KARAM SINGH PUNJA SAHIB

Bhai Karam Singh (14.11.1885 – 31.10.1922), son of Bhai Bhagwan Singh. was born at Anandpur Sahib. His father, Bhai Bhagwan Singh, was a Granthi of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib. In October 1922,he, accompanied by his wife, went to Hasan Abdal for pilgrimage. In those days Guru-Ka-Bagh agitation was in full swing. During the agitation, due to rush in the Amritsar jail, the Sikh prisoners were sent to far off jails. Once a Jatha was being sent by train from Rawalpindi to Attock jail. The Sikhs of Hasan Abdal (Punja Sahib) made arrangements to serve food to the Akali prisoners. The railway authorities refused permission to stop train to serve food to the prisoners. The Sikhs decided to stop the train by peaceful means. Several Sikhs lied down on the railway track. The authorities, however, did not bother and gave green signal to the train. When the train reached there it crushed Bhai Karam Singh and Bhai Partap Singh badly, while nine others lost their limbs. Bhai Karam Singh, Bhai Partap Singh and the other wounded were taken to Gurdwara Punja Sahib for treatment but the two could not be saved. They died the following day. The incident took place at railway station Punja Sahib, on October 30, 1922.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)