Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Mission and Vision ...... 3 Welcome ...... 4 Rules ...... 5 Objectives and Goals ...... 6 Teachers Profile ...... 7 Lesson Plans ...... 9 Theme Shabad ...... 11 Shabad Notes...... 12 Group Schedule ...... 17 Meal Menu ...... 21 Kaur Bungas ...... 22 Singh Bungas ...... 27 Sewa ...... 33 Sewa Jathas Schedule ...... 34 List of Campers ...... 35

CAMP GURMAT 2016, DALLAS, TX www.campgurmat.org 2

Mission and Vision

Mission Statement

Provide experiences that shape and expand the Sikh commitment of our next generation. Free from all distractions, kids live, learn, play, and work together, and are creatively challenged to make decisions resulting in changed lives.

Vision Statement

Camp Gurmat envisions a world in which each and every Sikh acts to make the most of life for themselves and becomes role model for everyone around them by following path illustrated by our Gurus.

Camper Assignments

Camper Name :

______

Camper Bunga/Cabin :

______

Camper Class :

______

Camper Sewa :

______

CAMP GURMAT 2016, DALLAS, TX www.campgurmat.org

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Welcome

Dear Campers and Counselors,

Waheguru Ji Ka Ji Ki Fateh,

Welcome to Camp Gurmat 2016 Dallas at Collin County Adventure Camp!

We are glad and excited that you chose to be part of fourth Camp Gurmat at Dallas!

The theme this year is Bhai Taru Singh and Bibi Taro. A legendary brother and sister duo, who exemplified service and sacrifice. Our hope this year at Camp Gurmat is to dive deep into their life and circumstances that lead to their martyrdom and to inspire the campers and counselors to appreciate, lead Sikhi driven life.

The volunteers have worked hard to make camp as organized as possible. We hope you all will find the arrangements satisfactory and continue to be part of Camp Gurmat for years to come! The camp is both educational and recreational. In addition to Gurmat, History, Gatka, and sessions, you will also be doing fun activities such as zip lining, canoeing, wall climbing, golfing, bb guns, archery challenge courses, etc.

Please take some time to go over the folder contents to acquaint yourself with camp plans and other details provided.

Let’s learn from Bhai Taru Singh & Bibi Taro!

Gurfateh, Camp Gurmat 2016 Dallas Sewadars

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Rules

Please read the following camp rules and abide by them during the camp:

1. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL to all, be ON TIME, LISTEN TO ASSIGNED COUNSELORS/VOLUNTEERS

AND OTHER ORGANIZERS. 2. No child may roam around ALONE. His/her group counselor/volunteer must accompany all children at all times. 3. No child is allowed out of Camp Limits without proper permission.

4. Boys shall not be allowed in the girls’ bungas and vice versa. 5. Attendance in classes and Divans is mandatory for all campers/counselors. 6. No talking or disturbance during Divans/classes.

7. All campers are expected to follow instructions given by the counselors/volunteers. 8. No shorts are allowed except during sports times. 9. Be respectful of other campers and counselors.

10.No fighting shall be allowed. Any concerns shall be brought to the attention of the Counselor/Volunteer immediately. The assigned volunteer should communicate with Camp security Volunteer to take further action. 11. Any concerns or questions during the Camp should be addressed to the assigned

counselors/volunteers. Camper should not communicate with the organizing volunteers even if s/he may know them personally. 12. ANY CAMPER FOUND OUTSIDE THE BUNGA AFTER 09:15 P.M. AND BEFORE 6:00 A.M. WITHOUT

PROPER WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION SLIP SHALL RESULT INTO EXPULSION AUTOMATICALLY. th 13. Parents are requested to visit their children on last day of the Camp (Saturday, Dec 24 , 2016 after 8:00 A.M.). Diwan is scheduled for performance of children and everyone is invited.

14.Cell Phones or any kind of smart phones, and ipods will be submitted to cabin volunteer at your bunga while leaving for morning diwan. It will given back by the volunteer when campers come back to cabin/bunga at 8:30 P.M. to sleep. Campers can call parents from 8:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

CAMP GURMAT 2016, DALLAS, TX www.campgurmat.org 5

Objectives and Goals

Objectives and Goals:

Why are we at Camp Gurmat?  Why do we need to study history?

Recap of previous Camp Gurmat themes  Intro on previous themes of Camp Gurmat.  Review previous themes chronologically and slowly dive into current theme.

Personality: Discover the life history of Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh (1720 – 1745). Provide an opportunity to utilize the life of Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh as a source of inspiration to all campers. Discuss the following:  Sikh Principles “Nam Japna, Kirat Karna, Te Wand Chakna” exemplified by Bhai Taru Singh and Bibi Taro  Passion and Commitments of the duo towards the teachings of Sri  How Bhai Taru Singh was earning his living and helping those in need?  Selfless service, towards the community and living in the jungle, performed by the duo  Source of inspiration for Bhai Taru Singh  Sarbat da bhala - how did the duo display this quality Bravery and Faith in Sikhi  Arrest of Bhai Taru Singh and the role of key players in his arrest and shaheedi  How Bhai Taru Singh presented himself in front of the Government of the time as a Sikh figure.  How Bhai Taru Singh challenged government for its anti-sikh policies by accepting all types of physical tortures.  “Sir javae ta javae, mera sikhi sidak na javae!” expression of love to Sikh image and practices with every breath  “Sikhi kesan swasan nal nibhai” included in daily Ardaas Importance of Kesh for a Sikh and relate it to today’s challenges  The Importance of our hair, how Bhai Taru Singh Ji protected his precious and invaluable Sikh identify (hair)  How lucky we are, living today in a violence-free lifestyle, and still complain about our day-to- day duties  In today’s world, what can any individual Sikh do, to protect our own identify from anti-Sikhi thoughts Perseverance  Using theme as an example - instill the thought of PERSEVERANCE in campers

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Teachers Profile - I

Jasvir Kaur, Chicago, IL - Group III & IV Gurmat Teacher Profile Jasvir Kaur is a pharmacist. She participates in disaster relief efforts including leading medical teams. She also regularly volunteers on medical and environmental missions with various organizations around the world, including Peru, Ghana, Guatemala, Vietnam and India. Locally, Jasvir coordinates efforts to feed the homeless with various organizations and helped found Sikh Healing Collective for mental health needs and Sikh Outreach Services to work with youth and seniors in the community.

Jasvir also spends her time as a counselors for various Sikh camps and retreats around the country.

Kuldip Singh, Atlanta, GA - Group III & IV History Teacher Profile Kuldip Singh works for General Electric in Atlanta, GA as Finance and Planning Architect. He is current president of Asian Pacific Americans Historical Society (APAHS) and Sikh American Community of GA. He is community activist who works to make minority communities safer and protected from discrimination.

He is long-term advocate of bullying prevention and banning religious profiling in USA. He holds an MBA from Johnson School at Cornell University, NY and Master in Computer Science from National Institute of technology, India.

Harliv Kaur, San Antonio, TX - Group I & II Gurmat, Group I History Teacher Profile Harliv Kaur is a teacher by profession and a curriculum developer and teacher trainer with SikhRI. Her focus is creating interactive, hands-on activities that take learning to the next level. Besides her work with SikhRI, she founded Kikli, a company committed to developing fun and innovative tools for learning Panjabi including "Ik Chota Bacha & Other Sikh Nursery Rhymes," a collaborative project involving the Ujjaldidar Singh Memorial Foundation.

Harliv lives in San Antonio with her husband and 3 kids.

Balkar Singh, Dallas, TX - Group I & II History Teacher Profile Balkar Singh, an IT/Business professional, moved to Texas about 2 years ago from South Carolina. He has been involved in several Sikh camps in USA and not only as a volunteer but as an organizer too. He has participated in various inter-faith events and Sikh youth programs. He has been involved in establishing libraries in Punjab which aim to inspirit Sikhi in children.

His primary focus is on Sikh History and Research. He also teaches Sikh history in Khalsa school at local Gurudwara Sahib.

Balkar, father of two, enjoys spending time with family & friends and loves to travel.

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Teachers Profile - II

Jathedar Deep Singh, New York, NY - Gatka Teacher Profile Dr. Deep Singh has done Masters from Panjab University, Chandigarh &

Bachelors from Calcutta & Jammu Kashmir University, India. He has been promoting Gatka Game globally from last 20 Yrs. He is a founder member of Gatka Federation of India, Gatka Federation USA & World

Gatka Federation. He has participated in more than 50 Gurmat Camps & more than 60 camps of Gatka game in dozens of countries. Currently he is promoting Gatka game under Gatka Federation USA NY, USA.

Bhai Manmohan Singh, San Jose, CA - Gurmat Kirtan Teacher Profile Bhai Manmohan Singh lives in San Jose, California with his wife Amrit Kaur and 3 children. With Akaal Purakh blessings, he has been in Sikhi Prachar Sewa in various Sahibs in USA, Canada and UK from last 27 years.

He, along with his family members, has been performing Gurbani Kirtan sewa in Akhand Kirtan Samagams at several places. He has attended Gurmat Camps as an educator and taught Kirtan to a number of students. With Guru's grace, he developed a series of 7 Kirtan Books plus Audio CD and DVD for the purpose of teaching Kirtan.

