Jathedar Gurbakhsh Singh (10.4.1688 – 1.12.1764), son of Bhai Dasaundha, was born at village Leel (district Amritsar). He was a dedicated Sikh. He got initiation from Bhai Mani Singh. He served as caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib. In November 1764, Ahmed Shah Durrani invaded the Sikh Homeland. On December 1, 1764, he reached Amritsar. At that time there were only 30 Sikhs present at Akal Bunga. Thousands of the soldiers of Ahmed Shah attacked the Sikhs. The Sikhs, under the Jathedar-ship (leadership) of Baba Gurbakhsh Singh, fought bravely. Before embracing martyrdom they killed hundreds of the soldiers of Durrani. The scene has been finely depicted by Qazi Nur Mohammed in his work Jang Namah: “… they were only 30 in number. They did not have the least fear of death. They fought against the Ghazis and spilled their blood…” A memorial, in the memory of martyrs, has been erected by the backside of the building of Akal Takht Sahib.
(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)