Bhai Taru Singh Ji Shaheedi Purab
Bhai Taru Singh Ji Shaheedi Dihara / Diwas / Purab is celebrated on the 16th of July every year and the year 2024 will be the 279th year of this event. The one who accepts death for religion, nation, and humanity is known as the martyr or Shaheed. Sikh history is such a precious asset in the form of such martyrs. Sacrifice is the cornerstone of Sikhism and this is not just a phrase.
| Shaheedi Diwas (Martyrdom Day) | Date CE | Sikh Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Bhai Taru Singh Ji | July 16, 2024 | Sawan 1, 556 Nanakshahi |
Martyrdom in Sikhism began with Kaji Rukn-ud-din during the time of Guru Nanak Sahib, followed by Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and countless others thereafter. Among the great martyrs, we must not overlook the name of Bhai Taru Singh Ji, along with Baba Banda Singh, Baba Deep Singh, Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Satidas, Bhai Mati Das, and Bhai Dayala Ji.
Short Biography
Bhai Taru Singh was born in or around the 1720s in a village known as Poola, which is in the Amritsar district of Punjab. His father’s name was Jodh Singh, and his mother was Bibi Dharm Kaur; he grew up at a time when Zakriya Khan was merciless in his fight against the Khalsa. Unfortunately, Bhai Taru Singh lost his father Jodh Singh in a war when Bhai Taru Singh was still a child. He had a sister whom he called Bibi Taro.
In his young age, Bhai Taru Singh used to dedicate himself with serving the injured Singhs and even the Mughals on the war front. He would feed Singhs daily meals who were in the jungle. In one of such instance, it is recorded that Bhai Taru Singh along with Khalsa warriors helped a Muslim named Rahim Bakhsh to save his sister from Zakriya Khan. However, when the Sikh miscreants did that, Zakariya Khan arrested Bhai Taru Singh and tried to force him to embrace Islam by torturing him for a long time. Finally, Bhai Taru Singh was beheaded and when his Scalp was scraped off forcefully, he attained martyrdom.
ਤਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਬਹੁ ਭਲੀ ਮਨਾਈ
ਸਾਥ ਕੇਸਨ ਕੇ ਖੋਪਰੀ ਜਾਈ
ਤੋ ਭੀ ਹਮਰੋ ਬਚਨ ਰਹਾਈ
ਸਿੱਖੀ ਕੀ ਗੁਰ ਪੈਜ ਰਖਾਈ ||
- Sri Guru Panth Prakash by Rattan Singh Bhangu
Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in one of his poems dedicated to Bhai Taru Singh Ji, writes
When the Pathans brought them chained
All in calm they remained
The captive Sikhs - though at Sahidgunj town
With their comrades' blood, the soil was brown.
Says the Nawab, "Look, Taru Singh -
I want to forgive you without misgiving."
Says Taru, "Why for me so much slight?"
Nawab says, "A great warrior you are
That you proved in your fight;
So, to you I bear no anger;
Only I beg of you the gift of your Beni*
And you will be spared harm any."
Taru replied, "I owe you as your mercy's nominee;
So offer a bit more, my head with my Beni*
- Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
* Note by Tagore: "To shave off Beni is as good as forsaking religion for a Sikh". "Beni" in Bengali means the coiled hair the Sikhs keep.
ਅੰਦਰ ਮਾਝੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ, 'ਪੂਲਾ' ਇਕ ਗਰਾਮ।
ਵਸੇ ਉਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੂਰਮਾਂ, ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੀ ਨਾਮ।
ਇਕ ਮਾਤਾ ਇਕ ਭੈਣ ਸੀ, ਤੀਜਾ ਜੋਧਾ ਆਪ।
ਕਰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਦਾ, ਦਿਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਿੰਨੇ ਜਾਪ।
ਕਰਦਾ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੀ, ਖੇਤੀ ਵਾਲੀ ਕਾਰ।
ਨਾਲੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਤੇ ਕੌਮ ਨਾਲ, ਕਰੇ ਅਤੁਟ ਪਿਆਰ।
ਜੰਗੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੋ ਜੰਗਲੀਂ, ਲੁਕ ਕਰਨ ਗੁਜ਼ਰਾਨ।
ਉਹਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਪਕਾਇਕੇ, ਖੜਦਾ ਨਿਤ ਪਕਵਾਨ।
ਕਰਦਾ ਦੁਖੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਸੀ, ਵਿਤੋਂ ਵਧ ਵਧ ਦਾਨ।
ਦ੍ਰਿੜ ਬੜਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਵਿਚ, ਬੋਲ ਤੋਲ ਬਲਵਾਨ।
ਏਦਾਂ ਵੰਡ ਕੇ ਛਕਦਿਆਂ, ਜੀਵਨ ਰਿਹਾ ਬਤੀਤ।
ਹੁਣ ਇਸਦੇ ਇਮਤਿਹਾਨ ਦੀ, ਵਾਰੀ ਆਈ ਮੀਤ।
There is an urgent need to share stories of these brave Sikh martyrs with the youth of Gursikh families who, unfortunately, are turning away from Sikhism by shaving their heads and faces. The martyrdom of such Sikhs who held their Sikh identity dear, despite facing immense challenges, serves as a guiding light. It is crucial for those who question the significance of upholding the Sikh articles of faith, such as the turban and unshorn hair, to reflect on these inspiring accounts.
