More than Remembering Bhai Taru Singh

Today at the Gurdwara, we remembered Bhai Taru Singh.

In some way, everyday we remember – his exploits are mentioned in Ardas.  The lines:

Khopreean Luhaiyaan – those that lost their heads/scalps – for my Punjabi Refill brothers/sisters – here you go

and then followed by Sikhi Kesan Suasan Naal Nibahi – “who sustained their Sikhi and Kes til their last breath’)

These lines are usually invoked to remember Bhai Taru Singh.  While the famed feature-length movie would give a better overview, for now I copy from some Sikh history websites.  Our main source comes from Rattan Singh Bhangu, author of Prachin Panth Prakash, and grandson of Bhai Mehtab Singh, who took the head of Massa Rangar for attempting to desecrate Darbar Sahib, just as Sukha and Jinda did to AS Vaidya 246 years later (1986).  Here is a short synopsis:

Hoping that Bhai Taru Singh will help in arresting other Singhs if he embraces Islam, the Governor said to him, “All your sins can be pardoned if you become a Muslim and cut and give me those long hair of yours so that I may make a string of them for weaving my bed.” Bhai Taru Singh said, “I shall keep my faith with these hair and you shall be controlled by my shoes and with these you will die.” The Governor was beside himself with rage on hearing this. He got Bhai Taru Singh mounted on rotating wheels of torture and then from a cobbler got his scalp removed so that hair may not grow again. After that he got him thrown in a ditch.

In the evening the Governor could not pass urine. When the efforts of the physicians failed, the Governor sent Bhai Subeg Singh to seek pardon from Bhai Taru Singh. He sent him to the leader of Dal Khalsa. The leader said, “The Governor can pass urine if he is hit on the head with the shoe of Bhai Taru Singh but he will die before Bhai Taru Singh.[link]

And so it was Zakria Khan, the barbarous governor of Punjab, was hit on the head with Bhai Taru Singh’s shoe and survived for 22 days, before finally dying.  Bhai Taru Singh left this life soon after.

Since that time in 1745, the life of Bhai Taru Singh has been an inspiration for all Sikhs.