.  Parmeshwar summoned Mohammed into his court as it was his followers who had caused so much pain to the poor.  He was given a seat far away in the court.  He was told: “your followers have gone astray and are giving pain to the poor.  You cannot come to my court.  Your 12 centuries are complete.  Now is the time for the centuries of the Khalsa.  Your people have done much bad.  They will fight among themselves and be destroyed.”  When the command of the Kartaar came in this way, the Soobas of Delhi fought amongst themselves.  They went against each other and attacked each other.  They called Nadir Shah to attack.  The Badshah Mohammed Shah Rangila, the great grandson of Aurangzeb, was ruling at that time.  To finish the Turks, Nadir Shah was sent.  When Nadir Shah arrived in Lahore, he met Zakariya Khan.  Nadir Shah asked for 3 Crore Rupees taxes.  The Singhs celebrated this as Zakariya was taxed.  The news spread and the Singhs gathered again.  Nadir Shah came from Kabul.  The Khalsa looted him.  They looted the royal treasuries.  They looted the path from Kabul to Delhi.  They looted the path from Delhi to Kabul as well.  They killed and looted Nadir’s people.  Nadir’s arrival was a blessing.  They looted as much as they could.  They got wealth and good horses.  The Guru’s beloveds looted them.  The Singhs said: “he has come for our good.  The Turks will fight the Turks.  Both will be destroyed.  The Khalsa will grow.  It was like removing a thorn with a thorn.  Both thorns are thrown away then.  That time has come which Satguru ji had said: “I will have the Mughals destroyed by the dog of Kabul.  Then I will call the army from the Dakhan (Marhathas).  They will fight and become weak.  Then I will call the light browns (whites).  The Khalsa will meet with the whites and have the seats from Delhi and Lahore destroyed.  The 7 Dharas will be destroyed.  The 22 Soobas will be destroyed.  The Badshahs and Viziers will be destroyed.  Their Nagaras of the Turks will stop.  The chant of Akaal Akaal will be heard everywhere.”  That time has now come.  Loot and eat what you wish for.”  The Singhs referred to Nadir Shah as the “kutta, the dog”.  Navaab Kapoor Singh ji said to all of the Singhs: “your tasks will be fulfilled now.”  The Singhs heard Navaab Kapoor Singh ji and said: “sat, sat, sat!”  They bowed to his words. 

Nadir Shah looted millions from Delhi.  He took 1 Padam (1,000,000,000,000,000) Rupees from Delhi.  He took all of the wealth of Delhi.  He took the wealth of the 22 Soobas along with the Takhat-e-Taus, worth 9 Crore Rupees at the time.  It was made with diamonds.  He took 200 Tolas of gold which had fragrance.  It was the rarest in the world.  He also took the Diamond Kohinoor which belonged to the Pandavas at one time.  He took 2 other rubies by which Aurangzeb read the Quran with.  This one known to everyone.  There was a fish named Sahin Koor.  They would cut meat from the fish at night and cook it.  The meat would come back by the day as the fish was kept alive.  A pearl, the size of an ostrich egg, was taken.  It was 64 Rattis.  It was round.  Poets have praised the pearl.  Taan Sen was a gem who had a Mala named Ain Chain (the mala rid one’s illness when touched to the eyes) along with a pink diamond.  These were taken too.  The jewellers had removed 2 rice grains of weight at the ask of the Mughal Badshah.  It was 2 Chaval less 12 Rattis.  It reflected pink light.  The Ain Chain Mala, touching it with your eyes, the pain was gone.  Nadir fastened it to his quiver.  He broke it in 4 to insult the Delhi emperor.  He took Crores.  He killed 70,000 people.  The millionaires of Delhi no longer had ghee for their lamps.  Nadir took Jaura and Bhaura, the 2 horses of Sher Shah Suri.  The Delhi Shah was taxed 20 Crores but could only give 17.  3 Crores remained.  Ahmed Shah Abdali took that later.  5 Soobas were cut from Hindustan: Jalandhar, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and others and added to Nadir’s kingdom.  Only Delhi was left.  Crores were looted from the 22 Soobas.  Nadir collected it all and headed back.  Many were killed in combat and many were slaughtered.  70,000 poor people were killed in Delhi.  The Badshah invited Nadir to perform the Nimaaz together.  One drunk person spoke to a soldier of Nadir: “look how smart our Badshah is.  He is going to kill Nadir now.”  The soldier heard this and told Nadir.  Nadir ordered to kill everyone in Delhi.  In this way, the Turks killed the Turks.  Everyone who died, died by opposition.  If I speak of the whole history, the Granth will become very big.

Part 14 The Request of the Khalsa reached the True Court

When the Ardaas reached the True Court, from Khurasan, Nadir came to destroy the Mughals in Delhi.  He had taken the daughters and female relatives of the Mughal Badshah and married them into his family.  He stayed in Delhi for a year (1738-1739 CE) and looted it, a lot.  He looted many Padam (1 Padam = 1,000,000,000,000,000).  Nadir Shah asked Zakariya Khan: “my army was terribly looted on my back (22,000 women slaves, horses, and a lot of wealth.  The Singhs came 2,000 at a time from the jungles).  Who are they, who looted me?  Tell me their land.  Tell me where they live.  I will blow their ashes away.”  Zakariya Khan then said: “they have no land.  They sleep while standing and eat on the go.  They don’t ever sit in a village.  They do not know the taste of salt or ghee.  I give them pain and they see it as joy.  They do not drink water all day during the month of Haar.  They do not light fire in the winter.  They don’t eat rotis of grinded flour.  During battle, they run and jump.  They can’t be faced, head on.  One of them fight hundreds at a time.  They see death as a joke and are not afraid to die.  They wish to die for their religion and duty.  We got tired of killing them but they do not decrease.”  Nadir asked: “which Peer do they follow?  Do they grow on their own?  Do they exist on their own?”  Khan said: “there was a Peer named Guru Nanak Dev ji who illuminated in Punjab.  He was filled with powers.  I will read to you his Janamsakhi.  We have killed a lot of his followers.  We tried to give them pain and destroy them.  I have seen their powers.  We tortured their Gurus.”  Nadir listened to the whole history and inquired to know more.  The Khan told him everything.  He told him how Guru Tegh Bahadhur ji gave his head; how the 4 Sahibzadas were killed.  Nadir heard this and shook his head.  He said: “you are receiving what you gave.  You sinned against them.  You won’t be able to win.  You won’t be able to defeat them.  The Sahib made them himself.”  Nadir went to Kandahar in 1796 Vikram (1739 CE).  The Khan was upset to hear this.  He restarted the killing of Sikhs.  He killed and killed; eventually dying himself.  He did what he could.  I have written what I have heard from the elders.

