Table of Contents
Some names in Sikh history are remembered not for the length of their lives, but for the weight of a single choice. Bhai Taru Singh Ji is one of them. A humble farmer from a small village near Amritsar, he lived barely twenty-five years — yet his name is spoken today with the same reverence given to warriors who fought on battlefields.
Bhai Taru Singh is remembered for one moment above all: when the Mughal governor of Lahore, Zakariya Khan, ordered his hair cut as the price of staying alive, Bhai Taru Singh refused. He did not raise a sword. He did not lead an army. He simply would not part with the kesh (unshorn hair) that his faith held sacred. When the order came to remove his scalp instead of cutting his hair, he bore it while reciting Japji Sahib, the morning prayer of the Sikhs.
That single act of quiet, unbending resolve is why Sikhs still mark his martyrdom every year, why gurdwaras carry his name, and why parents still tell his story to their children as an example of what it means to hold faith above fear.
In this article, you will learn:
- Who Bhai Taru Singh was, and the family and village that shaped him
- The historical and political conditions in Punjab that led to his arrest
- A detailed, historically grounded account of his martyrdom
- The connection between Bhai Taru Singh and Zakariya Khan, including where documented history ends and oral tradition begins
- Why unshorn hair (kesh) holds such deep spiritual significance in Sikhism
- The lessons his life still offers, and where his memory is honored today
01
of 16Early Life of Bhai Taru Singh
Birth and Family
Bhai Taru Singh Ji was born around 1720 (some traditional accounts specify 6 October 1720) in the village of Poohla (also spelled Puhla or Pula), in the Amritsar district of Punjab, during the reign of the Mughal Empire.
He belonged to a Sandhu Jatt family. His father, Bhai Jodh Singh, had already given his life fighting in defense of the Sikh community before Taru Singh reached adulthood, and so is remembered as a shaheed (martyr) in his own right. His mother, Bibi Dharam Kaur, raised Taru Singh and his younger sister, Bibi Tar Kaur, as a widow, instilling in both children a firm grounding in Sikh values from an early age.
Village and Childhood
Poohla was a farming village, and the family earned its living through agriculture — Taru Singh himself tended a small plot of land where he grew maize and other crops. Life was not easy under Mughal rule, and taxes on land and produce left little surplus. Even so, accounts describe the household as one that lived frugally but generously, sharing what it had with Sikhs who had far less.
Religious Upbringing
Growing up fatherless in a period when Sikhs were actively hunted by the state, Bhai Taru Singh's religious formation was inseparable from the political reality around him. He was raised on the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and the ideals of seva (selfless service) and simran (remembrance of God). A turning point in his youth, as traditional accounts describe, came when he witnessed a band of Sikh fighters rescue a girl from Mughal oppressors — an act of courage that moved him deeply and set him on the path toward formally joining the Khalsa, the order of initiated Sikhs founded by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.
Historical Punjab During His Lifetime
Bhai Taru Singh's entire life unfolded within one of the most difficult chapters of Sikh history. By the 1720s and 1730s, the Mughal Empire's grip on Punjab was enforced by a governor determined to crush the Khalsa Panth entirely. Bounties were placed on Sikh heads, gatherings at gurdwaras were banned, and Sikhs who refused to renounce their faith were forced into the forests and hills, living as guerrilla bands rather than settled villagers. It was into this atmosphere of persecution and resistance that Bhai Taru Singh came of age.
02
of 16Historical Background: Punjab Under Zakariya Khan
To understand Bhai Taru Singh's arrest and martyrdom, it helps to understand the world he lived in.
Mughal Rule and the Governorship of Zakariya Khan
Zakariya Khan served as the Mughal governor (subedar) of Lahore and Punjab during this period. Determined to stamp out the growing Khalsa movement, he pursued a policy of relentless persecution: Sikh worship was outlawed, offerings to gurdwaras were banned, and rewards were announced for anyone who brought in a Sikh, dead or alive. Sikhs were pushed out of farming, trade, and public employment, forcing many to abandon their villages and take refuge in the forests of Punjab, where they organized themselves into small fighting bands.
Persecution of Sikhs
This era is remembered in Sikh history as one of active state persecution, sometimes described through the phrase "sir dena par kes na dena" — one may give one's head, but not one's hair. Sikhs were captured, tortured, and publicly executed with the explicit aim of breaking their identity and forcing conversion to Islam. Far from breaking the community, this persecution produced some of Sikh history's most remembered martyrs, including Bhai Mani Singh Ji, whose execution in 1737-38 for organizing a Sikh gathering deeply affected the wider Sikh community.
Rise of the Khalsa and the Political Climate
Despite — or perhaps because of — this persecution, the Khalsa Panth continued to grow in resolve. Sikh fighters organized into bands (later evolving into the misls), striking at Mughal outposts and then retreating into the countryside. Ordinary villagers who were not themselves fighters played a critical, dangerous role: quietly supplying food, shelter, and information to Sikhs living in hiding. Bhai Taru Singh was one of these villagers, and it was this quiet support network — not any act of open rebellion — that ultimately brought him to the attention of the Mughal authorities.
03
of 16Devotion to Sikhism and a Life of Seva
Long before his arrest, Bhai Taru Singh was known in his village as a man devoted to the Sikh ideals of seva and simran. His daily life reflected the balance the Sikh Gurus taught: honest labor, remembrance of Waheguru, and service to others.
- Seva (selfless service): Whatever surplus his farm produced beyond taxes and basic household needs, Bhai Taru Singh set aside for Sikhs who had been forced to live in exile in the forests, unable to farm or trade openly.