Taranjeet Singh, Dallas, TX - Tabla Teacher Profile Taranjeet Singh is trained in tabla and gurmat teachings by Bhai Harnam Singh Khushdil and also Panjabi Dhol and keertan.

He has attended and volunteered at Sikh Youth Gurmat Camps in Kenya, East Africa. He has been doing tabla at samagams and with various keertani Jathas in Dallas.

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Lesson Plan - I

Kuldip Singh, History Groups III & IV

Historic Background and Sikh Challenges

 Role of Sikhs under the tyrant rule

 Life of Bhai Taru Singh, Bibi Taro and family values. Tuesday  Sikhs shapes up a sovereign society Bhai Taru Singh – Emergence of a Leader

 Rise of a common man y  Commitment, Perseverance, Charisma, and Integrity of Bhai Taru Singh Ji

Wednesda  Life of leaders – Helping and Serving Others, and Giving Power Shahadat “Martydom” - Epitome of Seva  Charges against Bhai Taru Singh  Role of informers and double agents

Thursday  Stand firm against tyranny to challenge the political system and ideology  Policy of negotiation with Sikhs Fostering Rebel Talent

 Conformity in life.  Status Quo bias Friday  Taking up the challenge  Rising challenges in 21st century

Harliv Kaur, Gurmat Groups I Group II

 Begin KWL activity  Begin a KWHLAQ activity  Share background information about Bhai Taru  Anticipation guide – How did Bhai Taru Singh Ji react to: the Mughal rule, helping Sikhs hiding in jungles, Tuesday Singh Ji and Bibi Taro. helping people of other faiths etc…  Character Profile in the light of gurbani  Character Profile – Traits of Bhai Taru Singh Ji – Proof

 What was Bhai Taru Singh Ji like? of these traits. Wednesday

 Complete a story map. Participants will try to  Students will complete a cause and effect activity. understand how Bhai Sahib ji lived his life, dealt  We will discuss how the Sikh Panth handled the harsh treatment by the Mughal rule.

with unkind people and harsh situations.  We will examine the life of Bhai Taru Singh Ji and how Thursday  How Bhai Sahib took directions from Gurbani. he lived out his life according to Sikhi  Living the message  Bhai Taru Singh ji tried to live the message of the

 Bhai Taru Singh ji tried to live the message of the Gurus.  Students will choose 5 or more teachings, come up

Gurus. Students will choose 3 or more teachings with a definition and illustrate them. Friday and illustrate them.  Complete KWHLAQ and anticipation guide from day 1  Trivia Game/ Complete KWL activity to assess learning through a trivia game.

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Lesson Plan - II

Jasvir Kaur, Gurmat Groups III & IV

 Icebreaker  Individually write your thoughts on life and upbringings of Bhai Taru Singh and Bibi Taro Kaur  Share and discuss their upbringing and why those were important to Bhai Taru Singh and Bibi Taro

Tuesday Kaur legacies in Sikh history  Today leadership requires a lot of training and courses, what leadership skills did Bhai Taru Singh and his family have?  What was their source of inspiration and how did they endure the tough times? What would you

Wednesday have done if you were him?

 Discuss barriers and challenges you face today to keep your identity and can they be overcome (by

drawing inspiration from Bhai Taru Singh and his family). Thursday

 Individual brainstorming of a social and/or individual project to do seva and plan how to carry it out. Friday  Q & A Session

Balkar Singh, History Groups I & II Background / Historical Context  Family Background and Shaheedi of Bhai Taru Singh’s father (Bhai Jodh Singh)  Contribution in upbringing of Bhai Taru Singh’s Mother

Tuesday  Reflection of Sikh principles in the life of Bhai Taru Singh and Bib Taro’s Life  Why Mughal governor was after Sikhs Rise of a leader  Selfless service towards the community and Sikhs’ living in the jungle  How did the duo display the equality for everyone “Sarbat da bhala”

 People’s trust in Bhai Taru Singh Ji’ Integrity Wednesday  Firm stand against injustice Arrest and Shahadat “Martydom”  Governmental System and its anti-Sikhs policies  Reasons behind Bhai Sahib’s arrest  Important people Bhai Sahib’s arrest

Thursday  What was the primary reason for Bhai Taru Singh’s Arrest and what torchers he faced before shaheedi.  “Sir javae ta javae, mera sikhi sidak na javae!” Legacy

 Importance of Kesh “Sikhi kesan swasan nal nibhai” included in daily Ardaas  Current challenges ahead Friday  Instill the thought of perseverance  Questions & Answers Session

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Theme Shabad

This Shabad is by Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Aasaa on Pannaa 484

Awsw ] aasaa ||

krvqu Blw n krvt qyrI ] lwgu gly sunu ibnqI myrI ]1] karavath bhalaa n karavatt thaeree || laag galae sun binathee maeree ||1||

hau vwrI muKu Pyir ipAwry ] krvtu dy mo kau kwhy kau mwry ]1] rhwau ] ho vaaree mukh faer piaarae || karavatt dhae mo ko kaahae ko maarae ||1|| rehaao ||

jau qnu cIrih AMgu n morau ] ipMfu prY qau pRIiq n qorau ]2] jo than cheerehi a(n)g n moro || pi(n)dd parai tho preeth n thoro ||2||

hm qum bIcu BieE nhI koeI ] qumih su kMq nwir hm soeI ]3] ham thum beech bhaeiou nehee koee || thumehi s ka(n)th naar ham soee ||3||

khqu kbIru sunhu ry loeI ] Ab qumrI prqIiq n hoeI ]4]2]35] kehath kabeer sunahu rae loee || ab thumaree paratheeth n hoee ||4||2||35||

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Shabad Notes I Prepared by Bhai Manmohan Singh

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Shabad Notes II Prepared by Bhai Manmohan Singh

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Shabad Notes III Prepared by Bhai Manmohan Singh

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Shabad Notes IV Prepared by Bhai Manmohan Singh

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Shabad Notes V Prepared by Bhai Manmohan Singh

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Schedule - Dec 19th & Dec 20th All Groups

19th December 2016 - Monday (All Groups) 1:00 to 3 PM 3 to 3:50 PM 4 to 5:30 PM 5:40 to 6:30 PM 6:40 to 7:30 PM 7:40 to 8:00 PM 8:00 PM Introduction/ DINNER Ready for Lights CHECK-IN DIWAN Activity Welcome [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Pind Poola] Bed/Sohila Out

20th December 2016 - Tuesday Baba Baba Zorawar Singh Baba Jhujhar Singh Baba

Group I Group II Group III Group IV 5:30 to 6:15 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:05 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:15 AM NITNEM [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 7:15 to 8:00 AM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 8:10 to 8:50 AM BREAKFAST [Pind Poola] Kirtan History GATKA Gurmat 9:00 to 9:45 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Balkar Singh] [Deep Singh] [Jasvir Kaur] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall] Kirtan Gurmat GATKA History 9:45 to 10:30 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Harliv Kaur] [Deep Singh] Kuldip Singh] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall] History Kirtan GATKA 10:30 to 11:15 AM [Balkar Singh] [Manmohan Singh] Zipline [Deep Singh] [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] Gurmat Kirtan GATKA 11:15 to Noon [Harliv Kaur] [Manmohan Singh] Zipline [Deep Singh] [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] Noon to 1:00 PM LUNCH GATKA History Kirtan 1:00 to 1:45 PM [Deep Singh] Zipline [Kuldip Singh] [Manmohan Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] GATKA Gurmat Kirtan 1:45 to 2:30 PM [Deep Singh] Zipline [Jasvir Kaur] [Manmohan Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] GATKA Kirtan 2:30 to 3:15 PM Boating [Deep Singh] [Manmohan Singh] Boating [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 3:15 to 4:50 PM FREE TIME 5:00 to 6:30 PM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 6:40 to 7:30 PM DINNER [Pind Poola] 7:40 to 8:30 PM Session on Bullying Session on Bullying Leadership Session Leadership Session 8:40 to 9:00 PM Ready for Bed/Sohila 9:00 PM Lights Out

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Schedule - December 21st All Groups

21st December 2016 - Wednesday Baba Fateh Singh Baba Zorawar Singh Baba Jhujhar Singh Baba Ajit Singh

Group I Group II Group III Group IV 5:30 to 6:15 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:05 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:15 AM NITNEM [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 7:15 to 8:00 AM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 8:10 to 8:50 AM BREAKFAST [Pind Poola] Kirtan History History GATKA 9:00 to 9:45 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Balkar Singh] [Kuldip Singh] [Deep Singh] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib]

Kirtan Gurmat Gurmat GATKA 9:45 to 10:30 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Harliv Kaur] [Jasvir Kaur] [Deep Singh] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib]

History Kirtan GATKA 10:30 to 11:15 AM [Balkar Singh] [Manmohan Singh] [Deep Singh] Ziplining [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib]

Gurmat Kirtan GATKA 11:15 to Noon [Harliv Kaur] [Manmohan Singh] [Deep Singh] Ziplining [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] Noon to 1:00 PM LUNCH GATKA Kirtan History 1:00 to 1:45 PM Zipline [Deep Singh] [Manmohan Singh] [Kuldip Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall]

