Baba Dip Singh (26.1.1682 – 11.11.1757), son of Bhai Bhagata, was born at village Pahuwind (district Amritsar). He got initiation from Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and studied the Sikh scriptures from Bhai Mani Singh at Aanandpur Sahib. In 1706, when Guru Gobind Singh Sahib reached Talwandi Sabo, he re-joined Guru Sahib. He spent most of his time in the study of Sikh Scripture. He also participated in the battles of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur but left him in 1714 when there was division in the Sikh army known as the dispute of so-called Tat Khalsa and so-called Bandai Khalsa and returned to Talwandi Sabo again. In 1726, he made four copies of Guru Granth Sahib, from the volume prepared by Bhai Mani Singh under the supervision of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. In 1732, he led his Jatha, to help Aala Singh, when latter had been besieged in Barnala. On March 29, 1733, he attended Sarbat Khalsa gathering at Akal Takht Sahib. It was on this day that the Mogul governor had sent an offer of a Jagir to the Sikhs. On this occasion the whole Sikh army was divided into two groups: Buddha Dal (the Veterans over forty years of age) and Taruna Dal (the Younger ones). He was given the command of one of the sections of the Buddha Dal. On March 29, 1748, when the Sikh army was divided into 11 Misls, his battalion was accepted a Misl (Dip Singh’s Misl, later, came to be known as Misl Shaheedan). Baba Dip Singh spent most of his time at Talwandi Sabo. During this period, Mir Muin, Governor of Lahore, perpetrated unspeakable atrocities on the Sikhs. Mir Muin died in 1753. He was succeeded by his wife. In December 1756, Ahmed Shah Durrani attacked the Sikh Homeland again. Durrani pillaged first Punjab and then India. He returned to Afghanistan in April 1757, leaving his son Taimur as the Governor of Lahore and Jahan Khan, as his deputy. In May 1757, Jahan Khan led a huge army to Amritsar. He demolished the Sikh fortress Ram Rauni and filled up Amritsar Sarovar with debris. When the news of sacrilege of the shrines reached Baba Dip Singh, he gave up his academic and missionary activities and set out with his Jatha for Amritsar. On his way to Amritsar, several thousand Sikhs joined him. He fought his major battle at Guru Ka Bagh, near Amritsar, on November 11, 1757. In this battle, Bhai Dial Singh killed Jahan Khan. Baba Dip Singh embraced martyrdom near Ramsar Sarovar. Later, a legend of Baba Dip Singh’s fighting with his severed head in his left hand, became popular. It was in fact, a development of the Punjabi proverb “fight with one’s head on one’s palm” which means “to fight bravely, with spiritual strength, till victory or death.”
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)