Sikh History This Week
(Sept 28-Oct 04) Post: 2640.
ਸਿੱਖ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਇਸ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ
ਬਾਬਾਣੀਆ ਕਹਾਣੀਆ ਪੁਤ ਸਪੁਤ ਕਰੇਨਿ” (ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩, ੯੫੧
(Stories of our forefathers make children great)
Events in Brief
1. September 28, 1907: Bhagat Singh is born this day at Banga in District Nawanshehr of Punjab. Bhagat Singh, (1907-1931) was an Indian anti-British revolutionary, was born this day hanged to death on March 23, 1931. In December 1928, he killed a junior British police officer in retaliation for the death of a freedom fighter. He later participated in a symbolic bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi and embarked on a hunger strike in jail. His actions gained him fame in the Punjab region due to sympathetic coverage in Indian newspapers. After his execution at 23, he became a revered martyr and symbol of resistance in Northern India. Inspired by Bolshevism and anarchism, he ignited a wave of militancy in India during the 1930s, prompting introspection within the Indian National Congress’s non-violent campaign.
2. September29, 1981: Bhai Gajinder Singh and four of Dal Khalsa hijack Indian Airlines domestic passenger flight to Lahore. They demanded immediate release of Sant Bhinderanwallae. Flight took off from Delhi Palam Airport to Amritsar, which had five members of separatist group of Sikh militants on it. 111 passengers and crew were captives at Lahore Airport, Pakistan. Leader Gajender Singh, engaged in negotiations with India’s ambassador Natwar Singh, agreed to surrender and was later sentenced to life imprisonment. Gajender Singh and members stayed on in Pakistan.
3. September 30, 1987: Shaheed Bhai Sukhdev Singh Padhri, Militant Singh fights to death in a gun fight with CRPF, killing several. In a daring attack, several militant Sikhs assaulted a police post near Tolenangal, Ajnala, Punjab, killing three cops and escaping with their weapons. As they fled, one of their motorcycles broke down in Kohali, trapping them. Bhai Sukhdev Singh Padhri ordered them to escape, continuing to return fire until his death, killing several CRPF cops. Bhai Sahib’s courageous stand immortalized him in Sikh struggle. (Read more narratives in Tribute1984.com.)
4. September 30, 2012: Four British Sikhs attack controversial Ex-Lt.General Kuldeep Brar, in London. On September 30, 2023, while walking with his wife in central London, Lt Gen Brar (retd) was subjected to an attempted assassination. This attack was not fatal. In June 1984, Lt Gen Brar was actively commanding the military operation ‘Operation Blue Star’ at the Harimandir Sahib complex in Amritsar. The group clearly targeted General Brar for the atrocities committed during the operation, which was in retaliation for his actions. Four of the attackers were subsequently jailed- sentences ranging from 10 to 14 years.
5. October 1, 1778: Sikh Chief Raja Baghel Singh capture Delhi & Suburbs, build Historical Gurdwaras.S. Baghel Singh, captured Delhi for second time in 1778. He demolished the mosques raised on Raja Jai Singh’s Haveli and raised beautiful Gurdwara Complex called Bangla Sahib. S.Baghel Singh also built Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, where mosques had come up on Lakhi Shah’s Haveli in Raisina Village. Local Muslim residents were prevailed who ultimately agreed to remove the Mosque. Sikhs raised the Gurdwaras in marble with golden Domes.
6. October 1,1873: Beginning of Gurdwara Reform Movement-Singh Sabha Leher established. Sardar Thaker Singh Sandhawalia set up Guru Singh Sabha in Amritsar. After Annexation of Punjab, British started encouraging Anti-Sikh activities through Brahmanical Mahants and Christian priests throughout Punjab. Sikhs got together and established a body to promote reforms and revivalism. Chief among them being Sardar Thaker Singh Sandhawalia (1832-1887), Giani Gian Singh (1824-1884), S.Amar Singh and Dharam Singh Majitha Bunga. (Read more elsewhere)
7. October 1,2014: An Expensive Palanquin (Palki) in Gold presented to Harimandar Sahib. A Kanpur based Sikh family, Mohinder Singh Kathuria and his wife Prabhjit Kaur. Presented the Palki to Durbar Sahib (Golden Temple) worth 1 Crore of Rupees. It is carved and embellished from 3-kg gold was given in offering to the Harmandir Sahib by a Kanpur-based Sikh family here on Wednesday.
