Ishar Singh (1.1.1878 – 16.8.1941), son of Bhai Jind Singh Sandhu, was born at village Marhana (district Amritsar). In 1906, he moved to Hong Kong. In 1908, he reached America. Here, he joined Baba Wisakha Singh Dadehar and Bhai Jawala Singh. The three were the real founders of the movement, later came to be known as Ghadr movement. He was one of the leaders who left America to participate in freedom struggle. He was arrested and tried in the Lahore Conspiracy Act. He was given life imprisonment. After his release, in 1921, he led a Jatha to Nanakana Sahib. In 1922, a political conference was held at his village. He was asked to preside over the conference. After the conference he was arrested again. In this case too he was sentenced to seven years in jail. In 1930, he was elected as a member of Darbar Sahib Management Committee. On July 4, 1930, he was elected vice president of this Committee. It was during this time that the foundation stone of Guru Ram Das Saran was laid on August 17, 1931. In 1930, he courted arrest in Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement. On July 24, 1936, he was elected President of Darbar Sahib Management Committee. He was one of the major persons behind the establishment of Guru Ram Das High School, founded on March 6, 1938. Ishar Singh was an honest administrator, a generous person and a GurSikh.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)