KISHAN SINGH GARGAJJ
Bhai Kishan Singh Gargajj (1889 – 27.2.1926), son of Bhai Fateh Singh, was born at village Baring (district Jullundur). After completing his school education, he joined the British Indian army. Soon he reached the rank of Havildar Major. It was during this period that the Sikhs had faced injustice in the case of demolition of the wall of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Delhi, injustice to the passengers of Komagata Maru ship, killings at Budge Budge, Rowlatt Act, massacre of Jallianwala Bagh. During his service, he began preaching in favour of the freedom movement. He was court-martialled and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for four weeks. After 15 years of service he returned home. By that time Gurdwara reform movement had already begun. The carnage of the Sikhs at Nanakana Sahib, on February 20, 1921, pricked the soul of Bhai Kishan Singh. He met Master Mota Singh at the Sikh Educational Conference, held at Hoshiarpur, on March 19-21, 1921 and both agreed that the government should be opposed by way of armed struggle too. Their first action was to punish the persons who were guilty for the massacre of the Sikhs at Nanakana Sahib. To translate this plan into action, an attempt to kill J.M. Bowring, the police S.P. of Lahore was made. The plan could not succeed and persons who were to implement it were arrested. The police issued warrants for arrest of Master Mota Singh and Kishan Singh Gargajj. Both went underground but continued their activities secretly. In June 1921, while addressing a gathering at Mastuana, he asked the Sikhs to take up arms against the British. The organisers stopped him from speaking and he had to abandon his speech. On October 13, 1921, he repeated his lecture at Hardaspur (near Phagwara). Here (Sant) Kartar Singh of Paragpur joined him. In November 1921, Bhai Kishan Singh formed his Chakarvarti Jatha and began military activities against the British regime. On February 15, 1922, Bhai Kishan Singh addressed the Sikhs at village Paragpur. Here Babu Santa Singh joined him. In March 1922, he repeated his speech at Anandpur Sahib. Here, the police tried to arrest him but the people did not let the police reach near him till he disappeared. After this Bhai Kishan Singh and his companions decided to punish the police informers. By this time Bhai Karam Singh Daulatpur too was carrying out the same mission. Now Bhai Karam Singh and Bhai Kishan Singh joined hands. They started Gargajj Akali, a bulletin of the organisation. Bhai Karam Singh chose the Babar as his pseudonym. Later, the organisation also came to be known as Babar Akali Jatha. For one year, Bhai Kishan Singh worked very hard. In April 1923, the Babar Jatha was declared an unlawful organisation. On June 16, 1923, Master Mota Singh was arrested. On February 26, 1923, Bhai Kishan Singh too was arrested from the village Pandori Mahal. He was tried and sentenced to death on February 28, 1925. He was hanged a year later.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)