MARTYRDOM OF BHAI TARU SINGH JI

Who Preferred to Sacrifice His Life Rather Than Having His Hair Cut And Maintaining His Faith in Sikhism Till His Last Breath

A BRIEF BACKGROUND: When the joint armies of the Mughal Regime and the Hindu Hill Rajahs failed to force Guru Gobind Singh Ji and His Sikhs to vacate the Fort in Anandpur Sahib after a besiege of the fort for about eight months, they deceitfully persuaded the Sikhs to do so by giving them assurances that Guru Sahib will be allowed to live peacefully anywhere in the Country.  Guru Sahib did not believe in their assurances, but He agreed under pressure from the Sikhs who were suffering severe starvation. Guru Sahib left the Fort on the night of 19th of December 1705 (some historians write the year as 1704, but 1705 seems to be the actual year), but breaking all the oaths and promises, the unprincipled joint armies attacked the Sikhs within hours after they had left. There was a rivulet, Sirsa, between Anandpur Sahib and Ropar (now Roop Nagar) that needed to be crossed to reach Ropar.  However, the rivulet was in huge flood, and a large number of Sikhs drowned in the Rivulet while crossing it. Also, Mata Goojri Ji Guru Sahib’s mother – and the two younger sons of Guru Sahib - Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji - got separated from Guru Sahib in the confusion.  Guru Sahib’s chef, Gunga Ram (Gungoo) for 22 years, took Mata Ji and the younger Princes with him to his village, Kherri, which was close by. However, the disloyal and mean Gungoo handed them to Wazir Khan, the powerful governor of Sirhand for a handsome reward. The Princes were tortured for three days and at the same time given promises of high positions in the Mughal Regime and marriages within the Royal Family to force/persuade them to embrace Islam, but the determined Princes would not yield and flatly refused to change their Religion. Finally, on December 28, they were brick-walled alive and later cruelly beheaded when the wall collapsed after reaching a height to their chests. They were six and eight years old at the time of their supreme sacrifices.

Guru Sahib and His older Princes, Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji were able to cross the swollen Rivulet along with forty more Sikhs.  They took shelter in a small fort which was constructed with earthen bricks in the village of Chamkaur which was soon besieged by the joint armies. Even though, they were completely exhausted and hungry for days, the Sikhs fought with great chivalry and kept the armies at bay for a full day. However, both Princes - Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji - experienced martyrdom in the fierce battle.  At night, the surviving Sikhs forced Guru Sahib to leave the Fort to continue the struggle against injustice and repression.  After great reluctance, Guru Sahib agreed to the suggestion and He left the fort at night but not before making a loud public announcement of His departure.  In a few months, Guru Sahib reached Talwandi Sabo in the district of Bathinda where He stayed for about ten months before heading south. At Talwandi Sabo, Guru Sahib got Guru Granth Sahib written again, enshrining the holy compositions of the Ninth Guru, Tegh Bahadur Sahib as well. He reached Nanded, Maha Rashtra, in 1708 where He met an ascetic, Mado Dass Bairagi.  Madho Dass was young and had great mental concentration by virtue of which he was able to exhibit many supernatural powers and thus impress people. Guru Sahib decided to channel his abilities for a noble cause and continue His struggle against injustice, repression, and exploitation of masses by the immoral governments in Delhi and in Punjab.  Madho Dass was administered Pahul (Amrit) and his whole personality underwent a change. He became a highly devoted Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh and was overflowing with energy to punish the guilty and immoral rulers. Guru Sahib changed his name to Gurbakhsh Singh, but he is more popularly known as Banda Singh Bahadur.  With the full blessings of Guru Sahib and accompanied by five Sikhs, Banda Singh left Nanded in Sept 1708 and rushed to Punjab.  As soon as he entered Punjab, Sikhs began to rally around him.  It did not take him long before he had a force of five thousand warrior Sikhs who were willing to lay down their lives at a single gesture of Banda Singh. That number began to grow rapidly. This article is not about Baba Banda Singh Ji, so we will not go into much detail even though it is important for us to know some history of the foundations of the Sikh rule.  Baba Banda Singh killed Nawab (governor) Wazir Khan of Sirhand to punish him for his evil deeds who had orchestrated the torture of the younger princes of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and later ordered their inhuman way of execution.  Baba Banda Singh destroyed the town of Sirhand completely, but before capturing Sirhand, he had controlled most of the southern part of the huge territory of Punjab.  He soon conquered a major part of the Punjab and experienced very little resistance from the rulers of the time. He established himself as the sovereign of the State and ruled until early 1715. Mughal armies organized themselves and began to chase Baba Banda Singh who took shelter in a small fort in Gurdas Nangal near the town of Gurdaspur in March 1715.  The Mughal armies besieged the fort and cut off all the ration supplies to the fort.  Eventually, Baba Banda Singh was captured along with his 700 soldiers on December 7, 1715 and they were taken to Delhi in a mock procession. On reaching Delhi, the authorities began to execute publically a few dozen Sikhs every day to strike terror in the minds of the other Sikhs. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was publically tortured barbarically before being martyred on June 9, 1716.

