Archives: Sikh Biographies

Bhai Rai Kallha, the ruler of the area of Tihar-Jagraon region, was the son of Rai Ahmed and grandson of Tulsi Ram, a Rajput. His daughter was married to Bhai Aalam Khan, son of Bhai Nihang Khan, chief of village Kot Nihang Khan (near Ropar). When Guru Gobind Singh Sahib reached Lamme-Jatpura from Machhiwara, on December 17, 1705, he welcomed Guru Sahib and provided all possible help. He sent Nura Mahi to Sirhind to confirm the news of the martyrdom of the two younger sons and the mother of Guru Sahib. When Nura Mahi returned and gave the information, Rai Kallha became sad. Guru Sahib told him that one must bow before the Will of the Almighty. Before leaving the village, Guru Sahib presented him a sword, a rack to place sacred books on it for reading purposes and a splendid jug, named Ganga Sagar. In 1731, when he grew old, Baba Aala Singh of Patiala attacked him and captured a lot of his territory. His family, however, remained in possession of a few villages. Once his grandson went out on a hunting tour and wore the sword presented by Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. While chasing a deer, he hurt himself and died of the wound. Later, one member of this family gave this sword to Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana as a present. He sent that sword to the India Office. Finally it reached the British Museum at London. Ilias was the last male in direct line of Bhai Rai Kallha. After this the jug and the rack remained with one of the relatives of Ilias. In 1947, they migrated to Chicha Watani (Pakistan). They took the jug and the rack with them. They have still preserved these two things with them. In 1994, the family, which had the possession of Ganga Sagar, travelled to England (with this jug). The Sikhs donated large sums of money to the family.

(Dr Harjinder Sinh Dilgeer)

MAIYA
Bhai Maia, son of Bhai Khana, was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Angad and Guru Amar Das. According to the author of Sikhan Di Bhagatmala, Once he, along with his father Bhai Khanu and Bhai Govind Bhandari visited Guru Angad. They asked the Guru as to which was the most precious virtue that one should have. The Guru told them that love is the greatest virtue. We should always love God. We should remember Him and always sing the praise of His Excellences. We should serve the Sangat and help the needy with food and clothing. Bhai Khanu, Bhai Maia and Bhai Govind spent rest of their lives as per the instructions of the Guru.

MAIYA LAMB
Bhai Maia Lamb, a resident of Suhand (probably Sirhind), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib. According to the author of Sikhan Di Bhagatmala, once Bhai Maia asked the Guru, “Some people perform Keertan as a means to earn their livelihood while others earn their livliehood by hard labour, share their earnings with others, attend the Sangat and recite Gurbani. Who is better among these two?” The Guru told him, “All those who sing the praise of God are blessed by Him but those who do so without desire for any reward attain the Divine Bliss.”

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Guru Period: Lahore (May 30, 1606): Guru Arjan Sahib.

Ruhila (September 27 to October 3, 1621): Bhai Bihari, Bhai Dhura, Bhai Jattu, Bhai Krishana, Bhai Maluka, Bhai Mandan, Bhai Mathra Bhatt, Bhai Nanu, Bhai Paraga Chhibber, Bhai Saktu, Bhai Sunder etc.

Amritsar (April 13, 1634): Bhai Ballu, Bhai Kirat Bhatt, Bhai Singha Purohit, Bhai Piarana, Bhai Mohan, Bhai Nanda Sanghera, Bhai Nihala, Bhai Nihalu Dhir, Bhai Tiloka, Bhai Tota etc.

Mehraj (December 1634): Bhai Jetha, Bhai Sukha Mandan etc.

Kartarpur (April 27-29, 1635): Bhai Amia, Bhai Fatta, Bhai Kishana, Bhai Lakkhhu, Bhai Madho, Bhai Nathia etc.

Phagwara (April 29, 1635): Bhai Dasa, Bhai Suhela, Bhai Jaggu etc.

Chandani Chowk, Delhi (November 11, 1675): Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Bhai Dial Das, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das.

Bhangani (September 18, 1688): Bhai Hathi Chand, Bhai Udia, Bhai Sango Shah, Bhai Jit Mall etc.

Nadaun (March 19, 1691):- Bhai Sohan Chand, Bhai Mul Chand Nijjar etc.

Guler (February 18, 1696): Bhai Sangat Rai, Bhai Lehania, Bhai Hanumant, Bhai Darso etc.

Taragarh (August 29, 1700): Bhai Ishar Singh, Bhai Kalyan Singh, Bhai Sangat Singh (Bhai Pheru) etc.

Fatehgarh (August 30, 1700): Bhai Bhagwan Singh, Bhai Jawahar Singh, Bhai Nand Singh etc.

Agammgarh (August 31, 1700): Bhai Bagh Singh, Bhai Gharbara Singh etc.

Lohgarh (September 1, 1700): Bhai Aalam Singh, Bhai Sukha Singh, Bhai Kushal Singh etc.

Nirmohgarh (October 7, 1700): Bhai Sahib Singh Diwan, Bhai Surat Singh, Bhai Deva Singh, Bhai Mathra Singh, Bhai Anup Singh, Bhai Sarup Singh etc.

Nirmohgarh (October 12, 1700): Bhai Ram Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohar Singh, Bhai Sewa Singh etc.

Nirmohgarh (October 13, 1700): Bhai Jita Singh, Bhai Neta Singh etc.

Nirmohgarh (October 14, 1700): Bhai Kesra Singh, Bhai Gokal Singh etc.

Khera-Kalmot (October 19, 1700): Bhai Jiwan Singh.

Shahi Tibbi (December 6, 1705): Bhai Udey Singh and 50 other Sikhs etc.

Sarsa Nadi (December 6, 1705): Bhai Jiwan Singh and 100 other Sikhs etc.

Malakpur Rangharan – Kotla Nihang Khan (December 6-8, 1705): Bhai Bachittar Singh and 100 other Sikhs.

Chamkaur (December 7-8, 1705): See Chalih Muktay.

Muktsar (December 29, 1705): See Chalih Muktay.

BABA BANDA SINGH period (1709 to 1716):

Chappar Chiri, Sirhind (May 12-13, 1710): Bhai Sangram Singh, Bhai Mahboob Singh, Bhai Fateh Singh, Bhai Bajjar Singh and hundreds of the Sikhs.

Sirhind (November 1710): Bhai Sukha Singh, Bhai Lal Singh etc.

Alowal (October 11, 1711): Bhai Jetha Singh Parmar, Bhai Rup Singh Parmar, Bhai Jetha Singh Chauhan, Bhai Keso Singh, Bhai Hari Singh, Bhai Desa Singh, Bhai Narbad Singh, Bhai Tara Singh, Bhai Sewa Singh, Bhai Deva Singh, Bhai Parsan Singh, Bhai Anup Singh, Bhai Kehar Singh, Bhai Channan Singh and 26 other Sikhs (were buried alive).

Bilaspur (December 28, 1711): Bhai Keso Singh, Bhai Bhag Singh etc.

Sadhaura (June 22, 1713): Bhai Saina Singh, Bhai Mohar Singh, Bhai Albel Singh etc.

Gurdas Nangal (1715-16): Binod Singh etc.

Delhi (June 1716): Baba Banda Singh, Bhai Bhagwant Singh, Bhai Kanwar Singh, Bhai Baj Singh, Bhai Sham Singh, Bhai Albel Singh, Bhai Mohar Singh, Bhai Ram Singh, Bhai Gulab Singh, Bhai Ali Singh, Bhai Mali Singh, and more than 700 others.

MISLs period: Dal-Waan (June 9, 1726): Bhai Tara Singh Dal-Waan etc.

Lahore (June 24, 1734): Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Jagat Singh, Bhai Chitar Singh, Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh, Bhai Aalam Singh, Bhai Gulzar Singh, Bhai Ran Singh, Bhai Sangat Singh, Bibi Basant Kaur, Bhai Aalam Singh Udana and several others.

Nur-ud-Din Di Saran (1740): Baba Bota Singh, Baba Garja Singh etc.

Lahore (1.7.1745): Bhai Taru Singh etc.

Lahore (March 10, 1746):- Bhai Subeg Singh, Bhai Shabaz Singh and more than one thousand Sikhs killed by Lakhpat Rai.

Amritsar (November 11, 1757): Baba Dip Singh and thousands others.

Sirhind (March 27, 1758): Bhai Hathu Singh etc.

Amritsar (December 1, 1764): Jathedar Gurbakhsh Singh and 29 other Sikhs.

Others: Bhai Sukha Singh, Bhai Mahtab Singh, Bhai Subeg Singh, Bhai Shabaz Singh, Bhai Haqiqat Rai etc.

SECOND Phase:

Naushehra (March 14, 1823): Akali Phula Singh.

Jamraud (April 10, 1837): Bhai Hari Singh Nalwa.

Sabhraon (February 10, 1846): Sirdar Sham Singh Atariwala etc.

BRITISH period:
Singapore (July 5, 1856): Bhai Maharaj Singh.

Canadian Sikhs:
(September 5, 1914): Bhai Bhag Singh, Bhai Battan Singh. (January 11, 1915): Bhai Mewa Singh Lopoke. (March 16, 1917): Bhai Balwant Singh.

Budge Budge Ghat
(September 26, 1914): Arjun Singh, Bhagat Singh, Bhajan Singh, Channan Singh, Inder Singh (2), Ishar Singh, Kakar Singh, Kehar Singh, Lachhman Singh, Mastu Singh, Narain Singh, Ratan Singh (alias Karam Singh), Rur Singh (2), Sib Singh, Shihan Singh, Tehal Singh.

Ghadr Party:
Aatma Singh, Arjan Singh Khukhrana, Baghel Singh, Bakhshish Singh, Bir Singh, Buta Singh, Chanda Singh Waraich, Channan Singh, Gandha Singh, Harnam Singh (3), Hazara Singh, Inder Singh, Ishar Singh (2), Jagat Singh, Jagat Singh Vinjhal, Jaswant Singh, Jawand Singh, Kala Singh (2), Mathura Singh, Narain Singh, Niranjan Singh, Pala Singh, Prem Singh, Ranga Singh, Rur Singh, Sajjan Singh, Surain Singh (2), Surjan Singh, Uttam Singh, Vir Singh, Waryam Singh, Wasawa Singh

Gurdwara Reform Movement:

Tarn Taran, During January 26, 1921 attack: Bhai Hazara Singh (27.1.1921) and Bhai Hukam Singh (4.2.1921).

Nanakana Sahib (February 20, 1921): Atma Singh, Bachittar Singh, Bachittar Singh (2), Bagga Singh, Bag Singh, Banta Singh, Bela Singh, Bhag Singh, Bhagwan Singh, Budh Singh, Bur Singh, Chanda Singh, Charan Singh, Charan Singh (2), Chet Singh, Dalip Singh, Dal Singh, Darbara Singh, Dasaundha Singh, Dharam Singh, Dhera Singh, Dial Singh, Diwan Singh, Ganda Singh, Ganga Singh, Ghanaiya Singh, Gopal Singh, Gujjar Singh, Gulab Singh, Gurbakhsh Singh, Hari Singh, Hari Singh (2), Harnam Singh, Harnam Singh (2), Hazara Singh, Hira Singh, Hukam Singh, Inder Singh, Inder Singh (2), Ishar Singh, Ishar Singh (2), Ishar Singh (3), Ishar Singh (4), Jagat Singh, Jawala Singh, Jawand Singh, Jetha Singh, Jiwan Singh, Karam Singh, Kehar Singh, Kesar Singh, Kesar Singh (2), Khushal Singh, Kishan Singh, Lachhman Singh, Mangal Singh, Mehnga Singh, Mota Singh, Mula Singh, Nand Singh, Narain Singh, Narain Singh (2), Narain Singh (3), Punjab Singh, Ram Singh, Rur Singh, Samma Singh, Santa Singh, Santa Singh (2), Sewa Singh, Sohan Singh, Sohan Singh (2), Sunder Singh, Sunder Singh (2), Sunder Singh (3), Surain Singh, Surain Singh (2), Tehal Singh, Teja Singh, Thakar Singh, Ujagar Singh, Waryam Singh, Waryam Singh (2), Waryam Singh (3), Waryam Singh (4), Waryam Singh (5) etc. Out of 130 only 87 could be identified.

Guru Da Bagh: (1922): Jathedar Prithipal Singh, Bhai Tara Singh, Bhai Mewa Singh, Bhai Saudagar Singh etc.

Punja Sahib (October 30,1922): Bhai Karam Singh, Bhai Partap Singh.

