BHAI TARU SINGH JI

BhaiBy: Anoop Taru, Jagmeet, Monthy Singh, and Gurmohit Ji

By: Jagmeet, Monty, Anoop, and Gurmohit Background

 Born on October 4th 1721 in village Phoola (district Amritsar)  Mother- Bibi Dharam Kaur  Father- Bhai Jodh Singh; got shaheed in war when Bhai Taru Singh Ji was still young  Sister- Bibi Tar Kaur (Taro)  Last name was Sandhu  Born during the mughal rule; Zakhriya Khan was the king of Punjab at the time.  Humble and faithful gursikh  Treated wounded singhs and mughal soldiers on the battlefield  Took food daily to the singhs that were hiding in the jungle

Important People At The Time… Raheem Baksh

 Was a poor fisherman who  Raheem Baksh along with sold fish in Lahore several other singhs went to the commander of Patti’s  Mughals took away his 16 yr house where the soldiers old daughter, Salma. imprisoned Salma  When he went to Zakhriya  After Ardaas they split up into Khan, he told Raheem to go to 2 groups that first killed the Delhi, and tell the king. guards outside the palace  On the way he met a man who  They found Salma and took her told him to go meet Bhai Taru back. Singh Ji, and he will get your daughter back  But before leaving they had to fight with the mughals and  Bhai Taru Singh Ji gave him then they blew up the Palace. langar and new clothes  Raheem Baksh and his family  After talking to the Singhs in stayed at Bhai Taru Singh Ji’s the jungle Bhai Taru Singh Ji house because the mughals arranged a way to get Salma were looking for him and his back family.

Kushala • He was one of the main people of Phoola • Smoked tobacco • Saw Bhai Taru Singh Ji going to give langar to the singhs in the jungle • Lured by greed, he told the bhagat of the village that there was a sikh living in their village • Bhagat told Zakhriya Khan the news and Zakhriya khan ordered his “sipahees” to imprison Bhai Taru Singh Ji and bring him to lahore. • Kushala got money.

Capturing of Bhai Taru Singh Ji

• Zakhriya Khan’s “sipahees” arrive at Bhai Taru Singh Ji’s house where Mata Ji was meditating. • The Sipahees ordered Bibi Dharam Kaur to call Bhai Taru Singh Ji Sahib Immediately • During that time Bhai Taru Singh Ji was at the farm when Shama came and warned Bhai Taru Singh Ji to leave and once and that Kushala had told Zakhriya Khan about him living in Phoola • Bhai Taru Singh Ji replied “Why should I run away? I haven’t done anything wrong.” • Goes to the center of Phoola and there he sees that the soldiers have tied up Bibi Taro and also the mayor of the village. • Villagers protest to leave them both alone, but the mughals don’t agree with this because these were Zakhriya Khan’s orders, but they agree to let Bibi Tar Kaur go. Padana

 On the way to Lahore, Bhai Taru Singh Ji and the sipahees spent the night in a village called “Padana.”  Here, the entire village found out that they were being taken to Lahore  Hindus and sikhs of Padana gathered at “Gurdwara Cheivee Patshahi” and discussed about releasing Bhai Taru Singh Ji from the clutches of the mughal soldiers.  When they asked him about their freedom, Bhai Taru Singh Ji politley said no, and told them to stay in Maharaj Ji’s hukam. So the Singhs do not release Bhai Taru Singh Ji.  But they made another plan; at night they would follow the mughal soldiers ( that had Bhai Taru Singh Ji ) and release him from the soldiers.  When they were doing this the sikhs of Padana realized that they had attacked the wrong caravan; and the one that they had attacked was filled with young hindu men and women. They brought the hindu men and women back to their homes. Bhai Taru Singh Ji meets with Zakhriya Khan

• Zakhriya Khan gives him 2 choices: Death or become a muslim • Bhai Taru Singh Ji gladly accepts death • The first thing that Zakhriya Khan does to him is that he placed Bhai Taru Singh Ji on a charki • When Zakhriya Khan saw him the next day, he was shocked that Bhai Taru Singh Ji was still alive from the torment • Zakhriya khan thought that since Bhai Taru Singh Ji respects their hair so much, that he should just cut his hair • When the time came to cut Bhai Taru Singh Ji’s hair, nobody was willing to do it, and so instead he suggested to take their khopri (scalp) off the rest of their body • On June 9th 1745 Bhai Taru Singh Ji’s khopri was removed from his head.

Aftermath

 After, Bhai Taru Singh Ji’s body was thrown into a ditch by the mughal soldiers  The hindus and sikhs of Lahore took them into refuge at the dharamsala  They put a cast over Bhai Taru Singh Ji’s head  That night, Zakhriya Khan’s urine stopped and he had extreme amounts of pain.  None of the pandits or sufi saints could cure him, so he sent a apology letter to Bhai Taru Singh Ji  The sikhs asked him what to do and Bhai Taru Singh Ji told them to ask “Dal Khalsa” the army of the old.  They told the sikhs to get Bhai Taru Singh Ji’s shoe and to hit it hard on Zakhriya Khan’s head and with that his urine will be able to pass.  They did this for 21 days straight and the king was better for that time.  On the 22nd day Zakhriya Khan dies, and upon hearing this news, Bhai Taru Singh Ji left for sachkhand, on July 1st 1745  They were about 25 years of age and they lived without a scalp for 22 days!! Lesson to be Learned

 The Importance of our hair, what Bhai Taru Singh Ji did to protect their precious and priceless hair.  What our elders and ancestors did for us and the effect it has on us today  How lucky we are to be living a violence-free lifestyle, and we still complain about our daily duties  “Sir javae ta javae, mera sikhi sidak na javae!”  Included in our daily ardaas  Any others? Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!