Fauja Singh (Gurdaspur, Punjab (British India), May 17, 1936 – Amritsar, April 13, 1978) was one of 13 Sikhs killed at violence during a protest against the Sant Nirankaris in 1978.[1]
Fauja Singh | |
|---|---|
 Photograph of Fauja Singh giving a speech to American Sikhs at the Gurdaspur jail | |
| Born | Fauja Singh May 17, 1936 |
| Died | April 13, 1978 (aged 41) |
| Cause of death | Killed in protest[citation needed] against Nirankari |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Amarjit Kaur |
| Parent | Surain Singh |
| Signature | |
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Early life
editSingh was born in District Gurdaspur. His father, Surain Singh, was a middle class farmer.[2] After the formation of Pakistan they moved to the village of Gazneepur, which is 6 miles on the Gurdaspur Dera Baba Nanak road.
In 1964, he got baptised by taking Khande di Pahul (also called Amrit Sanchar) at a smagam organised by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha. On Vaisakhi 1965 his marriage took place with Amarjit Kaur.
Professionally, he was an agriculture inspector.[3]
Baisakhi Day, 1978
editOn the day of Vaisakhi 13 April 1978 Sikhs led by Fauja Singh went to protest against the Nirankari procession and against Nirankari Gurbachan Singh's apparent insults against the Gurus. 16 people including 13 Sikhs were killed in the ensuing clashes.
Cremation
editThe cremation of the 13 Sikhs took place on April 15, 1978, in front of Gurdwara Siri Ramsar Sahib and in the presence of a large congregation of about 25-30,000 people. All these Sikhs were cremated together. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale also attended the cremation.[4]
Afterwards
editIn the year 1989, Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh Charitable Trust was established in city of Amritsar to take care of orphan children of Sikh martyrs and any other orphan children irrespective of their caste and creed. This trust is being run by Fauja Singh's widow Amarjit Kaur.[5]
In April 2003, A Sikh gathering held at village Pheruman, 40 kilometers from city of Amritsar paid tributes to Fauja Singh and other 12 Sikhs who died in April 1978. Chief of supreme Sikh authority Akal Takhat addressed this event.[6]
In April 2009, in the city of Amritsar, Khalsa Action Committee and Dal Khalsa activists declared Fauja Singh and other 12 Sikhs "martyrs of faith".[7] Dal Khalsa separately paid homage to Fauja Singh.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ Bhai Fauja Singh: Baisakhi Day, 1978 and the Martyrs of Amritsar
- ^ "Bhai Fauja Singh (1936-1978)". khalsaspirit.com. http://www.khalsaspirit.com/files/ShaheedBhaiFaujaSinghJee.pdf.
- ^ The Sikhs of the Punjab - Google Books
- ^ "Sikh Cyber Museum - History". Archived from the original on 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Shelter home now orphanage - The Times of India
- ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
- ^ WSN-Religio-Political news-KAC, Dal Khalsa march for 1978 Martyrs
- ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
- ^ "The Times of Punjab - The Site of Exclusive News, Daily Newspaper in Punjabi and English". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-05-12.