- Langar: In keeping with the Sikh institution of the free community kitchen, he and his sister, Bibi Tar Kaur, regularly carried food to Sikh fighters hiding in the jungles, ensuring that those who had given up everything for their faith did not go hungry.
- Simran: His devotion to the Guru's teachings and to daily remembrance of God was, according to Sikh tradition, the very source of the inner strength he would later draw upon under torture.
- Helping persecuted Sikhs: Beyond food, Bhai Taru Singh is remembered for sheltering Sikhs on the run and quietly aiding anyone — Sikh or otherwise — who suffered injustice at the hands of local Mughal officials.
- Moral values: Even before formally joining the Khalsa, he was known for honesty in his dealings, humility despite personal hardship, and an unwillingness to turn away anyone in need.
This quiet, consistent generosity — not any dramatic act of rebellion — is what ultimately placed Bhai Taru Singh in the sights of the Mughal state.
04
of 16Why Was Bhai Taru Singh Arrested?
Shelter and Support Given to Sikhs
Bhai Taru Singh's support for Sikhs hiding from Zakariya Khan's forces was not a secret kept perfectly. Sikh revolutionaries living in the forests near his village depended on sympathizers like him for survival, and over time, his role in feeding and sheltering them became known locally.
Mughal Accusations
An informer — named in Sikh accounts as Akil Das (also called Harbhagat Niranjania), a hostile figure from the nearby town of Jandiala — reported Bhai Taru Singh and his sister to the authorities. According to the Prachin Panth Prakash, an early and important Sikh historical text, Zakariya Khan had grown frustrated that Sikhs continued to survive despite being cut off from farming, trade, and public employment, and demanded to know how they were sustaining themselves. The informer's answer pointed directly to villagers like Bhai Taru Singh, who fed their brethren even at personal cost.
Arrest
On this accusation, Bhai Taru Singh and Bibi Tar Kaur were arrested on charges of treason and brought before Zakariya Khan in Lahore. Their offense, in the eyes of the Mughal administration, was providing material support to armed rebels.
Trial
Brought into the Governor's court, Bhai Taru Singh is said to have greeted Zakariya Khan with the traditional Sikh salutation — "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh" — rather than any gesture of submission. When formally charged, he defended himself plainly: he paid his land taxes in full, engaged in no illegal trade, and whatever modest surplus remained after his own household's needs, he chose to share with those in distress. He argued he had taken nothing from the state and broken no law that justified punishment.
His sister's release was eventually secured after villagers raised money to satisfy the authorities and promised on her behalf that she would no longer aid Sikhs in hiding. Bhai Taru Singh, however, refused to seek any pardon or make any such promise for himself.
Refusal to Convert
Enraged by his composure and refusal to show remorse, Zakariya Khan is said to have pressed him further, demanding to know the source of his defiance and endurance. Bhai Taru Singh's answer was direct: his strength came from his kesh, the unshorn hair blessed through the Sikh initiation given by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Zakariya Khan then offered him a stark choice — convert to Islam, symbolized by cutting off his kesh as an offering, or face execution. Bhai Taru Singh refused both to convert and to cut his hair.
05
of 16The Martyrdom of Bhai Taru Singh
The Demand to Cut His Hair
Having refused conversion, Bhai Taru Singh was ordered to have his hair forcibly cut as a symbolic act of submission. Zakariya Khan summoned a barber to carry out the task.
Refusal and What Followed
According to Sikh oral tradition, when the barber attempted to cut Bhai Taru Singh's hair, it proved impossibly difficult to cut — described in traditional retellings as having become "hard as iron." Whether understood literally or as a symbol of unbreakable faith, the barber is said to have refused to continue.
Did You Know? In Sikh retellings, Bhai Taru Singh is quoted as saying he had "kept his faith with his hair" — refusing to separate his identity as a Khalsa Sikh from the very hair the barber was ordered to cut.
Removal of the Scalp
Angered by this failure, Zakariya Khan ordered a far more brutal alternative: rather than cutting the hair, a cobbler was instructed to remove Bhai Taru Singh's scalp with a blade, ensuring his hair could never grow back at all. This act — believed by most sources to have taken place on 9 June 1745 — was carried out publicly.
Throughout the ordeal, Bhai Taru Singh is remembered to have shown no outward sign of breaking. Sikh accounts describe him reciting Japji Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev Ji's foundational morning prayer, as the scalping was carried out — a detail that has become central to how his martyrdom is remembered and retold.
Imprisonment and Death
Bhai Taru Singh was returned to Lahore Fort, imprisoned, and left to endure the injuries inflicted upon him. He survived for several weeks after the scalping. Sikh sources record that he died on or around 1 July 1745, reportedly within hours of hearing news of Zakariya Khan's own death — a detail explored further in the next section.
His body was cremated outside the Delhi Gate of Lahore, at a site that would later become known as Shahidganj — literally, "the treasury of martyrs" — a place of pilgrimage for Sikhs to this day.
Historical Significance
Bhai Taru Singh's martyrdom is remembered as one of the clearest examples in Sikh history of Sees Diya Par Sirar Na Diya— giving up the body but never abandoning one's faith. Unlike martyrs who died in open battle, he died as an unarmed civilian who was given a way out — conversion — and chose torture and death instead. This is central to why his story holds such a distinct place in Sikh memory: it is a martyrdom of quiet, personal conviction rather than of the battlefield.