Jaito: Total number of martyrs=191. (First Jatha) Killed in firing: Achhar Singh, Arjan Singh, Balbir Kaur and her infant child, Bishan Singh, Diwan Singh, Ghulla Singh, Hardit Singh, Hari Singh, Jassa Singh, Kapur Singh, Labh Singh, Magh Singh, Natha Singh, Nikka Singh, Phumman Singh, Phumman Singh (2) Sucha Singh, Sunder Singh (2), Surain Singh, Wadhawa Singh, Waryam Singh and 48 more. Died of torture in prison: Mohinder Singh, Naunihal Singh, Rur Singh, Sunder Singh (2). Died of torture in prison:-(Second Jatha) Arur Singh, Jaswant Singh, Pala Singh, Sajjan Singh, Sampuran Singh, Sarmukh Singh, Uttam Singh. (Third Jatha): Arur Singh, Atma Singh, Bir Singh, Charan Singh, Dalel Singh, Daya Singh, Dharm Singh, Gulab Singh, Hakam Singh, Hari Singh, Inder Singh, Jagat Singh, Jaswant Singh, Kartar Singh, Kishan Singh, Kishan Singh (2), Lehna Singh, Mohinder Singh, Mula Singh, Nanak Singh, Natha Singh, Naunihal Singh, Partap Singh, Phumman Singh, Ram Singh, Sardara Singh, Sunder Singh,Tara Singh, Wasava Singh. (Fourth Jatha): Arjan Singh, Bharam Tor Singh, Dasaundha Singh, Dharam Singh, Dharam Singh, (2), Gopal Singh, Jagat Singh, Hukam Singh, Kapur Singh, Lachhman Singh, Lakha Singh, Niranjan Singh, Satnam Singh, Sucha Singh, Teja Singh, Udham Singh, Uttam Singh. (Fifth Jatha): Arur Singh, Arur Singh (2), Bachan Singh, Bishan Singh, Bishan Singh (2), Chet Singh, Diwan Singh, Fauja Singh, Gopal Singh, Gurbachan Singh, Inder Singh, Jaimal Singh, Jhanda Singh, Kartar Singh, Mangal Singh, Mihan Singh, Ram Singh, Sangat Singh, Sarmukh Singh, Wadhava Singh, Wasava Singh. (Sixth Jatha): Arjan Singh, Hari Singh, Ishar Singh, Nihal Singh, Ranjit Singh, Saudagar Singh, Sobha Singh. (Seventh Jatha): Banta Singh, Banta Singh (2), Bhagat Singh, Bhagat Singh (2), Bhagwan Singh, Charan Singh, Dalel Singh, Dharam Singh, Diwan Singh, Dumman Singh, Harnam Singh, Gopal Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Gurmukh Singh (2), Harnam Singh, Hukam Singh, Inder Singh, Jawala Singh, Jhakhar Singh, Jiwa Singh, Karam Singh, Karam Singh (2), Kartar Singh, Kartar Singh (2), Kharak Singh, Kharak Singh (2), Khushal Singh, Mehman Singh, Mehma Singh, Narata Singh, Tehal Singh. (Eighth Jatha): Asa Singh, Gajjan Singh, Gopal Singh, Gurnam Singh, Harnam Singh, Jiwan Singh, Milkha Singh, Mul Singh, Partap Singh, Piara Singh, Prem Singh, Sangat Singh, Tara Singh. (Ninth Jatha): Bahadur Singh, Bawa Singh, Bhagat Singh, Gurdit Singh, Hazara Singh, Karam Singh, Kartar Singh, Mohan Singh, Ram Singh, Ram Singh (2), Sohan Singh, Wadhava Singh. (Tenth Jatha): Dalip Singh, Ganga Singh, Hira Singh, Jiwan Singh, Ujagar Singh. (Eleventh Jatha): Basant Singh, Chanan Singh, Hari Singh, Harnam Singh, Milkha Singh, Ratan Singh, Sobha Singh, Tara Singh. (Twelfth Jatha): Arur Singh, Dharam Singh, Pala Singh, Sajjan Singh, Sampuran Singh. (Thirteenth Jatha): Bela Singh, Gurbachan Singh, Hari Singh, Rachhpal Singh, Saudagar Singh. (Fourteenth Jatha): Dhera Singh, Narayan Singh, Sukha Singh.

Bhai Pheru:- Bhai Arjan Singh, Bhai Hari Singh etc.

Babar Akali Movement (September 1, 1923): Bhai Karam Singh Editor, Bhai Bishan Singh, Bhai Mohinder Singh. (October 25, 1923): Bhai Dhanna Singh. (December 12, 1923): Bhai Banta Singh Dhamian, Bhai Jawala Singh. (June 8, 1924): Bhai Waryam Singh Dhugga. (February 27, 1926): Bhai Kishan Singh Gargajj, Bhai Babu Santa Singh, Bhai Dalip Singh Dhamian, Bhai Karam Singh Manko, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Nand Singh. Bhai Harbans Singh Sarhala Kalan (April 3,1946).

(Other dates): Bhai Karam Singh Jhingar, Bhai Dalip Singh, Bhai Surjan Singh Hazratpur, Bhai Partap Singh, Bhai Munsha Singh etc.

PEPSU:- Bhai Chuhar Singh etc.

PUNJABI SUBA:-

Delhi (June 12, 1960): Bhai Harbans Singh etc.

Karnal (September 21, 1960): Kaka Inderjit Singh.

Bathinda Jail (October 9, 1960): Bhai Chainchal Singh, Bhai Ranjit Singh, Nazar Singh, Jaswant Singh.

Amritsar (October 29, 1969): Jathedar Darshan Singh Pheruman.

Amritsar (April 13, 1978): Bhai Fauja Singh, Baba Darshan Singh, Bhai Amrik Singh, Bhai Awtar Singh, Bhai Dharambir Singh, Bhai Gurcharan Singh, Bhai Gurdial Singh, Bhai Harbhajan Singh, Bhai Kewal Singh, Bhai Piara Singh, Bhai Raghbir Singh, Bhai Ranbir Singh, Giani Hari Singh.

Kanpur (September 1978): Bhai Balwant Singh, Bhai Gurjit Singh, Bhai Harcharan Singh Chawla, Bhai Jagjit Singh, Bhai Kashmira Singh, Bhai Kishan Singh Chanana, Bhai Manmohan Singh Chawla, Bibi Darshan Kaur.

Delhi (November 5, 1978): Jathedar Awtar Singh Kohli, Bhai Gobind Singh, Bhai Maninder Singh.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Manglan (1816 – ?), daughter of a poor water bearer Bhai Piru, was born in a village near Kangra. At the age of 10, she was sold by her father for 25 rupees to a Doom (ministrel). When she was 14 years old, a man named Jassa purchased her in order to exploit her as a courtesan. She deserted this man and joined the household of an employee of the Lahore Darbar. Here, she was appointed as a personal attendant of Rani Jind Kaur. Soon she became one of the most trusted attendants of the Rani. She also developed intimacy with Jawahar Singh (brother of Rani Jindan). Her affairs with Jawahar Singh won her the position of the in charge of the Toshakhana (royal treasures) as well as the royal seal. Due to her alleged involvement in unsuccessful kidnapping of Maharaja Dalip Singh, the British dismissed her services in 1846. Her estate was confiscated and she was compelled to leave for pilgrimage of Haridwar, on forced exile.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Mangal Singh Ramgharia (1800 – February 1879), son of Diwan Singh (a nephew of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia), was the manager of Darbar Sahib from 1862 to 1879. Earlier he had been an attendant in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He also served under Sirdar Hari Singh Nalva for some time. In 1839, he was appointed as the in charge of the hill forts. He spent a lot of time at Suket, Mandi and Kullu. In 1844, he was sent on an expedition against Fateh Khan of Mittha Tiwana. On retirement of Jodh Singh Maan, he was appointed as the manager of Darbar Sahib Amritsar. In 1876, the Prince of Wales conferred him with the title of Companionship of Star of India (C.S.I).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mangal Singh (1895 – 20.2.1921), son of Mai Hukmi and Bhai Ratta Mazhabi, was born at village Udoke (district Gurdaspur). His parents died when he was a just a small child. Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali brought him up. In 1913, Bhai Mangal Singh got initiation. In 1915, he joined the British India Army. He used to wear full size Kirpan on his person all the time. During the First World War, he was asked to take off his sword. On refusal, he was courtmarshalled and was given one year’s jail term. This became starting point of an agitation for the right of the Sikhs to wear Kirpan. At this, he was released after six months. After his release from Sialkot jail, he was given a Siropao by the Sikhs of Sialkot. The Punch Khalsa Diwan Bhasaur gave him the title of Kirpan Bahadur. He was also awarded a pension of rupees 7 per month. After this he returned to Dharowali. Soonafter he got married. His wife joined him on February 18, 1921. The next day he joined the Jatha of his foster-father Bhai Lachhman Singh to Nanakana Sahib, where he embraced martyrdom, the following day.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sirdar Mangal Singh Gill (6.6.1892 – 16.6.1987), son of Zaildar Kapur Singh, was born at village Gill (district Ludhiana). Later, his parents had moved to Chakk No. 208 (district Lyallpur, now Faisalabad, Pakistan). He passed his degree in education and joined teaching job for a short period. In 1914, he joined the British Indian Army and participated in the First World War. He was awarded honorary degree of bachelor or arts and was appointed as Tehsildar. During the war, he had developed dislike for the British and he was not interested in his job. By this time, Gurdwara Reform Movement had begun. He joined this movement. On May 21, 1920, the Sikh elite started a newspaper named Akali. Mangal Singh was selected the editor of the newspaper. In 1921, he was arrested on the charges of sedition. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was released in August 1923. He was elected member of the S.G.P.C. when he was still in jail. In October 1923, Akali Dal and the S.G.P.C. were declared as unlawful organisations. He too was arrested but was released for want of evidence against him. On September 8, 1924, the Akali Dal launched Hindustan Times, a daily English newspaper. Mangal Singh was appointed the incharge of this paper (in 1926, this paper was sold to Birla, an industrialist). In November 1925, he was elected the President of the S.G.P.C. When Sardar Bahadur Mahtab Singh and Giani Sher Singh group agreed to be released from jail under minor conditions, Mangal Singh was the President of the S.G.P.C. The elections to the S.G.P.C., under the Gurdwara Act, were held on June 18, 1926. Mangal Singh was elected its first President on September 4, On October 2, 1926, he resigned the president-ship to pave way for the election of Master Tara Singh as the President of the S.G.P.C. Mangal Singh was one of the senior leaders and he participated in several agitations. During that period, he was a member of all the major committees of the Sikhs. In 1927, he was appointed as a member of the Committee, which was formed to decide the issue of communal representation in legislative elections to Indian Parliament and Assemblies. This Committee presented the in-famous Nehru Report (1927). The Sikhs rejected it. Mangal Singh, who was a member of the Committee, made it an issue of prestige and he fully supported the Report. This led to division in the rank and file of Akali Dal. When Mangal Singh became too much vocal in support of the Report, he became isolated. In 1930, he was arrested in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement of Gandhi. He was chosen as Member of Parliament (Central Legislative Assembly) in 1935. He continued to be a member till 1945. In spite of the fact that he was a pro-Congress worker even at the cost of the Sikh interests, he was issued “orders” by the Whip of the Congress Legislature party “not to ask questions in the Council (parliament), on the issues regarding the interests of the Sikhs”. The Akali Dal asked him to return to Akali Dal but he did not. After 1945, the Congress party did not bother for him, so he joined the Akali Dal. This time he was re-elected to the Parliament as an Akali candidate. Mangal Singh remained active in politics until 1960. He spent last years of his life in isolation, at Chandigarh, at the residence of his daughter. In 1981, while talking to Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, the Sikh hisotrian, he confessed that he had committed treason with the Sikh Panth by supporting the Nehru Report in 1928 and by siding with the Congress Party.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Mangal Shah (? – 31.3.1644) was the grandson of Hemu, a minister of the Moguls. A Mogul officer forcibly took away his daughter. Mangal Shah killed the officer and all the members of his (Mogul’s) family and sought refuge with Guru Hargobind, at Keeratpur. Guru Hargobind Sahib breathed his last on March 30, 1644. When the Guru was cremated at Keeratpur, he tried to jump into the burning pyre of the Guru, but Guru Har Rai stopped him from doing so. Mangal Shah could not bear separation from Guru Hargobind Sahib and he stabbed himself and died instantly.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Maluk Das, a resident of Kara Manakpur, a village on the right bank of Ganga River (in Uttar Pradesh), was a vegetarian Vaishnav Sadhu. When Guru Tegh Bahadur visited this village, he came to see the Guru. Finding the Guru clad in princely attire, and escorted by armed disciples, who had also been hunting, he asked the Guru if all that did not affect spiritualism. The Guru told him that vegetarianism had nothing to do with spiritualism and use of arms was no hindrance to spritual uplift. Maluk Das was convinced by the Guru’s explanation and he asked him (the Guru) to initiate him as a Sikh.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

MALO
Bhai Malo and Bhai Mango were two seekers of knowledge, who visited Guru Nanak for a discourse. They asked the Guru to explain if tap (penance) was better that devotion. Guru Sahib told them, “Tap, as it is commonly understood, involves austerities, which are of no avail. Real Tap is joining sangat (religious gathering) and listening to or performing Keertan and Katha of the Scripture.” Bhai Malo and Mango dedicated their lives to Keertan and Katha as per the instruction of the Guru.

MALO SHIEKH
Sheikh Malo was a Muslim scholar. Once, he visited Guru Nanak at Kartarpur. He was so impressed by the Guru that he joined the Sikh faith and became Bhai Malo. He spent the rest of his life in the service of the Guru.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

MALLU
Bhai Mallu, a resident of village Dalla (district Kapurthala), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das.

MALLU SHAH
Bhai Mallu Shah, a Khatri, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Angad.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer

Bhai Mallhan, a resident of village Dalla, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. Once, when the Guru visited Dalla, he came to make obeisance to the Guru. According to the writer* of Sikhan Di Bhagatmala, the Guru advised him to serve holy men. He spent whole of his life as per the avice of the Guru. {*Surat Singh, and not Bhai Mani Singh, is real writer of this book}.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

MALIK
Bhai Malik, a tailor, was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das.

