DARSHAN SINGH PHERUMAN
Bhai Darshan Singh Pheruman (1.8.1885 – 27.10.1969), son of Bhai Chanda Singh, was born at village Pheruman (district Amritsar). After passing his matriculation examination, in 1912, he joined army. In 1914, he resigned from the army and became a contractor. When Gurdwara Reform Movement (1920-25) was launched, he gave up his business and joined the movement. In 1921, he was arrested in connection with the Keys’ Agitation (7.11.1921 – 19.1.1922). He came into prominence, when he led a Shaheedi Jatha (martyrs band), to Jaito, on December 15, 1924. After his release, he paid a visit to Malaysia (formerly known as Malaya), where he was detained on the basis of his political activities in the Punjab. He had to undertake a hunger strike for 21 days, to secure his right to wear Kachhehra (the Sikh shorts stitched in a specific manner), one of the “five articles of faith” obligatory for an initiated Sikh. During Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience movement (1930-31), he offered himself for arrest. On June 14, 1937, he was chosen president of Shiromani Akali Dal. In 1940, he parted with the Akali Dal and joined Congress. After 1947, he was among those who were anti-Akali workers of the Congress Party. In 1952, he was nominated by the Congress Party as a member of Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament). In 1955, he went on a hunger strike for a few days, to protest against the launching of Punjabi Suba agitation by the Akali Dal from Darbar Sahib Complex. When the police attacked Darbar Sahib complex, on July 4, 1955, he congratulated the chief minister. He was rewarded with another term as a member of Rajya Sabha. In 1959, he resigned Congress and joined Swatantra Party, an organisation dominated by the former-rulers. In 1968, Udham Singh Nagoke, an old friend of Darshan Singh Pheruman, died. Darshan Singh Pheruman visited him, a few days before his death. Udham Singh Nagoke repented for having played treason with the Sikh Panth and asked Darshan Singh Pheruman to wash his sins by some noble act. This was the turning point of his life. In the summer of 1969, Bhai Darshan Singh Pheruman made an announcement to undertake fast unto death for the inclusion of Chandigarh and the other Punjabi speaking areas into Punjab as well as the right of the Sikh nation to self determination. He was arrested by the Akali government, on August 12, 1969. He was not allowed to make prayers at Akal Takht Sahib. He began his fast, in Amritsar jail, on August 15, 1969, as per his announcement. After a hunger strike of 74 days, he died in Amritsar hospital, on October 27, 1969.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)