Sikh Perspective
Within the Sikh tradition, Bhai Taru Singh's sacrifice is held up as proof that Sikh identity — expressed outwardly through kesh and inwardly through unwavering faith — cannot be separated from the person without ending their life altogether. His martyrdom is frequently cited alongside those of Bhai Mani Singh Ji and Baba Deep Singh Ji as evidence of the depth of sacrifice that preserved the Khalsa Panth through its most dangerous era.
A Note on Historical Sources
Careful historians distinguish between what is documented in near-contemporary Sikh chronicles — such as the Prachin Panth Prakash and the writings of the early Sikh historian Ratan Singh Bhangu — and elements that developed later as oral tradition and devotional retelling. The broad outline (arrest for aiding Sikh fighters, refusal to convert, scalping, and death in custody) is well attested. Certain vivid details, such as the barber's blade being unable to cut the hair, or the precise final words exchanged in court, are preserved through oral transmission and devotional literature rather than official Mughal records, and are presented here as part of the Sikh historical and devotional tradition.
06
of 16The Story of Zakariya Khan
Zakariya Khan's role in Sikh history extends well beyond his conflict with Bhai Taru Singh. As Mughal governor of Punjab, he is remembered as one of the most determined persecutors of the Khalsa, responsible for placing bounties on Sikh lives and for the execution of other major Sikh figures of the period.
Historical Accounts
Documented Mughal-era and Sikh chronicle sources agree that Zakariya Khan governed Lahore during the 1730s and into the mid-1740s, that his administration actively hunted Sikh fighters, and that he died in 1745.
His Illness After Bhai Taru Singh's Martyrdom
Sikh tradition holds that shortly after ordering Bhai Taru Singh's scalping, Zakariya Khan fell gravely ill, suffering from an agonizing inability to urinate that his physicians could not treat. According to this tradition, his advisors told him the illness was a consequence of his cruelty toward the Sikhs, and that relief could only come if he struck his own head with Bhai Taru Singh's shoe. Some accounts add that Zakariya Khan, in desperation, sent an emissary to seek forgiveness from the Khalsa Panth. Despite this, he is said to have died in torment roughly 22 days after Bhai Taru Singh's scalping — with Bhai Taru Singh himself passing away a few hours after hearing of the Governor's death.
The early Sikh historian Ratan Singh Bhangu recorded that Bhai Taru Singh, at the moment of his scalping, predicted that Zakariya Khan would meet his end "by the shoe" — a curse that Sikh tradition holds was fulfilled.
Traditional Narratives vs. Documented History
It is worth being clear-eyed here: Zakariya Khan's death in 1745 is a documented historical fact. The specific narrative connecting his final illness directly and exclusively to his treatment of Bhai Taru Singh belongs to Sikh oral tradition and devotional retelling, passed down and reinforced across generations as a moral lesson about the consequences of persecuting the innocent. Responsible historical writing presents this as what it is: a cherished and meaningful tradition within Sikh memory, rather than a claim verifiable through independent Mughal medical or administrative records.
07
of 16Importance of Kesh in Sikhism
To understand why Bhai Taru Singh chose scalping over cutting his hair, it is essential to understand what kesh means within Sikh belief.
The Five Ks
When Guru Gobind Singh Ji formally established the Khalsa in 1699, he instituted five articles of faith, known as the Five Ks, to be worn by initiated Sikhs at all times:
- Kesh — uncut hair, kept as a sign of living in harmony with God's will
- Kanga — a wooden comb, symbolizing cleanliness and discipline
- Kara — a steel bracelet, symbolizing restraint and connection to God
- Kachhera — a specific style of cotton undergarment, symbolizing self-control
- Kirpan — a ceremonial sword, symbolizing the duty to defend justice and the defenseless
The Meaning of Kesh
Of these five, kesh holds a particularly central place. Uncut hair is understood as living in the form God intended, an outward sign of a Sikh's acceptance of divine will and a visible marker of belonging to the Khalsa. It is not treated as a matter of personal style, but as an inseparable part of Sikh identity and covenant with the Guru.
Spiritual Significance
Within Sikh belief, the body itself is regarded as a gift entrusted by God, and kesh is kept unaltered as a mark of respect for that gift and for the Guru's teaching. For an initiated Khalsa Sikh, cutting one's kesh under duress is understood not simply as a haircut, but as a renunciation of the covenant taken at initiation — a step equivalent, in spiritual terms, to abandoning the faith itself.
Why Bhai Taru Singh Refused
This is precisely why cutting Bhai Taru Singh's hair was, in Zakariya Khan's eyes, an acceptable substitute for outright conversion — and why, for Bhai Taru Singh, submitting to it was unthinkable. He had told the Governor plainly that his strength came from his kesh. To let it be cut in submission would have meant surrendering the very identity he was being punished for holding onto. Choosing to have his scalp removed instead was, in this light, not an act of desperation but the most consistent expression of everything he believed.
08
of 16Lessons from Bhai Taru Singh
Bhai Taru Singh's story continues to be told to Sikh children and adults alike not simply as history, but as a living example of character. Several themes recur whenever his life is discussed:
- Courage: Facing torture and death, Bhai Taru Singh did not waver in his response to Zakariya Khan, nor did he attempt to negotiate his way out of his convictions.
- Faith: His recitation of Japji Sahib during his ordeal is remembered as an expression of unshaken trust in Waheguru even in the face of extreme suffering.
- Sacrifice: He gave up his life not in the heat of battle, but through a slow, deliberate choice made with full awareness of the consequences.
