Sucha Singh Soorma
The story of Sucha Singh is now one of the famous Punjabi Kisse (a folk legend). Morality and family honor are very important to the people of India.
Balbiro's Wedding to Naraina
Balbir Kaur (also Balbiro or just Biro) was the wife of Juaarh Singh, they lived in a village on the border of Patiala and Sangrur. The story goes that her husband failed to tend to her lustful needs and worldly desires, let's just say that lobh had a good hold on her hrart. The theory is that she poisoned him in such a manner that his death seemed natural. As Sikh women are allowed to re-marry she and her parents invited other marriage proposals. But, as you might understand, she would not be expected to attract a very able or desirable person because of her widowhood, given the traditions in Punjab. Having heard about this invitation, Sucha Singh Jawanda and Ghukkar Mall Chahal, residents of Samaon a village near Sangrur, went to see her and speak to her on behalf of Sucha's elder brother Narain Singh.
She accepted the offer of marriage to Naraina on a few conditions. She asked them to load her with jewellary on the wedding, to give her freedom in terms of running their home, doing other chores, eating, drinking etc. By the way, she was also fond of liquor and ate meat and chicken. (these, you might again understand, were not things quite unusual for women folk in Punjab). Set upon geting Narain married (he was addicted to opium, as Biro would later claim), they agree upon all her conditions. Did I forget to mention that she was beautiful as well.
Growing Relationship With Ghukkar
After their marriage, she was provided with whatever she desired within the families social and financial limits. As Sucha and Ghukkar were very close friends they would often meet at Sucha's place. As Ghukkar began to frequent his visits, he decided to propose to Balbiro. She was hesitant because of her brother-in-law Sucha but at the same time was attracted to Ghukkar, who was a landlord, a wrestler and an influential person in the village.
Ghukkar's Wily Scheme
As per the scheme, Ghukkar sympathised with Sucha on his financial plight and suggested that they should join the army in Multan. As they went to enlist, Ghukkar pretending to be homesick returned to his village, leaving his friend to join the army. Returning to his village, he and Biri (now his best friends wife), non to discreetly, had sex and drunken revelries with Biro.
Sucha Singh's Return
Aware of the rumors now spreading around the village Biro’s husband, a submissive person, wrote to Sucha explaining the situation to him. Sucha came back with the intention of resolving things, he conveyed messages to Ghukkar, and asked some of the wiser folk of the village to do the same, but Ghukkar ignored all their advice. In the meantime, Biro tried to pacify Sucha from taking any extreme step.
Juaan deor de khauf se, paein naar nu haul, Rafal dunaali vekhke, Biro kare makhaul. [ needs translation]
Sucha usually responded by beating her up for bringing such trouble to his house. Biro tried everything, from changing her story -- saying that Ghukkar had forced her into doing this --
Biro ro-ro deor nu kahaani dassgi, jaal vich gheri vi bateri fassgi. Baahle dukh katte nikkal bhambaur se, mallo-malli aanwda ghukkar zor se.
She and Ghukkar hatched upon a plan, they tried to convince their friends to explain it to Sucha that she and Ghukkar were star crossed lovers, like the famous Heer Ranjha, or Leili and Majnoon. They even threatened Sucha with dire consequences as the majority of the village had sided with Ghukkar’s the landlord.
Balbiro and Ghukkar's Killings
Ghukkar organized a singing programme (Akhara) and on this pretext called upon his various allies from other villages as well.
Nerre-terre baasak nagar Chahalaan de, daru maas veswa patte ve vailaan de, Chobar bulaale saare deke vaadhi ai, ghukkar pind waale ne sadaale dhadi ai. [again translation needed]
Basically, the stage was now set for a face to face confrontation between these one time best friends. The moment came when Biro was passing by and was commented upon by Ghukkar as being his property/possession/mistress. And he asked Biro to comeover, sit down and enjoy the company of his friends. Biro obliged. Meanwhile Ghukkar and his friends got drunk and made audible threats on Sucha's life. Hearing of this, Sucha loaded his rifle and showed up and challenged Ghukkar and his yaars (buddies) to face him in this battle of egos. Ghukkar’s allies seeing the weapon and Sucha’s high spirits, sheepishly turned tail and ran away.
