GIANI GARJA SINGH
Giani Garja Singh (2.8.1904 – 30.8.1977), son of Surjan Singh Chauhan was born at village Mahal (Barnala). His father was wounded in Jallianwala Bagh Amritsar firing; his wounds could not be heeled and he died after two days.
When Giani Garja Singh grew up he joined the British-Indian Army. During his service, more than 150 Sikhs were killed at Nanakana Sahib. To participate in protest, he wore black turban; hence he was expelled from the Army. By that time, Gurdwara Reform Movement had begun. In July 1922 he was elected Secretary of Akali Dal’s Barnala unit. He participated in Jaito agitation. After his release, the police began harassing him; hence, he moved to Kartarpur (Sialkot district). There too he participated in political activities. He was arrested during Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 and was sentenced to one years’ imprisonment. In December 1932 he was elected General Secretary of Akali Dal’s Sialkot unit. In 1936 he was elected as a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). In 1936, he was elected Vice President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Tara Singh Thethar was President at that time). In 1938 he was elected President of Sialkot unit of the Congress Party. In 1940, he was elected Vice President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Teja Singh Akarpuri was President at that time). In 1946, he was again elected President of Sialkot district unit of the Congress Party. In 1946 he was again elected as a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Giani Garja Singh was also a great scholar of Sikh studies. He collected and published rare documents of the Sikh history.
His works include editing of Shaheed Bilas (written by Bhai Sewa Singh Bhatt) and Guru Kian Sakhian (written by Bhai Swarup Singh Kaushish). The first work is a detailed history of the family of Bhai Mula Parmar, the father of Shaheed Bhai Nanu and Bhai Ballu, grandfather of Bhai Mai Das and great-
grandfather of Bhai Mani Singh. The second work is a valuable document of the history of the period of Guru Hargobind Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)