GATKA Kirtan Gurmat 1:45 to 2:30 PM Zipline [Deep Singh] [Manmohan Singh] [Jasvir Kaur] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall]

GATKA Kirtan 2:30 to 3:15 PM [Deep Singh] Boating Boating [Manmohan Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 3:15 to 4:50 PM FREE TIME 5:00 to 6:30 PM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 6:40 to 7:30 PM DINNER [Pind Poola] 7:40 to 8:30 PM Movie Movie Session on Bullying Session on Bullying 8:40 to 9:00 PM Ready for Bed/Sohila 9:00 PM Lights Out

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Schedule - December 22nd All Groups

22nd December 2016 - Thursday Baba Fateh Singh Baba Zorawar Singh Baba Jhujhar Singh Baba Ajit Singh

Group I Group II Group III Group IV 5:30 to 6:15 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:05 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:15 AM NITNEM [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 7:15 to 8:00 AM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 8:10 to 8:50 AM BREAKFAST [Pind Poola] Kirtan History GATKA 9:00 to 9:45 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Balkar Singh] BB/Archery [Deep Singh] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib]

Kirtan Gurmat GATKA 9:45 to 10:30 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Harliv Kaur] Wall Climbing [Deep Singh] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib]

History Kirtan GATKA 10:30 to 11:15 AM [Balkar Singh] [Manmohan Singh] [Deep Singh] Challenge Course [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib]

Gurmat Kirtan GATKA Gurmat 11:15 to Noon [Harliv Kaur] [Manmohan Singh] [Deep Singh] [Jasvir Kaur] [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall] Noon to 1:00 PM LUNCH GATKA Kirtan History 1:00 to 1:45 PM [Deep Singh] Challenge Course [Manmohan Singh] [Kuldip Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall]

GATKA History Kirtan 1:45 to 2:30 PM BB/Archery [Deep Singh] [Kuldip Singh] [Manmohan Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj]

GATKA Gurmat Kirtan 2:30 to 3:15 PM Wall Climbing [Deep Singh] [Jasvir Kaur] [Manmohan Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 3:15 to 4:50 PM FREE TIME 5:00 to 6:30 PM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 6:40 to 7:30 PM DINNER [Pind Poola] 7:40 to 8:30 PM Quiz Quiz Quiz Quiz 8:40 to 9:00 PM Ready for Bed/Sohila 9:00 PM Lights Out

CAMP GURMAT 2016, DALLAS, TX www.campgurmat.org 19

Schedule - Dec 23rd & Dec 24th All Groups

23rd December 2016 - Friday Baba Fateh Singh Baba Zorawar Singh Baba Jhujhar Singh Baba Ajit Singh

Group I Group II Group III Group IV 5:30 to 6:15 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:05 AM Wake up & shower 6:15 to 7:15 AM NITNEM [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 7:15 to 8:00 AM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 8:10 to 8:50 AM BREAKFAST [Pind Poola] Kirtan History GATKA 9:00 to 9:45 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Balkar Singh] [Deep Singh] BB/Archery [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] Kirtan Gurmat GATKA 9:45 to 10:30 AM [Manmohan Singh] [Harliv Kaur] [Deep Singh] Wall Climbing [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Zorawar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] History Kirtan GATKA 10:30 to 11:15 AM [Balkar Singh] [Manmohan Singh] Challenge Course [Deep Singh] [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] Gurmat Kirtan Gurmat GATKA 11:15 to Noon [Harliv Kaur] [Manmohan Singh] [Jasvir Kaur] [Deep Singh] [Baba Fateh Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] Noon to 1:00 PM LUNCH GATKA History Kirtan 1:00 to 1:45 PM Challenge Course [Deep Singh] [Kuldip Singh] [Manmohan Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Baba Jhujhar Singh Hall] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] GATKA Kirtan History 1:45 to 2:30 PM [Deep Singh] BB/Archery [Manmohan Singh] [Kuldip Singh] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall] GATKA Kirtan Gurmat 2:30 to 3:15 PM [Deep Singh] Wall Climbing [Manmohan Singh] [Jasvir Kaur] [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] [Baba Ajit Singh Hall] 3:15 to 3:50 PM FREE TIME 4:00 to 5:30 PM DIWAN [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] 5:40 to 6:30 PM DINNER [Pind Poola] 7 to 9 PM CAMPFIRE 8:40 to 9:00 PM Ready for Bed/Sohila 9:00 PM Lights Out

24th December 2016 - Saturday (All Groups) 6:00 to 6:45 AM 7:00 to 7:30 AM 7:45 to 8:30 AM 8:30 to 10:30 AM 11 AM to Noon Noon to 1:00 PM

Wake up & BREAKFAST NITNEM DIWAN / Final GATKA Presentation LUNCH shower [Pind Poola] [Gurdwara Shaheed Thoughts [Gurdwara Mal Akhara Ganj] [Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj] Sahib]

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Meal Menu 2016

Meal Menu Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

12/19 12/20 12/21 12/22 12/23 12/24

Cereals, Milk, Fruits, Yogurt, Oatmeal, Bagel, Pancake(well done),

syrups, butter, and Bread BREAKFAST

Veggie Burger (organic-Don Lee Falafel Farms from Burritos Cheese Pizza, Costco)- black Burritos - Veggie Pizza bean veggie refried beans, (onion,tomat pattie, onions, onions, Nachos, jack pepper o,green bell cheese slice, tomatoes, Tortilla Chips, pepper, black lettuce, guacamole, Cheese Sauce, olive, tomatoes, spanish rice, Vegetarian pineapple), dressing(mustard shredded chili, Pico, , buttermilk LUNCH Garlic Bread, cheese, Salsa, ranch), Marinara Hashbrown, Spanish Rice Jalapenos, sauce, Baked apple, (made Onions Cinnamon Garlic Bread, w/Basmati bread Salad Bar- rice) Hummus, sourcream Chocolate Chip Cookies -IceCream All Days: Salad Bar, Drinks and Desserts Vegetable Vegetable Lasagna Fried Rice Assorted Pizza Corn on the Basmati Rice (from vendor Cob (soy, TBD……. 3 Broccoli Dinner peas,carrots,c people per) Dinner Served Garlic Bread Served by orn,green Garlic Bread by Outside Salad Bar- Outside bean, w/marinara Caterer Hummus Caterer cauliflower, Salad Bar- DINNER Brownies onion), Spring Hummus Drinks (Hot Rolls Hot Chocolate Chocolate Desert- Cobbler Milk) Baklava

All Days: Salad Bar, Drinks and Desserts

CAMP GURMAT 2016, DALLAS, TX www.campgurmat.org 21

Bunga Ji (HUT 01 Side B)

Mata Gujri is the first Sikh lady in Mata Gujri Ji (HUT 01 Side B) the Sikh history. She is also distinguished ID Camper Age Parents by being the wife of a martyr (Guru Tegh Bahaar Sahib), mother of a martyr (Guru 8332 Simardeep Kaur 6 Daljinder Singh Rajandeep Kaur Gobind Singh Sahib), grandmother of four 8381 Mehpreet Kaur 6 Tej Pratap Singh Taranjeet Kaur martyr Sahibzadas (Baba Ajit Singh, Baba 8632 Tripat Kaur 7 Gurvinder Singh Inderjit Kaur , Baba Zorawar Singh, and 8412 Simerdeep Kaur 7 Mandeep Singh Arwinder kaur Baba Fateh Singh), sister of a martyr 8022 Pahul Kaur 7 Mandeep Singh Jaspreet Kaur (Kirpal Chand) and aunt of five martyr sons 8212 Ekman Kaur 7 Karanbir Singh Mandeep Kaur of Bibi Viro, sister of Guru Tegh Bahadar 8442 Ilahe Kaur 6 Ravpreet Singh Harliv Kaur Sahib, and herself a martyr. 8162 Reeth Kaur 7 Ajeet Singh Kamaljeet Kaur 8532 Achint Kaur 8 Hardeep Singh Preeti Kaur Mata Gujri ji fulfilled her parent’s aspiration of serving the path of the Guru

beyond their expectations by growing into a perfect role model of grace, strength, Total # Kaurs 9 persistence and sacrifice. Volunteers Assigned 1)Satwant Kaur 2)Inderjit Kaur She supported her husband, Guru Tegh Bahadar Sahib, when he was deep in meditation for years, again while he was on his missionary tour, and finally, when the Guru left for Delhi to save

Kashmiri Panidts and thereafter make the supreme sacrifice.

After Guru Tegh Bahadar Sahib’s martyrdom, she and her brother, Kirpal Chand had the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Panth. She also organized the langar (community kitchen) and played an important role as the administrator of the army. She played an important role inspiring the Khalsa armies during the battles Sahib had to fight. Her role in the is especially remembered.

She molded the father of the Khalsa, the great Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, raising him as a single mother after the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadar Sahib.