Sihtt jaan chhaviyaan gandaase chhodge, pal vich saare hi yaaraane todge. Belt gale ch kaartoos sann ge, vekh ke rafal nu hawayiyaan bann ge. [translation]
Sucha seeing Ghukkar’s friends running for their life now faced down Ghukkar, who pleaded for his life. Ignoring his pleas Sucha, fired his rifle at point blank range into Ghukkar's face. Seeing this one of his companions, who had run, bravely returned only to be killed, as well.
Modhe naal laawe chakk ke machine nu, dabbke stud bhare magazine nu, Mall vanni chhadde jor-jor shistaan, der na lagawe taahr deve kishtaan. [ ]
Filled with rage and vengeance, Sucha then tracked down and killed his sister-in-law who had, in the meantime, run home.
Goliyaan de naal bhann sitte pathhe ji, Biro te ghadola digg paein kathhe ji. Pai geya bhadaaka kaun jhalle sajjno, sarad-sarad goli challe sajjno.
Now a mass murderer Sucha headed towards Muktsar. The Police came really close once while looking for him, then they posted a reward for his capture. One pathan caught up with Sucha and challenged him. Again Sucha, the first to shoot, killed the pathan too.
Jor leya rafal nu andar khes de, hune naam likh deyaan marabbe es de.
Later Exploits
One cow too many
It was a year later when Sucha surfaced again. This time, on his way back to his village to see his brother, he came across an old Hindu woman in tears, sitting outside her house in her village of Bargaadi near Kotkapura. Inquiring, he came to know that some savage Muslims in the village had been ill-treating the Hindus. They had even killed and butchered their cattle. As if that wasn't enough for the cow worshiping Hindus to watch, they then cooked the meat (usually, as is their custom, leaving it half raw) and had a feast which they forced the Hindus to join. Now for those of you who do not know, this for a Hindu and one who has been a lifelong vegetarian is a deed which puts a serious deed in their 'karma', effectively they are then no longer a Hindu.
Sucha was outraged, his Khalsa blood boiled, if Guru Teg Bahadur could die to stop such torture of Hindus, well with three murders already under his belt, the prospects for these nefarious Muslims didn't look good. Finding the scoundrels just as they were about to kill another cow he unleashed a verbal barrage upon them. His interference infuriated them but they started to kill the cow anyway. In a flash Sucha dropped five of them, while a few others managed to run away.
Sahib Kaur's Murder
Later, Sucha joined a group of dacoits and running havoc in the area. Soon enough, another situation very familiar arose and required his discretion. A widow and a mother of two sons, Sahib Kaur (the elder of the sons, Basant Singh was in his early teens) in village Gehri in Bathinda, started hanging out with another influential man from the same village. Her kids tried to stop her but she would not listen. On the contrary, she got her elder son beaten up by her lover Gajjan Vaili. Basant made contact with his paternal uncle, Ran Singh, who was coincidentally in the army too (just like Sucha). This infuriated Ran but he although had heard the story of Sucha, did not feel he was brave enough to carry out justice there. But he knew that Sucha was around in the area making loots and all. He managed to convey the message to Sucha about the problem his sister-in-law (Sahib Kaur) had put his family in. Sucha responded quickly and killed both Sahib Kaur and Gajjan Vaili.
Capture of Sucha Singh
Police tracked Sucha down in Kotshamir, a village close to Gehri, after this incident. He was hanged in Gehri.
Khich lainde phatta jeya lagge na phattka, vajjeya hulaara dhaun khaagi jhatka, Suche de nikkle praan pal mein, bolke jaikaara tandi paali gal mein
