JASWANT SINGH JHABAL

Bhai Jaswant Singh (17.6.1896 – 14.7.1964), son of Bhai Gopal Singh, was born at village Jhabal (district Amritsar). In 1919 he founded a welfare organisation in his village. When Akali movement began in the summer of 1920, he joined it along with his brothers Bhai Amar Singh and Bhai Sarmukh Singh. In April 1920, he became joint secretary of Amritsar unit of the Sikh League. He participated in Gurdwara Ber Sahib agitation (September-October 1920). He was one of the main organisers of the enrollment for the Shaheedi Jatha which was to rebuilt the wall of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj (demolished by the British regime on January 14, 1914). He was arrested for the first time on May 11, 1921, in connection with a speech about the Nanakana Sahib massacre and again on November 26, 1921, during the Keys’ Affair agitation and in February 1922 in connection with a seditious speech. He was released in 1925. He was selected as a member of the first S.G.P.C. In 1926, he was elected general secretary of the S.G.P.C. On June 18, 1926, elections to the S.G.P.C. were held under the Gurdwara Act. In these elections (and again in 1930), he was elected as a member of the S.G.P.C. and the president of local committee for Darbar Sahib Amritsar. When Akali Party split in 1930s, he formed Azad Akali Dal on February 14, 1933 and became its president. In September 1933 his party merged with Baba Kharak Singh and Giani Sher Singh group and former Central Akali Dal with Baba Kharak Singh as president and Jaswant Singh as vice-president. Bhai Jaswant Singh actively participated in the agitation of Shaheed Ganj and freedom of sword (1935-36). After this he renounced politics. He died in oblivion in 1964, at Chandigarh.

(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)