When Mata Ji and the Sahibzades were arrested and confined in Sirhind Fort, and as the children were summoned to appear in court each day, she kept urging them to remain steadfast in their faith. She constantly reminded the Sahibzades that their Grandfather and Great-Grandfather had both sacrificed their lives to strengthen the ideals of Sahib. Her support of her grandsons played such an important role in that as Sikhs, we owe our existence to her. It was due to her role that the seven and nine year old children did not budge from their beliefs and attained martyrdom. We stand tall because of the teachings and the inspiration Mata Ji provided to her grandsons and thousands of who gave their heads and not their faith.

She attained martyrdom the same day as her grandsons after hearing that her grandsons had been bricked alive rather than give up their faith.

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Bunga (HUT 02 Side A)

Mai Bhago, the sole survivor of the battle Mai Bhago (HUT 02 Side A) of Khidrana, i.e. (29 ID Camper Age Parents December 1705), was a descendant of Pero 8501 Mehar Kaur 8 Rupinderjit singh Simmerpreet kaur Shah, the younger brother of Bhai Langah, who had become a Sikh during the time of 8103 Hargun Kaur 8 Parambir Singh Juspreet Kaur Sahib. Born at her ancestral 8172 Jasmeh Kaur 8 Dalbir Singh Ruvinder Kour village of Jhabal in present-day Amritsar 8262 Puneet Kaur 8 Ajaypal Singh Bharpur kaur district of the Punjab, she was married to 8181 Harnoor Kaur 8 Raman SINGH Gagan Kaur Nidhan Singh of Patti. A staunch Sikh by 8032 Meher Kaur 8 Pritpal Singh Harmeet Kaur birth and upbringing, she was distressed to 8231 Nehmat Kaur 9 Nirmaljeet Singh Rupinder Kaur hear in 1705 that some of the Sikhs of her 8451 Harkiran Kaur 9 Kamal Singh Navjot Kaur neighborhood who had gone to Anandpur 8021 Simarleen Kaur 9 Mandeep Singh Jaspreet Kaur Sahib to fight for Guru Gobind Singh Sahib had deserted him under adverse

conditions. Total # Kaurs 9 Volunteers Assigned Finding the men, she persuaded them to 1) Harmeet Kaur 2) Maninder Kaur find the Guru, to apologize for leaving while it had been under attack and seek his permission to be reinstated as Sikhs. She set off along with them and some other Sikhs to find the Guru, who had been pursued by Mughal forces since leaving

Anandpur Sahib. They caught up with him in the area around Malva.

Mai Bhago and the men she was leading stopped near the dhab (pool) of Khidrana just as an imperial army was about to attack the Guru. The 40 Sikhs who had asked the Guru for permission to leave Anandpur Sahib, had been allowed to leave, but the Guru had asked them first to leave the Khalsa and disavowing him as their Guru. Now fate gave them the chance to redeem themselves, the 40 (chali) men along with Mai Bhago, waded headlong into the Muslim forces and inflicted so much damage that the Muslims were finally forced to give up their attack and retreat as darkness fell to lick their wounds in the nearby woods.

The Guru had watched the battle from a nearby hill. He found that group was composed of the 40 men who he had asked to sign a paper disavowing him as their Guru, all of them had died of their wounds except one, Bhai Maha Singh, who was mortally wounded, had only the time to look up at Guru Gobind Singh Sahib as he pulled him upright with his arms pulling him into his lap. It is said that the note (bedava) the men had signed slipped out of the dying Sikh's clothing and was picked up by the Guru who told Bhai Maha Singh that all was forgiven and tore the bedava.

Guru Gobind Singh Sahib blessed the 40 men as the 40 (chali) liberated ones (muktey). He took into his care Mai Bhago who had also suffered injury in the battle. After recovery, she served as Guru's bodyguard, in warrior attire. After the passing of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib at in 1708, she retired down at Jinvara. Her hut in Jinvara, Kartnaka has now been converted into Gurudwara Tap Asthan Mai Bhago. At Nanded, too, a hall within the compound of Takht Sri marking the site of her residence is known as Bunga Mai Bhago.

CAMP GURMAT 2016, DALLAS, TX www.campgurmat.org 23

Bunga Shaheed Matavaan

(HUT 02 Side B)

Sikh women, Saheed Matavaan, had Shaheed Matavaan (HUT 02 Side B) played an equal part in the struggle to keep ID Camper Age Parents alive the Khalsa ideals and beliefs. They 8522 Kush Kaur 10 Surinder Singh S Singh worked as a silent majority in the background and sometimes as in the case 8331 NoorpreetKaur 10 Daljinder Singh Rajandeep Kaur of Mai Bhago exceeded the Khalsa men in 8541 simrit Kaur 10 Palwinder Singh Kamaljit Kaur warfare. 8211 Karman Kaur 10 karanbir Singh Mandeep Kaur 8441 Bani Kaur 10 Ravpreet Singh Harliv Kaur Mir Mannu was the governor of Lahore. His 8131 Manjot Kaur 10 Maninder Singh Rajwant Kaur minister Kaura Mal was sympathetic 8583 Jasmeet Kaur 10 Raminder Singh Simi Kaur towards the Sikhs, but after the death of 8031 Deeva Kaur 11 Pritpal Singh Harmeet Kaur Kaura Mal, Mir Mannu turned his attention 8142 Manveer Kaur 11 Narinder Singh Shaminder Kaur to finish the Sikhs. He was a tyrant and bent upon converting Sikhs to Islam. 8143 Tanveer Kaur 11 Narinder Singh Shaminder Kaur

Total # Kaurs 10 This is the time when the army of Mir Volunteers Assigned Mannu was going from house to house 1) Taranjit Kaur 2) Preeti Kaur searching for Sikhs. Most of the prisoners were Sikh women and children, who were put in Lahore jails. Mir Mannu started deploying his terror tactics. First of all, he ordered that all Sikh women in Jails to be provided with specially made mill stones to be three times

heavier (1 1/4 Mann) than normal (a flour grinding instrument named Chakki). Sikh women would happily sing gurbani and grind flour the whole day but did not accept conversion to islam as the condition for their freedom.

The Mughals then started killing the innocent children by throwing them up in the air and landing them on sharp spears. The dead bodies of these children were cut into pieces and the ladies were garlanded with those pieces. Pieces of flesh of the children were thrust into the mouths of their mothers. But the faith of Sikh women was unshakable.

The atrocities committed on the Sikh women by the upholders of "Islam" were so great that in 1750 Chief of Buddha Dal, Nawab Kapur Singh and his 500 Khalsa attacked Lahore in disguise of a Sufi Saints to kill Mir Mannu but he escaped.

In 1753, Mir Mannu died a very horrible death after suffering greatly. In the same year, Nawab Kapur Singh attacked Lahore again and this time he was able to free all the prisoners from Lahore jails.

The sacrifice of these Khalsa women was so great that it became a part of Daily Ardas in 1760's and is still part of the Ardas (daily prayer) to this day. Everyday Sikhs pay homage to the "Singhnian jinna ne sawa sawa mann de pisne peese, bachiye de tote galean vich pavaye, par Dharm na haariya".

This is the proud heritage of the Sikhs and Sikh Women!

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Bunga Bibi Amro Ji

(HUT 03 Side A)

Bibi Amro, daughter of Sahib Bibi Amro Ji (HUT 03 Side A) and Mata Khivi Ji, was the noble woman ID Camper Age Parents who deserves the credit of inspiring Amar 8011 Sehaj Kaur 11 Rajinder Singh Manjeet Kaur Das, an idol worshiper, to Sikhi and showing him the way to become 8612 Pawanjit Kaur 11 Arvinder S Birdi Maninder Kaur Sahib, the 3rd Guru. Thus, she was an 8253 Gurinder Kaur 11 Amarjit Singh Kamajit Kaur indirect instrument in the development of 8582 Jaspreet Kaur 12 Raminder Singh Simi Kaur Sikhi. 8521 Sahib Kaur 12 Surinder Singh Simran S Singh 8041 Reetinder Kaur 12 Parminder Singh Damanjit Kaur She was born in 1532 at village Khadur near 8051 Banreet Kaur 12 Hardeep Singh Kismat Kaur Amritsar. She had two brothers, Dassu and 8101 Pavneet Kaur 12 Parambir Singh Juspreet Kaur Datu, and one younger sister named 8071 Jeevan Kaur 13 Avtar Singh Harpreet Kaur Anokhi. She received her early education directly from her parents. Guru Angad

Sahib taught her, along with the other Total # Kaurs 9 children, to read and write in , Volunteers Assigned which he had revised and simplified. She 1) Vimala Kaur 2) Manmeet Kaur also learnt many Shabads from her father and memorized ‘Sidh Goshat’. 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.

Amar Das, brother of Bhai Manak Chand, was mesmerized listening to the Shabad of Guru Nanak Sahib sung by Bibi Amro in her sweet melodious voice one early morning when she was churning curd. Two last lines from this Shabad written on ang (page) 990 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are given below: ਭਇਆ ॥ ਉ ॥੪॥੩॥

It was she who first introduced him to the teachings of Sikhi. Amar Das was 62 and Guru Angad Sahib was only 37 at that time. Despite that Guru Angad Dev Sahib stood up out of respect to embrace Amar Das as he was the uncle of his daughter’s husband. Amar Das fell at the feet of Guru Angad Dev Sahib and said, “I have come not as a relative, but as your disciple and follower”. Amar Das was so deeply influenced by Guru Angad Sahib, that he became a devout Sikh to an extent that Guru Angad Dev Sahib made him his successor, ignoring his sons. Thus, through Bibi Amro, Guru Amar Das Sahib got the chance of becoming the Guru and leading the Sikhs.

