Bhai Hatthu Singh was a resident of village Kaachha Kahna (district Lahore, Pakistan). He was a brave soldier. In 1758, Ahmed Shah Durrani attacked the Sikh Homeland. During one battle, Bhai Hatthu Singh’s horse stumbled and fell over him. Before Bhai Hatthu Singh could release him, he was pounced upon by the Afghan soldiers and was captured. One day, some Sikh prisoners were presented before Ahmed Shah. Ahmed Shah asked them: “A Singh (lion) can fight an elephant, could any one of the Sikhs fight an elephant”. Bhai Hatthi Singh said, “Yes, I can fight an elephant”. According to a radition, Ahmed Shah was pleased at the courage of the Sikh and he ordered the release of all the Sikh captives. But according to Bhai Ratan Singh Bhangu, Ahmed Shah ordered immediate execution of Hatthu Singh. Ahmed Shah was a cruel man and he could not be generous to the Sikhs simply for the answer of a soldier.
(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)