It was in the year 1726 A.D., during the reign of the Mugal Emperor Muhammed Shah, that Zakariya Khan ‘was appointed the Governor of Lahore. He was determined to exterminate the whole Sikh nation. He ordered a general massacre of the Sikhsmen, women and children, and reward was offered for the head of every Sikh ‘brought to Lahore dead or alive.

Syyed Mohd, Latif, M.A., in his History of The Punjab writes.

The Governor of the Punjab now issued’ proclamation for a general massacre of all Sikhs, wherever they could be found. Death was the punishment of all persons, who invoked the name of Guru Gobind Singh and a reward offered for the head of a Sikh. Thousands were put to death daily and their heads brought before the Subedar of Lahore for rewards.”

The Sikh history of the period is a record of their ‘Struggle against the Mughal tyranny and oppression. The Sikhs not only fought for their very existence, but they all along carried on a revolution for the emancipation of Sikh Brotherhood. A will was created in the Sikh masses to shake this empire of loot, larceny and lies. They lived and died for the sake of humanity.

 

“Amongst the many thousands of Sikhs, who laid down their lives for their faith and ideal, the name of Bhai Taru Singh is one of the most revered. He was resident of village Poolha, Tehsil Kasur in the District of Lahore (now in Pakistan) where he had a small farm. The corn he produced, he joyously shared with all those who called at his abode and slept under his roof for a night’s repose.

 

Being outlawed the Sikhs had to leave their homes and hearth in the plains and had to take shelter in the hills. They now resorted to guerrilla warfare and made it impossible for revenue from villages to reach the government treasury and still more impossible for the forces of the government them as they ran away to their hiding places in forest or other places difficult of access.

Zakariya Khan sent out moving columns in all directions to hunt them out. In hundreds and thousands the Sikhs were daily brought in chains to Lahore and ‘were offered the choice of Islam or the sword. They were put to death with unspeakable tortures. The more daring and desperate among them being not easy in the reach of Government, the wrath fell on peaceful, innocent Sikhs living in towns and villages. There was no exception made. Soldiers, scholars, peasants and petty shopkeepers, men, women and children all who wore long hair and followed the path of Sikhism were condemned to the same fate. Nakhas, the horse market of Lahore became the site of execution of Sikh captives, Its earth turned red with their blood.

Amongst the many thousand of Sikhs, who laid down their lives for their faith and ideal, the name of Bhai Taru Singh is one of the most revered. He was resident of village Pootha, Tehsil Kasur in the District of Lahore (now in Pakistan), where he had a small farm. The com he produced, he joyously shared with all those who called at his abode and slept under his roof for a night’s Repose.

Taru Singh’s was a pious and devoted Sikh. He lived by “Gurbani”. The Nam Simran had wholly transformed him, The people of his village loved him for his very goodness. So, for sometime, he continued to live in his village unmolested a unique privilege.

 

But being a Sikh, he could not live long unnoticed by the authorities. One Niranjania of Jandiala, a traitor betrayed him and reported to the authorities at Lahore that Sikh farmer was still living in his village Poolha. The informer got a reward for it. Bhai Taru Singh was captured and was taken in chains to Lahore.

The Nawab, when he saw this strikingly handsome youth of 23 was overwhelmed with his presence, There was a spiritual charm around him which made the Nawab exclaim: “Ya Allah! What a glory on his face! Oh, if he were a Musalman!” Addressing Taru Singh the Nawab said, “Youngman!” I take pity on you and wish I could spare your life.

Taru Singh retorted : “Spare my life! Why dishonor me, while my brethren are being martyred here before my eyes?”

The Nawab said, “You are bravest of the braves! Somehow my mind does not wish to wreak my anger on you, but you must cut and present me your Tressknot (Jura).

Taru Singh replied, “The Sikh and his hair are inseparable. I can give you my head with my tress knot more than what you ask for.”

The Nawab then said, “Taru Singh! you are too young. You have not seen the world yet, and the joys of life. Come, I will get you married with the most beautiful girl you had ever seen. You will get a high office in the Mughal army. You will get a Jagir and you will be handsomely rewarded and I promise you all sorts of comforts you can imagine, but must give up your faith and accept Islam.”

But Bhai Taru Singh refused to abjure his faith and disdainfully rebuffed all offers and temptations made to him.

The Nawab was then enraged and changed his look. He sent for a cobber and ordered him to scrape the scalp of Bhai Taru Singh’s head and with it hair and all that. Taru Singh was thus executed in a most cruel and barbaric manner. The people were taken aghast at the suffering and the severity of punishment for sticking to one’s faith.

Glory, Glory to Bhai Taru Singh! We still remember him and other martyrs in our daily prayers.

Those who understand the Law of Love and Devotion must wear them as token of their craving to be accepted at the feet of Master, For this is Guru Gobind Singh’s command. These very ties of faith, love and devotion, binding the Sikh to the Guru, stood by the martyr Bhai Taru Singh through his ordeal. Devoid of these essentials the relation between the Sikh and the Guru is snapped.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 14, 1989