MALIK KATARU
Bhai Malik Kataru, a resident of Burhanpur, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind. Once he, along with his companions Bhai Bhagwan Das, Bhai Bodla, Bhai Pirthi Mall, Bhai Bhagatu, Bhai Dallu, Bhai Sunder Das, Bhai Swami Das etc., visited the Guru, at Amritsar. The Guru asked them to establish a Dharamsala in their town and teach their companions to overcome ego; to practice honest earning, sharing with the needy and remembering God. The Guru told them that such a style of life would make them self-realised persons.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mali, a resident of village Dalla, was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. He was a tailor by profession. Once, when the Guru visited Dalla, he accompanied by Bhai Saharu, another tailor of his village, went to the Guru to make obeisance and asked him (the Guru) for some sermon. The Guru told them, “Mend the torn garments of the Sikhs. If some of these clothes are soiled, wash them. By this service you will cleans your soul and also earn the pleasure of God.”

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mali was a Sadhu. He was associated with the Dera of Bhai Pheru (Bhai Sangat Singh) of Mian-Di-Maur (in district Lahore). He joined Sikh faith at the time of Guru Gobind Singh and got initiation. After initiation he was named Mali Singh. He remained in the service of the Guru for a long time.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sir John Malcolm (2.5.1739 – 30.5.1833) was born in Scotland. He joined the British army when he was very young. He had good knowledge of Persian language. The Governor General C. Cornvalis appointed him as a translator and later promoted him as Secretary. In 1799, he was appointed as the British Ambassador to Iran. He wrote a book about the history of Iran, in Persian language. In 1803, he was appointed as the British Resident in Mysore. In 1812, he wrote The Sketch of the Sikhs. It was through this book that he created controversies about the history of the Sikhs.

It was he who promoted the idea od creation of dasamgranth when he was at Patna with a group of Nirmalas (probably Sukha Singh and Koer Singh or their assocates). He spent his last days in England.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

He was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh. He accompanied the Guru, when the latter went from Dina to Talwandi Sabo. He was with the Guru at Saravan and Behbal/Bahibal villages (district Faridkot) too. During this journey, when they reached village Saravan, the local residents requested the Guru to send one Sikh to each house of the village for their meals. Malaghar Singh became the guest of Bhai Ganga Singh. Ganga Singh was a poor person. Though he had nothing in his kitchen to serve Malaghar Singh but he and his wife welcomed Malaghar Singh. He washed his feet with luke-warm water and served him with Peelu (a local berry fruit, now almost extinct). Later, in the evening when the Guru asked each one of them to tell what they had eaten, Malaghar Singh told the Guru that he had eaten that food which had never been eaten by him before and most probably he might not get the same in future as well. When the Guru came to know about reality, he appreciated Malaghar Singh’s feelings.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Malaghar Singh (10.5.1965 – 1990), son of Bhai Mohan Singh was born at village Samana Kalan (district Ropar). In reaction to the attack of the Indian army on Darbar Sahib and several other Gurdwaras (on June 4, 1984), he joined hijacking of an Indian Airliner on July 5, 1984. He was arrested at Lahore airport. Though he was acquitted by court, he remained in jail for about six years. Finally, he was released. He tried to secretly enter India through Rajasthan border. He was arrested and, later, killed by the police.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Makkhan Singh was a Granthi of Darbar Sahib in 1840s. It was due to his efforts that H. M. Lawrence, the British Resident at Lahore, issued a notification, on March 24, 1847, asking the English people to give regards to the sanctity of Darbar Sahib and its vicinity, and observe the Sikh protocol, while visiting the Sikh holy city of Amritsar. Makhan Singh died in 1863.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Makkhan Shah Lubana, son of Naik Dasa and grandson of Bhai Artha, was a resident of village Tanda (district Muzzafarabad, Kashmir). He was a rich trader. He served the Sikh Panth from Guru Har Rai to Guru Gobind Singh. When Guru Har Rai visited Kashmir, in 1660, he (Makkhan Shah) escorted and attended the Guru throughout his four months long tour of Kashmir. On October 9, 1664, he, along with his wife Bibi Soljai and three sons (Lal Das, Chandu Lal and Khushal Chand), visited Guru Tegh Bahadur, at Bakala and presented the Guru with one hundred (according to one source 500) golden Mohars. It was on this day, that Makkhan Shah, saying Gur Ladho Re (Guru has been found), announced the presence of the Guru to the Sikhs.

Makhan Shah’s announcement exposed the 22 pretenders who had been claiming themselves as the successors of Guru Harkrishan. Dhir Mall, one of these pretenders, asked Shihan, one of his Masands, to attack Guru Tegh Bahadur’s house. Shihan attacked the Guru’s house in the midst of night and took away all the money offered by the Sikhs as well as several other things. When Makhan Shah Lubana came to know about this, he attacked the house of Dhir Mall and recovered every thing Shihan had taken away from the Gur’s house. In addition, he brought the Adi Granth (the first volume of Guru Granth Sahib). When he presented the same to the Guru, he (the Guru) returned the same to Dhir Mall. Makhan Shah also punished Shihan who had invaded the house of the Guru. Makhan Shah joined the Guru on a visit to Keeratpur Sahib on October 14, 1664, Guru Da Chakk (Amritsar) on November 22, 1664 as well as other places. Makkhan Shah attended Guru Gobind Singh too. Makkhan Shah’s sons got initiation from Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib. One of his sons, Bhai Khushal Singh embraced martyrdom in the battle of Lohgarh (Anandpur Sahib) on September 1, 1700. Makkhan Shah’s great grand children (children of Bhagwan Singh and grand-children of Lal Singh) also got initiation and served the Sikh faith. This family served the Guru and the Sikh nation with dedication. Also see: Khushal Singh, Lal Singh.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mai Das Parmar, son of Bhai Ballu and grandson of Bhai Mula, was born at village Alipur (district Muzzafargarh, West Punjab). He was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind and Guru Har Rai. It seems that Bhai Mai Das had good relations with Shah Jahan, the Mogul emperor, as there are some references to his meeting with the emperor. Mai Das had two wives: Bibi Madhri Bai and Bibi Ladikki, who gave birth to twelve sons: Jetha (Singh), Dial Das (embraced martyrdom on November 11, 1675), Mani Ram (Bhai Mani Singh), Dan Chand (Singh), Man Chand (Singh), Amar Chand (died at early age), Rup Chand (Singh), Jagat Ram (Singh), Sohan Chand, Rai Chand (Singh) and Hatthi Chand. Eleven out of 12 sons of Bhai Mai Das embraced martyrdom. The twelfth Bhai Amar Chand had died when he was a child. Most of his grandsons too embraced martyrdom.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sardar Bahadur Mahtab Singh (1879 – 23.5.1938), son of Bhai Hazura Singh and Mata Karam Kaur, was born at village Handali (district Shahpur, Pakistan). After his early education at Lahore, he went to England to study Laws. After his return he started legal practice at Shahpur. In 1910, he was appointed as the public prosecutor at Firozpur. Later, he was transferred to Lahore. Here, in recognition of his services to the British regime, he was granted the title of Sardar Sahib in 1915 and, later, Sardar Bahadur in 1918. After the enforcement of Indian Act of 1919, the first elections were held in Punjab. He was elected as a member of the Punjab Council. In 1920, he was elected the Deputy President of the Legislative Council. When Mahant Narain Das killed more than 130 Sikhs at Nanakana Sahib, on February 20, 1921, Bhai Uttam Singh sent telegrams to Mahtab Singh and informed him about the massacre. Mahtab Singh informed the British officials as well as the Sikh leaders. A special train left Lahore for Nanakana Sahib. Mahtab Singh, Amar Singh of Sher-i-Punjab, Bhai Sunder Singh Chawla, Bhai Harnam Singh Atariwala and Bhai Lal Singh Saudagar and Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh joined the senior Government officials. Sardar Bahadur Mahtab Singh was nominated as the chief of the inquiry committee. When Mahtab Singh found that Mr. Bowring, the superintendent police, was acting in prejudice against the Sikhs, he resigned from the Committee and informed the public about the situation. On November11, 1921, he resigned deputy president-ship as well as the membership of the Council and joined the Sikh struggle. His first arrest was during the “Keys’ Affair” agitation (November 1921 – January 1922). He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment along with a fine 1000 rupees. He was again arrested during Guru-Da-Bagh agitation on September 14, 1922. On October 12, 1923, when the Akali Dal and the S.G.P.C. were declared as unlawful organisations, he was arrested again. In 1926, some Sikh leaders accepted conditional release from jail; Mahtab Singh was one of them. This affected his reputation a lot. In January 1926, he was elected as the president of the S.G.P.C. because the senior leaders were still in jail He continued to be in this office till the elections were held under the official Gurdwara Act were held, in June 1926. Mahtab Singh lost elections and Kharak Singh became the president of the S.G.P.C. In 1928, he participated in the movement for boycott of Simon Commission. Mahtab Singh was very vocal when the Nehru Report (on the issue of communal representation) was published. This Report had done great injustice to the rights of the Sikhs. An All Parties Conference was held at Calcutta, in December 1928. Speaking at the Conference, Mahtab Singh warned Gandhi and Nehru, “if you ignore the Sikhs, the partition of India will not be made on papers, it will be decided by sword”. Mahtab Singh was also one of the major leaders of the Sikh League. He played effective role during the agitation launched to oppose of the Communal Award (1932). By that time Akali Dal had become a divided house. Baba Wisakha Singh Dadehar tried to mediate but with partial success. During the S.G.P.C. elections (in 1936), Mahtab Singh was among the few senior leaders, who had been granted a seat by Baba Wisakha Singh Committee; while several others were rejected. He won his seat, though the president-ship of the S.G.P.C. went to Master Tara Singh. In 1938, Sardar Bahadar Mahtab Singh died of heart attack, while pleading a case in the High Court at Lahore.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mahtab Singh (? -1745) was a resident of village Mirankot, Amritsar. In 1740, Zakaria Khan, the Governor of the Lahore, occupied Darbar Sahib, Amritsar and granted its control to a debauched Massa Ranghar of village Mandhiala (Massa Ranghar was the same person who had led campaign to demolish Lohgarh Fort from 1716 to 1739). Massa began using Darbar Sahib for immoral activities. The Sarbat Khalsa gathering at Bikaner, in August 1740, sent Mahtab Singh of Miran Kot and Sukkha Singh of Mari Kambo, to punish Massa Ranghar. Both of them disguised themselves as Muslim officials and reached Darbar Sahib. They chopped off the head of Massa Ranghar, on August 11, 1740 and presented it before the Sikhs, at Bikaner. Later, in 1745, Mahtab Singh was arrested when he went to see Bhai Taru Singh who was in custody of the Lahore Governor. Mahtab Singh was killed at wheels at Lahore. (Bhai Sukkha Singh died in a battle, in 1753). Ratan Singh Bhangu (son of Bhai Rai Singh), the writer of Prachin Panth Parkash was Mehtab Singh’s grandson.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Headmaster Mahtab Singh (1894 – 17.8.1953), son of Bhai Bhag Singh, was born at village Kuri (district Rawalpindi, Pakistan). He started his career as a teacher at Rawalpindi. In 1919, he was appointed as the headmaster of the newly established Guru Arjan Sahib Khalsa School at Tarn Taran. He was one of the first members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (S.G.P.C.) formed on November 15, 1920. He was present at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Tarn Taran on January 25, 1921 when the Mahant (manager) of the Gurdwara attacked the Sikhs. He was wounded in this attack. Mahtab Singh was selected to the first executive of the S.G.P.C. On October 12, 1923, the S.G.P.C. was declared as an unlawful organisation. He was arrested the follwing day. He remained in jail for about two and half years. He was released on January 25, 1926 on agreeing to act upon the Gurdwara Act. After this he renounced active political particiation. He spent rest of his life in academic and missionary activities. He worked for the initiation of hundreds of the low-caste people into the Sikh faith. He wrote several books including Navan Te Thavan Da Kosh, Dictionary of Punjabi Proverbs, Itihasak Kahanian etc. He was one of the editors who prepared the Shabdarath, an annotated edition of Guru Granth Sahib (though most of the work was done by Principal Teja Singh, Bawa Harkishan Singh and Professor Narain Singh).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mahtab Singh Bir alias Rukan Din (1888 -?), son of Bhai Lakhbir Singh alias Maulwi Karim Bakhsh, resident of village Bakapur, near Phillaur (district Jullundur). On June 13-14, 1903, Maulwi Karim Bakhsh (Bhai Lakhbir Singh after initiation) and whole of his family got initiation in a specially arranged function at Bakapur.

In 1919, Bhai Mahtab Singh organised Khalsa Baradari Karaj Sadhak Dal and served as its President for some time. This organisation arranged initiation of several low-caste people into the Sikh faith. It was one of the functions of this organisation (held on October 10-12, 1920 at Jallian Wala Bagh Amritsar) which led to freedom of Akal Takht and Darbar Sahib from the corrupt Mahants, followed by the formation of the S.G.P.C. and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Bhai Mahtab Singh served the Sikh Panth throughout his life. His son Bhai Gurcharan Singh Sakhi (died 1973) too made his contribution to the Sikh cause.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

MAHTAB KAUR, MAHARANI (1)
Mahtab Kaur was the daughter of Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh and Rani Sada Kaur, of Kanhaiya Misl. She was married to (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh in 1796. She gave birth to Ishar Singh (who died in infancy) and twins Sher Singh and Tara Singh. Within a few years, relations between Ranjit Singh and Mahtab Kaur got strained. He neglected and mistreated her. Mahtab Kaur spent last years of her life with her mother Sada Kaur, at Batala, where she died in 1813. Also see: Sada Kaur, Kanhaiya Misl.

