Bhai Daya Singh alias Bhai Daya Ram (1661 – 7.10.1708), son of Bhai Sudha Sobti, resident of Sialkot (Pakistan), was the first of the Punj Piaray, to be initiated as Khalsa, on March 29, 1698. Hence, he was “the first Khalsa”. Bhai Daya Singh had accompanied his father to Aanandpur Sahib, in 1677. He did not return home since then. Bhai Daya Singh was well-versed in Punjabi and Persian languages. He participated in all the battles fought at or around Aanandpur Sahib. When Guru Gobind Singh Sahib left Aanandpur Sahib, on the night of December 5 and 6, 1705, he was with Guru Sahib. He was also with Guru Sahib at Chamkaur, on December 7. He was one of the few Sikhs who escaped from Chamkaur, on the night of December 7 and 8. He met Guru Sahib again at Machhiwara. He was one of the four Sikhs (the others being Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Man Singh, Bhai Ram Singh) who formed advance party to supervise journey of Guru Sahib from Machhiwara to Dina-Kangar. At Dina-Kangar, Guru Sahib wrote Zafarnamah (letter of victory), to Aurangzeb and asked Bhai Daya Singh and Bhai Dharam Singh, to deliver the same personally to Aurangzeb. Bhai Daya Singh reached Ahmednagar (where Aurangzeb was camping) but finding it not possible to deliver the letter personally to Aurangzeb, he sent Bhai Dharam Singh to inform Guru Sahib about the situation. After Bhai Dharam Singh left for Talwandi Sabo, Bhai Daya Singh went to Aurangabad and stayed with a friend, in Dhami Mohalla (Gurdwara Bhai Daya Singh has been built at the spot). Later, Bhai Daya Singh, along with four other Sikhs, was successful in delivering the letter. Bhai Daya Singh and Bhai Dharam Singh re-joined Guru Sahib at village Kulayat (about 52 km from Bikaner in Rajasthan), on November 30, 1706 and, then, all of them proceeded to Nander. Bhai Daya Singh and Bhai Dharam Singh were present at Nander, at the time of martyrdom of Guru Sahib (October 7, 1708). He and Bhai Dharam Singh died some time later. A joint memorial preserves the memory of both Bhai Sahib.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)