Baba Deep Singh: Difference between revisions

BABA DEEP SINGH SHAHID (1682-1757) is one of most honored martyrs in Sikh history and the founder of the Shahid misl (group) as well as of the Damdami Taksal (Damdama school of learning). He was tall, strong, and uncommonly brave Singh who was a bold and fearless saint-soldier, ever ready to risk his life for the Panth.

Baba Ji was born in January 26, 1682, (14 Maagh Sunmat1739) the son of Bhai Bhagata Ji and Mai Jeoni Ji, a Sikh couple living in Pahuvind, a village 40 km southwest of Amritsar. Baba Ji parents were hard working Sikh farmers but had not previously been blessed with any children. He was named Deepa (meaning “light”). As he was an only child, his parents raised him with much devotion and affection. At the age of twelve, Baba Deep Singh Ji went with his parents to Anandpur Sahib to meet Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh guru. They stayed at Anandpur Sahib for several days, doing Sewa (service) with the Sikh community.

When his parents were ready to return to their village, Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked Baba Deep Singh Ji to stay with him. He readily accepted Guru Ji's request and began serving the Sikh community there. While at Anandpur Sahib, Baba Deep Singh Ji learned about Sikh philosophy and Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book of scriptures. He learned Gurmukhi (Punjabi script) and several other languages from Bhai Mani Singh and other Sikh scholars. It was here that he also learnt horseback riding, hunting and arms training.

At the age of eighteen, he received Amrit from the Panj Pyare at Anandpur Sahib on Vaisakhi day and took an oath to serve as Waheguru’s warrior ( Akal Purakh dee fauj) He also learnt that the Sikhs are to always help the weak and needy, and to fight for truth and justice. After receiving the vows of the Khalsa at Anandpur, he stayed for some time to study the sacred texts under Bhai Mani Singh. Baba Deep Singh Ji soon became one of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's most beloved Sikhs and stayed in Anandpur for a total of about eight years.

At Guru Gobind Singh Ji's request, he returned to his village in about 1702 to help his parents. He also got married in the same year. In 1704, about two years after his return to Pahuwind, a Sikh messenger arrived to inform him that Guru Ji had left his fort in Anandpur Sahib after fighting with the Hindu hill rajas for six months. He also learned that the Guru's four sons and his mother, Mata Gujri, had all become separated. Upon hearing such disheartening news, Baba Deep Singh Ji immediately left Pahuwind to meet Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Baba Deep Singh Ji met Guru Gobind Singh Ji again at Damdama Sahib in Talwandi. Here, he learned that two of the Guru' sons, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, had lost their lives in the battle of Chamkaur. Guru Ji also told him that his two younger sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were cruelly murdered at the city of Sirhind under the orders of the Muslim governor, Wazir Khan.

Baba Deep Singh Ji had been summoned to Damdama Sahib to work with Bhai Mani Singh Ji to prepare the final text of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Ji recited the entire Granth Sahib to them while they wrote the text. On its completion, over several years, Baba Deep Singh Ji continued to hand write a further four copies of the holy scriptures. Of the four copies, one each was sent to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Sri Takhat Patna Sahib, Sri Takhat Hazur Sahib, and Sri Takhat Anandpur Sahib. Another copy was prepared by Baba Deep Singh Ji in Arabic script and sent to the Middle East.

In 1706, before Guru Gobind Singh Ji proceeded to the South, Guru Ji placed Baba Deep Singh in charge of Damdama Sahib, while Bhai Mani Singh Ji was sent to head the Sangat at Harimander Sahib in Amritsar. Baba Deep Singh Ji spent many years at Damdama Sahib preaching Sikh values and teachings and doing service for the community. He was always ready to serve those in need and to fight for justice. Baba Ji also continued to write gutkas (books of hymns) and distributed them to the Sikh community.

In about 1709, Baba Deep Singh Ji joined Banda Singh Bahadur to fight for the freedom of Punjab. They fought together in the battle at Sirhind--the city in which Guru Gobind Singh Ji's younger sons had been killed. Although the Muslim army outnumbered the Sikhs significantly, the Sikh army was able to easily defeat the Muslim forces. During the battle, Baba Deep Singh Ji beheaded Wazir Khan and closed the chapter of tyranny of this Mughal leader. In 1732, he went to the rescue of Sardar Ala Singh who had been besieged in Barnala by Manjh and Bhatti Rajputs in collaboration with the faujdar of Jalandhar and the nawab of Malerkotla. In 1733, when the Mughal governor of Lahore sought peace with the Sikhs offering them a nawabship and a jagir, Baba Deep Singh and his jatha joined Nawab Kapur Singh at Amritsar to form a joint Sikh force, the Dal Khalsa, which was soon divided for administrative convenience into Buddha Dal and Taruna Dal, the latter being further split into five jathas. Deep Singh, now reverently called Baba, was given the command of one of these jathas which in 1748 were redesignated misls. It came to be known as Shahid misl. As the leader of the Shaheedi misl, he achieved numerous victories for the Sikhs.. Shahid misl had its sphere of influence south of the River Sutlej and Baba Deep Singh's headquarters remained at Talvandi Sabo. The tower in which he lived still stands next to the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and is known as Burj Baba Deep Singh Shahid.

At the invitation of Mughlani Begum, Ahmedshah Abdali invaded India for the fourth time in the year 1755-6 A.D. On his return journey Abdali was accompanied by his soldiers who carried enormous stocks of gold, silver and other valuables looted from Mathura, Bindraban, Agra and Delhi towns. These valuables were loaded on the back of horses and other animals. In addition thousands of beautiful unmarried girls and married women, both of Hindu and Muslim communities, were being forcibly taken against their wishes, to serve as maidens and slaves of Abdalis, and to be auctioned in open market. They were herded together in bullock carts and tied to prevent their escape enroute.