MAHTAB KAUR, MAHARANI (2)
Mahtab Kaur was the daughter of Chowdhry Sujan Singh Atwal, of village Mallha (district Gurdaspur). She was married to (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh in 1822. She had no child. Rani Mahtab Kaur survived Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The British granted her an annual pension of rupees 1930. She died at a very ripe age.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Mahitab Devi, also known as Rani Gaddan as well as Rani Katochan, was the daughter of Raja Sansar Chand Katoch of Kangra. She was compelled to marry Maharaja Ranjit Singh 1829. Mahitab Devi had an artistic bent of mind. After her marriage she promoted Kangra art of paining, music, dance, Phulkari and embroidery etc. at Lahore. She had a grand collection of hill paintings and miniatures in her suit in the Lahore fort. She was a benevolent lady. She gave financial help to poor people for the marriages of their daughters. Rani Gaddan’s another sister was also married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who had committed suicide when once Ranjit Singh had remarked that Moran (Ranjit Singh’s dancer wife) was his prettiest wife. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh died, Rani Gaddan placed the head of the Maharaja in her lap and performed Sati (self immolation) at the pyre of the Maharaja on June 28, 1839.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mahi Singh, son of Bhai Bhikha Singh, grandson of Bhai Murari and great- grandson of Bhai Bhura (great-grandson of Bhai Sukhia Mandan), of Ladva (district Thanesar, Haryana), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He embraced martyrdom on September 9, 1712. He, along with his brother (Bhai Dargahi Singh), was wrapped in cotton and was burnt to death at Samba (Jammu and Kashmir).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

MAHESHA
Bhai Mahesha, a resident of village Dalla (district Kapurthala) was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. He was a man of learning.

MAHESHA DHIR
Bhai Mahesha Dhir, a resident of Sultanpur (district Kapurthala), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. One he visited the Guru and requested him (the Guru) to initiate him as a Sikh. The Guru told him that first he shall have to give up his love for riches because if, at any time, riches forsake him, people might laugh at him and say that his joining Sikh faith had put him in loosing situation. Bhai Mahesha told the Guru that he did not care for riches and begged for initiation into Sikh faith. By chance, Mahesha suffered heavy losses and he became a poor man. As predicted by the Guru, people ridiculed him and said that all that was due to his joining Sikh faith. All this could not wave his faith in Sikhism. After some time he regained his wealth. Neither becoming poor made him sad, nor regaining riches make him happy. Guru Sahib was pleased at his faith in God. He appointed him as one of the 22 major missionaries of the Sikh faith.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Maharaj Singh’s real name was Nihal Singh; Maharaj was his pet word, which he used to utter in every converstion; hence his name. Maharaj Singh succeeded Bhai Bir Singh, as the chief of the Dera of Naurangabad, after the death of Bhai Bir Singh in an attack by Lahore Durbar’s Dogra general Hira Sinh, on May 7, 1844. Maharaj Singh came into prominence in 1847, when he joined planning to murder Henry Lawrence, the British Resident at Lahore. He participated in all the battles of second Anglo-Sikh Wars. When on March 14, 1849, the Attariwalas surrendered their arms at Rawalpindi; he decided to continue the struggle for expulsion of the British from the Sikh Homeland. Maharaj Singh established links with the Sikhs in different areas as well as with Dost Mohammed Khan, the Afghan chief. The British announced an award of rupees ten thousand for his arrest. (This is the highest award ever announced for the head of any Sikh). Maharaj Singh was to begin his major operation in the beginning of 1850. On the night of December 28, 1849, he, along with 21 companions, was arrested near Sham Churasi. He was immediately chained. He was sent to Calcutta and then to Singapore. At Singapore, he was detained in a small room in inhuman and unspeakable conditions. Within three years he lost his eyesight. Maharaj Singh died on July 5, 1856.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Mahan Singh, son of Bhai Rai Singh, grandson of Bhai Mai Das Parmar (and nephew of Bhai Mani Singh), was one of the 40 Sikhs who died while fighting against huge Mogul army, at Khidrane-Di-Dhab (now known as Muktsar), on December 29, 1705. Shortly after the battle was over, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited the field and found that 37 Sikhs had embraced martyrdom and three Sikhs, Bhai Rai Singh (brother of Bhai Mani Singh), Bhai Mahan Singh (son of Bhai Rai Singh) and Bhai Sunder Singh Jhallianwala were still breathing. Mai Bhago, the wife of Nidhan Singh Waraich (one of the martyrs), was the only person among the 41 Sikhs, who was not very seriously wounded. Bhai Rai Singh expressing his last desire requested the Guru to destroy the letter of Bedawa (it was letter of renouncing the Guru). The Guru tore the letter into pieces and blessed the martyrs. Bhai Sunder Singh died very soon. Bhai Rai Singh followed by Bhai Mahan Singh also died after a short time. The Guru cremated the martyrs with the help of Bhai Man Singh (brother of Bhai Rai Singh) and the other Sikhs. The story of Bhai Mahan Singh asking the Guru to destroy the letter of Bedawa might have become popular because he was the last to die.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Mahan Singh (1760-1790), son of Charhat Singh (1721-1774) and Mai Desan, became the chief of the Sukkarchakkia Misl after the death of his mother. Mahan Singh was a brave warrior. He participated in several battles for the freedom of the Sikh Homeland from the Moghuls and the Afghans. His first victory was the occupation of the fort of Rohtas. He, aided by Jai Singh of Kanhaiya Misl, attacked Rasulnagar, the capital of the Chattha clan where Pir Mohammed, the chief of the Chattha clan offered him strong resistance. But, finally, he was able to occupy it. When he returned to his headquarters, he got the news of the birth of his son (born on November 13, 1780). He named his son Ranjit Singh. After occupying Rasulnagar, Mahan Singh captured Pindi Bhattian, Sahival (Montgomery), Isa Khel and Jhang also. In 1782, he, aided by Kanhaiyas, attacked Jammu and plundered the town. This led to a battle between the forces of Mahan Singh and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia on one side and the Kanhaiyas on the other. In this battle, fought at Acha Watala (near Batala), Gurbakhsh  Singh   Kanhaiya   was   killed    (later  Gurbakhsh  Singh’s    daughter Mahitab Kaur was married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, son of Mahan Singh). In 1790, he attacked Sahib Singh Bhangi who shut himself in the fort of Sodhra. Mahan Singh put a siege to the fort. During the protracted siege, Mahan Singh fell seriously ill with dysentery. He was taken to Gujranwala where he died in April 1790. Also see: Sukkarchakkia Misl.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

