BALWANT SINGH CANADIAN
Bhai Balwant Singh Canadian (14.9.1882 – 16.3.1917), son of Bhai Budh Singh, was born at Khurdpur (district Jullundur). After completing his school education, he joined army. In 1905, he resigned the army and the next year, he migrated to Canada. He was one of the founders of Vancouver Gurdwara, started first in a rented building, on July 22, 1906. On January 19, 1908, the Gurdwara was inaugurated in its own building (1866, 2nd Avenue). Bhai Balwant Singh was appointed Granthi. In 1908-09, Canada was hit hard by recession. The Canadian authorities planned mass transfer of the Asians (including the Sikhs) to the British colony of Honduras. Bhai Balwant Singh was one of the persons who accompanied J. B. Harkin, the private secretary to the minister of Interior department, for a visit to British Honduras. After his return, he and Professor Teja Singh Mastuana advised the Sikhs to refuse to move to Honduras. In 1911, he went to Punjab for a visit and in January 1912, he, along with Bhai Bhag Singh, brought his family to Canada. After some hesitation, the authorities allowed them entry with a declaration that ‘that gesture should not be considered as a precedent’. Bhai Balwant Singh struggled hard for removal of restrictions on the Sikh immigrants for family union. On February 22, 1913, a meeting held at Khalsa Diwan Society, selected Bhai Balwant Singh, Bhai Narain Singh and Bhai Nand Singh to approach the British government. The deputation visited London and then proceeded to Delhi. During the tour, he visited Darbar Sahib Amritsar. On August 18, 1913, Bhai Balwant Singh addressed a Sikh gathering at Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore. On December 20, 1913, the deputation presented a memorandum to the Viceroy. On his return journey to Canada, he met Baba Gurdit Singh, at Mugi
(Japan), on April 19, 1914. When Komagata Maru reached Vancouver, on May 22, 1914, he was selected as a member of the “Shore Committee” to help the passengers of Komagata Maru. The passengers of the ship were not allowed to land in Canada. This added to the anger of the Sikh immigrants. The Canadian authorities took strict measures and even tried to awe the Sikhs by arresting Bhai Balwant Singh and Bhai Mewa Singh on the allegations of smuggling arms from the U.S.A. This was followed by the murder of Bhai Battan Singh and Bhai Bhag Singh (on September 5, 1914), the murder of William Hopkinson (on October 21, 1914) and the martyrdom of Bhai Mewa Singh (on January 11, 1915). The authorities tried to implicate Bhai Balwant Singh in these cases but could not achieve its designs for want of evidence against him. He was, however, forced to leave Canada. He left Vancouver with his family. He stopped at Shanghai (China) for a few days. He sent his wife to the Punjab and stayed behind for revolutionary activities. In July 1915, he had to visit Thailand on some mission. There he fell sick and had to be admitted to hospital. He was arrested and taken to the Punjab. He was tried in the Third Lahore Conspiracy Case. In spite of insufficient evidence, he was sentenced to death on January 4, 1917. He was to be hanged on March 17, 1915. With a special order from Michael O’Dwyer, then Lt. Governor of the Punjab, he was hanged one day earlier, on March 16, 1915.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)