Martyrs day Bhai Taru Singh                          

Born in a Sikh farmer’s family from Village Puhla in district Amritsar Bhai Taru Singh ji lost his father at an early age. His early education in Sikhism and Sikh history was given by his mother. Learning from his mother he developed a very firm belief in Sikhism and ideals of Sikhism. His pious and good helping nature came to be known not only in his own village but in the surrounding villages as well. He always fed hungry people by making lungar for not only passing Sikh soldiers but his lungar was open to all Hindus as well as Muslims. This was the period when Sikhs were persecuted by Muslim rulers. Sikh soldiers went into hiding and saw hardships. It was people like Taru Singh who helped these people. Near his village was forest known as Baba Budha ji di beed. Bhai ji helped the Sikhs hiding there with food and other things.

People who lived for their higher ideals like Kirat karni, wand schakna and sewa are not tolerated by many people especially by those with communal hatred. Bhai Taru ji also became victim of this sick mentality. His activities were reported to the Governor of Punjab Zakaria Khan by Haribhagat Nirnajania. Zakaria Khan without asserting the facts ordered arrest of Taru Singh. He was asked to convert to Islam to save his life. Bhai ji told Zakaria Khan that the death is an inevitable fact; even a Muslim dies so why should he not die as Sikh and retain his honour. Zakaria Khan ordered that Bhai Taru Singh’s head should be pulled along with his head. With a sharp knife his head skin was chopped along with his hair. To torture more he was not killed. From that day onwards Zakaria Khan became very sick and he could not pass urine. He realized his folly and asked for Bhai Tarus Singh's pardon. Sikhs told that Zakaria khan can be cured if he gets Bhai Taru Singh’s shoes on his head. The tyrannical Zakaria khan agreed to get Bhai Taru Singh’s shoes on his head he got cured but soon died. Only after the death of Zakaria Khan Bhai Taru Singh ji left his last breath for heavenly abode.

Living for his ideals, strong belief in Sikhism and ready to lay oneself with life for that belief need lot of courage. Let us all pay tribute to this brave soul.