(Mata) Mahadevi (? -1645) was the daughter of Bhai Daya Ram Marvaha (also known as Bhai Dwara) and Mata Bhagan, of village Mandiala (district Lahore). She was married to Guru Hargobind at her village, on 10.7.1620. She gave birth to Suraj Mall on September 5, 1623. She died at Keeratpur Sahib in 1645. She has been referred to as ‘Mata Marvahi’ as well (born in Marwaha family).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Mahadev (23.5.1550 – 3.8.1605) was the second son of Guru Ram Das. He was born at Goindwal. He had an ascetic bent of mind; and, he would spend all his time meditating in seclusion. He did not marry. He died at Goindwal where he had spent most of his life.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Magh Singh, son of Bhai Sham Singh and Mai Dharmo, was a resident of village Lande (district Moga). He began his career as a soldier in the British army and was posted in Peshawar sector (N.W.F.P.). During his stay in the N.W.F.P. he got initiation. Here, he learnt Punjabi language and studied Sikh scripture and history. After resigning his job he returned to his village. During Jaito agitation, he visited Amritsar and joined the First Shaheedi Jatha, which left Akal Takht for Jaito, on February 9, 1924. The Jatha reached Jaito on February 21, 1924, where it was fired at by the British army. Bhai Magh Singh was one of the Sikhs who embraced martyrdom. He embraced martyrdom in the stairs of Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib. At that time, he was about 40 years old.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Pandit Madhu Suadan (? – 1863), son of Pandit Brij Raj, was the Raj Purohit (royal priest) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He was the incharge of the royal charities of the Maharaja. It was he who used to decide as to who will be given royal charities; hence he gave a lot of royal wealth to the Brahmins and the Hindu temples. It was he who asked Maharaja Ranjit Singh to give Tuladans (royal charities equivalent to the weight of the king) twice a month (on Massiya and Sangrand) to the Brahmins and he himself used to preside over the ceremony of distribution of all charities. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had granted him several Jagirs. He was a very rich person. After the annexation of the Punjab, the British too granted him an annual Jagir of 10000 rupees. He died at Lahore in 1863.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Madho, son of Bhai Ballu and grandson of Bhai Rao, a Parmar Rajput, and a resident of village Alipur (Multan province), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind. When the Guru formed an army, he too joined it. Bhai Madho was a valiant fighter. He participated in the battle of Amritsar (April 1634), Mehraj (December 1634 and Kartarpur (April 1635). He embraced martyrdom in the battle of Kartarpur on April 28, 1635.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Madan Singh was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh. Bhai Madan Singh and his brother Bhai Kattha/Kottha Singh were the sons of a weaver, Bhai Diala, a resident of village Bhagrana, in the present Fatehgarh Sahib district. Bhai Diala was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. He has accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur during his missionary journeys. Both his sons remained in the service of the Sikh army. Madan Singh and his brother Kattha Singh were the in charges of the stable of the horses of the Sikh army. When the Guru left Anandpur Sahib, on the night of December 5-6, 1705, he was along side Sahibzada Ajit Singh. On their way to Kotla Nihang, Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Madan Singh picked up Bachitar Singh Parmar (who had been very seriously wounded in fight against the Mogul army) from the village Malakpur and carried him to the residence of Bhai Nihang Khan, at village Kotla Nihang. Madan Singh was one of the 40 Sikhs who were in the fortress of Chamkaur on the night of December 7-8, 1705. Bhai Madan Singh and his brother Bhai Kattha Singh were the guards of the main gate of the fortress. During this battle one Pathan soldier advanced towards the gate of the fortress. Though an arrow was shot at him, but he (the Pathan) succeeded in reaching near the gate of the fortress. He attacked Bhai Madan Singh and Bhai Kattha Singh. Both of them and the Pathan soldier were killed in the battle.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Max Arthur Macauliffe (10.9.1841 – 15.3.1913), was born in Ireland. He joined the British administration in India and came to the Punjab in 1864. In 1882, he became Deputy Commissioner. Professor Gurmukh Singh introduced Sikh religion to Macauliffe. Macauliffe too studied history and philosophy of Sikhism with great interest. B between 1875 and 1881, he wrote several articles about Sikhism for the Calcutta Review. In 1883, he started studying Guru Granth Sahib. In 1893, he resigned his job and began writing his book The Sikh Religion. It was published in six volumes, in 1909. It is a commendable work, though not free from historical and conceptual mistakes. He was, however, able to undo the injustice done by the German Christian missionary Mr. Trumpp, who had misinterpreted and even distorted Sikh philosophy and Sikh history. Macauliffe also wrote the entries about Sikhism for the Encyclopedia Britannica and the other reference works. His contribution to the Sikh literature is immense but the Sikh leadership did not prove grateful to this person. (In fact, this is a general treatment of the Sikh leadership for all the genuine Sikh intellectuals).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Baba Lunia was an asetic. He had his Dera in a village on the bank of river Tapati, on the other side of Burhanpur (Madhya Pradesh). He was an admirer of Guru Gobind Singh. He had visited the Guru (when he was just a small boy), at Patna, sometimes before 1670. After the death of Yogi Aughar Nath, Madho Das Bairagi (after initiation, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur) had stayed at his Dera for three years. When Guru Gobind Singh visited Burhanpur in May 1708, Baba Lunia, who had grown very old at that time, crossed the river and visited Burhanpur to make obeisance to the Guru. He requested the Guru to visit his Dera. The Guru escorted Baba Lunia up to the river and visited his Dera the following day. Baba Lunia served the Guru with dedication.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lehna (brother of Bhai Mani Singh) was the son of Bhai Mai Das Parmar and grandson of Bhai Ballu. He embraced martyrdom in the battle of Guler, on February 18, 1696, while defending Raja Gopal (of Guler) against the joint army of Hussain Khan (the in charge of the Mogul regime for Kangra sub-division), Ajmer Chand (of Bilaspur) and Kirpal Chand Katoch (of Kangra).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Lehna Singh (? – 16.9.1843), son of Amir Singh Sandhanwalia, was a collateral of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had blessed him with several titles and benefits. He was one of the richest Sikhs. His title was Ujjal Didar, Nirmal Budh, Sirdar-i-Bawaqar Sirdar Lehna Singh Sandhanwalia Bahadur. Ranjit Singh had been very generous to him, but he was always conspiring against the family of Ranjit Singh. He envied the Dogras and wanted to acquire absolute power in Ranjit Singh’s court. When Dogras succeeded in installing Naunihal Singh as Maharaja, and thus acquiring absolute power, he turned against the Dogras. During the dispute between Maharaja Sher Singh and Maharani Chand Kaur, he sided with Chand Kaur and the Dogras supported Sher Singh. Finally, Sher Singh occupied Lahore throne on January 18, 1841. After Sher Singh’s installation Atar Singh Sandhawalia fled Lahore and went to the British territory. During all this period Lehna Singh was completely in touch with Atar Singh. In March 1841, a letter written by Atar Singh to Lehna Singh was intercepted. The letter asked Lehna Singh Sandhanwalia and Kehar Singh Sandhanwalia to reach the river Sutlej along with their troops. Maharaja Sher Singh sent his own troops to arrest both of them. They were brought to Lahore and were imprisoned. In the meantime, the British mediated and (Maharaja) Sher Singh forgave Atar Singh and Ajit Singh Sandhanwalia; and, they were allowed to return to Lahore. In May 1843, Ajit Singh reached Lahore. He, however, did not change his ways. On September 15, 1843, when Sher Singh was inspecting troops at Baradari (Lahore fort), Ajit Singh gunned him down. On the other side Lehna Singh severed the head of Kanwar Partap Singh (son of Maharaja Sher Singh). The same day they killed Dhian Sinh Dogra as well. On September 16, 1843, Hira Sinh, son of Dhian Sinh Dogra and his uncle Suchet Sinh Dogra, along with the battalion of General Avitable, attacked Lahore Fort. Ajit Singh Sandhanwalia and Lehna Singh Sandhawalia were killed. Their heads were severed and their bodies were cut into pieces to be hanged in different parts of the city. The fort and the residences of Sandhanwalias were razed to ground. (Atar Singh, Ajit Singh’s uncle, was killed on May 7, 1844, at Naurangabad). Also see: Atar Singh, Bir Singh.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sirdar Lehna Singh Bhangi (? – September 1797) was the son of Bhai Dargahia. His father died when he was just a small boy. Sirdar Gurbakhsh Singh Roranwala, the chief of Bhangi Misl, adopted him. In 1763, after the death of Sirdar Gurbakhsh Singh, Lehna Singh became the chief of the Misl. Lehna Singh had a regular army of about 3000 cavalry and 2000 infantry. In 1765 he, along with Sirdar Gujjar Singh Bhangi and Sirdar Jai Singh Kanhaiya, captured Lahore. They divided the control of the city among themselves. Soon after, he minted the second Sikh coins (the first being Baba Banda Singh’s). This coin too was issued in the name of Guru Nanak – Guru Gobind Singh. Sirdar Lehna Singh ruled Lahore from 1765 to 1797, except for the short period when the Afghans invaded the Punjab. It is said that the residents of Lahore were very much satisfied with Lehna Singh Bhangi. Lehna Singh was a popular ruler. He was a good administrator. Once, when Ahmed Shah attacked Punjab, the Bhangi rulers left the city. The residents of Lahore praised Lehna Singh and requested Ahmed Shah to allow Lehna Singh rule Lahore. Ahmed Shah agreed and he sent a message to Lehna Singh offering him the Governorship of Lahore. Sirdar Lehna Singh refused to accept Ahmed Shah’s subjugation. It is said that Lehna Singh told the messenger to tell Ahmed Shah that the Sikhs would rather choose to live on parched grams than accepting slavery. Lehna Singh, it is said, actually sent a handful of parched grams for Ahmed Shah. When Ahmed Shah left Punjab, Lehna Singh re-occupied Lahore. His territory yielded him about one and a half million rupees.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sir John Lawrence (4.3.1811 – 26.6.1879) was born at Richmond (Yorkshire, England). He was the younger brother of Henry M. Lawrence. In 1830, he joined Civil Services and reached Calcutta. Later, he became a magistrate of Delhi. On March 1, 1846 he became Commissioner of the territory of Bist-Doab area, confiscated from Lahore Darbar. On March 29, 1849, he was appointed as a member (his brother Henry Lawrence was the Chairman) of the Administrative Board for the Punjab. In February 1853, he became the Chief Commissioner of the British Punjab. His first job was to disband the Sikh army of more than 90,000 soldiers. On February 25, 1859, he retired from service and returned to England. In 1864, he was appointed as the Governor General of India. He remained in this office till 1869. He died in England, in 1879 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sir Henry M. Lawrence (28.6.1806 – 4.7.1857) was born at Matura (Sri Lanka). In 1823, he joined the Bengal Artillery. On January 14, 1839, George Clerk, the British Political Agent, appointed him as his deputy Political Agent. He was stationed first at Firozpur and then at Peshawar and Jallalabad (Afghanistan). In 1843, Bhai Udey Singh of Kaithal died issue-less. He was appointed as the Administrator of Kaithal. On December 1, 1843 he became the British Resident in Nepal. During Anglo-Sikh wars he was recalled to the Punjab. He supervised all the battles. In 1846 Major Broadfoot, the Agent of Governor General died. Henry Lawrence succeeded Broadfoot. It was he who expelled Misr Lal Sinh and Rani Jindan from the Punjab in 1847. On February 1, 1849, he became the British Resident at Lahore. On April 14, 1849, he became the Chairman of Administration Board of Lahore. He was opposed to the annexation of the Punjab. Due to his differences with Lord Dahousie, on this issue, he resigned his job in 1853. After this, he was appointed as A.G.G. for Rajasthan. On March 14, 1857, he was appointed as Chief Commissioner of Oudh. He was an aggressive person. In 1857, during the mutiny, he was the in charge of Lucknow, where he was killed during this uprising.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Langah, resident of village Nanoke, was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan and Guru Hargobind. Guru Hargobind had appointed him as the caretaker of Guru Ram Das Dharamsala at Lahore. Bhai Langah was also one of the generals of the Sikh army. He participated in the battles of Guru Hargobind.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Langah Dhillon, son of Abu ul Khair, a resident of Jhabal, was a Chowdhry of district of Patti (now district Amritsar). He was an in charge of 84 villages which had revenue of about nine hundred thousand rupees. Before joining the Sikh faith, he was a Sultania follower. According to a story, once he became seriously ill. Neither medicine, nor worship of Sakhi Sarwar could help him. One day, a Sikh suggested him to read Gurbani. He started reading Gurbani. After a few days he recovered. After this, he joined Sikh faith at the time of Guru Arjan. He made active participation during the establishment of the town of Amritsar. In May 1606, he was along side Guru Arjan, when the latter was arrested. He was a witness to the torture of Guru Arjan. When Guru Hargobind built Gurdwara Dehra Sahib (Lahore), in the memory of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan, Langah Dhillon was appointed as the caretaker of the shrine. When Guru Hargobind formed army, he too joined it. Bhai Langah died at Dhilwan. His sons, Bhai Jasmat and Bhai Sikander and daughter Bibi Umri too were dedicated Sikhs. Mai Bhago, Bhag Singh Jhabal and Dilbagh Singh were the grand-children of Bhai Piro Shah (younger brother of Bhai Langah). The last two embraced martyrdom in the battle of Muktsar, on December 29, 1705. Mai Bhag Kaur was wounded in this battle. Her husband Nidhan Singh Waraich too embraced martyrdom at Muktsar. Mai Bhago (Bhag Kaur after initiation) accompanied the Guru to Nander. Baba Baghel Singh, of Karorsinghia Misl too belonged to this family.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lalu was a was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Angad Sahib. Once he, along with Bhai Durga and Bhai Jiwanda, visited the Guru and asked him (the Guru) for sermons. The Guru told them that there was nothing to match the acts of goodwill and generosity. We should always be ready to help the others and not to think only for ourselves. We should earn honestly and share with the others. We should always pray for the welfare of the whole of the humanity. Bhai Lalu and his companions spent the whole of their life as per the instructions of the Guru.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lalu Vij was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. He made active participation during the establishment of the town of Amritsar.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Lalu Baba (1444 – 1542) was the brother of Baba Kalyan Das (father of Guru Nanak). He is also known as Lalu Chacha [because he was Chacha (younger brother of father) of Guru Nanak].

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lalo of Ghataura sub caste, a carpenter, was a resident of Saidpur (now known as Eimanabad). He was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Nanak. Bhai Lalo was known for his honest earning and benevolence. Guru Nanak visited him twice and stayed with him along with Bhai Mardana. When the Guru visited Bhai Lalo for the first time, Malik Bhago, a rich man of Saidpur, was holding a feast. He had invited every body to his feast. Guru Nanak refused to eat his food. When he came to know about this, he sent his men to bring Guru Nanak to his presence. When Guru Nanak went to his house, he asked the Guru as to why did he refuse to eat his food. The Guru told him, “Your food was not been bought with honestly earned money; hence it appears like blood. ” He again asked Guru Sahib, “Why do you eat food from a (so-called) low-caste person.” Guru Nanak told him, “Bhai Lalo earns his bread by honest means; hence his food appears like milk; and, moreover, a person who worships Godcan not be classed as low-caste.” Malik Bhago could not say any more. Finally, he too bowed before the Guru and joined the Sikh faith. When Guru Nanak visited Saidpur in 1521, Babar’s army had ruined the town. A hymn depicting the scene of ruined Saidpur, composed by Guru Nanak, had been addressed to Bhai Lalo. Bhai Lalo had one daughter. Not much is known about Bhai Lalo’s life.

His house in Eimanabad (Gujranwala, Pakistan) has been preserved as a Gurdwara.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

According to Santokh Singh (a poet historian) Lalla Beg, a resident of Kabul, was a general of the army of Shah Jahan. In December 1634, he led a large army against Guru Hargobind Sahib. This battle was fought in three phases, at Mehraj, Mahal Kalan and the surrounding areas. A very large number of of the Mogul soldiers and Sikhs were killed in these battles. His sons too were killed in this battle. But, this is just concoction. There was no Moghul general of this name.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Lal Chand (Sinh), son of Jassa Mall (Mishra Pandit), was born at Sanghoi (district Jhelum, Pakistan). In 1832, he joined the Lahore Darbar. Lal Sinh was a cunning person. Soon, he joined the group of Dhian Sinh Dogra and got his job confirmed. In 1840, Hira Sinh Dogra appointed him as the caretaker of the State Treasury. In 1843, Lal Sinh shifted his loyalty to Rani Jindan. He came so close to Rani Jindan that, in 1845, he was appointed as a minister. He was also the Commander of the army. Once again he shifted his loyalty from Rani Jindan to the British.

