Bhai Bhag Singh Canadian (1872 – 6.9.1914), son of Bhai Narain Singh, was born at village Bhikkhivind (district Amritsar). In 1892, he joined service with the British Indian cavalry but resigned his job after a few years. Later, he moved to Hanklow (China) and joined service with the municipal police department. After service of about three years, he moved to Vancouver, Canada. He was one of the founders of Guru Nanak Mining and Engineering Company. He was one of the main organisers, who established Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara, in its own building, on January 19, 1908. (Gurdwara had already been started, in a rented building, on July 22, 1906). He was elected as the secretary (later, the president) of Gurdwara management committee. Bhai Bhag Singh was a benevolent person and he used to make active participation in services at the Gurdwara. In January 1912, he, along with Bhai Balwant Singh Granthi, brought his family to Canada. The Canadian law of the day did not allow even family union. The authorities, however, allowed them after some hesitation and declared that the case shall not be taken as a precedent. Bibi Harnam Kaur, Bhai Bhag Singh’s wife (born 1886), died on January 30, 1914 (leaving behind two children Jupinder Singh, 26 months old and Karam Kaur, seven days old at the time of the death of their mother). On May 22, 1914, Komagata Maru ship reached Vancouver. The passengers were not allowed to enter Canada. During that period, Bhai Bhag Singh was detained by the police so that he might not be able to help the passengers of the ship. The ship had to return (after dramatic events) on July 23, 1914. Soon, Vancouver became a centre of anti-Sikh conspiracies of the white regime. The main persons behind this plan were: William Hopkinson, a former sergeant of the British Indian police and Bela Sinh (of village Jian, district Hoshiarpur). On August 31, 1914, Harnam Singh (brother of another police tout) was found dead in mysterious circumstances (believed to have been killed by Jagat Singh of village Sur Singh). On September 3, 1914, Arjan Singh, of village Sikh Daulat (district Ludhiana) was accidentally killed by Ram Singh of village Tallewal (district Patiala). Arjan Singh was cremated on September 5. At the time of cremation, Bela Sinh, tried to make an attempt at the life of Bhai Bhag Singh and Bhai Mit Singh Pandori (the two leaders of the local Sikhs) but could not succeed because of the presence of a police official. After the cremation, the Sikhs went to Gurdwara where Bela fired at Bhai Bhag Singh, who was sitting Tabia (performing services) of Guru Granth Sahib. Bhai Battan Singh and some others tried to stop Bela. They too were fired at by Bela. Bhai Bhag Singh, Bhai Battan Singh, Bhai Uttam Singh Nurpur, Bhai Jawala Singh of Sikh Daulat, Bhai Dalip Singh Nangal, Bhai Labh Singh Dhakko were seriously wounded. Bhai Bhag Singh and Bhai Battan Singh died the next day (September 6). They were cremated on one pyre, on September 7, 1914. The mastermind behind these killings was Hopkinson. On October 21, 1914, he was killed by Bhai Mewa Singh. (Bhai Mewa Singh was given death sentence. He was hanged on January 11, 1915. Bela was killed in 1934.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)