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Noble and Brave Sikh Women

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Noble and Brave Sikh Women NOBLE & BRAVE SIKH WOMEN Sawan singh NOBLE AND BRAVE SIKH WOMEN (Short biographies of twenty noble and Brave sikh women.) By Sawan Singh Noble and Brave sikh women Sawan Singh Principal (Retd.) 10561,Brier Lane Santa Ana, 92705 CA, USA Email- [email protected] Dedicated to To the Noble and Brave Sikh women who made the sikh nation proud….. Introduction Once I had a chance to address a group of teenage girls, born and educated out of the Punjab, about the sacrifices and achievements of the Sikh women. I explained to them, with examples from the lives of noble and brave Sikh ladies, that those ladies did not lag behind Sikh men in sacrificing their lives for their faith .I narrated to them the bravery of Mai Bhago and social service rendered by Bibi Harnam Kaur. They were surprised to learn about the sacrifices of the Sikh women in the Gurdwara Liberation Movemet. They wanted me to name an English book that should contain short biographies of about twenty such women, but those biographies should be based on history, and not fiction. I could not think of any such book off hand and promised that I would find one. I contacted many friends in India, U.S.A., Canada, and U.K to find such a book, but could not find any. I was told by a friend of mine in Delhi that there was such a book named “Eminent Sikh Women” by Mrs. M.K. Gill, but was out of stock. I was shocked that in our male dominated society Sikh women were not being paid due attention. Consequently our young girls born and educated out of the Punjab have nothing in writing to show them their golden heritage. They know very little about their religion and culture. Most of our priests and preachers in our Gurdwaras don’t know English, so these girls mostly avoid attending Gurdwara functions, as their Punjabi vocabulary is not sufficient. Future of our community is linked with these girls who will be bringing up next generation. I decided to take up this project. I serve every Sunday in a huge library containing about 4,000 books at the Sikh Center (Gurdwara) Orange County, Santa Ana,( CA.) I selected some books from the library, which could help me in my project. I procured a few catalogues from different booksellers from different places. I was surprised to find that there were not many books dealing with brave and noble Sikh women. Most of such books were novels in Punjabi, each about the life story of a particular lady. The present generation needs some literature based on facts and not fiction, but short biographies to the point. I am thankful to Akal Purakh that with my humble efforts I have been able to write short biographies of twenty noble and brave Sikh women. Six of them are closely related to the Sikh Gurus. Bibi Nanki’s status in Sikhism can be safely compared to that of Mother Mariam in Christianity and that of Bibi Khudejai in Islam. Mata Khivi, Bibi Amro, and Bibi Bhani have maintained Sikh traditions and spread Sikhism. Their nobleness is remarkable. Mata Gujri’s sacrifice and her bringing up of her two young grandsons have helped to continue the tradition of sacrifice in Sikhism. Mata Sundri guided the Sikhs for forty years at a critical time against heavy odds. Bibi Rajinder Kaur and Bibi Sahib Kaur both belonged to the royal family of Patiala state. Their bravery in the battlefields and their skills in administration saved the state from being ruined. Mata Kishan Kaur and Bibi Balbir Kaur took part and suffered in the Akali movement for the control of Gurdwaras. Bibi Balbir Kaur even sacrificed her own life and that of her innocent child in this movement. Bibi Harnam Kaur has done wonders to spread female education among the Sikh women a hundred years ago. Mai Bhag Kaur has proved that Sikh women can lead and organize the Sikh men and win battles. Women martyrs of Shahid Gunj of Lahore like Bhghel Kaur cannot be found in the literature of many religions. Bibi Sharan Kaur and Bibi Shamsher Kaur have proved their skills in the battlefield and in administration. Bibi Anoop Kaur, Bibi Shushil Kaur, Bibi Harsharan Kaur, Bibi Basan Lata and Bibi Nirbhay Kaur have faced odds and sacrificed their lives to save their honor and faith. I have tried my best to, remain, as far as possible, near history and avoided mythology. Every character has a historical background and the period to which she belongs has been mentioned. I hope it would inspire our young girls and women and