Part 15 The Sakhi of Khan Navaab

When Nadir went back to Kabul, listen to what the Khan did.  He didn’t want any Singh to remain alive in his land.  The Khan was upset listening to Nadir’s warning.  He got anxious and did many atrocities.  He looked for Singhs to kill them like hunters.  Whoever would give news of the whereabouts of Singhs, they would be rewarded.  If someone informed of their villages, they were rewarded.  The greedy people looked for Singhs.  The Singhs hid.  Letters were written to other lands: “5 Rupees for information on Singhs.”  People told on the Singhs and got money.  Some killed Singhs themselves and took their heads to Lahore for money.  Some killed their own daughters, pretending they were the children of Sikhs.  The Singhs hid in places.  Spies looked for them.  The Singhs travelled at night and hid during the day.  Some gathered in 5s and 10s.  Some lived on other homes instead of their own homes.  Some went to other lands such as Bikaner.  Some lived in jungles and ruins.  Some farmed with their heads down.  Some lived in ditches.  They suffered huger and ate every 4 days.  If they found vegetables without salt, they celebrated.  They ate in joy.  If a Singh had salt, they called him Svaadi – keen for good food.  They ate spinach and mustard leaves raw.  They ate leaves and bark.  They ate fruits.  They would find it after 3 or 4 days.  They couldn’t eat sitting down.  The Singhs were in very low numbers.  The Singhs took the horses far.  The day they would kill a sinner, they would loot and eat them.  If they didn’t get food, they would stay carefree.  The spies were always on their tails.  They would bring the army where they would see Singhs.  The village they would find Singhs, the brothers and friends would be arrested as well.  The Navaab wrote such a letter: “looting the Singhs is pardoned for all.  The ones who have hair on their heads, don’t let them stay in my land.  If someone informs me of the Singhs, I will reward them.  If someone brings me their hair, I will give them blankets and comforters.  Informers will get 10 Rupees; for bringing a head of a Sikh: 50 Rupees.”  Many became greedy and started to kill the Singhs.  The farmers in the villages, people killed them because they had hair.  The Sahijdhaaris were killed.  Such was the Navaab’s command.  It was sent all around Lahore: “a farmer or a merchant, if they have hair, kill them.  They will be pardoned.  Kill them where you find them.  You can loot or beat them.  This is my command.  I will not back down.”  When the greed was given, the Hindu Jatts arrested the Singhs and sent their heads to Lahore.  The people of Jandiala caught many Singhs.  They were the descendants of Bhai Hindhaal.  They called themselves the Guru and Sikhs at the same time.  Harbhajan Niranjani was from them.  He had many Singhs caught, coming to the front.  He had my village of Mira Kot, looted twice.  My father Bhai Rai Singh ji was cut and thrown away.  The Jatts of Majhita were our enemies.  They arrested my Dada ji, Bhai Mehtab Singh ji, and sent him to Lahore.  He was put on the Charkhari along with Bhai Taro Singh ji.  The Navaab had a stomach ache and died while in pain, day and night.

Karam Cheena was from Cheena.  He had many innocent Singhs killed.  He killed many Singhs from Raja Sansi.  The people of Raja Sansi told the Khalsa about this.  Rama Randhawa was a really corrupt person who had many Singhs killed.  He made a Qila to kill Singhs.  He killed the Singhs of Gurdaspur.  He caught them and killed them himself.  His story was famous: “don’t go to the land of Rama, brother.  We won’t go to the land of Rama.  We will eat small fruits of our own village.”  Dharam Das lived in Jodha Village.  He wanted to finish off the Singhs.  Massa Rangar lived in Mandiala.  He disrespected the Darbar Sahib of Amritsar.  Sahib Rai Sandhu lived in Naushaira.  He caught many Singhs and cut their heads off.  He sent them to Lahore.  He told on Bhai Taru Singh ji and had him arrested.  He called the army of the Turks.  The Turks came and arrested Bhai Taru Singh ji, taking him to Lahore. 

Part 16 The Sakhi of Mehtab Singh and Rai Singh Bhangoo of Mira Kot

Listen to the courageous feats of the Khalsa, as only a few of them won great victories.  My paternal grandfather, Bhai Mehtab Singh ji, was determined that death was his Dharma.  The Navaab Zakariya Khan oppressed the Singhs.  He gathered the leaders of the districts in Lahore and said: “whoever hides the Singhs, they will lose their lives.  Whoever doesn’t tell us that Singhs had come to them, they will lose their lives as well.  Whoever joins relations with the Singhs, they will have to convert and become Mussalmaans.  Whoever gives food to the Singhs, they will be forced to become Mussalmaans.”  Such was the scare that everyone feared the Khan.  They were given Siropas, divided and forced to back-stab.  People began to snitch on Singhs.  Some had them arrested and some killed the Singhs themselves.  Such was the state of the Singhs.  They would kill the Singhs and show the Turks.  They would receive rewards for the heads of the Singhs.  They received golden coins for this.  The political leaders were against the Singhs now.  The Singhs did not let them live in peace either.  They would fight and kill them, hiding afterwards.  The corrupt people would tell on them.  The Turks would bring the army where the Singhs were.  The battle would destroy the villages.  The ones who left the villages and lived in the jungles, the Turks would destroy their villages.  The Singhs were afraid at this time.  The Singhs left Punjab and went to Malva or the Dakhan.  Some went to the mountains in the east.  The Singhs in Punjab were under stress.  It was like sparrows living in the land of hawks. 

