Dhir Mall (10.1.1627 – 16.11.1677), son of Baba Gurditta and grandson of Guru Hargobind Sahib, was born at Kartarpur (district Jullundur). As a child he was stubborn and selfish. When Guru Hargobind Sahib and Baba Gurditta, along with the families, moved to Keeratpur Sahib, he refused to join them. He was such a wicked character that he did not attend even the final prayers after the death of his father. He even refused to allow the Sikhs to take Adi Granth Sahib with them to Keeratpur Sahib. He was rejected and discarded by Guru Hargobind Sahib. He remained most of the time at Kartarpur (Jullundur). When Guru Har Rai Sahib, Dhir Mall’s younger brother, was installed as Seventh Nanak, Dhir Mall declared himself as successor and began collecting tithe from the Sikhs. He even made friends with his nephew Ram Rai (son of Guru Har Rai Sahib, who had been excommunicated by Guru Har Rai Sahib). When Guru Harkrishan Sahib was installed as the Eighth Nanak, he went to Keeratpur Sahib and once more, tried to become a successor. When he could not succeed he left Keeratpur Sahib and reached Bakala on March 23, 1662. Guru Harkrishan Sahib died on March 30, 1664. When Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was installed as Ninth Nanak, at Bakala, on August 11, 1664, he was present at the time of the performance of the ceremony. Sometimes later, Dhir Mall made yet another attempt but he was rejected by the Sikhs. Dhir Mall, who always collaborated all anti-Sikh groups, was arrested by the Mogul rulers, in September 1676. He was imprisoned at Ramthambhor Fort prison, where he died, on November 16, 1677. His son Ram Chand too was arrested and executed at Delhi on July 24, 1678. After the execution of Ram Chand, his younger brother Bhar Mall moved to Kartarpur. When Guru Gobind Singh Sahib sent Bhai Mani Ram (later Singh) to borrow the volume of Adi Granth Sahib to compare and correct another copy, Bhar Mall made excuses. Bhar Mall died on March 30, 1691. He was succeeded by his son Niranjan Rai. Niranjan Rai had cordial relations with the Mogul authorities. Niranjan Rai died on October 27, 1702. He was succeeded by Bikram Rai. Bikram Rai began using suffix Sinh to confuse the Sikhs. Bikram Sinh was succeeded by his son Ram Sinh and after Ram Sinh’s death Vadbhag Sinh (died 1762) became the successor of the Dera at Kartarpur. All of them remain loyal to the Mogul empire. Only Vadbhag Sinh faced some opposition from Nasir Ali, the Governor of Jullundur, who burnt the Thamm (wooden column), installed by Guru Arjan Sahib, as foundation stone of the town, in 1593. Later, to take his revenge, the Sikhs dug the grave of Nasir Ali and cremated his body. During the reign of the Sikh rulers, (in 1760s) the descendants of Dhir Mall got initiation. But, after the annexation of the Sikh Homeland by Britain, they again turned their backs to Sikhism and restarted anti-Sikh practices in their Dera near Kartarpur. Dhir Mall’s descendants are called Dhirmallia(s). The Sikhs are forbidden from having any relations with them.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)