The next fifty years or so was an extremely trying time for the Sikhs.  The surviving Sikhs divided themselves into 12 groups, called Missils, and began to fight against the repressive, unjust and cruel rulers in their respective areas. The Nawab (governor) of Lahore, Abdul Samad Khan, who had captured Baba Banda Singh wanted to eliminate the warrior Sikhs completely from his State, and made public announcements that anyone killing a warrior Sikh would be befittingly rewarded if he produced the head of the killed Sikh. So, the warrior Sikhs left their homes and went into hiding in forested areas where they began to live in small groups. Some of the Sikhs who were not considered any threat to the government were still living in villages.

BHAI TARU SINGH: was born in Oct 1720 and was a small farmer in Poohla, a village near Patti. He was leading a very pious and peaceful life with his mother and a sister. His father had sacrificed his life fighting against the Mughal army when Taru Singh still a young child. Bhai Taru was a highly devoted Sikh who earned his livelihood by working hard on his small ancestral farm.  Even though he was barely surviving on his small income from the farm, he always shared his fortune with the needy regardless of their faith.  He also occasionally fed the Sikhs who were in hiding and spent some time in the jungle near Poohla.  He also tried to help them with their other needs of clothing and shelter.  Taru Singh was loved by the village folks and even by the people of the surrounding area for his benevolent nature and his pleasant demeanor. He never hesitated to help the weak.  Once, the young daughter of a poor Muslim, Karim Bakhsh of a nearby village, was kidnapped by the soldiers of the local Muslim ruler of Patti.  The helpless father of the kidnapped girl reported the matter to Bhai Taru Singh and begged for help.  Bhai Taru Singh assured him of help and discussed the matter with the warrior Sikhs the same night.  The Singhs wasted no time to attack the ruler, punished him for his despicable act and freed the girl unharmed.  The father of the girl was highly grateful to Bhai Taru Singh for this act of kindness.  However, the ruler of Patti not only lost his prey, but also felt very ashamed of his inability to defend himself.  So, he was highly enraged and wanted to take the revenge but he could not recognize any of the attackers in the dark.

He approached Harbhagat Niranjania, an influential Hindu of Jandiala, near Amritsar and sought his help to find out the “culprits”.  Harbhagat was very cunning and he immediately suspected Sikhs to be the saviours of the girl. Harbhagat was a staunch enemy of the Sikhs and considered this event as a golden opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand, he wanted to get the Sikhs punished and on the other, he expected a rich reward for being the informant. It did not take him too long to place the blame on Bhai Taru Singh even though Bhai Taru Singh had not taken any direct part in the attack.  It is a big irony to know that Harbhagat was a descendent of Bhai Hindaal of Jandiala who was a great devotee of Guru Nanak Sahib.  The Nawab of Patti wasted no time to complain to the Nawab of Lahore, Zakriya Khan (son of Abdul Samad), against Bhai Taru Singh that the latter was helping the rebel Sikhs with cash and weapons. The Nawab, who was waiting for every opportunity to punish the Sikhs, needed no proof about the complaint.  He quickly dispatched a few soldiers to arrest Bhai Taru Singh.