My grandfather, Bhai Mehtab Singh ji, left Punjab and went to Jai Nagar in Bikaner.  He spoke to the Rajput Rajas and took employment with them.  Other Singhs heard of this and also came to Bikaner.  Bhai Mehtab Singh ji met Bhai Balaka Singh ji and said: “how is Punjab?  Where are the Dheras of the Singhs?”  Bhai Balaka Singh ji said: “I can’t speak of it.  The Turks have killed many Singhs.  My mouth rips as I speak.  It will hurt your ears.  My chest is ripping.  I can’t say it nor keep it in.  It is like the lizard in the snake’s mouth.  It can’t eat it nor leave it.  The Turks have disrespected Amritsar Gurduara.  Massa Rangar makes prostitutes dance in the Harmandhir.  He is a bastard and a corrupt person.  He disrespects the Harmandir.”  Bhai Mehtab Singh ji became very angry.  It was as though he was bit by a scorpion.  He said: “aren’t there any Singhs there?  Has nobody busted his head open?  Has the power of the Singhs finished?  Have their efforts left them?”  Bhai Balaka Singh ji responded: “haven’t you run away as well?  Didn’t you run away from your duty?  Why are you scolding them?  You ran away to save your life from the Turks.  Everyone is like you.  Everyone ran away, fearing death.  There are no Singhs seen there.  No one has heard of Singhs there.  The people make fun of Singhs there.  The Navaab destroyed the Panth there.  No Singhs are seen there.  The Singhs that fought everyday and called themselves the Khalsa, making everyone say their names, they aren’t there anymore.  The ones that recited Bani in the morning, looted the Turks, and had Jap, Tapp, abstinence, and Nem; the ones that chanted Akaal, Akaal and gave their heads; they are not there anymore.  Only people like you have survived.  They ran away with great strides.”  Bhai Mehtab Singh ji felt like he was stung by a scorpion and became restless. 

The Tarkhaan from Mari Kamboo, Bhai Sukha Singh ji; went with Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji towards Amritsar.  They gathered their courage.  They said the Fateh in the Divaan.  They touched the feet of the Khalsa and asked for permission: “we will go and kill the Turk.  We came to touch the feet of the Khalsa.  If our head is cut on the name of the Guru, we will have had a successful life.  If one fears to fight and be killed by the Turks, their mothers and fathers are damned.  What is the point of fearing death; we have taken the Pahul of the Khanda.  When the woman takes the Sandhaura in her hand, she does not fear being burnt in her dead husband’s pyre.”

The Singhs left Buddha Jauhar and came towards Amritsar.  They first stopped at Damdama Sahib, where scholars like Baba Deep Singh ji were deciding to compile the Saroop of Dasam Guru Granth Sahib ji.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji and Bhai Mehtab Singh ji said: “if we are successful in our mission, then compile the Saroop in one Granth.  Otherwise, leave them in separate Pothis.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji and Bhai Mehtab Singh ji came to the gates of Amritsar.  They decided to disguise themselves as tax collectors, bringing taxes for the Chaudhary.  They did an Ardaas to Guru ji to reach Darbar Sahib.  They wanted to cut Massa Rangar’s head.  Satguru ji gave them the way.  It was the month of Bhadron.  It was afternoon.  The dust flew and it was really hot.  The Singhs covered their faces in this storm.  The sun was hot in the afternoon.  It rained sometimes and sometimes it was hot.  There was steam from the ground.  The soldiers went to the shades and left Massa Rangar.  Some went to the Dhera to protect themselves from the rain.  Massa Rangar had Sarang Raag played.  Raag Malhaar was also sung.  Some of his men were sleeping and some were awake.  Nobody knew what was about to happen.  The Singhs came to the Darshani Deodi of Harmandir Sahib.  They tied their horses.  They hid their spears in the tree.  They hid their Tulwars under their Kurtas.  They disguised themselves and dressed like Muslims.  They hid their weapons in their oversized Kurtas.  The guard asked: “where are you from?”  The Singhs said: “we have brought taxes from Patti for the Chaudhary.  We will give him the money first and then come back to make you happy.”  The Singhs walked upon the bridge to see the Chaudhary.  The soldiers had no idea who they were.  They thought they had taxes.  There was music inside.  The dancers were dancing.  Everyone was watching.  The Singhs got their chance to go in.  They came in quickly.  Massa Rangar asked: “who are you?”  The Singhs said: “we are from Patti and have brought the taxes.”  They threw the bag of money towards Massa Rangar’s pillow.  The Singhs quickly came.  Satguru ji made everyone blind.  The Singhs came to where the Mridang was playing.  Bhai Mehtab Singh ji took out his Sirohi and chopped Massa Rangar’s head off.  His head came off like a pumpkin.  His golden chains fell off.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji took the gold.  There was shouting and screaming.  The Singhs jumped on their horses and took Massa Rangar’s head.  The guard saw this and ran away.  The Singhs took their horses towards the jungle.  In this way, Massa Rangar was killed.  After about a half hour, the people gathered their attention and figured out what happened.  It was noon and a lot of noise began.  The horses of the soldiers were not saddled.  They had no worry of such an event in their minds.  There were many soldiers there but they were not worried.  They were drunk.  It was hot in the afternoon.  They were sleeping.  They were stunned at what happened.  By the time they saddled their horses, the Singhs were far away.  The Chaudhary of Mandiala was killed along with many soldiers.  When the soldiers found out that their leader had died, they became depressed. 