Years later when Guru Amar Das Sahib gave structure to the Sikh panth and organised his preachers into 22 teaching districts referred to as "Manji" he put Bibi Amro ji in-charge of one of these districts. Her manji included Basarke, her husband’s village.

Bibi Amro da Talab, a man-made lake, near the village Basarke, reminds everybody that a noble soul, Bibi Amro who occupies a special place in the Sikh History once lived there.

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Bunga Bibi Baghel Kaur

(HUT 03 Side B)

Bibi Baghel Kaur is an inspiration to all Bibi Baghel Kaur (HUT 03 Side B) Women in the world. She was a Hindu ID Camper Age Parents girl, who after becoming a Sikh never 8411 Simran Kaur 13 Mandeep Singh Arwinder Kaur lost faith in her Sikhi, fought till the last 8471 Anmol Kaur 14 Mann Singh Balwinder Kaur breath and rescued many captured 8611 Ekjot Kaur 14 Arvinder Singh Maninder Kaur women. 8571 Danam Kaur 15 Ramneek Singh Harmeet Kaur 8111 Barneet Kaur 15 Raghuvir Singh Malkeet Kaur In those days, Ahmad Shah Abdali 8511 Simran Kaur 15 Kuljit Singh Vimala Kaur invaded India again and again resulting 8251 Navroop Kaur 16 Amarjit Singh Kamajit Kaur in weak at Delhi and the governor of Lahore. Abdali looted cities, forcibly took young girls with him.

Before she became Baghel Kaur, she Total # Kaurs 7 was a newlywed Hindu girl abducted by Volunteers Assigned Ahmad Shah Abdali’s soldiers, when she 1) Sukhwinder Kaur 2) Jasvir Kaur 3) Sukhmeet Kaur was returning along with her groom and the marriage party to the village of her in- laws. Her groom and the members of the marriage party who were unarmed were beaten and made to flee. The groom approached Muslim chief of the area for help. Being a Chief of the area, he neither offered nor promised help, but used humiliating words towards the bride.

Disappointedly, the groom turned to the forest to meet and appeal to the Sikhs, who would attack Abdali’s carriages and free many captured Hindu women using guerrilla war tactics whenever he would invade India. Sikhs offered him the help and rescued his wife successfully. She then took Khande Di Pahul and became Baghel Kaur and her husband had also taken Amrit and became Teja Singh. She wore a turban and always carried a long sword with her and became skilled with the sword.

She was a Sikh Warrior under Nawab Kapur Singh, who took the challenge of the Mughals of a head to head combat. Nawab Kapur Singh divided the Khalsa Fauj into groups with few hundred Kaurs joining them along with Bibi Baghel Kaur. When about 50 Mughal soldiers came to attack Bibi Baghel Kaur and her party, she came forward and cut the Mughal soldier’s sword and fought valiantly. Bibi Ji’s group joined the other Sikh groups, she was told by the Sikh warriors to stay in the jungles, but she refused and wanted to become Shaheed fighting for the Khalsa Fauj. She then led her group and successfully attacked a camp in Lahore where many women were held captive, she along with her group saved many of the women in that camp and killed 25 soldiers. She looked to rescue more women and while courageously battling was killed by a soldier and martyred.

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Bunga Banda Singh Bahadar

(HUT 01 Side A)

Baba Banda Singh Bahadar (HUT 01 Side A) Banda Singh Bahadar, the first Sikh ID Camper Age Parents General to wage an offensive war against 8443 Rubbi Singh 6 Ravpreet Singh Harliv Kaur the cruel Mughal rulers of India, thereby 8201 Piousvir Singh 6 Gagandeep Singh Ramneek kaur establishing the first Sikh State. 8282 Jivat Singh 6 Pritpal Singh Arpinder Kaur 8421 Rajveer Singh 6 Dilpal Singh Manmeet Kour He was born in 1670 at Rajori (western 8591 Saahaj Singh 6 Shamsher Singh Harpinder Kaur Kashmir) and known as Lachhman Dev 8182 Tejas Singh 7 Raman Singh Gagan Kaur and Lachhman Das in his childhood. As a 8502 Japneet Singh 7 Rupinderjit Singh Simmerpreetkaur youth, he decided to be an ascetic and 8392 Harben Singh 8 Sandeep Singh Harman kaur adopted the name Madho Das. In 1707, 8631 Amrik Singh 8 Gurvinder Singh Inderjit Kaur he became a Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh 8321 Ruhaan Singh 8 Taranjeet Singh Ekta Kaur Sahib and after his initiation into the Khalsa, he was given the name Banda

Singh. In 1708, at Nanded,

Total # Singhs 10 Guru Gobind Singh Sahib sent Banda Volunteers Assigned Singh to Punjab and advised him to put a 1) Harman Kaur 2) Baljinder Kaur stop to the cruelty of Punjab rulers, punish the guilty and to fight for human rights, uplift and strengthen the poor, the low and slave like people who could not even imagine freedom.

During 1709-1710, Sikh army under leadership of Banda Singh Bahadar captured all the major cities of Punjab. The Sikh army captured city of Sirhind and killed the Governor of Sirhind, , who was responsible for the martyrdom of the two youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh at Sirhind.

Among other reforms, Banda Singh Bahadar is known to have abolished the Zamindari system and introduced land reforms granting propriety rights to the cultivators of the land in the areas under their occupation. In March 1715, Banda Singh Bahadar was in the village of Gurdas Nangal, Gurdaspur, Punjab, when the army under the rule of Samad Khan, the Mughal king of Delhi laid siege to the Sikh forces. The Sikhs fought and defended the small fort for eight months. On December 7, 1715 Banda Singh Bahadar was captured along with starving Sikh soldiers. He was put in an iron cage and the captured Sikhs were chained. To terrorize the population and create immense fear, Mughals lead a procession towards Delhi with 780 Sikh prisoners, 2,000 Sikh heads hung on spears, and 700 cartloads of heads of slaughtered Sikhs.

After 3 months of confinement, on June 9th, 1716, Banda Singh was martyred.

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Bunga

(HUT 04 Side A)

Bhai Mani Singh was an eighteenth century Bhai Mani Singh (HUT 04 Side A) Sikh scholar and martyr. He was a childhood ID Camper Age Parents companion of Guru Gobind Singh and took 8391 Joben Singh 9 Sandeep Singh Harman kaur Khande di Pahul when the Guru initiated the 8551 Kirat Singh 9 Jasdeep Singh Shuchi Kaur Khalsa in March 1699. He acted as scribe 8191 Harjas Singh 9 Gurvinder Singh Harpreet Kaur when Guru Gobind Singh Sahib dictated Sri 8092 Yuvraj Singh 9 Rajinder Singh Rubinder Kaur Guru Granth Sahib. 8341 Guneet Singh 9 Navdeep Singh Satwant Kaur 8374 Preet Singh 9 Dilbag Singh Rajwant Kaur The nature of his death in which he was 8281 Insaf Singh 10 Pritpal Singh Arpinder Kaur dismembered joint by joint has become a 8401 AsnehdeepSingh 10 Arvinder Singh Mandeep Kaur part of the daily Sikh Ardas. 8531 Khivan Singh 10 Hardeep Singh Preeti Kaur In his capacity as a Granthi of Harmandar Sahib, Bhai Mani Singh is stated to have composed the Ardas in its current format; Total # Singhs 9 and started the tradition of mentioning Volunteers Assigned deeds of various Gursikhs in Ardas. 1) Ruvinder Kaur 2) Mandeep Kaur Bhai Mani Singh who was under the presence of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 1690s had taken over the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar in mid-1699. After initiating the people of Majha to the Khalsa Panth Bhai Mani Singh came back to Anandpur Sahib. Bhai Mani Singh actively taught the reading of Gurbani.

In 1720, Ji came to know of the conflict that was brewing between the Tat Khalsa (A sect of Khalsa who were strict followers of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib) and Bandai Khalsa (A sect of Khalsa who regarded as the Guru) military factions of the Sikhs. She appointed Bhai Mani Singh as the Granthi of Harmandar Sahib and sent him to Amritsar Sahib with Mama Kirpal Singh (Chand), the maternal uncle of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib to resolve the conflict and put the affairs of Harmandar Sahib in order.

In 1737, Bhai Mani Singh asked the Governor of Lahore, Zakaria Khan, for permission to celebrate at Harmandar Sahib. The permission was granted for a tribute of Rs. 5,000. He hoped to pay the tribute from the offerings by the Sikh visitors. The Governor alongside Diwan Lakhpat Rai had different intentions and sent secret orders to his forces to make a surprise attack on the Sikhs during the festival. Bhai Mani Singh came to know of this plan and sent messages to the Sikhs not to come. Thus no money was collected or paid to the government and Bhai Mani Singh was ordered to be executed.

