KARTAR SINGH, GIANI
Giani Kartar Singh (22.2.1902 – 10.6.1974), son of Bhai Bhagat Singh, was born at Chakk 40, Lyallpur (now Faisalabad, Pakistan). He passed his matriculation examination from Khalsa School at Lyallpur. Later, he joined Khalsa College, Amritsar. The massacre of April 13, 1919 (Jallian Wala Bagh, Amritsar) changed the course of his life and he joined struggle against the British. At the same time, the Gurdwara reform movement began. He participated in the movement. In 1923, he was appointed as the general secretary of Lyallpur unit of the Akali Dal. In 1924, he was arrested in connection with the Jaito agitation. In 1926, when some Akali leaders were released by the Government under minor conditions, he supported Baba Kharak Singh and Master Tara Singh (who refused to accept any condition for their release). In 1926, he was elected to the S.G.P.C. In 1927, he was elected unopposed as a member of the District Board Lyallpur. In 1930, he participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement of Gandhi and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. In the jail, he came into contact with several senior leaders of different political parties. In 1937, he was elected as a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. He was one of the brains behind the formation of the Sikh Students’ Federation in September 1943. He was one of the brains behind the Aazad Punjab Scheme. He tried to effect a compromise between the Muslim and the Sikh leaders, in 1946-47, but it could not mature. After the murder of Babu Labh Singh (March 1947), he was elected the president of the Akali Dal. In 1948, he joined the Congress Party and became a minister. In 1948, he unsuccessfully tried for the merger of Akali Dal and Congress party. In 1952, the Congress ignored him and he rejoined the Akali Dal. In 1956, he joined the Congress party again and became a minister. In 1960, he formed Sadh Sangat Board to contest the elections to the S.G.P.C. but suffered colossal defeat (Master Tara Singh won 136 of the 140 seats). He remained a minister till 1963. In 1967, after the downfall of the Congress Party in the Punjab, he rejoined the Akali Dal. This time the Akali leadership did not offer him any office. This was a great shock for Giani Kartar Singh. He lived another seven years of his life but he was a demoralized, poor, wretched and dejected leader. His health deteriorated and he was soon confined to bed. After a prolonged illness, he died at Rajindera Hospital Patiala. Giani Kartar Singh was a great worker. He made much sacrifice during the period of his youth. After 1947, he developed love for office. This made him collaborate with the regime even at the cost of Sikh interests. Due to this style of his life he lost his credibility during the last part of his life. He died almost unsung.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)