- Standing for one's beliefs: Given a clear way to save his life, Bhai Taru Singh chose principle over survival — a distinction Sikh tradition holds in the highest regard.
- Selfless service: Long before his arrest, his quiet generosity toward persecuted Sikhs — sharing food and shelter at real personal risk — reflected the same values that later defined his martyrdom.
- Fearlessness: His greeting of Zakariya Khan with the Khalsa salutation, even while on trial for his life, is remembered as an act of composure rather than defiance for its own sake.
- Integrity: From his honest dealings as a farmer to his refusal to disown his own actions in court, consistency between belief and behavior defined his life.
09
of 16Bhai Taru Singh in Sikh History
Influence on Sikh Identity
Bhai Taru Singh's martyrdom is frequently cited as one of the clearest historical expressions of why kesh and Khalsa identity are treated as inseparable within Sikhism. His story is often the first example taught when explaining why Sikhs maintain unshorn hair even in the face of social or professional pressure.
Inspiration for Future Generations
Generations of Sikh children have grown up hearing his story — often before they fully grasp its historical detail — simply as an example of unwavering courage. It has also inspired devotional literature, kirtan compositions, and even secular literary attention; the Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore is noted to have written of Bhai Taru Singh's courage and sacrifice.
Place Among Sikh Martyrs
Bhai Taru Singh is remembered alongside other towering figures of 18th-century Sikh martyrdom — Bhai Mani Singh Ji, Baba Deep Singh Ji, Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, and later, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Together, their stories form the backbone of how Sikhs understand the price paid to preserve the Khalsa Panth through the persecution of the 1700s.
Importance in Sikh Education
His life is a staple of Sikh religious education (Sikhi camps, gurdwara Sunday schools, and Punjabi-language textbooks), typically used to teach both the historical context of Mughal-era persecution and the theological importance of the Five Ks.
10
of 16Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh
History and Location
The site associated with Bhai Taru Singh's scalping is marked today by Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh, located in the Naulakha Bazaar area of Lahore, Pakistan. A related site, Gurdwara Shaheedganj Bhai Taru Singh, sits nearby, close to Gurdwara Shaheedganj Singh Singhnian.
Importance
In 1762, a Sikh (Bhangi misl) army took control of Lahore and the public square where Bhai Taru Singh had been scalped — a site that came to be called Shahidganj, meaning "treasury of martyrs." The adjoining Abdullah Khan Mosque was subsequently converted into a Sikh gurdwara commemorating his sacrifice. These sites remain significant markers of Sikh presence and memory in Lahore, a city central to Sikh history through its connection to Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and the martyrdom of several early Sikh figures.
Pilgrimage and Visitor Information
For Sikhs able to travel to Pakistan — most commonly as part of organized pilgrimage groups, given visa and cross-border travel arrangements between India and Pakistan — Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh remains a place of pilgrimage, particularly around Shaheedi Diwas. As with other historic gurdwaras in Pakistan, visits are typically arranged through recognized Sikh religious travel organizations that manage the necessary permissions.
11
of 16Shaheedi Diwas: How It Is Commemorated
Date
Bhai Taru Singh Ji's martyrdom is commemorated on 1 Sawan in the Nanakshahi calendar, which corresponds to 16 July each year on the Gregorian calendar.
How It Is Commemorated
Sikh communities around the world mark Shaheedi Diwas Bhai Taru Singh Ji with a combination of devotional and community observances:
- Kirtan: Gurdwaras hold special kirtan programs recounting his life and sacrifice, often alongside readings from Sikh historical texts describing his martyrdom.
- Nagar Kirtan: In some regions, particularly around Amritsar and Punjab more broadly, processions are organized to commemorate his memory, accompanied by hymn-singing and recitation.
- Langar: In keeping with the very tradition of selfless giving that defined Bhai Taru Singh's own life, community kitchens (langar) are organized on this day as an act of remembrance and service.
- Community service: Many gurdwaras and Sikh organizations use the occasion to organize charitable activities — echoing the same spirit of service to those in need that first drew Bhai Taru Singh toward the Khalsa.
