Bhai Dial Das was the son of Bhai Mai Das Parmar and was an elder brother of Bhai Mani Singh. He was one of the close confidants of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. He had accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, during Guru Sahib’s missionary journey of Bengal, Bihar, Assam and the other areas of the zone (1656-64). On December 18, 1661, when Guru Gobind Singh Sahib was born at Patna, he was present there. In various Hukamnamas (including towards the Sikhs of Benaras, Patna etc.) there are references to Bhai Dial Das, asking the Sikhs to seek guidance of Bhai Dial Das on conceptual and national issues. He was along side Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, when the latter was arrested from village Dhamtan on November 8, 1665. He remained in prison up to December 15, 1665 and after his release he escorted Guru Sahib to Bihar, Bengal and Assam. He was alongside Guru Sahib when the latter was arrested at Agra in 1670. He accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib when the latter left Aanandpur Sahib on July 8, 1675. He was along side Guru Sahib, when the latter was arrested at village Malakpur Ranghran, on July 12, 1675. He was kept in Bassi Pathanan prison. Bhai Dial Das was tortured while in prison. After four months, he was taken to Delhi. He was boiled to death, in a heated cauldron, on November 11, 1675, in front of the present site of Gurdwara Sis Ganj, at Chandani Chowk, Delhi.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)