Bhai Kirpa Ram Munjal, a Dutt Brahmin (? – 7.12.1705), son of Bhai Aru Ram and grandson of Bhai Narain Das, was born at village Mattan (Kashmir). He was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. His father Bhai Aru Ram Dutt was also a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Har Rai Sahib. When Guru Har Rai Sahib visited Kashmir, in May 1660, Bhai Aru Ram escorted Guru Sahib from Srinagar to Mattan. Bhai Aru Ram had three sons: Kirpa Ram, Shiv Das and Chela Ram. On August 28, 1670, Bhai Kirpa Ram visited Lakhnaur to pay respects to (Guru) Gobind Das (Singh) Sahib, when the latter moved from Patna. On May 25, 1675, he led a deputation of the Brahmins of Kashmir to request Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib to help stop forcible conversion of the Hindus. Bhai Kirpa Ram got initiation in the third batch on the first day of the initiation of Khalsa and became Bhai Kirpa Singh. He was one of the 40 Sikhs who embraced martyrdom at Chamkaur Sahib on December 7, 1705. (His brother Bhai Sanmukh Singh too embraced martyrdom in this battle). Bhai Kirpa Singh had two sons: Dharam Singh and Ishar Singh. Most of the Munjal Brahmin Sikhs of Kashmir are descendants of this Dutt family.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)