Bhai Taru Singh was working in his fields at the time when the soldiers reached there. Bibi Taro, Bhai Sahib’s sister, was also there who had taken lunch for his working brother.  The soldiers arrested both of them. Bhai Sahib offered absolutely no resistance to arrest. In fact, he invited the soldiers to have lunch because it was lunch time and they were visiting the farm of Sikh who would not let anyone go without food. When the villagers came to know about the arrest, they quickly raised some funds as bribery to the soldiers so that they won’t take Bhai Sahib and his sister to Lahore for any trial. Bhai Sahib did not agree and opposed the arrangement calling it immoral.  However, the villagers were able to convince Bhai Sahib to let his sister stay behind because she had committed no crime at all. Bhai Sahib agreed to that logic, but asked the soldiers to handcuff him and to take him to Lahore.  It was early in the second week of June 1745.

When Bahi Sahib was presented before the Nawab, He very boldly wished the Nawab with the Sikh salutation “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa     Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh”. That annoyed the already angry Nawab.

“It is the court of a Mughal Nawab Bahadur, not a Gurdwara, Taru Singh!” the Nawab roared. “Only Muslim salutations are allowed here.”

“There are so many things that are not allowed here, Nawab Sahib. But, I obey the commands of my Guru only.”  Taru Singh said firmly.

“You are very arrogant, Taru Singh! Do you know that you can be severely punished for your arrogance?   Also, you consider yourself to be law-abiding!  You have violated laws of this state seriously. ” The Nawab frowned.

“I am sorry if I sounded like I am being arrogant, but I am not. Also, I am not aware of any violation. What have I done?” Bhai Sahib’s innocence was showing on his face.

“Do not pretend to be innocent, Taru Singh. You know that you help the rebel Sikhs with money and food. Helping a rebel is tantamount to being a rebel yourself; and the punishment for a rebel is death.” The Nawab tried to scare the brave Singh.

“I am not afraid of any punishment if I am guilty. But I did not commit any crime. It is the duty of every good human being to feed the hungry regardless who they are.  I feed hungry Muslims, Hindus or Sikhs alike without any discrimination. And the Sikhs whom you blame to be rebels are not so. They have been forced to leave their homes to escape the undue hardships used against them simply for being Sikhs.”  Bhai Taru Singh was undaunted.

“Taru Singh, whether you agree or not, they are rebels in the eyes of the law, and so are you for helping them which you have admitted.  You deserve the maximum punishment for the crime. You choose your own punishment.” The Nawab pretended to be a little lenient because of some other ideas going through his mind.

“If I am guilty, give me the befitting punishment even if it is death. I am ready to accept it and I don’t expect any leniency.” Taru Singh said calmly.

“You seem very eager to die, Taru Singh. But I feel some pity for you because you are an orphan and you have a young sister to marry off. So, I can spare your life if you are willing to accept one condition.”  The Nawab said expectantly.

“Thank you, Nawab Sahib, but I don’t need any pity. Yes, I do have some family obligations, but my Guru Ji will take care of those and better than me. I am waiting for my punishment to be executed.”  Bhai Sahib expressed his full faith in his Guru.

“Taru Singh, don’t be impatient, you will meet your death very shortly. However, rather than death, you can have a very luxurious life here if you embrace Islam.’’ The Nawab had to spill what he really wanted from Bhai Sahib.

“Why do I need to embrace Islam? What’s so wonderful about it? I am very happy to be a Sikh.” Bhai Sahib expressed his devotion for Sikhism.

“Islam teaches that there is only one God and not too many gods as Hindus believe. It also teaches good values and one goes to Paradise after death where he is rewarded with 84 beautiful fairy-like young women.  Moreover, as long as you live I will give you a very high position in my government, rich salary and a beautiful royal bride. You can marry off your sister to some rich guy and your mother too will have a great comfortable life here. You will be the winner in every which way. Isn’t this a wonderful proposal, Taru Singh?” The Nawab thought he had hit the bull’s eye.