Misr Lal Sinh was one of those persons who destroyed the empire of Ranjit Singh. During the Anglo-Sikh wars, he collaborated with the British and provided them all secret information about the Sikh army. During the battle of Mudki (December 18, 1845), he treacherously deserted the Sikh army and fled the battlefield. During the battle of Sabhraon (February 10, 1846), he gave all the sensitive details of the Sikh army to the British. The British suitably rewarded him. But when the British came to know that he had joined conspiracy against Gulab Sinh Dogra, he was stripped off his office. He was given a pension of rupees 12000 per year and was sent to Agra, where he died in 1866.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Giani Lal Singh (1887 – 1975), son of Bhai Khazan Singh, was born at village Kanech (district Ludhiana). After passing his eighth grade he had to abandon his studies due to poverty. In 1907, he went to Hong Kong for a better fortune but returned after two years. In 1909, he joined Punch Khalsa Diwan and served for some time as a Granthi and a clerk. For some time he also worked as the sub-editor of some weekly journals, including Kirpan Bahadur. During this period, he visited the Far East countries in connection with his missionary activities. Later, due to ideological differences, he parted association with Babu Teja Singh Bhasaur. After the death of Babu Teja Singh Bhasaur, in 1933, he rejoined Punch Khalsa Diwan. In 1965, he became the Chief of the Diwan. Giani Lal Singh did not have enough wealth; he aways remained in poor economic conditions. He wrote several books including: Gurmat Martand, Sikh Kanoon, Sikhan Nen Raj Kiven Liya, Sikhan Da Raj Kiven Giya, Khalsa Darbar, Suraj Parkash De Gapaure, Kes Philosophy, Sikh Itihas Di Parchol, Das Guru Sahiban Da Jiwan and his biography Neelee Dastar Di Daastan etc.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Giani Lal Singh (18.1.1916 – 17.5.1996), son of Bhai Gian Singh, was born at village Daudhar (district Faridkot). After passing his Giani and M.A. he began his career as a Sikh missionary. His first major job was with the Sikh Missionary College Amritsar. He served this college from 1943 to 1947. In 1947, he became the propaganda secretary of the S.G.P.C. In 1949 he became assistant Director of the Language Department, Punjab. In 1959, he became its Director. He retired in 1971. During his tenure as Director, he arranged publication of new editions of several rare books. He did great service to the cause of the Punjabi language in different fields. After his retirement in 1971, he was appointed as a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission. Later, in 1974 he became Chairman of this Commission. Giani Lal Singh was a good orator. He wrote a couple of books too. He was given Bhai Vir Singh Award for his contribution to literature. He spent his last days at Patiala.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lal Singh Pashauria was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh. He was the in charge of the treasury of the Guru, at Anandpur Sahib.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lal Singh, son of Bhai Natthia (and grandson of Bhai Ballu), was an uncle of Bhai Mani Singh. He died while fighting against the Mughal army, in the battle of Sirhind, on January 13, 1711.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lal Singh, son of Bhai Desu Singh, was a descendant of Bhai Bhagtu (a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Ram Das to Guru Har Rai). Lal Singh’s father Desu Singh was the founder of the Kaithal State. In 1778, Desu Singh had a dispute with Raja Amar Singh (Patiala State). In this situation, Desu Singh sought the help of the Moghals. The Delhi Darbar agreed to help him subject to the condition that he would pay revenue to the Delhi regime. He was asked to pay rupees four lakhs immediately. He paid rupees three lakhs and left Lal Singh in his custody as a security for the rest of the money. Desu Singh could not pay the amount for a long time; due to this they tortured Lal Singh. This turned Lal Singh hostile towards his father. In 1781, Desu Singh died. His son Bahal Singh succeeded him. Bahal Singh too could not make payment to get Lal Singh released. In the meanwhile Lal Singh escaped from prison and reached Kaithal. He killed his brother Bahal Singh and became the ruler of Kaithal State. In 1819, his cousin Karam Singh died. Bhai Lal Singh was able to get his State too. Lal Singh was a very clever person. He made friends with all his Sikh neighbours as well as the British and, thus, remained comfortable in his State. He was very popular among his subjects also. His son Udey Singh succeeded him. Lal Singh accepted British protectorate; hence when Udey Singh died issue-less on March 15, 1843, the British East India Company annexed the State.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lal Dhillon was the chief of village Sur Singh (district Patti, now district Tarn Taran). He was a relative of Bhai Langah Dhillon, who had already been initiated into the Sikh faith. Bhai Lal got initiation from Guru Arjan. He participated during the establishment of the town of Amritsar. Bhai Lal was a benevolent person and was one of the most respected persons of his area. Once he asked the Guru to give him sermon. The Guru taught him, “Service by hands purifies mind and brings an end to dubiety”. Later, the Guru appointed Bhai Lal as a Masand of the area.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lal Chand Subhikhi was the father of Mata Gujari (the mother of Guru Gobind Singh). He was a resident of Lakhnaur (district Ambala). Guru Gobind Singh visited his maternal grandfather several times. For some time he stayed at Kartarpur (Jullundur) also. Bhai Lal Chand died on July 27, 1694. Guru Gobind Singh visited Lakhnaur to join the final prayers for his maternal grandfather.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Pandit Lal Chand was a resident of village Panjokhara (district Ambala). When Guru Harkrishan visited village Panjokhara (in 1663), Lal Chand went to see the Guru. He was proud of his knowledge of Sanskrit language and the Hindu literature. He thought of testing the knowledge of (the child) Guru. The Guru, having understood his (Pandit’s) intentions asked Bhai Chajju Ram Mehra, a simple person of the village, to explain the some stanzas of Bhagwad Gita, a book of the Sanskrit literature. Bhai Chajju Ram explained that in a novel manner. This humbled Pandit Lal Chand. Pandit Lal Chand apologised and requested the Guru to initiate him. Later, he escorted the Guru to Kurukashetra.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lal Chand was the son of Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana. He, along with his father Makhan Shah, mother Mata Soljai and brothers Bhai Chandu Lal and Bhai Kushal Chand, visited Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, at Bakala, on October 9, 1664. It was on this occasion that Bhai Makhan Shah presented one hundred Mohars (gold coins) to Guru Tegh Bahadur. He got initiation from Guru Gobind Singh and became Lal Singh. In the early days of January 1706, he visited village Jassi (district Faridkot) to make obeisance and present his daswandh (tithe) to the Guru.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lakkhu Patoli, resident of Lahore, was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. According to a story, once Bhai Buddhu, a brick-kiln owner of Lahore, had arranged a feast for the Sikhs. Bhai Lakkhu also reached there. Bhai Buddhu denied him entry in that feast. Bhai Lakkhu pronounced a curse on Bhai Buddhu that his bricks will remain half-baked. Bhai Buddhu went to Guru Arjan to request him to withdraw that curse. The Guru told him that he (the Guru) could not withdraw the curse of Bhai Lakkhu. The Guru sent Bhai Laddha to make a request to Bhai Lakkhu (who had pronounced the curse). Bhai Laddha went to Bhai Lakkhu and requested him to withdraw his curse. Bhai Lakkhu told Bhai Laddha that he could not withdraw his curse but that year rains were going to be very heavy and the half-baked bricks of Bhai Buddhu would be sold at full price. This story has been very popular but it is not in consonance with the Sikh philosophy. Sikhism does not believe in curse or such-like things. Every phenomenon is the Will of God. A human being can not change the course of His Order. Hence this story is not true.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lakkhi Rai Wanjara, a Yadav Rajput (4.7.1580 – 28.5.1680), son of Mata Sarni and Bhai Godhu and grandson of Bhai Thakar Das Yadav, was born at Khairpur (district Muzzafarnagar, in Pakistan). In 1632, he got married to Bibi Kanto. Bhai Lakkhi Rai had eight sons: Nigahia (Singh), Hem Chand (Singh), Harhi, Hira (Sital Singh), Pundia (Pundara Singh), Bakhshi (Gurbakhsh Singh), Bala (Bal Singh) and Jawahar (Jawahar Singh) and one daughter Sito Bai. Sito Bai (Basant Kaur after initiation) was married to Bhai Mani Singh on 15 March 1659. In 1663, he moved to Delhi where he had purchased the land of the whole of the village of Raisina (present site of the President’s House, Indian Parliament and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, Delhi) and Malcha forest. When Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib embraced martyrdom, on November 11, 1675, he, along with his sons (Bhai Nigahia, Bhai Hema and Bhai Harhi) and Bhai Dhuman (son of Bhai Kahna), picked up the body of the Guru from Chandani Chowk and cremated it in his house by setting fire to one of his buildings. On November 15, he collected the ashes and went to Anandpur Sahib. When Bhai Lakkhi Rai reached Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib embraced him with passion and seated Bhai Lakkhi Rai along side himself, at his throne. All the members of Bhai Lakkhi Rai’s family got initiation from Guru Gobind Singh. His son Bhai Jawahar Singh embraced martyrdom at Fatehgarh Fort (Anandpur Sahib) on August 29, 1700. Bhai Nigahia Singh embraced martyrdom at Amritsar on April 6, 1709. Bhai Nigahia Singh’s sons, Bhai Aghar Singh and Bhai Tharaj Singh, too served the Sikh Panth till their death. Also see: Aghar Singh, Jawahar Singh, Nigahia Singh, and Tharaj Singh.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lakkha Singh was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh. He used to carry the Sikh national flag during the tours of the Guru. He was personal attendant of the Guru at Nander. When Jamshed Khan fatally wounded Guru Gobind Singh at Nander, he killed the assailant with his sword.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lakkha Singh, a resident of Banga (district Nawan Shahar), joined the Fourth Shaheedi Jatha to Jaito. The Jatha left Anandpur Sahib on March 26, 1924 and reached Jaito on April 18, 1924. At Jaito, the Jatha was arrested. Bhai Lakkha Singh died in jail due to torture and inhuman conditions.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhagat Lakhshman Singh (8.6.1863 – 27.12.1944), son of Bhagat Kahan Chand, was born at Rawalpindi. At the age of 26, he joined the Sikh faith. He started his career as a clerk in the district courts. Later, he joined postal department as a cashier. Finally, he became a teacher. During this period, he started The Khalsa, a weekly paper in English language. This was the first-ever English paper of the Sikhs. This paper played a great role for promotion of the cause of the Singh Sabha movement. Due to financial crisis he stopped publication of this paper, in 1903. He served in the education department for 30 years as a teacher, as headmaster and as Inspector of Schools. He retired in 1927. In 1929, he re-started the publication of Khalsa. Bhagat Lakshman Singh contributed several articles to The Tribune also. He wrote four books: The Sikh Martyrs, Guru Gobind Singh, The Sikhs and His New Critic. The fourth one, his Autobiography, was published posthumously. He died in 1944.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Lakhpat Rai (? – 1748), a Khatri Hindu from Kalanaur, was a minster of Zakaria Khan as well as Yahiya Khan, the Governors of Lahore. He had two brothers Jaspat Rai and Narpat Rai. In 1736, when Zakaria Khan formed a Gashti Fauj (mobile column) to search for and arrest/kill each and every Sikh, Lakhpat too joined it. They killed several Sikhs. Once, these troops were attacked by the Sikh army. During this attack several soldiers of the Mogul troops, including Duni Chand (nephew of Lakhpat Rai), were killed. In 1745, Yahiya Khan succeeded Zakaria Khan. He too appointed Lakhpat Rai as his minister. During this period, In January-February 1746, a unit of the Sikh soldiers had taken refuge in a thicket, near the village Baddoke Gusaian. When Jaspat Rai came to know it, he attacked the thicket. In the battle Bhai Nibahu Singh Ranghreta, catching hold of the tail of the elephant that Jaspat was riding on, climbed on the back of the elephant and chopped off head of Jaspat Rai. When Jaspat was killed his army fled the scene immediately. The Sikhs took the head of Jaspat with themselves. Kirpa Ram, a teacher of Jaspat paid rupees five hundred to the Sikhs and got the head of Jaspat for cremation. After the death of Jaspat, Lakhpat Rai became a sworn enemy of the Sikhs. Infuriated Lakhpat took a vow to annihilate the Sikh nation. He arrested all the Sikhs living in and around Lahore and killed them. On March 10, 1746, he killed more than one thousand Sikhs at Lahore. After this, the Mogul army, under the personal leadership of Lakhpat Rai and Yahiya Khan, besieged the Sikhs. During this siege, on May 1, 1746, more than seven thousand Sikhs were killed at Kahnuwan (district Gurdaspur). During these operations Lakhpat, however, lost his own son Harbhaj Rai. Besides the killings of the Sikhs, Lakhpat Rai proclaimed that any one using the words Gurh (molasses) and Granth (religious book) should be severely punished (Gurh resemble Guru and Granth reminded of Guru Granth Sahib). The persecution of the Sikhs continued till March 1748. In April 1748, Muin-ul-Malik (Mir Mannu) became the governor of Lahore. He appointed Kaura Mall as his Minister. Muin-ul-Mulk arrested Lakhpat Rai. A fine of rupees three million was imposed upon him. Two hundred and twenty thousand rupees were recovered from him through the sale of his property and the rest, eight hundred thousand rupees, was the price of his head. Diwan Kaura Mall paid this price and handed him (Lakhpat) over to the Sikhs, who tortured him to death in the manner he had butchered innocent Sikhs.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lakhmir Chand was the younger brother of Bhai Rai Shamir Chand Chowdhry, the chief of village Dina-Kangar. He was the grandson of a dedicated Sikh Bhai Rai Jodh, who had participated in the battle of Mehraj (December 1634), at the time of Guru Hargobind. When Guru Gobind Singh, after exodus from Anandpur Sahib, reached village Dina, on December 20, 1705, Bhai Shamir Chand and his brothers Bhai Lakhmir Chand and Bhai Takht Mall, gave warm welcome to the Guru.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Lakhmi Das (13.2.1497 – 9.4.1555), the younger son of Guru Nanak Sahib was born at Rai Bhoi-Di-Talwandi (now Nanakana Sahib). He spent first seven years of his life at his village, three years at Sultanpur. At the age of 25 he moved to Kartarpur and spent the rest thirty-three years of his life there. Guru Nanak Sahib rejected him as his successor-in-mission. His direct descendants, known as Bedis, though, later, they got Sikh initiation, still tried to continue their own lineage as successors of Guru Nanak. They tried to create a separate class in Sikh society, which is apparently against Sikh philosophy. They could succeed only partly, as the Sikh elite refused to grant them any special status. Lakhmi Das had a son Dharam Chand (1523 – 1618). Dharam Chand was succeeded by Mehar Chand, Pahar Chand, Harkaran Chand, Nihal Chand and Kaladhari respectively. Kaladhari died in 1681. Kaladhari’s son Jit (Ajit) Singh (died 1716) embraced Sikh faith. Jit Singh’s son Sahib Singh Bedi became a powerful person during the time of (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh. Sahib Singh died in 1834. He was succeeded by Bishan Singh (Kallar, Rawalpindi) and Bikram Singh (Una, Himanchal). Bishan Singh and his son Atar Singh both died in 1839. Sahib Singh Bedi’s second son, Bikram Singh sided with (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh’s family during Anglo-Sikh wars and got imprisonment. Sahib Singh Bedi’s great-grandson Khem Singh Bedi (son of Atar Singh and grandson of Bishan Singh) always collaborated with the British rulers; and, he was suitably rewarded for this. In 1995, Madhusudan Singh, a descendant of this family, spearheaded a movement of the ascetics and phoney saints and formed ‘Sant Samaj’. He did succeed partly but soon lost respect aong the elite Sikhs.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Rani Lachhmi, daughter of Desa Singh Sandhu, known as Vaddpagga (he used to wear big turban), a resident of village Jogi Khan (district Gujranwala, West Punjab), was married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Lachhmi survived Maharaja Ranjit Singh and received an allowance rupees 11200 rupees per month from the British government.