Bhai Haqiqat Rai/Singh (October 1724 – 30.1.1742), son of Bibi Gauran and Bhai Bagh Mall and grandson of Bhai Nand Lal Puri (a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Har Rai Sahib), was born at Sialkot (Pakistan). When he was just a small boy, he was married to Bibi Durga Devi (daughter of Bhai Kishan Chand Uppal of Batala). Bhai Budh Singh of Batala taught him the basic principles of Sikh philosophy. Later, he was sent to local school run by the Muslims. One day, some of his Muslim class-fellows used abusive language for some mythological Hindu goddess. He asked them, “If some one says any thing in the same tune against Bibi Fatima, the daughter of Hazrat Mohammed Sahib, how would you feel?” This was enough to infuriate his Muslim class-fellows. They made complaint to Amir Beg, the ruler of Sialkot. Amir Beg arrested Haqiqat Singh (Rai). He was produced before Zakaria Khan, the Governor of Lahore. Zakaria Khan asked him to choose between “death or Islam.” Haqiqat Singh (Rai) refused to give up his faith. Zakaria Khan ordered his execution. Haqiqat Singh (Rai)’s samaadh was built in East Lahore. It had to be abandoned in 1947 at the time of mass migration.
In fact the name of Haqiqat Singh (Rai) has been mentioned wrongly as Rai. He was Haqiqat Singh. It was Agra poet who made him Haqiqat Rai. Bhai Haqiqat Singh’s maternal uncle Arjan Singh Wadhawan was also killed along with him.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)