Bhai Mani Singh was taken to Lahore and was ordered to convert to Islam. Refusing to give up his beliefs he was sentenced to death by dismemberment. When the executioner started to begin with his wrists, Bhai Mani Singh sincerely reminded the executioner to start at the joints in his hands instead. Bhai Mani Singh was executed at Nakhas Chowk, Lahore in December 1738. The Nakhas Chowk has since been known as Shaheed Ganj – the place of martyrdom.

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Bunga Bhai Tara Singh Vaan

(HUT 04 Side B)

Bhai Tara Singh Vaan (HUT 04 Side B) Bhai Tara Singh Vaan was an eighteenth- ID Camper Age Parents century Sikh martyr. He was from the 8241 Amarbir Singh 10 Mukhtiar Singh Amandeep Kaur village of Vaan, also known as Vaan Tara 8301 Jagmit Singh 10 Karambir Singh Parminder Kaur Singh and Dall-Vaan now in Amritsar 8312 Ishmeet Singh 10 Darshan Singh Satwant Kaur district of Punjab. 8102 Amrik Singh 10 Parambir Singh Juspreet Kaur 8242 JashanpreetSingh 11 Mukhtiar Amandeep Kaur His father, S. Gurdas Singh, had received 8271 Jasraj Singh 11 Amarjit Singh Surinder Kaur the rites of the Khalsa in the time of 8601 Jagmeet Singh 11 Ravinder Singh Sukhvir Kaur Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, and had taken 8372 Abhijot Singh 11 Dilbag singh Rajwant kaur part in the Battle of Amritsar (6 April 8072 Anmol Singh 11 Avtar Singh Harpreet Kaur 1709), in which Bhai Mani Singh led the Sikhs and in which Har Sahai, a revenue official of Patti, was killed at his (Gurdas

Singh's) hands. S. Gurdas Singh took

Total # Singhs 9 martyrdom in Bajwara (Hoshiarpur) Volunteers Assigned when he went along with Baba Banda 1) Jasdeep Singh 2) Ramneek Singh Singh to fight for Sirhind.

Tara Singh, the eldest of the five sons of S. Gurdas Singh, was born around 1687. He took Amrit from Bhai Mani Singh. Receiving the rites of initiation, he grew up to be a devout Sikh, skilled in the martial arts, Tara Singh collected around him a band of fearless men and lived defiantly at Vaan.

In his vara or enclosure made with thick piles of dried branches of thorny trees, he gave refuge to any Sikh who came to him to escape Mughal persecution. A government informer, Sahib Rai of Naushahra Pannuari, complained to the faujdar of Patti, Jafar Beg, that Tara Singh harboured criminals. The faujdar sent a contingent of 25 horse and 80 foot to Van, but Tara Singh fought back and routed the invaders with several dead, including their commander, a nephew of the faujdar. Jafar Beg reported the matter to Zakariya Khan, who sent a punitive expedition consisting of 2,000 horse, five elephants, 40 light guns and four cannon on wheels under his deputy, Momin Khan.

Tara Singh had barely 22 men with him at the time. They kept the Lahore force at bay through the night. They were able to inflict heavy losses on the enemy. The invaders were very near losing their hearts. But the rising of the sun betrayed the true number of Bhai Tara Singh's men. The invaders regained courage. They kept the Lahore force at bay through the night, but they were all martyred in the hand to hand fight on the following day. This happened on 24 December 1732. A Gurdwara Sahib now marks the site where Tara Singh Vaan and his companions were cremated.

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Bunga Bhai Sukha Singh Mehtab Singh

(HUT 05 Side A)

Bhai Sukha Singh Mehtab Singh (HUT 05 Side A) Bhai Mehtab Singh was eighteenth century Sikh warrior and martyr. He was son of Hara ID Camper Age Parents Singh, a Sikh of the village of Mirarikot, 8 km 8472 Gurjant Singh 12 Mann Singh Balwinder Kaur north of Amritsar. He grew up amidst the 8171 Harjot Singh 12 Dalbir Singh Ruvinder Kour most ruthless persecution Sikhs suffered 8261 Dilmeet Singh 12 Ajaypal Singh Bharpur kaur under the later Mughals, and like many 8141 Karanveer Singh 12 Narinder Singh Shaminder Kaur other spirited youth joined one of the 8351 Rajveer Singh 12 Daljit Singh Gourmet Kaur several small guerilla bands into which they 8361 Kerman Singh 13 Jagdeep Singh Gursimran Kaur had organized themselves after the capture 8151 Balteshwar Singh 13 Gurvinder Singh Navdeep Kaur and execution, in 1716, of Banda Singh 8121 Harkanwarveer Singh 13 Balkar Singh Jasvinder Kaur Bahadur. 8311 Gurjot Singh 13 Darshan Singh Satwant Kaur 8052 Tanvir Singh 13 Hardeep Singh Kismat Kaur Zakariya Khan, the governor of the Punjab from 1726 to 1745, further intensified his campaign against the Sikhs, forcing them to Total # Singhs 10 seek safety in hills and deserts beyond the Volunteers Assigned central Punjab. 1) Ikaagarjot Singh 2) Dilpreet Singh It was at Jaipur that Bhai Mehtab Singh learnt how Mir Musalul Khan, commonly known as Massa Ranghar, the new kotwal (officer-in-charge) of

Amritsar Sahib, had occupied the holy Harmandar Sahib and converted it into a pleasure house. Street girls danced before him while he dined and wined in the holiest of the Sikh shrines. Resolved to avenge the sacrilege, Mehtab Singh left forthwith for Amritsar Sahib, accompanied by another bold warrior, Bhai Sukha Singh of Marhi KambhoKe, village in Amritsar district. They reached Damdama Sahib by evening.

On the next morning, 11 August, 1740, before starting from Damdama sahib, they disguised themselves as tax collectors carrying on their backs bags seemingly filled with money. Massa [inside the sacred sanctuary] was drinking wine and street girls were dancing before him. The guards were either resting under shelters or listening to the songs of the dancing girls. The two [Matab Singh and Sukkha Singh] got their Waheguru given chance. They hid their horses and spears outside the main entrance, one at either side, concealed their swords under their armpits, and advanced as if they were just some soldiers who had come with their collection of tax. Judging the right moment, Mehtab Singh drew his sword and cut Massa's head in a flash and put it in a sack, while Sukha Singh removed the ornaments from the body. Having finished their work with the lightening speed, the Singhs mounted their horses and were out of sight in no time. By evening both the Singhs reached Damdama Sahib. The next day they presented Massa Ranghar's head on a spear to their leader at Budha Johar, Rajasthan.

Matab Singh's ancestral village of Mirarikot was raided by a strong military contingent under commander Noordin. Natha Khaira, village leader, did not hand over Mehtab's son, Rai singh, to commander but preferred to fight and attain martyrdom along with his son, nephew and two servants. Mehtab Singh choose to be martyred along with Bhai Taru singh. He was tortured, broken on the wheel and thus martyred in June 1745.

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Bunga Bhai Garja Singh Bota Singh

(HUT 05 Side B)

Bhai Garja Singh Bota Singh (HUT 05 Side B) Bhai Garja Singh and Bota Singh were from Rangreta Family. Although Zakaria Khan had ID Camper Age Parents ordered massacre of Sikhs, some Sikhs still 8371 Prabjot Singh 13 Dilbag Singh Rajwant kaur continued visiting the Guru-Da-Chukk 8222 Parmjot Singh 13 Kuldip Singh Kalwinder Kaur (Amritsar Sahib) off and on. In order to visit 8461 Amanveer Singh 13 Jaswindersingh Sandeep Kaur Amritsar Sahib, they would travel only 8561 Harjas Singh 13 Amrik Singh Parminder Kaur during nighttime and hide in the forest 8061 Tajvir Singh 14 Gurmail Singh Ranbir Kaur during daytime. 8621 Akash Singh 14 ShamsherSingh Balbir Kaur 8252 Gurjant Singh 14 Amarjit Singh Kamaljit Kaur Once, two such daring Sikhs ( Garja Singh 8581 Anoop Singh 14 RaminderSingh Simi Kaur and Bota Singh) went to visit the Guru-Da- 8221 Karman Singh 14 Kuldip Singh Kalwinder Kaur Chukk (Amritsar Sahib); on their return journey, when they reached near Noordin village (near Goindwal) it was dawn of the day; there realized that they could be Total # Singhs 9 recognized by the royal soldiers; hence they Volunteers Assigned hid themselves into a cluster of bushes and 1) Hardeep Singh 2) Amarjit Singh trees; by that time two passer-byes noticed them; one of them pointed out to the other that he had seen some Sikhs behind bushes, but his companion shrugged and said "It is impossible, as the Zakaria

Khan has killed all the Sikhs; even if any Sikhs are alive they will not hide; rather they will fight". Garja Singh and Bota Singh heard the conversation between these two passers-byes, they could not tolerate that people should believe that the Sikhs had been annihilated; and they decided to assert their existence.