The Sikhs heard this and shouted Jaikaras.  The ones that were hiding in Majha, they were happy to hear of the difficult mission the Singhs had completed.  The corrupts were upset.  The family of Massa went to Lahore to complain: “we want you to capture the killers.  Where is his head?  We only have his body.  We want you to cut the killers to pieces.  Otherwise we will go to Delhi and make sure your Navaabi is weakened.”  When the Navaab Zakariya heard that the Singhs had killed Massa, the Singhs attacked like a hawk on its prey; nobody saw the Singhs coming or going; nobody knew where they lived or where they went; the Navaab was scared and upset.  He suffered like a fish out of water.  He said: “summon the leaders and the subjects who had written a determination and took Jageers from me.  Summon them all and ask them how the Singhs survived.” Harbhagat Niranjania, Karma Cheena, Rama Randhawa, Dharam Das Jodhpuria and others were called.  The Majithias came without being called.  They had killed many Singhs.  How many can I mention?  So many came who killed Singhs.  There were many near my village like Sahib Rai who went to Zakariya.  Zakariya said to them: “you are only good for taking Jageers.  Find the killers of Massa!  Bring them here otherwise, I will consider you on their side.  I will crush you and your families.  You took the responsibility of killing the Singhs.  You said: “we won’t let any Singh live.”  Tell me where are the Singhs.  I will have the soil pulled, where they live.  Tell me in which village they live.  I will kill them all.  I won’t be lazy.  Whoever tells me of their names or the villages of the killers of Massa, they will be rewarded heavily, who captures them and brings them to me.”  Harbhagat Niranjani said: “there is Mehtab Singh Bhangoo who lives in Mira Kot.  He lives 3 kos from Amritsar.  That area is the Jageer of Peer Sikamber Ali.  The Shah saw Sikamber Ali as his Peer and gave him the Jageer.”  The Syed Peer Sikamber Ali was called.  He sent him to Mira Kot and said: “I want to ruin your village but I won’t.  Go with Massa’s family and my soldiers to find Mehtab Singh and his family.  Aren’t you afraid of keeping Singhs in your village?”  The army went to the Peer’s village and surrounded it.  There was nothing the Peer could do.  The Sarpanch, Bhai Natha Khera ji was arrested.  The Faujdar of the Army was Noor Deen.  He said: “you will not be saved if you don’t present Mehtab Singh.  The ones who hide the Singhs, they will not be saved.”  Nathoo Khera ji said: “Mehtab Singh is not here now.  You can kill me if you wish.  You can kill me or leave me.  It’s up to you.”  Noor Deen said: “bring his son or daughter here.  You can live then.”  Natha Khera objected: “I can bring them but I don’t want you to kil them.”  Noor Deen said: “I won’t leave them.  The killers’ children cannot survive.”  Natha ji went to the village and went to Mehtab Singh’s home.  He saw Bhai Rai Singh ji, my father, playing as a child.  Natha shook his head and thought: “if I have this boy captured, they will surely kill him.  I must protect the people of my village.  I am the Sarpanch of this village.  It’s my duty.  If I have him captured, I won’t be able to sit with the Panch.  If Mehtab Singh comes and asks me where his child is, what will I say?”  Bhai Natha ji thought: “I will save this child till I am alive.  If my children survive, I will be praised in the world.”  He took Bhai Rai Singh ji upon his shoulders and jumped the back wall.  5 people went with my father and travelled towards Mari Kambhoki.  One was Bhai Natha ji’s own son, another was his sister’s son; his servant who was a Mazhbi and a Darvaan.  They crossed the boundaries of the village at noon. 

Harbhagat Niranjania’s people found out and told him: “Natha jumped the back wall and ran away!”  They came and told him right away: “the one whom you wanted to arrest, they have all ran away!  If they get away, we will lose our honour.  Let’s go quickly and kill them.”  The army heard this and went right away.  They looked for the tracks first.  Bhai Natha ji said to his companions: “take Rai Singh.  I will stop the army.”  He said to his son: “take this child on your shoulders.  If you leave him, you will be slandered in this world.  If you run away without the child, you will be considered cowards, afraid of death.  I will stay here and fight with the army.  Go to the next village and hide this child.  Whatever will happen, will happen then.  His father gave his son to us.  I will die for him.”  Bhai Natha ji’s son said: “we can’t escape the army.  Death is upon our head.  We can’t hide to save ourselves.”  The army came and surrounded them.  They fired their rifles.  Bhai Natha ji and his companions took their swords and pushed the army back.  The Rangars were called to fight first from the army.  Massa’s family first came.  They were told: “brothers of Massa, go and avenge your brother’s death.”  The Rangars attacked.  They stayed from afar to stay away from the sword of Bhai Natha ji.  He only had a spear and a Saang.  They cut the chests of the Rangars.  The servant had a thick staff.  He jumped had smashed Massa’s brother’s head.  The Darvaan had a sword.  He killed many men and horses.  The Rangars ran away.  They said to the Mughals: “we can’t kill these Jatts.”  Bhai Natha ji fired arrows and killed many.  Whoever it hit, the arrows went right through them.  The Mughals said: “you are Massa’s brothers.  Go and avenge his death.  Aren’t you warriors?  Why did you come to us?  Go to Harbhagat Niranjania and kill the Jatts.”  Harbhagat heard this and said: “I can’t kill the Jatts.  Why are you joking?  Natha is a good warrior.  Whoever he kills, they don’t ask for water.  They won’t be killed by weapons or horses.  Fire your bullets and kill them.  Natha is a good archer.  He can shoot past Ram Teerath.”  The Mughals did what Harbhagat said.  They surrounded the men and fired their rifles.  Natha ji figured out that there was no doubt of dying: “if someone comes to kill you, whether he is king or pauper, he should be killed too.”  Bhai Natha ji fired his arrows.  They went right through them.  Bhai Natha ji’s bow’s string broke.  He threw his bow and took out his sword.  Whoever he hit, he killed them.  They fell down, quickly.  The Mughals were standing from afar and fired their guns.  Bhai Natha ji only had weapons.  The Mughals killed Bhai Natha ji and his companions.  They ran their horses on top of their bodies.  Only Bhai Natha ji’s nephew and Bhai Rai Singh ji survived. 

I will tell you about my father, how he survived.  When Bhai Natha ji was surrounded, they fired many bullets.  The child ran by grabbing the legs of Bhai Natha ji.  Bhai Natha ji moved back and forth with his sword.  The child would move around.  He fell on the ground and couldn’t reach Bhai Natha ji.  He was afraid, hearing the rifles.  He went into the jungle.  Bhai Natha ji grabbed a horse and put my father on top of the horse.  The Mughals didn’t let them stay.  Bhai Rai Singh ji was distressed.  He wanted to survive.  When the horse threw Bhai Rai Singh ji to the ground, the Mughals swung their swords upon his neck.  His neck was cut but his air valve remained intact.  The Mughal swung his sword again.  That strike cut the boy on the shoulder.  A third strike hit his head.  The sword cut the shoulder.  Rai Singh ji fainted.  The Mughals thought he died.  Rai Singh ji laid on the ground fainted.  The Mughal killed everyone and left, thinking they were all dead. 

A Maalan Kamboh woman who was selling mustard passed by.  She saw the fainted boy and noticed he was still breathing.  She picked up the boy and covered him in her basket.  She brought him home.  There was a brother/ cousin of my father.  Where my Thai lived, the Maalan woman from Kamboh, took my father there.  She knew who my father was.  They stitched my father’s wounds by a Mochi.  In this way, my father was saved.  In this way was this Sakhi of my father.  The Guru blessed me and completed this Sakhi. 

