Bhai Dalla Singh
Bhai Dalla Singh or Dall Singh, a Siddhu Jatt who was the chaudhari (landlord) of Talvandi Sabo,(DAMDAMA SAHIB) enthusiastically received Guru Gobind Singh when he arrived with his entourage early in 1706, attending diligently to the needs and comforts of the daily-growing sangat. According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Dalla maintained a private army of several hundred warriors of whom he was very proud. He more than once commiserated with Guru Gobind Singh on the events that had overtaken him, boastfully adding that had the Guru called him for help he would have joined him with his bold warriors and that he (the Guru) would have been saved much of the travail. Guru Gobind Singh every time dismissed the topic saying, "God's will must prevail, It is useless to brood over the past." Bhai Dal singh would often boast of the bravery of his Jatts, as compared to other communities who had become Sikhs.
Once as Dalla was repeating his boast, two artisans of Lahore came and presented the Guru with two costly muzzle-loading guns. The Guru asked Bhai Dalla to provide a couple of his men as targets for him to test the range and striking power of the weapons. The strange demand stunned Dalla and put his men out of their wits, and none of them came forward. The Guru there upon invited two Ranghreta Sikhs, a father and son, who happened to be busy tying their turbans near by. They both came running, turbans in hand, each trying to be in front of the other in order to be the first to face the bullet.
Bhai Dalla, was so astonished at the Ranghreta Sikhs' spirit of sacrifice, he became ashamed and learned to be humble. He understood that the brotherhood of Khalsa was much much braver than his jatts. He took the initiation of the Khalsa, receiving the name of Dal Singh. A small domed shrine within the precincts of Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo honours the memory of Dal Singh to this day. A sword, shield and a few other articles, claimed to have been bestowed upon him by Guru Gobind Singh, are preserved by his descendants as sacred relics.
References
- Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1923
- Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa. Patiala, 1970
- Sukha Singh, Bhai, Gurbilas Dasvin Patshah. Lahore, 1912
- Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1909