“Nawab Sahib, we also believe in one God, and our Guru Sahiban underwent supreme sacrifices to teach and demonstrate all the noble values in the world. Thus  we share some of the beliefs with you. So, according to your beliefs, I am already a Muslim in part. As far as worldly comforts are concerned, they don’t mean a thing to a Sikh. They are all temporary. The real happiness is a gift of Waheguru and it is based on your deeds. You reap only what you sow. Simply being a Muslim does not guarantee you a place in Paradise after death. If a Muslim man is rewarded with 84 brides, then what is a Muslim woman rewarded with?”  There was a small satire in Bhai Sahib’s voice.

“I felt pity on your youthful life and wanted to help, but you are not willing to accept it. Tomorrow you will be begging for it but it won’t be available, Taru Singh.  Take him away and put him on the spinning wheel. Also, burn his flesh with hot iron rods and bring him to me tomorrow. That punishment will destroy all his ago and he will be a different man.”  The Nawab shifted his focus to his assistants. He was red with rage.

“Yes, if you change your mind any time while enjoying the spin on the wheel or when you are shown our hospitality of red-hot iron rods touching your tender flesh, ask my men to stop and they will do so right away. We don’t want our guest and our future fellow Muslim to suffer.” The Nawab addressed Bhai Sahib satirically.

NOTE: A spinning wheel is a huge wheel which may or may not be fitted with saws. When a person is stretched on the wheel and the wheel is spun at a high speed, muscles suffer severe internal injuries and even some bones may be broken. They can be seen in the museums.

Bhai Sahib simply smiled and walked away with the order executers without saying a word.  He was put on the wheel which was spun at a very high speed.  Initially no saws were attached to the wheel.  The sounds of tearing of flesh and cracking of the bones were heard, but Bhai Sahib never showed any signs of pain. He kept reciting Jap(u) Ji in a low voice until he became unconscious. At that time he was taken down and given time to regain consciousness.  He was served only a tiny amount of water just enough to keep him alive.

He was asked if he was willing to accept Islam. When Bhai Sahib said, “never”, the cruel men burnt his flesh with hot iron rods at many places, but Bhai Sahib never asked them to stop. He simply focused on the recitation of Jap(u) Ji. The executioners were merciless, but they made sure that their victim must not die. Bhai Sahib spent the night in pain, but he was still in high spirits. Next morning he was presented before the Nawab.

“Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa       Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.”  Bhai Sahib wished the Nawab with high spirits even though Bhai Sahib walked with some difficulty because of the torture he had suffered a day before.  The Nawab was so stunned by Bhai Sahib’s high spirit that he could not say a thing for a few moments.

“How do you feel, Taru Singh?”  The Nawab completed the formality.

“In great spirits as you can see, Nawab Sahib.”

“Have you changed your mind or you want to suffer more?”

“Change my mind about what, Nawab Sahib?”

“You know, Taru Singh. Are you ready to embrace Islam?”

“I am as ready as I was yesterday.  Do you see any change in me?” Bhai Sahib’s determination was as strong as ever.

“So, you will force me against my wishes to be really cruel to you.” The Nawab was still being political.

“I never expected any leniency from you. You do whatever you need to do, Nawab Sahib.”

“Taru Singh, don’t provoke me any more than I can handle. You cannot even imagine what I can do! I can cut you to pieces and feed to dogs, or I can have you wrapped in a cow’s hide and have you sewn alive in that like taxidermy so that you die a terrible slow death. Or worse still, can have your hands and feet severed so that you live yet beg to die every moment. So, do not challenge me.” The Nawab was furious.

“But before I do that, I want to give you a last chance to live. Tell me, why Sikhism is so dear to you that you are willing to die at such an early age. In what way is it better than Islam?” The Nawab found Bhai Sahib’s determination hard to believe.

“Nawab Sahib, my love for Sikhism cannot be explained. It is an intoxication of the highest order, and only that person can enjoy it who experiences it. Why is Islam so dear to you that you want me to embrace it?” Bhai Sahib wanted the Nawab to realize that he loves Sikhism just as the Nawab loves Islam.

“I love Islam because it guarantees you a place in Paradise after death where you will be rewarded with 84 beautiful young women, and will also have many servants like you, Taru Singh.” The Nawab said proudly.