create in them love for their religion. After reading this book, they will feel that they belong to the community of noble and brave people, and will feel proud of their golden heritage. May God help me in my this labor of love! My thanks are due to the persons who donated books to the above-mentioned library. I am thankful to my friends who gave me their valuable suggestions and encouraged me to write this most needed book. I am all praise for my young grand daughters and grand sons who typed this book. May they live long and enjoy healthy life! I am highly thankful to S .Hardev Singh Shergill and S. Gurpal Singh Khaira for proof reading and suggestions. I request my worthy readers to read it and share with other interested readers. A book left on shelf is a stone. I shall be thankful if they point out my mistakes and send their suggestions. I shall feel obliged if they pray for my health so that I may continue writing. In the end I am most thankful to God who gave me strength to finish this noble job. Sawan Singh, Principal (Retired) 10561Brier lane, Santa Ana 92705 (CA) USA Phone714 –544-3031 Contents 1 Bibi Amro 2 Bibi Anup Kaur 3 Bibi Baghel Kaur 4 Mai Bhago 5 Bibi Bhani 6 Bibi Balbir Kaur 7 Bibi Basant Lata 8 Mata Gujri 9 Bibi Harnnam Kaur 10 Bibi Harsharn Kaur 11 Mata Khivi 12 Mata Kishan Kaur 13 Bebe Nanki 14 Bibi Nirbhai Kaur 15 Bibi Rajinder Kaur 16 Bibi Sahib Kaur 17 Bibi Shamsher Kaur 18 Bibi Sharan Kaur 19 Bibi Shushil Kaur 20 Mata Sundri Bibi Amro Bibi Amro, daughter of Guru Angad Dev, the second Master and Mata Khivi, was the noble woman who deserves the credit of attracting Amar Das, an idol worshiper, to Sikhism and showing him the way to become Guru Amar Das, the 3rd Master. Thus she was and indirect instrument in the development of Sikhism. She was born in 1532 at village Khadur near Amritsar. She had two brothers, Dassu and Datu, and one younger sister named Anokhi. She received her early education directly from her parents. Guru Angad Dev taught her, along with the other children, to read and write in Gurmukhi script, which he had revised and simplified. She also learnt many sacred hymns from her father. Writer of the Bansawali Namma writes that she had learnt by heart sacred hymns like ‘Sidh Goshat’. She had been gifted by nature with a sweet voice. In short, she was a talented girl. When she came of age, she was married to Bhai Jasoo son of Bhai Manak Chand, a well-known religious minded person of village Basarke, about eight miles from Amritsar. Bhai Gurdas also belonged to this family. Bibi Amoro’s parents encouraged her to continue singing sacred hymns and to preach Sikhism. Giani Gian Singh, writer of Panth Parkash, writes on page 84 that she was a religious minded and virtuous lady. (Dharmatam Gun Roop Lapeti). Writer of Suraj Parkash also certifies the fact that devotion had manifested itself in the body of Bibi Amro. She was an ideal daughter in law who spent her time in meditation, household affairs and service of her in laws. Amar Das, real brother of Bhai Manak Chand and her husband’s real uncle, lived in the house next to her. He was attracted to the sacred hymn (Shabad) of Guru Nanak sung by her in her sweet melodious voice early in the morning when she was churning curd. He was in a receptive mood and in search of a Guru. The sacred hymn touched his heart. Two last lines from this hymn written on page 990 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib along with their meaning are given below:- bhaeiaa munoor ku(n)chun fir hovai jae gur milai thinaehaa || eaek naam a(n)mrith ouhu dhaevai tho naanuk thrisuttas dhaehaa || ( Copied from www.sikhitothemax.com ) The mind turned into rusted iron is again transformed into gold if it meets with the ( philosopher’s stone of ) the Guru. He blesses the mortal with the Ambrosial Name of the One Lord, and then, O Nanak, cease therewith ( the wanderings of)the mind.. He approached Bibi Amro through her mother in law, Bibi Bhago, and wanted her to repeat that hymn once more. She hesitated, but being encouraged by her mother, she sang it once again. Ram Das asked her who composed it and where he lived. She said, “It was composed by Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru, the predecessor of my father. I have learnt it from my father, Guru Angad Dev, the second Guru who lives at Khadur”. She also explained to him the meaning of the whole hymn. His interest grew so much that he wanted to learn more about Sikhism. He asked her to take him to her father.
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