Part 17 The Sakhi of Bota Singh Shaheed

The Sakhi of Bhai Bota Singh ji, I, Rattan Singh, have heard it with my own ears from the elders.  He sacrificed his head after hearing the slandering of the Singhs.  He was a determined Jatti and Sati.  He was a servant of the Guru and a warrior by heart.  His name was Bota Singh and was from a village in Majha.  When many Singhs were killed, attaining Shaheedi, no Singh was seen for 4 months.  People said: “all of the Singhs have died and faded away.  The Turks have killed the Singhs.  There are no Singhs to fight.”  The Turks said: “the Khalsa is now dead.”  Bhai Bota Singh ji lived separately from his Jatha.  Bhai Bota Singh ji and Bhai Garja Singh ji were in the jungle.  A few travellers saw the two Singhs and were surprised to see them: “who are these Singhs that are still alive?”  When the travellers saw them, they said: “they must be fakes.  We don’t see any Singhs because the Turks killed them all.”  The other traveller said: “they must be cowards who are hiding.  The Khalsa is the one that fights everyday.  The Khalsa is the one who does not fear death.  The Khalsa is the one who fights for Dharam.  The Khalsa is the one who gives his head.”  Bhai Bota Singh ji heard this and stood up.  The words of the travellers felt like the bite of a scorpion.  He felt the pain.  He became determined: “till I don’t give my head, it won’t be right.  I will give my head to spread the glory.  The world will know that the Khalsa exists.  We should start a fight here and make the Turks liars.  Only then will people talk about the Khalsa.  We wish for the kingdom.  The Khan should know this.”  There was a place near Taran Taaran where the Saraa of Noor Deen is located.  (Noor Deen’s son forcefully took the bricks that were meant to be a part of the Taran Taaran Sarovar.  The Misl Sardaars later destroyed the Saraa and took the bricks back.)  There was a poll there on the road.  Bhai Bota Singh ji and Bhai Garja Singh ji took over the place and set up a poll, like children playing.  The guards ran away.  Bhai Bota Singh ji and Bhai Garja Singh ji Rangreta made noise and took over the poll.  They set a tax for the travellers.  They wanted the news to go to Navaab Zakariya Khan.  After 3 days, nobody came from the Navaab.  Bhai Bota Singh ji wrote a later and sent it to the Khan.  He wanted the army to come so they can attain Shaheedi:

“I am Bota Singh.  I have a Sota in my hand and I stand on the road.  I charge an Aana to a cart and I charge a Paisa for a donkey.  Tell Bhabhi Khano, her brother-in-law is the Singh, Bota.”  The Khan’s elder sister was Khano.  She was married to Farzula Khan.  She hated the Singhs and had them killed.  She was married into Bhai Bota Singh ji’s village.  When the Khan read the letter, he got angry and sent 100 soldiers. 

The army came to the Singhs.  The Singhs stood there.  One Singh was standing; the other Singh was gone to relieve his bodily wastes.  When he saw the army coming, he came back.  Both of the Singhs were ready to fight.  They challenged the Turks and yelled out the Fateh.  They got ready in this way.  They had a Sota in their hand and a Tulwar in their Gatra.  One Singh had a spear.  They came out of their fort made of branches.  They wore Kacheras and Dumaalaas.  They had no Chola or Kurta.  They had good weapons.  The leader of the army said: “there is no use fighting.  You are both tall and strong.  Give me your weapons and I will have you meet the Navaab.  I will have him forgive you and saved.”  The Singhs said: “why would we want to save our lives?  I made a relation with him to die.  I wish to die.  Don’t speak.  Come down from your horse so we can fight.  Keep your weapons.  We will fight with our Sotas.  Watch what we can do with our Sotas.  We will see your effort.”  The Turk said: “come with me.  There is still time.  I will have you speak in the court.”  The Singhs said: “what will we say?”  We will go to the highest court of Akaal Purakh.  We will speak with weapons.  Our Sotas will meet with the spears.”  The Turk said: “I am warning you.”  Bhai Bota Singh ji jumped ahead.  The Singhs ran and swung their weapons.  They ran like lions upon the 100 soldiers.  The Turks couldn’t catch them.  The Turks ran away from them.  The Sota was more dangerous than the sword.  The horses of the Turks moved back.  The Turks wanted to save their lives.  The Singhs were not afraid of death.  4 Turks first came and died.  Then 5 came, they died as well.  Wherever the weapons came, the Singhs ran towards there.  They swung at the Turks.  They killed them.  They didn’t care for their bodies.  They were being cut by the Turks.  They were happy to be hit by weapons.  It was like they were playing sonchi.  They jumped far.  The Turks charged and hit them.  The Singhs would fall and then stand up again.  They charged the Turks.  The Turks had good weapons but the Singhs were not scared. They didn’t love their lives.  They were not afraid seeing the many Turks.  They were eager to fight.  They wanted to die.  The Singhs didn’t care to be in pain.  When they were hit on their bones, their strength diminished but they would get up again.  If they were hit with an arrow, they would pull it out.  They would show the Turks their arrows and break them in front of them.  They said: “your arrows are damned.  They don’t even go through our bodies.”  The Turks swung their swords but the Singhs stopped the strikes with their Sotas.  The two Singhs joined their backs and fought.  They hit the horses to drop them.  The soldiers would leave their horses and fight on the ground.  They would get hit with the Sota and die.  They broke the shields of the Turks with their Sotas.  The Turks understood that they couldn’t kill the Singhs.  The Turks then took out their rifles and hit the Singhs with the bullets.  The Singhs used their Paintras to avoid the bullets.  Many bullets then came and broke their bones.  The Singhs held the Sotas with their left hands.  The Turks broke the legs of the Singhs.  Their legs were broken and couldn’t walk.  The leader of the Turks said: “surrender.  I will save your life.  I will keep you and convert you to Islam.”  Bhai Bota Singh ji stood up on one leg.  He said: “I’ll show you how to make a Mussalmaan.”  He walked on one leg and swung his Sota.  He would kill anyone that came forward.  The Singhs then fell.  The Turks moved back but the Singhs slithered on their knees and elbows to get to the Turks.  They kept staring at the Turks and did not look away.  I have written the Sakhi as the elders told me.  Only that person removes his stare who has doubts in his mind.  The one who lets go of the wish to live on, why would they look away?  Warriors fight, staring down their enemies in their eyes.  They fight head on.  Their faces were bright with radiance; red with anger.  They were drenched in blood.  They took the strikes of the swords on the front.  The Turks came and cut the Singhs to pieces.  They didn’t want the Singhs to stand up again.  The Singhs attained Shaheedi near the Saraa of Noor Deen.  Their mothers and fathers were Dhan who gave them birth.  The Singhs went to the realm of the Shaheeds, where Peers and Pagambhers were grabbed and put under their commands.  Bhai Bota Singh ji and Bhai Garja Singh ji received the greatest Shaheedi.  I have stated their Sakhi as I heard it from my elders.