“These are all your beliefs, Nawab Sahib. But even if you do get all these things that you have mentioned, they will all be after your death.  But I am already in paradise in my present life. I can sacrifice all such luxuries in a moment for the love of my Guru Sahib that I am enjoying.” Bhai Sahib said with his eyes closed. He seemed to be really intoxicated.

“Taru Singh, according to Islam, every non-Muslim is a heretic, and to covert a non-believer into Islam is an act of virtue. If I am able to convert you into Islam, I will be a virtuous person in the eyes of Allah, and will be further rewarded. So, even if you do not embrace Islam, I will change you looks in such a way that you will look like a Muslim.  I will have your hair cut right away at this moment whereby all your pride of being a Sikh will be dashed to the ground.” The Nawab was highly conceited of his power.

“No! You can’t do that, Nawab Sahib. Be afraid of God. He will never excuse you, and you’ll be severely punished for such an evil act. Please, cut me to pieces, if you wish, but, don’t do that cruel injustice to me.” Bhai Sahib pleaded.

“Allah will very happy with me; you are a fool if you think that He will be mad at me.  Heretics like you do not listen to logic. They are forced to surrender with the shoe.  I will send you to hell right now after cutting your hair of which you are so proud, but the day when I appear before Allah after many, many years, you will see how I am honoured in His Court.” The Nawab was very confident of the happy outcome of his planned decision.

“I don’t know what Allah you are talking about?  We believe that there’s only one God in this universe and He delivers perfect justice. If you cut my hair forcibly – which I beg you don’t do – you will face a very humiliating death before I die.  And they are not people like me who have full faith in Waheguru that need to be guided by the force of the shoe, rather they are like you who abuse their God-gifted power to persecute and torture people to change their real faith in God Whom you call Allah. When we appear before Him, you will be the guilty and I will depose against you.” Bhai Sahib said casually. Little did he know at the time that his words would become a carving on the rock and would be a cause for the torturous death of Zakriya Khan.

“Hold your filthy tongue, Taru Singh.”  The Nawab roared with his eyes blood-shot. “I am the Allah here in this court. I will just teach you a lesson.”

“Your conceit and your ill deeds are bound to bring your ugly end very soon.” Bhai Sahib murmured. He was not sure whether the Nawab heard his words or not.

“Go, and bring the barber right away.”  The Nawab shouted to his assistants a couple of whom ran to bring him.

The barber appeared in the court soon and asked the Nawab for his order.

“Cut his hair as quickly as you can.” The Nawab told the barber in a loud voice pointing to Bhai Taru Singh Ji.

The barber approached Bhai Sahib who was reciting Jap(u) Ji in a very low voice. He was so concentrated on the recitation that he had no idea what was going around. The barber reluctantly removed Bhai Sahib’s turban and tried to cut his hair with a scissors. However, he was startled to note that a few sparks emanated from the scissors and it fell down from his hand before the scissors had touched Bhai Sahib’s hair. The Nawab and the others who were present there also saw what had just happened. They were all shocked at the phenomenon.  Gathering some courage, the barber picked up the scissors from the ground and tried to cut Bhai Sahib’s hair again. But, the same thing happened again. Now the barber and everyone else was scared.

“Use a different scissors.”  The Nawab shouted at the barber.

The barber was very scared but he had to follow the orders. He took a different pair of scissors from his bag and used that to cut Bhai Sahib’s hair. But, his surprise and shock knew no bounds when the same thing was repeated the third time too.  The Nawab also got daunted, but he could not afford to admit his weakness.

“Go, and bring a cobbler now to remove this heretic’s scalp.”  The shaken Nawab ordered the assistants.  “Do not tell him anything about the barber’s experience.” The Nawab did not want the cobbler to come with a preconceived fear.

Soon a cobbler appeared in court-cum-torture chambers.

“What is the order for me, sire”? The cobbler asked bowing to the Nawab.

“Remove the scalp of this arrogant Sikh.” Zakriya Khan said with disdain.

“Remove the scalp, sire?” The shocked cobbler thought he did not hear the order correctly.

“You heard me. Do as you are told.” The Nawab shouted with a splitting voice.