Garja Singh and Bota Singh did not have any weapons with them except one big sword and a large bamboo stick “Sota”; in spite of this they walked up to the GT Road, which, in those days passed from the village of Noordin, Goindwal to Lahore road, and put up an improvised barricade; they began charging ‘toll’ from the verticals crossing the road; people did not protest and begin paying them toll; when this continued for some time, they realized that their purpose was not to collect money rather they wanted to assert that Sikhs had not disappeared from the earth and they still aspired for sovereignty; with this in view; Bota Singh wrote a letter to the Zakariya Khan informing him about their action, the letter was delivered to Lahore court through some traveler. This letter (in the words of poet) said:

This letter comes from Bota Singh; he has a Columbus in his hand and is blocking the road He charged one anna from cart and one passa from donkey-load; Go and inform bhabi Khano This letter comes from Bota Singh

When this letter reached Zakaria Khan, he become angry and immediately dispatched a unit of 100 soldiers toward Noordin under the command of Jalal Din. These soldiers reached Noordin and attacked the Sikhs; the two Sikhs killed about 30 soldiers in hand-to-hand fight and they also embraced martyrdom; though both of them were killed, this action of Sikhs shook Zakaria Khan and made him realize that the Sikhs could not be subdued.

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Bunga Bhai Subeg Singh Shabaaz Singh

(HUT 06 Side A)

Bhai Subeg Singh Shabaaz Singh (HUT 06 Side A) Bhai Subeg Singh, an eighteenth century ID Camper Age Parents martyr of the Sikh faith, was born to Rai 8373 Jaskarn Singh 14 Dilbag singh Rajwant Kaur Bhaga of the village of Jambar in Lahore 8431 Jagwinder Singh 15 Jatinder Singh Santosh Kaur district of Punjab. He was a zamindar of 8641 Gurshant Singh 15 Jaspal Singh Rubinder Kaur his village of Jambar. He learnt Arabic 8491 Sehajpartap Singh 15 Rajinder Singh Paramjit Kaur and Persian as a young man and later 8091 Ishraj Singh 15 Rajinder Singh Rubinder Kaur gained access to the Mughal officials as a 8291 Gurnoor Singh 15 Harjeet Singh Kuljeet Kaur government contractor. When in 1733, 8161 Vikram Singh 16 Ajeet Singh Kamaljeet Kaur the Mughal authority decided at the 8352 Jaspal Singh 17 Daljit Singh Gourmet Kaur instance of Zakariya Khan, the Governor 8562 Harman Singh 17 Amrik Singh Parminder Kaur of Lahore, to lift the quarantine enforced upon the Sikhs and make an offer of a grant to them, Subeg Singh was

entrusted with the duty of negotiating

Total # Singhs 9 with them. He mediated between the Volunteers Assigned government and the Sikhs in 1733, when 1) Narinder Singh 2) Ajeet Singh the Dal Khalsa was given an estate.

After the death of Zakria Khan on the 1st July, 1745, his son, Yahiya Khan became the Governor of Lahore. To avenge the death of his brother Jaspat Rai, who had died in an encounter with the Singhs near Eminabad in January, 1746, Diwan Lakhpat Rai said to the new Governor, "Subeg Singh is in league with the Singhs. Your father had to hit himself on the head with a Singh's shoe at his bidding which caused his death. He should be punished for that crime."

The Governor ordered Bhai Subeg Singh to become a Muslim and spy on the Singhs. Eighteen year old son of Bhai Subeg Singh, Shahbaaz Singh, studied Persian from a maulvi. When the maulvi came to know of the arrest of Bhai Subeg Singh, he asked Bhai Shahbaz Singh to embrace Islam so that he may marry his daughter to him as he was handsome and genius. Bhai Shahbaaz Singh refused his offer. The maulvi asked the Governor and had him arrested also. The qazi said to them, "If both of you embrace Islam, you will be pardoned."

At their refusal both of them were mounted on rotating wheels in sight of each other so that they might embrace Islam seeing each other suffering. But they did not forsake their Sikhi faith although both became unconscious due to excessive loss of blood.

On their refusal to embrace Islam, the Qazi ordered both to be killed. On the 10th March, 1746, the executioners beheaded both father and son.

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Kaur and Singh Sewa Jathas

Mata Khivi Ji Bibi Bhani Ji Bibi Harnam Kaur Bibi Shamsher Kaur Counselor: Navroop Kaur Counselor: Barneet Kaur Counselor: Simran Kaur (15) Counselor: Danam Kaur ID Camper Age ID Camper Age ID Camper Age ID Camper Age 8332 Simardeep Kaur 6 8632 Tripat Kaur 7 8022 Pahul Kaur 7 8442 Ilahe Kaur 7 8381 Mehpreet Kaur 6 8412 Simerdeep Kaur 7 8212 Ekman Kaur 7 8162 reeth Kaur 7 8532 Achint Kaur 8 8103 Hargun Kaur 8 8262 Puneet Kaur 8 8032 Meher Kaur 8 8501 Mehar Kaur 8 8172 Jasmeh Kaur 8 8181 HARNOOR Kaur 8 8231 Nehmat Kaur 9 8451 Harkiran Kaur 9 8522 Kush Kaur 10 8541 simrit Kaur 10 8441 Bani Kaur 10 8021 Simarleen Kaur 9 8331 Noorpreet Kaur 10 8211 Karman Kaur 10 8131 Manjot Kaur 10 8583 Jasmeet Kaur 10 8142 Manveer Kaur 11 8011 Sehaj Kaur 11 8253 GURINDER Kaur 11 8031 Deeva Kaur 11 8143 Tanveer Kaur 11 8612 Pawanjit Kaur 11 8582 Jaspreet Kaur 12 8521 Sahib Kaur 12 8051 Banreet Kaur 12 8071 Jeevan Kaur 13 8611 Ekjot Kaur 14 8041 Reetinder Kaur 12 8101 Pavneet Kaur 12 8411 Simran Kaur 13 8571 Danam Kaur 15 8471 Anmol Kaur 14 8111 Barneet Kaur 15 8511 Simran Kaur 15

8251 Navroop Kaur 16

Counselor Responsibilities:

1) Fairly assign daily assigned sewa to campers within his/her group

2) Motivate the campers to get prepared to do the sewa and understand the sewa.

3) Explain the campers what they need to do and where to get help from, if needed.

Bhai Gurdas Ji Bhai Mardana Ji Baba Bhudha Ji Bhagat Puran Singh Ji Counselor: Ishraj Singh Counselor: Jaspal Singh Counselor: Vikram Singh Counselor: Gurnoor Singh Counselor: Sehajpartap Singh ID Camper Age ID Camper Age ID Camper Age ID Camper Age ID Camper Age 8443 Rubbi Singh 6 8282 Jivat Singh 6 8591 Saahaj Singh 6 8502 Japneet Singh 7 8631 Amrik Singh 8 8201 Piousvir Singh 6 8421 Rajveer Singh 6 8182 Tejas Singh 7 8392 Harben Singh 8 8321 Ruhaan Singh 8 8391 Joben Singh 9 8191 Harjas Singh 9 8341 Guneet Singh 9 8281 Insaf Singh 10 8531 Khivan Singh 10 8551 Kirat Singh 9 8092 Yuvraj Singh 9 8374 Preet Singh 9 8401 Asnehdeep Singh 10 8241 Amarbir Singh 10 8301 Jagmit Singh 10 8102 Amrik Singh 10 8271 Jasraj Singh 11 8372 Abhijot Singh 11 8472 Gurjant Singh 12 8312 Ishmeet Singh 10 8242 Jashanpreet Singh 11 8601 Jagmeet Singh 11 8072 Anmol Singh 11 8171 Harjot Singh 12 8261 Dilmeet Singh 12 8351 Rajveer Singh 12 8121 Harkanwarveer Singh 13 8052 Tanvir Singh 13 8222 Parmjot Singh 13 8141 Karanveer Singh 12 8361 Kerman Singh 13 8311 Gurjot Singh 13 8371 Prabjot Singh 13 8461 Amanveer Singh 13 8561 Harjas Singh 13 8151 Balteshwar Singh 13 8581 Anoop Singh 14 8373 Jaskarn Singh 14 8641 Gurshant Singh 15 8061 Tajvir Singh 14 8621 Akash Singh 14 8221 Karman Singh 14 8431 Jagwinder Singh 15 8491 Sehajpartap Singh 15 8091 Ishraj Singh 15 8252 Gurjant Singh 14 8161 Vikram Singh 16 8291 Gurnoor Singh 15 8562 Harman Singh 17 8352 Jaspal Singh 17

