NEW YORK, NY: Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh who were hanged by the Indian Government in connection with the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were paid rich tributes at Diwans held in their honor at various Sikh institutions in the tractate area last week.
A Bhog of an Akhand Path, the continuous recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, was held at the Sikh Cultural Society, NY in this connection on Sunday January 22.
The function featured Kirtan by prominent Ragi Jathas, a Dhadi Jatha program and speeches by Dr. Gurcharan Singh, of the Department of International Studies at Marymount Manhattan College, S. Baldev Singh the trustee of the Gurdwara and S. Harbahjan Singh gill who is the Vice President of the World Sikh Organization and who also spoke on behalf of the Sikh youth of the tri state area.
Dr. Gurcharan Singh paid homage to the martyrs and said that their sacrifice would further fuel the demand of an independent Sikh state Khalistan in the Punjab.
- Baldey Singh traced the injustices which have been heaped against the Sikhs said that he had never heard a case in which the main witnesses to the alleged crime were not allowed to be produced in a court and the government appointed court of inquiry’s report was not produced before the parliamentary.
Rajiv Gandhi would have to be produced in a court in Khalistan as war criminal for his crimes against the Sikhs if he lived long enough to see the inevitable reality, he added. He particularly lambasted the government of India for hanging Kehar Singh, an innocent man, on grounds which would have been dismissed in any court.
- Harbhajan Singh Gill said that the sacrifice of the two Sikhs was of the same importance as that of the historic figures, Sukha Singh Mehtab Singh Bhagel Singh, who slays Massa Ranghar after the later had desecrated the Golden Temple. During the Mughal times, Television crew of an ethnic program “Eye on Asia” recorded the program.
The Sikh Foundation of Virginia in Fairfax, VA also held the Bhog of an akhand path in the memory of the Shaheeds, Bhai Beant Singh, Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh the same day.
Dr. Kamaljit Kaur Sethi addressed the congregation and Kirtan was rendered by the Raji Jatha of Bhai Kadan Singh. S. Mohinder who is a film music director in India also sang the holy hymns.
A jatha of children lead by Navdeep K. Kathuria and another jatha of Bimla Kaur Multani with a group of ladies also performed Kirtan on the occasion. About S00 people were present according to S. Sirmukh Singh Manku the Secretary of the foundation.
At Sri Guru Singh Sabha New Jersey which is in Glenrock, NJ.a special program was held in the honor of the Mahan Saheeds Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh by the Gurdwara as well as the Sikh Youth of New Jersey and the Dal Khalsa.
After the Bhog of an Akhand Path, the Hazuri Ragi Jatha of Bhai Bawa Singh performed kirtan and poems commemorating the martyrdom of Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh were recited by members of the Sangat.
Dr. Manohar Singh Grewal the former President of World Sikh Organization addressed the congregation and he strongly condemned the Government of India for the judicial murder of Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh.
- Kamikar Singh, the President of the Gurdwara, paid rich tributes to the martyrs and said that a true homage to Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh would be for the Sikhs to take Amrit and thus follow the teachings of the Gurus. He also stressed the need for greater unity amongst the Sikhs.
- Tarlok Singh Sethi, a member of the Executive Committee of the Gurdwara also spoke and said that the sacrifice of the two martyrs was a repeat of the noble historical traditions of the Sikh history.
Sikh youth of New Jersey gave the title of Mahan Saheeds to Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh and stuck Sukha Singh Mehtab Singh Bhagel Singh Gold Medals in their honor.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 3, 1989