12
of 16Timeline of Major Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 1720 | Bhai Taru Singh is born in Poohla village, Amritsar district, Punjab |
| 1699 | (Prior context) Guru Gobind Singh Ji establishes the Khalsa and the Five Ks |
| 1737–38 | Martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh Ji under Zakariya Khan's rule |
| — | Bhai Taru Singh formally joins the Khalsa, moved by witnessing Sikh fighters rescue a girl from Mughal oppressors |
| — | Bhai Taru Singh and his sister, Bibi Tar Kaur, are reported to Zakariya Khan by informer Akil Das |
| — | Both are arrested for treason; his sister is later released, Bhai Taru Singh refuses pardon |
| — | Brought before Zakariya Khan in Lahore; refuses to convert to Islam |
| 9 June 1745 | Bhai Taru Singh's scalp is removed after he refuses to have his hair cut |
| 1 July 1745 | Zakariya Khan dies; Bhai Taru Singh dies hours later at Lahore Fort, aged around 25 |
| 1762 | Sikh (Bhangi misl) forces take control of Lahore, including the Shahidganj site of his martyrdom |
| Present day | Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh stands in Naulakha Bazaar, Lahore; Shaheedi Diwas observed annually on 1 Sawan (16 July) |
13
of 16Glossary of Sikh Terms
- Amrit – Sacred sweetened water used in the Sikh initiation ceremony (Amrit Sanchar)
- Gurdwara – A Sikh place of worship, literally "the doorway to the Guru"
- Kesh – Unshorn hair, one of the Five Ks and a core article of Sikh faith
- Khalsa – The order of initiated Sikhs established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699
- Kirtan – Devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib
- Langar – The Sikh institution of a free community kitchen, open to all regardless of background
- Nagar Kirtan – A public procession featuring hymn-singing, typically to commemorate a significant Sikh occasion
- Seva – Selfless service performed without expectation of reward
- Shaheed – Martyr; one who gives their life in defense of faith or justice
- Shaheedi Diwas – A day commemorating a martyr's sacrifice
- Simran – Meditative remembrance of God's name
- Subedar – A provincial governor under Mughal administration
14
of 16A Tribute to Bhai Taru Singh Ji (Poem)
ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਕੀ ਜੋ ਮੌਤ ਹੈ ਵੁਹ ਕੌਮ ਦੀ ਹਯਾਤ ਹੈ।
ਹਯਾਤ ਤੋ ਹਯਾਤ ਹੈ ਮੌਤ ਭੀ ਹਯਾਤ ਹੈ।
ਜਿੱਥੇ ਭਾਈ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੀ ਵਸਦਾ, ਪੂਹਲਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਨਾਂ ਭਾਈ।
ਨਹੀ ਸੀ ਸਿਰ ਤੇ ਸਾਇਆ ਬਾਪ ਦਾ, ਇੱਕ ਭੈਂਣ ਤੇ ਬੁੱਢੜੀ ਮਾਂ ਭਾਈ।
ਆਏ ਗਏ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਧਰਮ ਉਸ ਦਾ, ਦਿਲ ਅੰਦਰ ਪਿਆਰ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਭਾਈ।
ਦਿੱਲ ਸਭ ਦੇ ਪਿਆ ਉਹ ਠਾਰਦਾ, ਠੰਡੀ ਬੋਹੜ ਵਰਗੀ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਛਾਂ ਭਾਈ।
ਸਲਮਾ ਧੀ ਸੀ ਮਾਛੀ ਰਹੀਮ ਦੀ, ਜ਼ਾਫ਼ਰ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਨੇ ਲਈ ਸੀ ਕਰ ਅਗਵਾ।
ਬੁੱਢਾ ਬਾਪ ਸੀ ਤਰਲੇ ਮਾਰਦਾ, ਉਹਨੂੰ ਭਾਵੇ ਨਾ ਹੁਣ ਠੰਡੀ ਤੱਤੀ ਹਵਾ।
ਉਹ ਪਿੰਡ ਪੂਹਲੇ ਆ ਗਿਆ, ਹੱਥ ਬੰਨ ਕਰੇ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਦਵਾ।
ਸਿੰਘਾਂ1 ਮੈਂ ਓਟ ਟਕਾਈ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ, ਮੇਰੀ ਇੱਜ਼ਤ ਜ਼ਾਫ਼ਰ ਖ਼ਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਲਵੋ ਬਚਾ।
ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਵਾਰਤਾ ਬੁੱਢੇ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ਦੀ, ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿਆ ਜੰਗਲ ਨੂੰ ਧਾ।
ਉਹਨੇ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਸਿਆ, ਪਾਪੀ ਜ਼ਾਫ਼ਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਕਮਾ ।
ਸਿੰਘਾ ਝੱਟ ਅਰਦਾਸਾ ਸੋਧਿਆ, ਜਦ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਲੰਗਰ ਲਿਆ ਸੀ ਖਾ ।
ਸਿੰਘ ਤੁਰ ਪਏ ਪੱਟੀ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਨੂੰ, ਮਾਛੀ ਲਿਆ ਸੀ ਘੋੜੇ ਮਗਰ ਬੈਠਾ।
ਸਿੰਘ ਪੁੱਜ ਗਏ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਸੀ, ਲਿਆ ਜਾਫ਼ਰ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਦਾ ਕੁੰਡਾ ਖੜਕਾ।
ਉੱਥੇ ਚਲੀ ਖੂਬ ਕਿਰਪਾਨ ਸੀ, ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਪਹਿਰੇਦਾਰ ਝਟਕਾ।
ਭੋਰੇ ਵਿਚੋ ਪਾਪੀ ਕੱਢਿਆ, ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਲਿਆ ਸਾਫਾ ਗਲ ਜ਼ਾਲਮ ਦੇ ਪਾ।
ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਸਿਰ ਪਾਪੀ ਦਾ ਵੱਢ ਕੇ, ਧੀ ਮਾਛੀ ਦੀ ਸਲਮਾ ਲਈ ਬਚਾ।
ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਬਾਜੀ ਸਿਰ ਦੀ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਧਰਮ ਕੀਤਾ, ਇੱਕ ਅਲਬਾ ਲਈ ਬਚਾ।
ਮਾਛੀ ਲੱਖ ਸ਼ੁਕਰ ਗੁਜਾਰੇ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ, ਧੀ ਲੈ ਪਿਆ ਲਾਹੌਰ ਦੇ ਰਾਹ।
ਫ਼ਲ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਜਾਫ਼ਰ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਨੂੰ, ਰਾਠੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਏ ਜੰਗਲ ਸੀ ਆ।