The cobbler did not want to do such a barbaric act. But he had no choice but to obey the order. He took out his sharp blade and as soon as the blade touched Bhai Sahib’s hair a few sparks flew from the blade and it fell down from the hands of the cobbler. He was pale with fear. He did not know what to do.

“I told you to remove the scalp, not his hair. If you are unable to do that, I will have you fed to hungry dogs alive.” The Nawab instructed.

The cobbler held the blade with trembling hands and began to remove Bhai Sahib’s scalp.  Blood began to trickle down from Bhai Sahib’s head.

“After the cobbler finishes his job, throw Taru Singh in the ditch where the scavengers can enjoy a feast.” The Nawab issued instructions to his assistants while leaving for his residence.

When the cobbler was working with his blade on Bhai Sahib’s scalp, Bhai Sahib was completely connected to his Guru while reciting Jap Ji all the time. The cobbler finished his worst job ever as quickly and as gently as possible and left the heart-breaking scene.

Soon after the Nawab had reached his residence, he felt some pressure building in his belly accompanied by a severe pain. He wanted to urinate, but could not do so. There was a complete blockage to pass urine.  His belly began to swell and he could not bear the discomfort. The royal physician was called in quickly who tried all his concoctions but none worked. He could not understand why none of the otherwise highly effective medications was working. He expressed his inability to cure the Nawab. In the torture house, some God-fearing employee dressed Bhai Sahib’s wounds and laid him in a clean place.

When no medication worked and the physician expressed his inability to cure the Nawab, the latter knew that his disease was the result of the barbaric way he had treated the innocent devout Sikh. He knew that only Bhai Taru Singh or the Sikhs serving at Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar could cure him.  Amritsar was only about 50 km from Lahore. He sent in for Bhai Shubeg Singh another devout Sikh who had served the Government in various capacities and was the police station in-charge at the time. The Nawab explained the whole situation to Bhai Shubeg Singh and how Bhai Taru Singh had said that I would die before him and that he would take me to Allah’s Court by whipping me with his shoe.

“So, you go to Harmandir Sahib Right at this moment and ask the attending Sikhs there to pray for my quick recovery.” The Nawab humbly requested Bhai Shubeg Singh who left for Amritsar right away to discuss the matter with the Sikh High Priests. Bhai Sahib returned to Lahore as quickly as possible after seeking the advice of the Priests.

“The Priests said that your highly unjust and inhumane treatment of the devout Sikh, Bhai Taru Singh Ji, was reprehensible and even their prayers would not be listened to by Waheguru now because He does not like when a beloved one of His is treated that badly.”  Bhai Shubeg Singh delivered the judgment of the Priests of Harmandir Sahib.

“There must be some solution. Do something, Shubeg Singh.” The Nawab cried with pain. The pressure in his belly was killing him.

“There’s solution if your royal highness is willing to follow.” Bhai Shubeg Singh said hesitatingly.

“What’s that? Tell me soon.” The Nawab was dying to get some relief under any circumstance.

“You’ll—have—to be—hit—with--Bhai--Sahib’s—sh—oe.” Bhai Shubeg Singh stuttered. He did not want to earn Nawab’s ire.

“If that’s what needs to be done, I’ll have to do that. I’ve no choice. The discomfort

Is beyond that I can bear.  Ask someone to bring Taru Singh’s shoe right away.” The Nawab was willing to do anything to get some relief.

The historians say that as the Nawab was hit with Bhai Taru Singh’s shoe, he was able to pass some urine and got some relief.  The Nawab spent 22 days suffering from the discomfort and finally he breathed his last on July 1, 1745.

When the news of Nawab’s death reached Bhai Taru Singh Ji, he recited Jap(u) Ji and left this mortal world a few moments later with a high sounding Sikh Slogan: Bolle So Nihal       Sat Sri Akal.

In the daily Prayers, the Sikhs remember Bhai Taru Singh Ji and other Sikh Martyrs who laid down their lives gladly suffering unbearable pains to fight repression, oppression and injustices but never surrendering to the enemy. Bhai Taru Singh’s Martyrdom infuses new morale among the Sikhs in trying times. We bow to Bhai Taru Singh Ji for his supreme sacrifice.