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bibi Lachhmi, a Brahmin woman, was a resident of village Lakhimpur Jhallian (near Ropar). She was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind. She used to weave cloth and present it to the Guru every year at Keeratpur. When she grew old, she could not visit Keeratpur. On July 20, 1635, Guru Hargobind visited her at her residence, accepted her present and blessed her.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sirdar Lachhman Singh Gill (1917 – 26.4.1969), a contractor by profession, was one of the senior Akalis, in 1950s. In 1960, he was elected to the S.G.P.C. During the Punjabi Suba agitation (1960-61), he came close to Fateh Singh (of Ganganagar) and spearheaded the planning to remove Master Tara Singh from the leadership of the Akali Dal and the S.G.P.C. He joined Jeewan Singh Umranangal in making a petition to Akal Takht to summon Master Tara Singh for breaking his religious vows. The caretaker of Akal Takht punished Master Tara Singh, Fateh Singh and the other Akali leaders, through a verdict delivered on November 29, 1961. On November 30, 1961, Lachhman Singh Gill was elected as the general secretary of the S.G.P.C. He was elected member of the Punjab Assembly in 1962. The factional fighting in the Akali Dal, however, continued. Lachhman Singh Gill made some public statements against the Akali leadership. On July 5, 1962, Master Tara Singh suspended him from Akali Dal. Fateh Singh sided with Lachhman Singh. On July 22, 1962, the Akali Dal was split into two groups. Later, Fateh Singh became more acceptable to the Sikh masses because Master Tara Singh was a non-Jat (non-farmer); and moreover, the government, the Hindu organisations, the Communists and the Hindu press promoted and facilitated Fateh Singh. On October 2, 1962, Fateh Singh group wrested the S.G.P.C. The same year he was nominated as a member of the Nanakana Sahib Educational Trust. (This Trust runs the Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana). In 1967 elections, Lachhman Singh Gill was elected to the Punjab Assembly. After the elections, Akali Dal formed government in the Punjab. Though Lachhman Singh Gill was senior in the organisation, Gurnam Singh became the chief minister; and, Lachhman Singh became a cabinet minister. The both could not go together for a long time. Lachhman Singh took up the issue of the introduction of Punjabi as official language in the Punjab. Gurnam Singh and Fateh Singh wanted to delay it in order to please the Hindus. On November 22, 1967, Lachhman Singh and 16 other M.L.As formed Janta Party and became its president. With the support of the Congress party, he became the chief minister of the Punjab on November 25, 1967. Lachhman Singh Gill declared Punjabi as the official language in the State. He built link roads to all the villages of the Punjab. He used the support of the Congress Party for the benefit of the Sikhs and the Punjab. The Congress Party had always used the Akalis and the Sikhs, Sirdar Lachhman Singh Gill was the only person who used the Congress Party for his motives. On August 20, 1968, the Congress party withdrew its support of Gill and he resigned as the chief minister. In 1969, mid-term elections to the Punjab Assembly were held. Lachhman Singh was elected to the Assembly. Gurnam Singh again became chief minister. On March 13, 1969, Lachhman Singh Gill was gor arrested in a fake case. It was a revengeful act by the Fateh Singh group. Lachhman Singh could not brave the insult and died after a few days.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali (August 1885 – 20.2.1921), son of Bhai Mehar Singh, was born at village Dharowali (district Gurdaspur). Later the family moved to Dharowali Chakk No. 33 (district Sheikhupura). As a child Bhai Lachhman Singh was a brave and strong boy. He had a very good physique. In 1901, he got married to Bibi Inder Kaur. A child was born to them in 1907. The child died after eight months. Bhai Lachhman Singh, though a farmer, tried business line too. He used to spend most of his earning for charitable purposes. In 1910, he joined Khalsa Parcharak Vidyala at Tarn Taran and passed a missionary course. In 1912, Bhai Lachhman Singh founded a female orphanage at Tarn Taran. In 1920 he arranged a Sikh Women Conference at his village. It was attended by several Sikh leaders. In those days, the Sikh shrines were under the occupation of the corrupt managers. These debauched managers had turned the Sikh shrines into centres of criminal activities. Persons like Bhai Lachhman Singh could not tolerate it. He began a movement for the liberation of the Sikh shrines. Nanakana Sahib (the birth place of Guru Nanak Sahib) was one of such shrines, which were under the control of debauched managers. On October 1-3, 1920, he organised a mammoth conference in his village. It was attended by leaders from all fields. This became the basis of the major phase of Gurdwara reform movement. On November 15-16, 1920, the S.G.P.C. was formed and the control of Darbar Sahib came into the hands of the Sikhs. During this period Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar and Bhai Lachhman Singh joined hands. On February 14, 1921, Bhai Lachhman Singh was elected the Jathedar of Khara Sauda Bar (Mararhi Chakk No. 42). On February 17, he was elected Jathedar of the newly formed Akali Jatha Bar. The S.G.P.C. planned to liberate the shrine at Nanakana Sahib too. A meeting of the Sikhs was arranged at Nanakana Sahib for March 4-6, 1920. Mahant Narain Das, the manager of Nanakana Sahib, planned a massacre of the Sikh leaders who would be attending the forthcoming Akali meeting. Bhai Lachhman Singh came to know about his designs. He, along with others, planned to occupy Nanakana Sahib, on February 20, 1921, when Mahant Narain Das would be attending a meeting at Amritsar. When the S.G.P.C. came to know about this, a meeting of the senior leaders was held. It was decided that a messenger should be sent to stop the Jatha of Bhai Lachhman Singh. Master Tara Singh, Bhai Dalip Singh and Bhai Waryam Singh were asked to contact Bhai Lachhman Singh. Per chance Master Tara Singh missed his train. On the other hand Bhai Dalip Singh too could not trace the whereabouts of the Jatha. Bhai Dalip Singh asked Bhai Waryam Singh to continue the search of the Jatha and he himself went to the factory of a local Sikh, Bhai Uttam Singh. Bhai Waryam Singh finally succeeded in finding the Jatha. He told Bhai Lachhman Singh about the decision of the S.G.P.C. The members of the Jatha, however, insisted that they had made an Ardas (prayer) and they won’t break their woe. After this the Jatha of Bhai Lachhman Singh went to Gurdwara Janam Asthan and entered the premises of the Gurdwara at about 5.45 A.M. Bhai Waryam Singh too joined the Jatha. The Jatha comprised of about one hundred and fifty Sikhs. The Sikhs went into the main shrine and began performing Keertan. Mahant Narain Das locked the main gates of the Gurdwara and began massacre of the Sikhs. Bhai Lachhman Singh was sitting Tabiya (attending) of Guru Granth Sahib, in the Chaukhandi (the central part of the shrine). The Sikhs locked the gates of this hall. Mahant Narain Das’s men tried to break open this door. When they did not succeed, they started firing from a hole in the door (already made for this purpose). Several bullets hit Bhai Lachhman Singh and the others. Several Sikhs were killed or wounded. Soonafter the door was broken. By that time only a child had remained unhurt; but, he too was killed. More than 130 Sikhs were butchered by him. Kerosene oil was sprinkled over the dead bodies of the Sikhs as well as over the wounded Sikhs. Several wounded Sikhs were burnt alive. Bhai Lachhman Singh’s head was severed by Mahant and his body was hanged upside down on a tree. Bhai Dalip Singh, who was present in the factory of Bhai Uttam Singh at that time, heard the sound of the bullets. He rushed to the Gurdwara to ask Narain Das to stop killing the Sikhs. He too was shot dead. Mahant Narain Das was, later, arrested and sentenced to death. The death sentence of the killer of more than 130 Sikhs was turned into life imprisonment by the “justice-loving” British Judge of the High Court. This was the most heinous killing of the century by that time.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lachhman Singh (1867 – 20.2.1921), son of Bhai Nanak Singh, was born at village Bura Dalla (district Gurdaspur). He belonged to a very poor family. When he grew up, he joined army. During his service he studied Gurmukhi and also got initiation. In 1905, he got married. His wife could not bear him any child. After a few years, she died. This incident made him despondent. He gifted away all his belongings to his brother and left home. Finally, he moved to village Chakk No 83 Dalla Nangal (district Sheikhupura) and became a Granthi of the Gurdwara. He was fond of serving the people. When Bhai Lachhman Singh formed a Jatha for the liberation of the Gurdwara Janam Asthan, he volunteered himself. On February 19, 1921, he went to Nanakana Sahib where he embraced martyrdom the following day.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lachhman Singh, son of Bhai Deva Singh, resident of village Mano Chahal (district Amritsar), was one of the passengers of the Komagatamaru ship. Komagatamaru ship reached Vancouver on May 21, 1914. The passengers were not allowed to land. After a struggle of about 2 months, the ship left Vancouver for Calcutta on July 24, 1914. It reached Budge Budge (about 7 km from Calcutta), on September 29, 1914, at about 11 A.M. When the ship reached there the police put siege to the passengers. In the evening the passengers tried to leave Budge Budge to make a visit to the Gurdwara at Calcutta. The police tried to stop them. The passengers did not bother and began moving with Guru Granth Sahib amidst them. At this the police opened fire. Bhai Lachhman Singh was one of the 18 who were killed by police firing.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lachhman Singh, a resident of village Bela Katar Singh (district Hoshiarpur), joined the Fourth Shaheedi Jatha to Jaito. The Jatha left Anandpur Sahib on March 26, 1924 and reached Jaito on April 18, 1924. At Jaito, the Jatha was arrested. Bhai Lachhman Singh died in jail due to torture and inhuman conditions.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Lachhman Singh Gandharb (1911 – ?) was born at village Mahmudpura (district Ludhiana). When he was just 6 years old, he lost his eyesight. He got initiation from Atar Singh of Mastuana and learnt Keertan from Bhai Nirmal Singh Ragi. After completing his studies, he became a teacher of music. In 1941, when the Sikhs began movement against the Kookas (Namdharis), he made very active participation in it. In 1950, he was nominated to the Executive of the Akali Dal, In March 1953; he spearheaded the movement against the dismissal of Rarewala government in the P.E.P.S.U. In 1955, he courted arrest during the Punjabi Suba agitation. After some time he was elected president of district Akali Dal. Throughput his life he remained loyal to the Sikh Panth.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Babu Labh Singh (1885 – 9.3.1947), son of Bhai Dula Singh, was born at village Lasara (tehsil Phillaur, district Jullundur). He spent his early period at Quetta, where he passed his Matriculation examination. In 1914, he started his career as a clerk in the army but soon resigned from the army and joined job with the railways. Here, he came to be known as Babu Labh Singh, as all the clerks were addressed in those days. At that time the Gurdwara Reform Movement (1920-25) had already begun. The massacre of the Sikhs pricked his soul and he resigned his job in protest. He was arrested during Guru-Ka-Bagh agitation. In 1924, he courted arrest in the fourth Jatha, which started for Jaito from Anandpur Sahib, on March 26, 1924 and reached Jaito on April 18. He was released in 1925. In 1926, he was selected the president of the Jullundur district Akali Jatha. In 1928, when Simon Commission visited Punjab, he joined the protest procession. In 1930, he participated in the Civil Disobedience movement. He was released in 1931. In 1942, he was arrested again during the Quit India agitation. Babu Labh Singh was a tireless worker. In 1935, he became a member of the Executive of the Akali Dal. He came into prominence when he organised a mammoth Silver Jubilee Akali Conference, at Jandiala (district Jullundur), on November 25, 1944. In 1945, he was elected the president of the Akali Dal. He played effective role on the issue of the Sikhs’ participation in the Constituent Assembly. Due to his pro-Sikh approach, he was suspended from the Congress party. In 1947, when communal riots spread throughout the Punjab, he joined the leaders of the other communities to request the people to stop killings. During this campaign, the workers of Muslim League attacked him at Jullundur. He was fatally wounded. A Gurdwara at Chowk Babu Labh Singh (named after him) and a Babu Labh Singh Memorial at Jullundur preserve his memory.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Labh Singh, a resident of village Jodh (district Ludhiana), joined the First Shaheedi Jatha to Jaito, on February 9, 1924. The Jatha reached Jaito on February 21, 1924. At Jaito, the British army fired at the Jatha. Bhai Labh Singh was one of the Sikhs who embraced martyrdom.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Kulla Jhanjia was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan Sahib. Once he, accompanied by Bhai Bhulla Jhanjhi and Bhai Bhagirath, went to make obeisance to Guru Sahib. They learnt the lesson of becoming a Gurmukh (one who lives according to the teaching of Guru) from Guru Sahib and lived their life accordingly. Also see: Bhulla Jhanjhi, Bhagirath.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Kukko Wadhawan was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib. Once he, along with his son Bhai Ananta (who embraced martyrdom in the battle of Amritsar, on April 13, 1634), visited Guru Sahib and asked what was the most important Shabad (word) to be recited. Guru Sahib tod them that Satnam (The True Name) was the most important.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Krishan Singh (? – 20.2.1921), son of Bhai Sunder Singh, was born at village Rattoke (district Amritsar). Later, the family moved to Burj Chakk No 55 (district Sheikhupura). In his village he built a Gurdwara for the so-called low caste Sikhs. Bhai Krishan Singh was popular among all the sections of the Sikhs. On February 19, 1921, he joined the Jatha of Bhai Narayan Singh and went to Nanakana Sahib, where he embraced martyrdom the following day.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Koer Singh Chandara was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He got initiation from Guru Sahib on the first day of the initiation of Khalsa. He was one of the five Sikhs who had been asked to join Bhai Mani Singh to manage the shrines of Amritsar. He was killed along with Bhai Mani Singh on 24 June 1934, by the orders from Zakaria Khan.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew (1888 – 1963), son of Azizuddin, was born at Amritsar. He received his education from England and Germany. He received his Ph.D. from a German university. In 1913, he started legal practice at Rawalpindi. In 1915, he moved to Amritsar. In 1919, he led agitation against the Rowlatt Bill and addressed several meetings against the Bill. He was prohibited from speaking on April 4, 1919. On April 10, he and Dr. Satyapal were arrested and were despatched to Dharamsala. This led to an agitation in the city of Amritsar and ended in massacre at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919. This made him to be known as “Hero of Jallian Wala Bagh”. He was tried under section 124 of the I.P.C. and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released on December 26, 1919 as a result of Royal amnesty. After this he renounced his practice and became a part and parcel of the freedom movement. In 1924, he participated in the Jaito agitation. He was arrested on February 21, 1924. He was appointed general secretary of the Congress Party, in 1924. In 1929, he seconded the Lahore resolution for complete independence. He participated in the Non-cooperation Movement (1921-22) and Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-31). Later, he was elected president of the Punjab Congress. He courted arrest several times. He spent 14 years of his life in different jails. After 1947, he became a protagonist of world peace. He became the president of All-India Peace Council and a member of the Presidium of the World Peace Council. He was given Stalin Peace Prize. Dr. Kitchlew was a great orator. The British dreaded him so much that his speeches had to be banned several times. Dr. Kitchlew was a supporter of the formation of Punjabi Suba. He presided over the Punjabi Suba convention held on May 22, 1960. Dr. Kitchlew died in 1963.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