ਅੱਜ ਤੀਕ ਲੋਕੀ ਇਸ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਦੇ ਜੀ , ਜਸ ਰਹੇ ਨੇ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦਾ ਗਾ।
ਚੁਗਲ ਚੁਗਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਨਹੀ ਬਾਜ ਆਉਦੇ, ਆਖ਼ਰ ਆਪਣਾ ਵਾਰ ਚਲਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਨਿਰੰਜਣੀਆ ਪਾਪੀ ਲਾਹੋਰ ਪੁੱਜਾ, ਜ਼ਕਰੀਏ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਦੇ ਤਾਈਂ ਭੜਕਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਕਹੇ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਜੀ ਗ਼ਦਰ ਪਾਇਆ, ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਰੋਹਬ ਭੁੱਲਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਜੱਥੇ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੇ ਉਹਦੇ ਪਾਸ ਆਉਦੇ, ਉਹਨੇ ਲੁੱਟ ਦਾ ਆਲਮ ਮਚਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਚੁਗਲੀ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਗ ਲੱਗੀ, ਕਹਿੰਦਾ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਲਿਆਓ ਏਥੇ।
ਰਤੀ ਭਰ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਈ ਰਹਿਮ ਕਰਨਾ, ਬੰਨ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਉਹਨੂੰ ਮੰਗਵਾਓੇ ਏਥੇ।
ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਰਾਹ ਦਾ ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਬਣੇ ਰੋੜਾ, ਸਿਰ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਭੰਨ ਲਿਆਓ ਏਥੇ।
ਜੇ ਕਰ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾ ਈਨ ਮੰਨੇ, ਬੰਂਨ ਬੱਕਰੇ ਵਾਂਗ ਉਹਨੂੰ ਝਟਕਾ ਏਥੇ।
ਕਿਹਾ ਜ਼ਕਰੀਏ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਤਾਈਂ, ਛੱਡ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਤੇ ਐਸ਼ ਕਮਾ ਸਿੰਘਾ ।
ਕੀ ਲੈਣਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਦਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਣਕੇ, ਪੜ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਕਲਮਾਂ ਮੋਮਨ ਅਖਵਾ ਸਿੰਘਾ ?
ਡੋਲੇ ਹੂਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਲੈ ਤੇ ਮਾਣ ਮੋਜਾਂ, ਰੁਤਬਾ ਰਾਜ ਦਾ ਤੂੰ ਉੱਚਾ ਪਾ ਸਿੰਘਾ ।
ਜੇ ਕਰ ਮੰਨੀ ਨਾ ਤੂੰ ਗੱਲ ਮੇਰੀ, ਮੈਂ ਦੇਵਾਂ ਬੱਕਰੇ ਵਾਂਗ ਝਟਕਾ ਸਿੰਘਾ ।
ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਗਰਜ਼ ਕੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਅੱਗੋ, ਐਵੇਂ ਉੱਡ ਨਾ ਗੈਸੀ ਗੁਬਾਰਿਆ ਉਏ।
ਡਿੱਗ ਕੇ ਧਰਤ ਤੇ ਤੂੰ ਗਰਕ ਹੋਣਾ, ਟੀਸੀ ਚੜਿਆ ਐਡੇ ਚੁਬਾਰਿਆ ਉਏ।
ਤੇਰਾ ਜੱਗ ਤੋਂ ਨਾਮੋ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਮਿਟਣਾ, ਕਾਹਦਾ ਮਾਣ ਕਰੇ ਹੰਕਾਰਿਆ ਉਏ।
ਤੈਨੂੰ ਮੌਤ ਦੇ ਜਦੋ ਨੇ ਬਾਜ਼ ਪੈਣੇ, ਜਾਣਾ ਪਲਾਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਤੂੰ ਵੀ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਉਏ।
ਅੱਖ਼ਾਂ ਲਾਲ ਕਰਕੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਜ਼ਕਰੀਏ ਨੇ, ਮਾਰ ਜੁੱਤੀਆਂ ਕੇਸ ਲਾਹ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ।
ਜੇ ਮੰਨੀ ਨਾ ਸਿੰਘਾ ਤੂੰ ਈਦ ਮੇਰੀ, ਚਾੜ ਚੜਖੜੀ ਮਜ਼ਾ ਚਿਖਾ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ।
ਜਿਹੜੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਿੰਘਾ ਮਾਣ ਤੈਨੂੰ, ਸਣੇ ਖੋਪਰੀ ਇਹ ਕਟਵਾ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ।
ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਵੇਖੇਗੀ ਐਸੀ ਮੌਤ ਮਾਰਾ ,ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੋ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਮਿਟਾ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ।
ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕੜਕ ਜਵਾਬ ਦਿੱਤਾ, ਕਿਹੜਾ ਮੂੰਹ ਲੈ ਦਰਗਾਹ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਤੂੰ।
ਦੋ ਜਹਾਨ ਦੀ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਫ਼ਿਟਕਾਰ ਪੈਣੀ, ਕਾਲਖ ਮੱਥੇ ਤੇ ਦੁਸ਼ਟਾ ਲਗਵਾਏਗਾ ਤੂੰ।
ਜਿਹੜੇ ਰਾਜ ਦਾ ਪਿਆ ਮਾਣ ਕਰਦਾ, ਬੇੜ੍ਹਾ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਗਰਕ ਕਰਵਾਏਗਾ ਤੂੰ।
ਸਿਦਕ ਮੇਰਾ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਟੁਟਣਾ ਨਹੀ, ਸਿਰ ਜੁੱਤੀਆਂ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਖਾਏਗਾ ਤੂੰ।
ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਜਰਾ ਨਾ ਈਨ ਮੰਨੀ, ਦੁਸ਼ਟਾਂ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਦਾ ਭਾਬੜ ਮਚਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਚੜਖੜੀ ਚਾੜ ਕੋਹਿਆ ਸੀ, ਫ਼ਿਰ ਰੱਬੀ ਨਾਲ ਖੋਪਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾ ਲਾਹ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਧਰਤੀ ਕੰਬੀ ਤੇ ਅਕਾਸ਼ ਵੀ ਡੋਲਿਆ ਸੀ, ਜ਼ਾਲਮਾਂ ਕਹਿਰ ਸੀ ਢਾਹ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਐਨਾ ਜੁਲਮ ਕਰਕੇ ਰੱਜਿਆ ਨਾ, ਜਖ਼ਮੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰ ਸੁਟਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਹੋਇਆ, ਫ਼ਿਰ ਕੁਦਰਤ ਆਪਣਾ ਰੰਗ ਵਿਖਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਜ਼ਾਲਮ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਐਸਾ ਵਖ਼ਤ ਪਾਇਆ, ਉਹਨੂੰ ਬੰਨ ਪੇਸ਼ਾਬ ਦਾ ਪਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਕਿਸੇ ਦਵਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਦਾ ਨਾ ਅਸਰ ਹੋਇਆ, ਸੋਚਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਸੀ ਐਸਾ ਪਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਅੰਤ ਖ਼ਾਲਸੇ ਦੀ ਪਾਪੀ ਸ਼ਰਨ ਆਇਆ, ਉੱਚਾ ਸਿਰ ਉਹਦਾ ਝੁਕਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਤਾਰੁ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਹੋਇਆ, ਲੋਕੀ ਉਂਗਲਾਂ ਮੂੰਹ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਉਣ ਲੱਗੇ।
