FATEH SINGH (GANGANAGAR)
(Bhai) Fateh Singh (27.10.1911 – 30.10.1972), son of Bhai Channan Singh, was born at Badial (district Bathinda). When he grew up, his father sent him to Giani Ishar Singh of Sekha, to study Sikh scriptures. He spent several years at Sekha. Later, he moved to Buddha Joharh, Ganganagar (Rajasthan). He built Gurdwaras and schools in and around Ganganagar and became very popular among the people of the area. Gurdwara Buddha Joharh was his headquarters. In 1948, he joined the Akali Dal and made remarkable contribution during the Akali agitations and conferences. In 1959, he was nominated as the vice-president of the Akali Dal. In 1960, when Punjabi Suba agitation began, with the arrest of Master Tara Singh, on May 24-25, 1960, he was nominated as the ‘dictator’ of the agitation. By December 1960, more than 50000 Sikhs had courted arrest. Fateh Singh decided to change the strategy. He announced his decision to begin fast unto death (an act not in consonance with the Sikh ideology). On December 18, 1960, he began his fast (unto death) for the achievement of Punjabi Suba but broke the same on January 9, 1960 without achieving anything. During the same period, he became a part of conspiracy to remove Master Tara Singh from the leadership of the Sikh nation. In July 1962, he parted company with Master Tara Singh and formed a separate Akali Dal. His group was able to win the Sikh masses on the issue of Jat and non-Jat (it harmed the Sikh nation a lot). In August 1965, Fateh Singh announced another fast unto death but withdrew it on the plea of Indo-Pak war. Fateh Singh undertook another fast on December 17, 1966 but broke it on December 27. He began still another fast, on January 27, 1970 and broke it on February 1, without any achievement. In 1971, the Akali Dal suffered heavy defeat in the Parliamentary elections. The Akali workers asked Fateh Singh to retire from politics. He obliged and Mohan Singh Tur became the president of the Akali Dal. Fateh Singh expected that the Akali workers will select him as the ‘Patron’ of the Dal; but, it did not happen. This broke the heart of Fateh Singh. A dejected, despondent, melancholic, demoralized Fateh Singh could not tolerate his fall. He died in 1972.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)