Martyrdom of Baba Deep Singh Ji
Baba Deep Singh Shaheedi Diwas: In the year 2023, we remember the 266th anniversary of the unprecedented martyrdom of Dhan Dhan Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed.
| Shaheedi Diwas | Baba Deep Singh |
|---|---|
| Event Date | November 15th, 2023 |
| Day | Wednesday |
Sikh Warrior/Scholar: Baba Deep Singh Ji
Mother: Mata Jeoni Ji
Father: Bhai Bhagta Ji
Date of Birth: 14 Magh, Sambat 1739 Bikrami (January 27, 1682)
Place of Birth: Village Pahuwind, District Sri Tarn Taran Sahib, Punjab
Martyrdom: 30 Kattak, Sambat 1814 Bikrami (November 11, 1757)
Baba Deep Singh Shaheedi Diwas 2023
Sikh history is replete with stories of unparalleled martyrdoms. Exasperated by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s ideology of “welfare of all”, the tyrant despot martyred Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji by making Him sit on a hot plate and put hot sand on His head. The state intended to suppress the voice of truth.
On the contrary, the martyrdom of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji taught the Sikhs to remain unflinching and even sacrifice themselves to uphold the truth. Consequently, Sikhism started flourishing even more. Subsequently, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji wore two swords, representing the dual concept of Miri and Piri (temporal power and spiritual authority) which infused a new lease of life among the feeble.
In fact, this movement started to grow from strength to strength. This posed a mighty challenge to Aurangzeb who tried his best to crush it. When Aurangzeb resolved that he would take food and water only after removing Juneau (Upanayana) equal to his weight every day, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji accepted the plea of Kashmiri Pandits to help them.
Guru Ji proceeded to Delhi for the protection of human rights and His efforts culminated in His martyrdom. Thus Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji sacrificed His own life for a religion he was not practicing himself. Afterward, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji sacrificed His whole family for this mission of the welfare of all.
Blessing the Sikhs with Khande Baate Di Pahul (Amrit), Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji instilled in them the spirit of sacrifice that prepared them to create unrivaled history. Baba Deep Singh Ji was fortunate to receive this divine gift from Sri Guru Gobind Singh himself.
Baba Deep Singh Ji History
Baba Deep Singh was a saint-soldier in the real sense of the word. He had the honor of having been baptized by Guru Gobind Singh ji himself. He had won many battles for Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. He was a well-known scholar of his time. He and Bhai Mani Singh had assisted Guru Gobind Singh ji in the preparation of the final text of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Damdama Sahib (Guru Ki Kanshi), a well-known Gurdwara in District Bhatinda. Baba Deep Singh was in charge of that sacred Gurdwara. Copies of the sacred Scriptures written in his hand were treated as the most authentic.
Ahmad Shah Abdali, a cruel foreign invader experienced a great deal of trouble at the hands of the Sikhs when he returned to Afghanistan after looting Delhi on his fourth invasion. While in Lahore he sent a force to destroy the sacred Darbar Sahib at Amritsar, plunder the city, and punish the Sikhs. The sacred buildings were demolished and the tank was filled up with dirt.
On hearing this news, Baba Deep Singh ji in his late seventies was deeply pained and hurt. He decided to liberate the Golden Temple from the Mughal hands and vowed to celebrate the next festival of Diwali at Amritsar. He started off with five hundred dedicated young Sikhs but by the time, he reached Amritsar, he had about five thousand spirited companions heading towards Darbar Sahib.
Meanwhile, Jahan Khan, Deputy Governor of Lahore, along with a large force of mounted armed soldiers proceeded to stop Baba Deep Singh’s advance. A holy war was declared by the Mughals and every able-bodied Muslim was called upon to join the Mughal forces.
The two forces met near Amritsar. The Sikhs fought very bravely and caused heavy causalities on the Lahore army which ran in all directions. Soon, a fresh reinforcement of a large army contingent equipped with artillery arrived and the Lahore forces regrouped themselves to put up a fierce fight. Sikhs under Baba Deep Singh ji kept fighting heroically as they advanced towards Amritsar.
Just outside the city of Amritsar, Baba Deep Singh received a mortal wound in his neck. He was about to fall when he was reminded of his pledge to reach Darbar Sahib and throw out the tyrants. He was bleeding heavily. His head had almost separated from his neck, but he didn’t lose his heart. He supported his head with his left hand and plying his double-edged sword with the right hand, he made his way to Darbar Sahib. There he fell and breathed his last in the periference (Parikarma) of Darbar Sahib.
His martyrdom took place in 1757. At the place where he was wounded stands a Gurdwara called Shaheed Ganj Baba Deep Singh ji. Shaheed means a martyr and Ganj stands for treasure. His martyrdom teaches us to protect our sacred places even if the price to pay be our life.
The Review
Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheedi Diwas 2023
When Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked the Harmandir Sahib and desecrated it. Hearing of the desecration of the temple, Baba Deep Singh at the age of 79 walked with his companions toward Golden Temple. While fighting 5 miles away he was mortally wounded. His head was almost cut. Even with served head, he kept on supporting his head with his left hand and went on fighting with the right hand till he had reached the princi- cts of the temple and died here.
