Banda Singh (alias Gurbaksh Singh) had lit the flame of freedom after conquering the Malwa territory in 1710. After Gurbaksh Singh's demise, the flame of freedom was lit once more under the leadership of Sardar Jassa Singh Ji Ahluwalia who ‘liberated Punjab from the yoke of the Durranis and laid the foundation of India's freedom'. It was Maharaja Ranjit Singh who consolidated and brought many Sardars under one fold.
On one hand, a period of turmoil and martyrdom for the Sikhs had just passed and on the other, it was also an age where brave and committed Sikhs were being born. It appears as if the spirits of the Sikh Martyrs had been reincarnated into new beings for the fulfilment of the greater and bigger mission which lied ahead, one of which was the Battle of Multan of 1818.
Following any major episode involving the loss of life of Sikhs, there always seems to be an instant response. If we look at the Vaddah Ghalughara of 1762, it was only in 1765, that Sikh rule was declared. Similarly, following the siege and battle at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, in 1984, Sikhs gathered in the complex (1986) and passed a resolution in favour of the establishment of the Republic of Khalistan, though this has not yet materialised, the end is nigh.
February 5, 1762 - The Great Holocaust
April 17, 1765 - The Occupation of Lahore
(Month & Date Unknown) 1803 - Birth of Amar Shaheed Sham Singh Ji Attari
General Sham Singh Ji Attariwala came out of Retirement under the request of Rani Jind Kaur to lead Sikh Forces against the British in the first Anglo Sikh War. Sardar Nihal Singh Attari, Father of General Sham Singh sacrificed his life for that of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Sardar Harbans Singh Attari, a great Grandson of General Sham Singh was involved in the Singh Sabha Movement and also spent time alongside Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh at Khalsa College to 'awaken in the younger generation a love for their heroic past and to inspire them with the lost glory'.
Sardar Harbans Singh Attari quite notably was also the first Vice President of the Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee which during its time was needed, to ensure that the beadbi (or disrespect of sikh traditions) by Mahants in Sikh Gurdwaras came to an end. The Panthic Committee formed in 1986 with Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal as its Jathedar dissolved the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Comittee in 1986, as one of the Resolutions passed, however due to treason against the Sikh Nation from certain elements of the 'Panth,' this was not done and the SGPC is still active to this date as a 'Sikh Representative Body.'
Tomorrow marks the martyrdom anniversary of Amar Shaheed General Sham Singh Attari - "Khalsa Raj Dah Rakha" (the protector of the Sikh Empire.) When looking at the stories of Bhai Bota Singh, Bhai Garja Singh and even Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa, all of these figures have many similarities, one being that they all fought to keep the Sikh doctrine intact. There are few in any particular populace who are 'awared', generally those individuals are not 'gulaam' and are free thinkers.
The educational reforms that were created as a result of the Singh Sabha Movement, later gave birth to political reforms and political consciousness amongst Sikhs.
May we strive to create another such movement.
'If one brick moves out of place, that one brick singly puts all other bricks at a standstill.'
'We do not demand anything different than what the Jews in Soviet Russia, Blacks and Browns in South Africa, Chileans in Chile and many more oppressed human beings all over the world demand. We seek freedom of worship, freedom to move, freedom of speech and most of all, freedom to determine our own destiny. Our forty years of experience with the so-called Indian democracy has proved that if we wish to preserve our heritage, culture, religion and social structure, we have to have an independent Sikh homeland, Khalistan' - Amar Shaheed Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Manochahal
Thousands of people die in this world everyday and pass into oblivion. General Sham Singh & Baba Ji's martyrdom had a meaning and a significance. It is one of those sacrifices which keep a nation alive and serve as a beacon guide to the coming generations.’
It makes one feel proud to belong to the nation of Singhs who fought on the battlefields of Ferozeshah, Mudki, Sabraon and Chillianwala. The Battle of Sabroan- 'the nucleus of an untold story'.
Simranjeet S. Rahi
02/08/2018
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