Part 18 The Bravery of Bhai Sukha Singh ji Sakhi

Listen to the Sakhi of Bhai Sukha Singh ji now with a focussed mind.  He was from the village Kambo ki Maari (from Majha) and was a Tarkhaan.  When he was 12 years old, his parents had him married.  He wished to become a Singh and so he took Pahul from Amritsar.  Where the Sikh Sangat would gather, Bhai Sukha Singh ji would go there.  If a Singh came to his home, he would serve them well.  The tattletalers saw this and told the Turks.  The Turk Police came to his home when he wasn’t home.  The Police didn’t see him at his home.  The Police inquired about him becoming a Singh.  When the Police went away, his parents got worried.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji didn’t come home.  His parents would try to convince him: “what do we have with the Singhs?  We are workers.  What do we want with kingdoms?  The Singhs wish to take kingdoms.  We are workers.  How would we be kings?  Only Jatts can ask for kingdoms because they have land.  They plant and eat as they wish.  We work for a living.  If we get paid for our work, that is good for us.”  The parents brought Bhai Sukha Singh ji home at night.  They wanted to deceive him.  They mixed alcohol into cannabis and gave it to him.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji fainted and had no idea where he was.  His parents called a barber and cut his hair overnight.  When he woke up in the morning, he noticed his hair was cut.  He had no Dastaar on his head.  He figured out that his parents had sinned.  He was so angry that he wanted to kill his parents.  He then thought to himself: “to kill your parents is a huge sin.  Not to kill one’s own family, this is the tradition of the Singhs.”  He then decided to commit suicide.  He ran and jumped into a well.  People of the village found out and threw ropes down the well but Bhai Sukha Singh ji did not grab the ropes.  He wanted to drown and tried to flip himself.  He couldn’t drown as the water pulled him up.  His brother jumped into the well to save him.  He grabbed a rope and tried to take him up.  As this was happening, a Singh walked by.  The Singh yelled: “if you want to die then kill a Turk and then die.  Why do you want to die a useless death?  The Turks had fought with our Gurus; they made Hindus into Muslims; it is good to fight them and die.  Come out of the well and join the Singhs.  Kill the Turks and become a Shaheed.  This is my advice to you.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji thought about this and came out of the well.  He thought to himself: “this Singh speaks the truth.  I will kill the Turks before dying.”  He became determined that one cannot die without death coming, no matter how much you try: “I didn’t die after jumping into the well.  I wanted to die but I couldn’t.”  He became determined and wanted to challenge the Turks.  I wanted to fight the Turks.  He wanted to leave the village.  The Sarpanch of the village had a nice horse.  The stable boy brought the horse to drink water at the canal.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji saw the horse drinking water.  He took the horse and ran off to join the Panth Khalsa.  He came to Baba Shyam Singh ji who was nearby.  He retook Pahul from Baba Shyam Singh ji.  Baba ji loved Bhai Sukha Singh ji like his own son.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji thought to himself: “I should pay the Sarpanch of my village for this horse.”  He went to Lahore, dressed as a Jatt.  His hair was still short, as they were cut deceivingly by his parents.  He tied a Parna and went to Lahore.  He went to the Sarafa Bazaar in Lahore.  He saw people carrying money on their shoulders.  He caught sight of a bag of money.  He took the bag of money and left on his horse, riding through the gate of the city.  He was not afraid of death.  He took off from Lahore with the money.  It was almost evening when he rode away from the city.  He rode like the wind.  The people were shouting behind him but he rode on ahead.  By the time the Police came, Bhai Sukh Singh ji hid in the jungle.  He slipped away and joined the Dal.  He sent the money to his village.  He sent 300 Rupees to the Sarpanch which was more than the horse’s worth.  He made friends with the Sarpanch as they had the bond of being from the same village.  The rest of the money was added to the Dal’s treasury for Langar.  He didn’t send any money to his parents.  In this way, he ran many missions of looting royal treasuries and giving to the poor.  He was confident and eager.  He would kill anyone in his way.  He learnt Shaster Vidya well and became an expert.  He would challenge the best.  He would loot everyone on his horse, bringing it back to the Langar of the Khalsa.  Wherever the Turks battled, Bhai Sukha Singh ji would fight like a lion.  He would fight and come back to the Khalsa.  He was an excellent marksman.  He loved using rifles.  He would kill horses with his arrows.  Spears, Sailas, Barchis and Teghs; he would kill the enemy with these weapons.  He was a master of all weapons.  He would kill anyone he hit.  The Khalsa would praise him.  He became famous.  He was always sent to carry out the most difficult missions.  He was the crown of the greatest warriors.  He was always victorious in battle.  He was well-respected within the Divaan of the Khalsa.  He would do Seva in the Divaan by waving the fans for the Sangat.  He cooked Langar.  He would bring firewood for the Langar and the fire.  He would bring water from the wells for the thirsty.  He would bring grains for the Langar.  He would massage tired Singhs.  He would bring water and give baths to the elder Singhs.  He would wash and ring the Kacheras of elder Singhs.  He would wash the feet of Singhs.  He would help with the Daattan for Singhs, holding their cleansing pots.  He memorized a lot of Gurbani.  He would play instruments and do Keeran in Raag.  He always kept weapons in his Kamarkassa.  He was always ready to fight.  He would serve Singhs in many ways.  He was never afraid of fights and battles.  His parents would come to meet him once in a while.  They would ask the Singhs to tell him to come home.  His parents convinced him to come home to bring home his Muklava.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji then began to go home, once in a while.  He would go home in the morning and come back to the Dal quickly.  The Turks were always on his tail. 