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Sewa Jathas Schedule

Bhai Gurdas Ji (SJ-B-1) Mata Khivi Ji (SJ-G-1) Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Mor Mor Mor Eve Mor Deg Ardas Breakfast Sukhasan Hukum Hukum Eve Deg Ardas Breakfast Prakash Lunch Dinner Bhai Mardana Ji (SJ-B-2) Bibi Bhani Ji (SJ-G-2) Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Eve Mor Mor Mor Deg Sukhasan Hukum Eve Deg Mor Ardas Breakfast Sukhasan Hukum Eve Deg Ardas Dinner Dinner Baba Bhudha Ji (SJ-B-3) Bibi Harnam Kaur (SJ-G-3) Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Eve Mor Eve Ardas Breakfast Sukhasan Mor Hukum Deg Sukhasan Eve Deg Ardas Prakash Lunch Dinner Eve Hukum Bhagat Puran Singh (SJ-B-4) Bibi Shamsher Kaur (SJ-G-4) Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Eve Mor Eve Mor Ardas Lunch Mor Deg Ardas Prakash Dinner Prakash Hukum Deg Eve Ardas Breakfast Eve Hukum Bhai Kanhaiya Ji (SJ-B-5) Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Eve Mor Hukum Ardas Prakash Lunch Mor Deg Eve Hukum

Sewas Mentor Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Morning Deg Rupinderjit Singh SJ-B-1 SJ-B-4 SJ-G-4 SJ-B-5 SJ-B-3 Prakash Deep Singh SJ-G-4 SJ-B-5 SJ-G-3 SJ-B-4 SJ-G-1 Morning Ardas Kuldeep Singh SJ-B-5 SJ-B-1 SJ-B-4 SJ-B-2 SJ-G-2 Morning Hukum Baljeet Singh SJ-G-1 SJ-B-2 SJ-G-2 SJ-B-3 SJ-B-1 Breakfast Sukhmeet Kaur SJ-G-2 SJ-B-3 SJ-B-1 SJ-G-1 SJ-G-4 Lunch Manmeet Kaur SJ-B-4 SJ-B-1 SJ-B-5 SJ-G-3 Evening Deg Rupinderjit Singh SJ-B-2 SJ-G-3 SJ-G-1 SJ-B-2 SJ-G-2 Evening Ardas Baljeet Singh SJ-B-4 SJ-B-3 SJ-G-3 SJ-G-1 SJ-G-4 Evening Hukum Kuldeep Singh SJ-B-5 SJ-B-5 SJ-G-4 SJ-B-4 SJ-G-3 Sukhasan Sukhwinder Kaur SJ-G-3 SJ-B-2 SJ-G-2 SJ-B-3 SJ-B-1 Dinner Ikagarjot Singh SJ-G-4 SJ-G-1 SJ-B-2 SJ-G-2 SJ-B-3

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Camp Gurmat 2016 Campers

No Camper Name ID No Camper Name ID 1 Abhijot Singh 8372 52 Jeevan Kaur 8071 2 Achint Kaur 8532 53 Jivat Singh 8282 3 Akash Singh 8621 54 Joben Singh 8391 4 Amanveer Singh 8461 55 Karanveer Singh 8141 5 Amarbir Singh 8241 56 Karman Kaur 8211 6 Amrik Singh 8631 57 Karman Singh 8221 7 Amrik Singh 8102 58 Kerman Singh 8361 8 Anmol Kaur 8471 59 Khivan Singh 8531 9 Anmol Singh 8072 60 Kirat Singh 8551 10 Anoop Singh 8581 61 Kush Kaur 8522 11 Asnehdeep Singh 8401 62 Manjot Kaur 8131 12 Balteshwar Singh 8151 63 Manveer Kaur 8142 13 Bani Kaur 8441 64 Mehar Kaur 8501 14 Banreet Kaur 8051 65 Meher Kaur 8032 15 Barneet Kaur 8111 66 Mehpreet Kaur 8381 16 Danam Kaur 8571 67 Navroop Kaur 8251 17 Deeva Kaur 8031 68 Nehmat Kaur 8231 18 Dilmeet Singh 8261 69 Noorpreet Kaur 8331 19 Ekjot Kaur 8611 70 Pahul Kaur 8022 20 Ekman Kaur 8212 71 Parmjot Singh 8222 21 Guneet Singh 8341 72 Pavneet Kaur 8101 22 Gurinder Kaur 8253 73 Pawanjit Kaur 8612 23 Gurjant Singh 8472 74 Piousvir Singh 8201 24 Gurjant Singh 8252 75 Prabjot Singh 8371 25 Gurjot Singh 8311 76 Preet Singh 8374 26 Gurnoor Singh 8291 77 Puneet Kaur 8262 27 Gurshant Singh 8641 78 Rajveer Singh 8421 28 Harben Singh 8392 79 Rajveer Singh 8351 29 Hargun Kaur 8103 80 Reeth Kaur 8162 30 Harjas Singh 8191 81 Reetinder Kaur 8041 31 Harjas Singh 8561 82 Rubbi Singh 8443 32 Harjot Singh 8171 83 Ruhaan Singh 8321 33 Harkanwarveer Singh 8121 84 Saahaj Singh 8591 34 Harkiran Kaur 8451 85 Sahib Kaur 8521 35 Harman Singh 8562 86 Sehaj Kaur 8011 36 Harnoor Kaur 8181 87 Sehajpartap Singh 8491 37 Ilahe Kaur 8442 88 Simardeep Kaur 8332 38 Insaf Singh 8281 89 Simarleen Kaur 8021 39 Ishmeet Singh 8312 90 Simerdeep Kaur 8412 40 Ishraj Singh 8091 91 Simran Kaur 8411 41 Jagmeet Singh 8601 92 Simran Kaur 8511 42 Jagmit Singh 8301 93 Simrit Kaur 8541 43 Jagwinder Singh 8431 94 Tajvir Singh 8061 44 Japneet Singh 8502 95 Tanveer Kaur 8143 45 Jashanpreet Singh 8242 96 Tanvir Singh 8052 46 Jaskarn Singh 8373 97 Tejas Singh 8182 47 Jasmeet Kaur 8583 98 Tripat Kaur 8632 48 Jasmeh Kaur 8172 99 Vikram Singh 8161 49 Jaspal Singh 8352 100 Yuvraj Singh 8092 50 Jaspreet Kaur 8582 51 Jasraj Singh 8271

35

Bhai Taru Singh and Bibi Taro

Bhai Taru Singh, son of Shaheed Bhai Jodh Singh and Bibi Dharam Kaur, lived in village Poohla, in Amristar district of Punjab, along with a younger sister named Bibi Taro. The legendary brother & sister duo were raised as Sikhs by their widowed mother as their father became Shaheed in a battle during the reign of Mughal Empire. Bibi Dharam Kaur, a devout Sikh lady, had provided Bhai Taru Singh and Bibi Taro, with deep knowledge of Sikh scriptures and Sikh History. Brother and sister grew up learning and loving Sikh scriptures and were proud of their heritage.

Bhai Taru Singh, at a very young age, took over the family responsibility. It had become a part of his life to speak with love, serve everyone who came to him and help those in need irrespective of caste, creed or religion. As a result of this benevolent behavior, he was respected as a noble person in and around his village.

One day, Rahim Bakhsh, a Muslim fisherman, approached Bhai Taru Singh for help as the Commander of Patti had forcibly taken away his young daughter. Bhai Taru Singh, a staunch believer of “Sarbat da Bhala”, promised Rahim Bakhsh, to bring back his daughter in few days.

Bhai Taru Singh along with a squad of Singhs raided Patti, secured fisherman’s daughter uniting her with her family. The Commander of Patti was killed in that raid. One of the government informers, named Harbhagat Niranjania reported Bhai Taru Singh to the Governor of Lahore, Zakaria Khan. Bhai Taru singh was accused of providing help and rations to the revolutionary Sikhs. The Governor sent soldiers to arrest

Bhai Taru Singh. Bhai Taru Singh said to the soldiers who had come to arrest him, "You have come to arrest me on the orders of your Chief. I, bound by the orders of my Guru, cannot let you go without meals." The soldiers accepted to his request and after taking meals, arrested him and presented him before the Governor.

Hoping that Bhai Taru Singh will help in arresting other Singhs if he embraces Islam, the Governor said to him, "All your sins can be pardoned if you cut long hairs of yours and become Muslim." Bhai Taru Singh said, "I shall keep my faith with these hairs and you shall be controlled by my shoes and with these you will die." The Governor filled with rage, ordered Bhai Taru Singh to be mounted on rotating wheels of torture and later his scalp be removed so that hair may not grow again.

In the evening the Governor could not urinate, putting him in great pains. When the efforts of the physicians failed, the Governor realized the terrible mistake and sent Bhai Subeg Singh to seek pardon from Bhai Taru Singh. Bhai Taru Singh expressed inability to pardon and instead requested Subeg Singh to approach the leader of Dal Khalsa. The leader also expressed inability to pardon but provided one option

and said, "The Governor can urinate if he is hit on the head with the shoe of Bhai Taru Singh." When the Governor took the shoe of Bhai Taru Singh and hit his head with it, he was able to urinate. After surviving for 22 days with the help of that shoe, the Governor died on the 1st July, 1745. Bhai Taru Singh gave up this mortal body after hearing about the death of the Governor.

Bhair Taru Singh was then barely 25 years of age. His body was cremated outside Delhi Gate at Lahore, where a "Gurdwara Shaheedganj", was later constructed.

Camp Gurmat, Dallas, TX is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to Sikh youth development programs.

P.O. Box 1341, Allen, TX 75013 www.campgurmat.org | 469.795.1714 | [email protected]