KHEM SINGH BEDI

Khem Singh Bedi (21.2.1832 – 10.4.1905), son of Atar Singh, grandson of Bishan Singh and great-grandson of Sahib Singh Bedi, was born at Una (Himanchal). His father and grandfather both died when he was just seven years old. When he grew up, he became fully loyal to the British regime; hence he received official patronage. Khem Singh helped the British during the mutiny of 1857. In 1877, Khem Singh was nominated as a Magistrate at Montgomery (now Sahiwal, Pakistan). He was also a member of the Council of States. When Singh Sabha was established at Amritsar, Khem Singh was chosen as its patron. He was opposed to the distinct identity of the Sikh religion. He used to treat himself as a semi-Guru, simply because he was a descendant of Lakhmi Das (son of Guru Nanak Sahib). The Sikh intelligentsia opposed his un-Sikh like style. He continued creating trouble for the reformist Sikh leadership, particularly for Professor Gurmukh Singh and Giani Dit Singh, till his death in 1905. After his death, Singh Sabha Amritsar (in a way his own creation) became almost non-existent. Gradually it was merged with the Singh Sabha, Lahore.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)