ਜ਼ਕਰੀਏ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਪੇਸ਼ਾਬ ਦਾ ਬੰਨ ਪਿਆ, ਦੁਸ਼ਟ ਫ਼ਿਰ ਪਛਤਾਉਣ ਲੱਗੇ।
ਪਾਪੀ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਨੇ ਲਏ ਤਰਲੇ, ਜੰਬਰ ਸੁਬੇਗ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਪਾਸ ਅਉਣ ਲੱਗੇ।
ਫ਼ਿਰ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਬੈਠ ਗੁਰਮਤਾ ਕੀਤਾ, ਜੋੜਾ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾ ਮੰਗਵਾਉਣ ਲੱਗੇ।
ਕਪੂਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਸੁਬੇਗ ਸਿੰਘ ਤਾਂਈ, ਸੁਨੇਹਾ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਦਾ ਪਹੁੰਚਾ ਦੇਵੋ।
ਜਿਹੜੇ ਨਿਰਦੋਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਉਸ ਅੰਬਾਰ ਲਾਏ, ਉਹ ਵੀ ਗਿਰਾ ਦੇਵੋ।
ਕਤਲੇਆਮ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੀ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਕੇ, ਖੂਨੀ ਚੜਖੜੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਸਭ ਪੁਟਵਾਂ ਦੇਵੋ।
ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਤੇ ਪੈਣੇ ਹੁਣ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਨੇ, ਸੰਗਲ ਗੁਲਾਮੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਲਾਹ ਦੇਵੋ।
ਈਨਾਂ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਨੇ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਮਂੰਨੀਆਂ ਸੀ, ਉਹਨੇ ਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਹੁਕਮ ਫ਼ੁਰਮਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ।
ਖਾਨ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਜੋ ਅੰਬਾਰ ਲਾਏ, ਉਹ ਵੀ ਤਰੁੰਤ ਗਿਰਵਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ।
ਚੜਖੜੀਆਂ ਪੁੱਟਣ ਦੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਕੀਤੇ, ਸੰਗਲ ਕੈਦੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਲਾਹ ਦਿੱਤੇ।
ਤੋਬਾ ਮੇਰੀ, ਮੈਂ ਨਹੀ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਕਰਦਾ, ਐਸੇ ਕੰਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੱਥ ਸੀ ਲਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ।
ਆਖ਼ਰ ਜੋੜਾ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾ ਲੈ ਆਂਦਾ, ਸਿਰ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਦੇ ਆਣ ਵਰਾਉਣ ਲੱਗੇ।
ਜਦ ਛਿੱਤਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਿਰ ਵੱਜੇ, ਕਤਰੇ ਪੇਸ਼ਾਬ ਦੇ ਆਉਣ ਲੱਗੇ।
ਜਲਦੀ ਕਰੋ ਛੇਤੀ ਹੋਰ ਮਾਰੋ, ਖ਼ਾਨ ਅਹਿਲਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਤਾਈਂ ਫ਼ੁਰਮਾਉਣ ਲ਼ੱਗੇ।
ਛਿੱਤਰ ਖਾ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਦਾ ਅੰਤ ਹੋਇਆ, ਏਧਰ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਚਾਲਾ ਪਾਉਣ ਲੱਗੇ।
ਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਖਾਨ ਦਾ ਅੰਤ ਹੋਇਆ, ਬੋਲ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਪੁਗਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।
ਜੁਤੀਆਂ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਖਾਨ ਗਿਆ ਨਰਕੀ, ਟਿਕੇ ਬਦੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਮੱਥੈ ਲਗਵਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।
ਧਰਮੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਕਾਰ ਹੁੰਦੀ, ਰੁਤਬਾ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਦਾ ਉਹ ਪਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।
ਧਰਮੀ ਸਿਦਕ ਤੋਂ ਡੋਲਿਆ ਨਾ, ਸਿੱਖੀ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਸਵਾਸਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਭਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।
ਜਿਹਨੇ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਨਾਲ ਵੈਰ ਕੀਤਾ, ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਮਜ਼ਾ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਤਰੁੰਤ ਚਿਖਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਜਿਹਨੇ ਪਾਈ ਭਾਜੀ ਇੱਕੀਆਂ ਦੀ, ਇੱਕਤੀ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਹਿਸਾਬ ਮੁਕਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਸ਼ਰਨ ਆਏ ਦੀ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਲਾਜ ਰੱਖੀ, ਮਾਣ’ਢਿੱਲੋਂ” ਦਾ ਹੋਰ ਵਧਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਸਿਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਪਰ ਸਿਦਕ ਨਾ ਮੂਲ ਹਾਰੇ, ਨਾਮ ਕੌਮ ਦਾ ਹੋਰ ਚਮਕਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ
- Poem By ਜਸਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ ਤਰਨਤਾਰਨ
15
of 16Final Words
Bhai Taru Singh Ji's life was, on its surface, unremarkable: a farmer in a small Punjab village, raised by a widowed mother, quietly sharing what little he had with those who had even less. It was this same quiet consistency — not ambition, not rebellion for its own sake — that led him, when finally forced to choose, to hold onto his faith rather than his safety.