KISHANA
Bhai Kishana, son of Bhai Rama, a resident of village Chahal (district Lahore, Pakistan), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Nanak Sahib. Guru Nanak Sahib’s father-in-law, Baba Rama too belonged to this village. It seems that Bhai Kishana was not the brother-in-law of Guru Nanak Sahib as there is no reference in any source that Guru Sahib had any brother-in-law.

KISHANA CHAUHAN
Bhai Kishana, son of Bhai Kaulji Das and grandson of Bhai Ambia Hajawat (a Chauhan Rajput) was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib. He embraced martyrdom in the battle of Kartarpur, on April 28, 1635. Also see: Kaul Das and Padma.

KISHANA JHINGARAN
Bhai Kishana Jhingaran, a Brahmin, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan Sahib. Bhai Kishana Jhingaran and his companion Bhai Bala Jhingaran, both, were scholarly persons and were famous for their debating skill. They approached Guru Sahib and confessed that despite of their knowledge and skill they had obtained no spiritual heights. Guru Sahib told them that instead of being didactic they should address to themselves and moreover they themselves should try to live their lives according to the ideology. Both promised to act upon Guru Sahib’s advice. Later, both of them became missionaries of the Sikh religion.

KISHANA (MUJANG)
Bhai Kishana, a resident of Mujang (near Lahore, Pakistan), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan Sahib. In that area, Bhai Kishana and Bhai Seth Manghiana and their families were the first to join the Sikh faith at that time. At Mujang, Bhai Bhanu used to hold a congregation every morning. These two families used to perform Keertan. Later, many others joined them and it became a big Sangat. Bhai Kishana also made active participation during the establishment of the city of Amritsar.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

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)

Bhai Kishan Singh (? – 20.2.1921), son of Bhai Sunder Singh (a so-called low caste Sikh), was born at village Rattoke (district Amritsar). The family, later, moved to village Burj (district Lyallpur, now Faisalabad, Pakistan). At Burj, he was appointed as the Granthi of the local Gurdwara. When Bhai Lachhman Singh announced the formation of a Jatha for the liberation of Gurdwaras at Nanakana Sahib, he volunteered himself. On February 19, 1921, he went to Nanakana Sahib, where he embraced martyrdom, the following day. At the time of his martyrdom, he was just 20 years old.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

KISHAN SINGH (JAITO) (1)
Bhai Kishan Singh, a resident of village Tudhe (district Amritsar), joined the Third Shaheedi Jatha to Jaito, on March 3, 1924. The Jatha reached Jaito on April 7, 1924. At Jaito, the Jatha was arrested. Bhai Kishan Singh died in jail due to torture and inhuman conditions.

KISHAN SINGH (JAITO) (2)
Bhai Kishan Singh, a resident of village Kaleki (district Firozpur), joined the Third Shaheedi Jatha to Jaito, on March 3, 1924. The Jatha reached Jaito on April 7, 1924. At Jaito, the Jatha was arrested. Bhai Kishan Singh died in jail due to torture and inhuman conditions.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Mai Kishan Kaur (1856 – 10.8.1952), daughter of Bhai Suba Singh (a goldsmith by profession), was born at village Lohgarh (district Ludhiana); later the family moved to Daudher village. In 1974-75, she got married to Harnam Singh (a resident of village Kaonke, district Ludhiana), who was an army officer. He was posted in Burma. After her marriage she too moved to Burma. There, she gave birth to two sons and a daughter, who died at an early age. Her husband too died at a very young age. After the death of her husband, she returned to Kaonke. In 1903,, she got initiation and decided to spend the rest of her life in the service of the Panth. In 1912, she made active participation during the construction of Gurdwara Gurusar in her own village. When Gurdwara reform movement began in 1920, she participated in this movement from the very beginning. She served the pilgrims at Nanakana Sahib, served the wounded persons during the Guru-Ka-Bagh agitation (1922) and participated during the liberation of the Gurdwara at Muktsar. When Sikhs began courting arrests at Jaito (1924) she again rendered her services for the volunteers. When Jathedar Dulla Singh and Jathedar Suchcha Singh (both of village Rode, district Moga) formed a Durli Jatha to provide ration to the Sikhs inside the Gurdwara, she too joined them. When the first Shaheedi Jatha (martyrs’ band) of the Sikhs was fired at Jaito, on February 21, 1924, she attended the wounded Sikhs, served the volunteers and also collected intelligence information. There, she was arrested on charges of sedition. She was sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment. She served full term of four years in prison. She was released on June 30, 1928. After her release she was honoured at several places, including Akal Takht Sahib. Even after that she continued serving the community. She died at Gurdwara Gurusar Kaonke at the age of 96.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Kirpal Singh (Mama), son of Bhai Lal Chand Subhikhi and brother of Mata Gujari (mother of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib), was born at village Lakhnaur (district Ambala). In June 1656, when Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib went out for a long missionary journey, he accompanied Guru Sahib. He fought bravely in the battle of Bhangani (September 18, 1688). In 1698, he got initiation and became Kirpal Singh. After the death of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, he stayed for some time at Delhi. In 1717, he visited Amritsar to manage the affairs of Darbar Sahib. He formed a Committee to take care of the shrines. He was one of the 60 Sikhs who were executed on January 18, 1724, at Delhi along with Ajit Singh Palit.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Sirdar Kirpal Singh Artist (10.12.1923 – 26.4.1990), son of Sirdar Bhagat Singh, was born at village Warha Chain Singh Wala (district Firozpur). His father was a carpenter; hence he learnt the art of engraving from his early childhood. He received his early education from his village school but due to poor financial situation his father could not send him to college. In 1942, he joined a minor job. In 1947, the family moved to Jullundur. Here he started his career as a painter. In 1952, he moved to Delhi and then to Indri (district Karnal). On June 26, 1955, the first exhibition of his paintings was held at Karnal. In 1956, the S.G.P.C. employed him to make paintings of the Sikh heroes and the historical events for the newly established Sikh Museum at Amritsar. For the next six years he worked hard and produced his masterpieces. There are 36 paintings of Sirdar Kirpal Singh at the Central Sikh Museum. In 1962, he moved to Chandigarh. Here, he painted several paintings for different museums. Sirdar Kirpal Singh painted a very large number of paintings of personalities, historical events, landscapes and portraits. His paintings have been preserved by the Central Sikh Museum, Punjabi University Patiala, P.A.U. Ludhiana, Takht Kesgarh Sahib Anandpur Sahib, Takht Patna Sahib, Chandigarh Art Gallery, Gurdwara Mehdiana Sahib Jagraon (district Ludhiana) and some other centres as well. Sirdar Kirpal Singh was a school in himself. His son Jarnail Singh too is a good painter.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Kirpal Das, of village Hehar (district Ludhiana), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He fought bravely in the battle of Bhangani (September 18, 1688). He killed Hayat Khan, a general of Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal, just with a club. Bhai Kirpal Das was given a Siropao (robe of honour) by Guru Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited him, on December 17, 1705, on his way from Machhiwara to Dina-Kangar. Guru Sahib stayed with him for one night. When Guru Sahib left Hehar, the next day, Bhai Kirpal Das carried palanquin of Guru Sahib, on his right shoulder, up to about two km.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Kirpal Chand Katoch was the ruler of Kangra in 1691. When Mian Khan sent the chief of Jammu, Alif Khan, to collect revenue from the hill chiefs of Kangra area, Raja Kirpal Chand Katoch and Raja Dyal (of Bijharwal) submitted to Alif Khan. Bhim Chand of Kahlur refused to pay tribute. Bhim Chand sought the help of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Guru Sahib helped the hill chiefs and a battle was fought, at Nadaun (about 32 km from Kangra), on March 19, 1691. Kirpal Chand fought bravely. When it became dark, the battle stopped. In the middle of the night Alif Khan fled the battlefield. Kirpal Chand again fought on the side of the Mogul, in the battle of Guler (February 18, 1696). In this battle he was killed.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

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)

Bhai Kiratia a resident of village Galotian Khurd (district Sialkot), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib and Guru Har Rai Sahib. He visited Gwalior Fort prison several times to make obeisance to Guru Hargobind Sahib. Guru Har Rai Sahib visited him in the winter of 1659-60 and spent a couple of months with him. Guru Har Rai Sahib appointed him as his personal attendant. He also accompanied Ram Rai to Delhi in 1660.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

KIRAT SINGH
Bhai Kirat Singh was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He got initiation from Guru Sahib on the first day of the initiation of Khalsa. He was one of the five Sikhs who were asked to accompany Bhai Mani Singh to look after the shrines at Amritsar in April 1698.

KIRAT SINGH (KIRATIA)
Bhai Kiratia, son of Bhai Gurdas (a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib), was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He had been staying at Anandpur Sahib since his youth. On March 29, 1698, he got initiation and became Bhai Kirat Singh. He participated the battles of Anandpur Sahib. He was with Guru Sahib at Chamkaur, on December 7, 1705. Here, he embraced martyrdom while fighting against the invading army.

KIRAT SINGH (ALMGIR)
Bhai Kirat Singh was a resident of village Aalamgir (district Ludhiana). When Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited Aalamgir, on December 14, 1705. Bhai Kirat Singh and his family visited Guru Sahib to make obeisance. A day earlier Bhai Daya Singh and three of his companions had also visited him to inform about the forthcoming visit of Guru Sahib.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Kirat Bhatt, son of Bhai Bhikkha and grandson of Bhai Raiya, a Kaushish-Gaur Brahmin, was a poet of Bhatt family. Eight stanzas written by him have been included in Guru Granth Sahib. Four of these stanzas relate to the contribution of Guru Amar Das Sahib and the other four sing the contribution of Guru Ram Das Sahib. Bhai Kirat Bhatt fought bravely in the battle of Amritsar (April 15, 1634) and embraced martyrdom. His grandsons: Bhai Keso Singh, Bhai Hari Singh, Bhai Desa Singh (sons of Bhai Bohath) and Bhai Narbud Singh, Bhai Tara Singh, Bhai Sewa Singh, Bhai Deva Singh (sons of Bhai Hari Singh and great-grandsons of Bhai Kirat Bhatt), along with several others, embraced martyrdom, on October 11, 1711 at Alowal (district Lahore). They were buried alive, under the order of Bahadur Shah, the Mogul emperor (the proclamation of October 10, 1710).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Bhai Kirat Barhtia was a dedicated Sikh. He joined Sikh faith at the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib or Guru Har Rai Sahib. He was one of the confident Sikhs of Guru Sahib. His son Gurdas Barhtia also attended Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. When Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was arrested at village Dhamtan (on November 8, 1665), he was with Guru Sahib. He remained in prison at Delhi for more than a month.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)

Kikkar Singh (born Prem Singh) Pehalwan (13.1.1857 – 18.2.1914), son of Bhai Jawala Singh Sandhu, was born at village Ghanieke (district Lahore). When he grew up, he was seven more than two meter tall, strong and handsome young man. Bhai Jawala Singh, himself, was also a wrestler. He trained Kikkar Singh as a wrestler. Kikkar Singh was trained by Ghulam, a resident of village Nurpur. Later, he became a student of Wasawa Singh Pehalwan. Finally he joined the Akhara (wrestling group) of Buta Pehlwan (who was the champion of India). By this time Kikkar Singh had played several wrestling matches. He was one of the famous wrestlers of the Indian sub-continent. Kikkar Singh fought many matches in his life. He won all the bouts easily. In 1911, when he was 54 years old and was a patient of asthama, Kallu Pehalwan, a young wrestler challenged him. He was a stubborn man. In spite of his age and health, he accepted the challenge. A wrestling match was played at Delhi. The old wrestler gave a grand fight to the young Kallu. The bout was almost undecided but the judge declared Kallu as the winner. Kikkar Singh died at Ghanieke in 1914.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)