After some time, a daughter was born to him.  She either died on her own or someone in his family may have killed the daughter.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji had no idea how she died.  The Khalsa came to know of this and so they accused him of girl-killing.  They didn’t let Bhai Sukha Singh ji touch the Batas nor ate with him any longer.  The Khalsa said: “you are a girl killer.  You have spoiled the tradition of the Khalsa.”  The Panth Khalsa would not speak to him anymore.  They would call him a girl-killer and made him sit separately.  He pleaded with them as he was innocent but the Khalsa did not forgive him or his family.  He became worried and depressed.  As famous as he was, that’s how low he had become.  He was worried.  He didn’t speak to anyone.  He remained quiet.  Nobody wanted to talk to him.

Part 19 The Sakhi of Bhai Sukha Singh ji Continues

Ahmed Shah Abdali took over Lahore and headed towards Delhi.  He left his army there, to protect Lahore.  He left the Gilzaas.  Many thousand were there.  The Gilzaas were huge.  They ate a goat a day.  They left Lahore and were looking for Singhs.  They wanted to see the Sikhs.  They were huge and their horses were huge.  They ate like Shahs.  They ate almonds, dates, goats and many rich foods.  They wore chainmail all over their bodies.  Their pants, gloves and foot covers were all metal.  Their horses were cladded with chainmail.  Such were the Gilzaas.  They brought Kasuri Pathaans with them to find the Sikhs.  Near Bhudda Kot, many homes belonged to the Singhs.  The Gilzaas attacked Bhudda Kot and killed many Singhs.  The Singhs would live near the river shores.  The Singhs saw the Gilzaas and turned the other way towards Ferozepur.  The Gilzaas became proud, thinking the Singhs feared them.  They wrote a letter to the Singhs: “we are the special brothers of the Shah.  You call yourself Singh warriors.  We came to see your fight.  You saw us and ran away from the river shore.  You lie.  You are not Singhs.  You are coward scavengers who are uncivilized.  If you call yourselves Singhs, if you are warriors then come and show your fight.  Come two at a time to fight one of us Durranis.”  

The Singhs held a Divaan and read the letter out loud to all.  The Singhs wrote a response to the Gilzaas: “we will face you.  10 of you Durranis can come our way with your big rifles.  5 Bhujhangis will come from our side.  We will have shields, swords and Ramjangas.”  The Gilzaas responded: “we won’t fight with rifles.  Bring your churris, Kataars and Shamsheers.  We won’t bring rifles or arrows.  Bring your Teghs, Kataris and churris.  Leave your rifles and bows in your homes.”  The Gilzaas knew that Sikhs were excellent marksmen because their minds were very focused.  The Khalsa responded: “we will only fight with rifles!  The Sri Satguru has commanded us: “to kill the enemy, he gave us the Ramjangas.”  They made their point in this way.  The both sides did not come to an agreement.  There was doubt.  The Gilzaas had chainmail which was hard to penetrate.  They wanted to fight with such protection.  The swords would have done nothing.  They were afraid of the bullets of the Khalsa as it would go through the chainmail. 

The next day, the Gilzaa messenger came and said: “if there is a man amongst you, then come alone and fight.  Come with a churri, Katari and Tegh.  Come and fight one-on-one.  If you don’t fight, call yourselves cowards.  Your Singh name would be garbage.  Your Singh name is damned then.  Write on a piece of paper that you lost.  For the sake of your Guru, come and fight us.  If one of you come out to fight us, we will say that your mother and father are Dhan (great).  If you wish to hide from the fight, your parents would be embarrassed.  As you earned in the fight for Dharma, why don’t you complete our wish for a fight?  Damned is your Panth and damned is your Singh name!”  The messenger went back. 

None of the Singhs got up.  Bhai Charat Singh ji got really angry.  (He was the future grandfather of Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji) Bhai Charat Singh ji was around 15 years old then.  He got up and left his rifle.  He grabbed a Khanda and headed towards the Gilzaas.  He began opening up his horse.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji, sitting alone in a corner (as he was no longer allowed to sit with the Khalsa), thought to himself: “he is a child.  How will he kill the Ghandaris?  Their body is covered in metal.  He can’t cut through a strand of their chainmail.  They eat a goat a day.  We make a living with Saag.  We don’t have rich food like they do.”  As Bhai Charat Singh ji was going to ride off, Bhai Sukha Singh ji grabbed the reins and said: “Bhujhangi, where are you going?  How will you kill the Gilzaa?  They are 4 times as big as you.  How will your Tegh cut through them?  They have 5 or 7 maunds of metal on them.  Their horses are covered with Faulaad metal.  They can carry 20 or 30 maunds, just like that.  They run 100 Kos and don’t get tired.  That’s why they want to fight with swords.  They have stamina and power.  You are a child.  You haven’t thought about this.”  Bhai Charat Singh ji said: “you speak the truth but I can’t tolerate the harsh words the Turks said in front of us with ego.  They spoke cursing words.  They called the Panth damned.  How can they call the Panth damned while we are alive?  I can’t hear the slander of the Khalsa Panth.  I will fight and give my life.  To kill or be killed is in the hands of the Guru.  Only effort is in our hands.  I can’t see the enemy challenging us and we sitting down.  The Bhajan of Hari is a small word but it can destroy the harshest of sins; Ek chit jih ik chin dhyayo.. kaal phaas ke beech na aya – by remembering (the Lord) with focus for a blink of an eye, one does not come into whip of Kaal; that’s how the small me will kill the Pathaan by the radiance of the Satguru.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji said: “you are great, oh child!  Stay here and now watch my way.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji sent Charat Singh towards a tree.  He told him to dig and pull out a chainmail that he had buried there.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji had killed a Gilzaa in the past and buried his chainmail.  Bhai Charat Singh dug it up and brought it back.  It was a complete uniform, including metal gloves and foot covers.  There was a helmet and chest cover in it.  He had a covering for his horse as well.  He took that from the Gilzaa as well.  Bhai Charat Singh ji helped Bhai Sukha Singh ji put the chainmail on.  He dressed the horse as well.  He bowed to his Sirohi and fastened his shield.  He had 5 Singhs do an Ardaas: “may the Bhagauti be by the Singhs.”  He bowed and sat on the saddle of his horse.  He felt a good omen by the wind as it came from the right side.  He was happy, his horse was excited.  He figured out that the Gilzaa was as good as dead.  As he rode, he saw other good omens.  He came out to the beach after crossing the river.  He told Charat Singh ji and the others to go back: “you have Satguru ji’s sake, stay back.  I will not leave the Pathaan alive!”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji challenged the Pathaan: “you won’t leave now!  You slandered the Panth.  Where will you go?  Your grave will be here!  I will kill you like the truth cutting the false.  You came with ego in your mind.  You think we were rabbits for you to hunt.  Look!  I will show you how rabbits become lions!  You made a mistake!  You will be trapped, coming here.”  The Singh stood on his horse on the sand.  A Gilzaa came from the other side who was 7 feet tall.  Both looked at each other and spoke liked they loved each other.  Both had swords and told each other to strike first.  They both talked.  Both moved around.  The Singh said: “watch out Pathaan!  Bring another one of you!”  The Pathaan said: “I am a lion.  I will kill you like a goat.”  Both horses came face to face.  Both men had swords.  They told each other to strike first like two brothers speaking with love.  Both were experts in fighting and defence.  Both struck each other.  They both blocked the strikes with their shields like hitting an anvil.  The shields soon broke after standing so much pounding.  They broke each other’s chainmail, after fighting for a long time.  The Teghs broke the chainmail.  The Churris came out.  They both fell from their horses.  Their Teghas broke.  They fought for a long time.  They fought with punches.  The horses lost their strength and eventually bled to death.  The men were bleeding.  The horses fought each other.  They had fought with shoulders.  The warriors hugged and wrestled.  After wrestling each other with full strength, both men fainted after fighting.  Both men laid on the ground.  A wind came and Bhai Sukha Singh ji regained awareness.  He lifted his neck and saw the Gilzaa gasping for air.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji quickly got up and jumped on top of the Gilzaa.  In a quick maneuver he lifted up the chainmail from the Gilzaa’s neck and chest.  He stabbed him with his Churri, taking out his heart and other organs.  He stabbed the Gilzaa in the abdomen and took his intestines out.  The Satguru kept the honour of the Khalsa.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji yelled the Fateh out loud, with all the remaining energy he had, and got up.  In this way, the Mughal Pathaan died who was egotistical.  Rattan Singh has written it as he has heard it from the older Singhs.