His martyrdom on 9 June 1745, and his death weeks later in Lahore Fort, remain among the most remembered episodes of 18th-century Sikh history precisely because of what they represent: that Sikh identity, expressed through kesh and lived through seva, was something an entire generation of Sikhs was willing to defend with their lives.
Today, whether through the gurdwara built at the site of his scalping in Lahore, or through the kirtan and langar organized every Shaheedi Diwas on 1 Sawan, Bhai Taru Singh's memory continues to answer, for each new generation of Sikhs, the same question he was once asked: what would you give up before you gave up who you are?
Explore more stories of courage and devotion from Sikh history on Sikhizm.com.
16
of 16Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bhai Taru Singh?
Bhai Taru Singh was an 18th-century Sikh martyr from Poohla village near Amritsar, remembered for refusing to convert to Islam or have his hair cut, choosing instead to have his scalp removed by order of the Mughal governor Zakariya Khan.
Why was Bhai Taru Singh executed?
He was arrested on charges of treason for supplying food and shelter to Sikh fighters hiding from Mughal persecution, and was ultimately executed after refusing to convert to Islam or cut his kesh (hair).
What happened to his scalp?
When a barber was unable to cut his hair, Zakariya Khan ordered a cobbler to remove Bhai Taru Singh's scalp instead, ensuring his hair could never grow back. He survived the wound for several weeks before dying in custody.
Where was Bhai Taru Singh born?
He was born around 1720 in Poohla (Puhla) village, in the Amritsar district of Punjab.
Who killed Bhai Taru Singh?
His death resulted from torture and scalping ordered by Zakariya Khan, the Mughal governor of Lahore and Punjab at the time.
What is Bhai Taru Singh famous for?
He is famous for his refusal to cut his kesh or convert to Islam under torture, becoming one of Sikh history's clearest examples of steadfast faith in the face of death.
Why are Sikhs inspired by Bhai Taru Singh?
Sikhs are inspired by the fact that he was an ordinary farmer, not a warrior, who was offered a clear path to save his life and chose principle and faith over survival — a distinction Sikh tradition holds in especially high regard.
What lessons can we learn from Bhai Taru Singh?
His life teaches courage, unwavering faith, selfless service, integrity, and the willingness to stand by one's beliefs even at the highest personal cost.
What is the connection between Zakariya Khan and Bhai Taru Singh?
Zakariya Khan, as governor of Punjab, ordered Bhai Taru Singh's arrest, torture, and eventual scalping. Sikh tradition also holds that Zakariya Khan fell fatally ill shortly afterward, which Sikhs remember as connected to his persecution of Bhai Taru Singh, though this specific causal link is part of oral and devotional tradition rather than independently documented Mughal record.
Where is Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh?
It is located in the Naulakha Bazaar area of Lahore, Pakistan, at the site traditionally identified as where his scalping took place.
When is Bhai Taru Singh's Shaheedi Diwas?
It falls on 1 Sawan in the Nanakshahi calendar, which corresponds to 16 July on the Gregorian calendar.
How old was Bhai Taru Singh when he died?
He was approximately 25 years old.
Did Bhai Taru Singh have any siblings?
Yes, a younger sister, Bibi Tar Kaur, who was arrested alongside him but later released after villagers intervened on her behalf.
What is kesh and why did Bhai Taru Singh refuse to cut it?
Kesh is uncut hair, one of the Five Ks that form the core articles of Sikh faith. For an initiated Khalsa Sikh, cutting kesh under compulsion is regarded as equivalent to renouncing the faith, which is why Bhai Taru Singh refused even at the cost of his life.
Is the story of Zakariya Khan's illness historically documented?
Zakariya Khan's death in 1745 is historically documented. However, the specific tradition linking his final illness directly to Bhai Taru Singh's scalping comes from Sikh oral tradition and historical chronicles like the Prachin Panth Prakash, and is presented within Sikh memory as a meaningful moral narrative rather than an independently verified medical account.