When the leaders of Khalsa Panth (Misaldars) came to know of this caravan passing through Punjab, they decided to intervene with force, to free these girls and women, to save their honour and that of the country. The cries for help of these unfortunate women fell on deaf ears and nobody dared to rescue them till the caravan arrived near Kurukshetra. Baba Deep Singh's Jatha (army) was assigned duty near river Markanda. When he and his brave companions heard the wailings of those slave girls, boys and women, they came out of the surrounding jungles and pounced upon Abdali's caravan, like a lightening from the sky. While some of them engaged themselves in fighting the Abdali's soldiers, other drove away many bullock carts laden with women and valuables to the nearby jungles hideouts. They were successful in rescuing about 300 women/girls and 100 boys from the clutches of Abdali. None among other brave communities such as Rajputs and Marhattas could dare attack Abdali's caravan to rescue these crying and helpless slaves, but saints soldiers of Guru Gobind Singh dared to attack Abdali's caravan and frees the unfortunate sons and daughter of the country, risking their own lives. These freed boys, girls and married women whether Muslims or Hindus, were escorted safely to their homes by the Sikh soldiers whose moral/character was of the highest order even at those difficult days.

Because of these dare devil and noble acts of Sikhs, slaves used to sing "Moreen Baba Kachh Walea Chhai Naheen Taan Ran gai Basre noon gai" i.e. 'O' brave Sikh wearing Kachah(undergarment), liberate the enslaved Women, otherwise they would be taken to Basra.

During this invasion of India, Ahmad Shah Durrani annexed Punjab to Afghan dominions and appointed his son, Taimur Shah, viceroy at Lahore, with the veteran general Jahan Khan as his deputy. Jahan Khan invaded Amritsar in May 1757, razed the Sikh fortress of Ram Rauni and silted the sacred pool. Although Baba Deep Singh Ji was seventy-five years old, he still had the strength of a young warrior. He gathered a large group of Sikhs and advanced towards Sir Harimander Sahib. By the time they reached the village of Tern Taran, about ten miles from Amritsar, their numbers had risen to about five thousand. At this time, Baba Ji drew a line on the ground with his khanda, and asked only those who were willing to fight and die to cross the line. All of the Sikhs there crossed the line eagerly. Baba Deep Singh Ji then recited the Shabad: "Jo to praym khaylan ka chaao, sir dhar talee galee mayree aao." (Those who wish to play the game of love (follow Sikhism), come to me with your head in your palm.) "It maarag pair dhareejai, sir deejai kaan na keejai." (If you wish your feet to travel this path, don't delay in accepting to give your head.) When news of Baba Deep Singh Ji's intentions reached Jahan Khan, he immediately mobilized an army of 20,000 men and proceeded towards Tern Taran. Baba Deep Singh Ji's army intercepted Jahan Khan's forces near the village of Goharwal, about five miles from Amritsar. At this point, there was a clash between both sides. Baba Deep Singh Ji fought with his 15kg (about 32 lbs.) khanda (double-edged sword). Each Sikh fought with such great valor and courage that the enemy was almost defeated. During the midst of battle, a large army of reinforcements arrived for Jahan Khan's men, turning the odds against the Sikhs. Yet, the Sikhs with Baba Deep Singh Ji as their head continued fighting and advancing towards Amritsar.

During the clash, one of the Mughal commanders, Jamal Khan, attacked Baba Deep Singh Ji. As they fought, both men swung their weapons with great force, leaving both of their heads separated from their bodies. After seeing this scene, a young Sikh warrior called out to Baba Ji, reminding him of his vow to reach Sri Harimander Sahib. Upon hearing this, Baba Deep Singh Ji immediately stood up, holding his severed head upright on his left palm while holding his khanda in his right hand. He then continued fighting and moving towards Sri Harimander Sahib. Upon seeing the sight of Baba Deep Singh headless body tearing through their numbers, most of the men in the Mughal army fled away in terror. Baba Deep Singh was able to continue fighting and reached the periphery of Sri Harimander Sahib from where the flung his severed head which came to rest at the perkerma (rectangular walkway) of Sri Harimander Sahib and lay there as promised. The Sikh Army continued to fight the fleeing Mughal until victory was achieved. Baba ji is remembered by all Sikhs as a brave and courageous martyr with an unflinching dedication to the Sikh principles.

Two shrines now commemorate the martyr, one on the circumambulatory terrace of the Sarovar surrounding the Harimander Sahib where he finally fell and the other, Shahidganj Baba Deep Singh Shahid, near Gurdwara Ramsar, where his body was cremated. The places where Babaji drew the line, engaged in battle, lost his head, threw it, and where it landed are all marked by Gurdwaras in Punjab. Baba Deep Singh Ji's actions encouraged the Sikhs to continue to fight against tyrannical and oppressive Mughal Empire for many years. Even today, his life serves as an example for all Sikhs on how to live and die with dignity.

External Links

• Babadeep
• ww.sikh-heritage.co.uk
• www.sikhpoint.com
• www.sikhlink.com
• www.sikhcyber.com
• Khalsa Babadeep
• www.singhsabha.com
• www.davindersingh.ca

References

• Bhangu, Ratan Singh. Prachin Panth Prakash. Amritsar, 1914
• Gian Singh, Giani, Panth Prakash [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
• Thakar Singh, Giani, Shahid Bilas Baba Dip Singh Ji. Amritsar, 1904
• Cunningham, Joseph Davey, A History of the Sikhs. London,1849