He said the Fateh and came back.  He was bleeding but was happy.  He ran towards the Khalsa and the Singhs ran towards him with their arms up in the air.  The Gilzaas all attacked.  The Singhs came in front and fired their rifles.  Bhai Charat Singh ji took his horse and picked up Bhai Sukha Singh ji grabbing and lifting him up by the arm.  He brought Singh ji back.  The Gilzaas were killed and pushed back.  Bhai Charat Singh ji and Bhai Sukha Singh ji became the best of friends.  Charat Singh saw Sukha Singh ji as his teacher and mentor.  They were two bodies but one mind.  He taught Charat Singh everything he knew.  They were able to fight for days on their horses.

The Sardars came back to the Dhera.  All of the Sardars of the Misls brought a horse for Bhai Sukha Singh ji.  They praised him and gifted him horses.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji wanted the allegation of killing his daughter to be forgiven.  He stood up in front of the Khalsa with his hands folded to ask for forgiveness.  The Khalsa hugged him and did the Ardaas with joy.  He returned the horses to the Sardars.  He only kept the horses given to him by Baba Shyam Singh ji as he was known as his son.  Baba Shyam Singh ji had 12,000 horses.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji took the two best horses.  This was the Sakhi of Bhai Sukha Singh ji that I’ve heard from my elders.  He was my mother’s brother and my Nana ji’s son.  Rattan Singh will tell you other Sakhis of his.  Listen to them with your heart.

Part 20 The Sakhi of Bhai Sukha Singh ji Continues II

The Singhs were hiding and would kill the enemy whenever they got a chance.  They hid and came out to fight.  They didn’t let the Mughal and Pathaans stay in peace.  The Singhs took over Noor Deen’s Sarra.  Sanghar Kot was a village that the Singhs won.  They won Majhita village as well.  They took revenge on the enemy.  They then wanted to kill Cheena, Karam who had killed many Singhs.  They surrounded Cheena Village.  Karma Cheena sent his men out to fight.  The Singhs killed all of the men of Cheena.  The Singhs looted the whole village.  They surrounded Karma’s Qila inside the village.  He fired from inside.  Karma figured out that the Singhs were not going to let him go.  He killed 13 of his daughters-in-law, daughters and women of his family, thinking the Singhs would rape them.  The fight went on for many days.  The Singhs came in and Karma climbed up to the Attari of his Qila.  His bullets and gunpowder finished.  He then threw rocks.  The Singhs jumped upon the Attari.  They didn’t want to leave him as he had killed many Singhs in the past.  They both threw rocks.  The Singhs came to the Attari.  Karma hid in one of the Attaris.  The Singhs took the roof off.  They shot their rifles.  When the bullets came in, Karma realised he was going to die.  He regretted the murders he did of the Singhs.  He knew the Singhs were going to kill him.  He had done bad karma.  He killed innocent householder Sikhs.  He made many Sikh children into orphans.  He killed the women in his own home and was hiding then.  He yelled out to the Singhs: “fight one-on-one with me!”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji Tarkhan from Marri came, who had done many missions.  He has many Sakhis.  He said: “Karma!  Come and fight me!”  He stopped the Singhs from firing.  He said: “don’t fear anyone else.  I will fight you with a sword.  You can wrestle me.  We can use fists, rocks or sticks.  If you want to use a sword, go ahead.  You won’t be hit with a bullet or arrow.  Will you come or should I come to you?”  Karma grabbed his shield and jumped like a lion.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji said: “it’s your turn to strike.  The second strike will be mine.”  Karma struck his spear but Bhai Sukha Singh ji blocked it with his shield.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji swung his sword and sliced Karma in two.  In this way, Karma Cheena was killed. 

Listen to the other missions that Sukha Singh ji ran.  The Turks put a lot of pressure.  They wouldn’t let Sikhs bathe in the Amritsar Sarovar.  Qazi Abdul Razak was the one that had a lot of Singhs killed.  The Turks guarded the area of Amritsar.  The Khalsa wanted to do Melas there.