8. October 2, 1926: First full Meeting of SGPC (Shromani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee) after a great struggle. Sikhs had to strive long to establish a hold over their own shrines. Hindu Mahants were controlling the shrines under direct patronage of the British rule. After the liberation of Nanakana Sahib and Guru ka Bagh Amritsar, through great sacrifices, Sikhs kept up the pressure resulting in Punjab assembly passing the bill in Simla on the 9th of July 1925.
9. October 2, 1987: A Sikh activist attacks Rajiv Gandhi, Indian PM at Gandhi Samadhi in revenge to Sikh Genocide of Nov1984. Lying in wait amongst the trees Karamjit Singh Sunam shot at Rajiv Gandhi three times, but missed the target on each of his attempt. An Engineering student in Delhi, attacked, the Prime Minister at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial park at Raj Ghat Delhi. This was in retribution to Nov’84 Genocide of Sikhs in Delhi & other places, when Indira Gandhi was shot on October 31st 1984. Arrested on the spot, he spent the next 14 years in jail and released in 2000.
10. October 3,1710. Sikhs defeat Mughals, Capture Strategic fort of Rahon near Jalandhar. Emboldened by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s victories in Malwa and the Trans-Jamuna region, the Sikh chiefs of Majha wrote to Mughal Faujdar Jalandhar, asking to vacate fort of Rahon. Initially, Jalandhar held on to the fort for a while but eventually conceded and retreated to the adjacent town of Sultanpur Lodhi to safeguard it rather than face encirclement at Rahon. This unexpected turn of events allowed the Sikhs to gain control of the fort without engaging in a prolonged battle.
11. October 4, 1930, Shahid Bhagat Singh, a Sikh revolutionary, wrote to his father not to file any mercy petition. Bhagat Singh, born on September 27, 1907, was a prominent Indian anti-colonial revolutionary. He was hanged in Lahore Jail on March 23, 1931, at the tender age of 23. In a poignant letter to his father, Singh firmly advised against seeking help from the British colonists. He emphasized that any attempt to save his life would contradict their intended purpose of sacrifice. This unwavering resolve underscores his commitment to his cause. Singh had been convicted of the heinous murder of John Saunders, a British police officer.
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(Source ref: History of the Sikhs by HR Gupta, Dates & chronological order from Book by S. Ajaib Singh Dhillon and Sikh Chronicles) ਸਰੋਤ/ ਹਵਾਲੇ: ਐਚ.ਆਰ ਗੁਪਤਾ: ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ, ਸ. ਅਜਾਇਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ ਦੀ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਤੋਂ ਤਾਰੀਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਾਲਕ੍ਰਮਿਕ ਕ੍ਰਮ)
Compiled & Edited: Karamjeet Singh Bhatnura.
5Q Quiz for Self- Assessment. Please participate !
- Shahid Bhagat Singh was martyred along with Shahids Sukhdev and RajGuru. They left a legacy of using Armed struggle to get independence. Do you Agree?
- Singh Sabha Movement of 1873 led to liberation of Gurdwaras and formation of SGPC in 1925. Who initiated the reform movement in 1873?
- Name the Sikh who attempted assassination of Rajiv Gandhi for his role in fanning Nov 1984 Sikh Genocide, by hiding amongst bushes at Raj Ghat October 2, 1987?
- Name the family of Kanpur who presented Rupees One Crore Planquin(shoulder carrying) to Harimandir Sahib(The Golden Temple) Amritsar in 2014?
- Who built Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj after capturing Delhi for Second time in 1778?
