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Baba Deep
Singh
Baba Deep singh was born on the 20th January 1682 A.D. in the village
Pahuwind district Amritsar and his father's name was Bhai Bhagtu. He went to
Anandpur on the Vaisakhi of 1700 A.D., where after obtaining baptism (into
Sikhism) he started learning weaponry and riding from the Sikhs. From Bhai Mani
singh he began learning reading and writing Gurmukhi and interpretation of
Guru's word. After spending two years at the Guru's institution, he returned to
his village in 1702 A.D. got married and started living there. He went to Guru
Gobind Singh at Talwandi Sabo in 1705 AD where he helped Bhai Mani singh in
making copies of Guru Granth sahib. After the Guru sahib left for Delhi, he took
up the service of looking after Gurudwara Damdama sahib.
In 1709 A.D., he joined Baba Banda singh Bahadur in chastising the tyrants of
Sadhaura and Sirhind. in 1733 A.D. Nawab Kapoor singh Singhpuria appointed him a
leader of one squad. On Vaisakhi day of 1748 A.D., when Dal Khalsa was
reorganized into twelve misls, he was entrusted with the leadership of Shaheedan
Misl. In April 1757 A.D., Abdali during his fourth invasion was returning to
Kabul from Delhi with precious booty and young men and women as captives, Singhs
made a plan to rob him of the valuables and set the prisoners free. The squad of
Baba Deep singh was deployed near Kurukshetra. His squad freed large number of
prisoners and lightened the burden of valuables of Abdali considerably. While
departing from Lahore, Abdali appointed his son Taimur Shah, the Governor of
Lahore and told him, "Try to finish the Sikhs". In Accordance with his orders
Taimur Shah started demolishing Gurudwaras and filling the holy pools with
debris.
When Baba Deep singh came to know of the demolition of Harminder Sahib, he
narrated it to the congregation of Damdama Sahib and said, "Diwali will be
celebrated at Amritsar this year." Five hundred Singhs came forward to go with
him. Baba Deep Singh offered prayers before starting for Amritsar, "My head may
fall at Harminder Sahib." By the time squad reached Taran Tarn the number of
Singhs going with Baba Deep Singh reached approximately Five thousand.
At the news of the approach of Singhs, the Governor of Lahore sent his
general with an army of Twenty thousand to face them. His army took up positions
Six miles north of Amritsar and waited for the Singhs there. Both the armies
clashed near Gohalwar on the 11th November, 1757 A.D.Fighting bravely Singhs
pushed the army back and reached village Chabba where General Attal Khan came
forward and inflicted a blow on Baba Deep Singh ji which made his neck lean to
one side. A Sikh reminded him, "You had resolved to reach the periphery of the
pool." On hearing the talk of the Sikh, he supported his head with his left hand
and removing the enemies from his way with the strokes of his double-edged sword
with his right hand,reached the periphery of Harmindar Sahib where he breathed
his last. The Singhs celebrated the Diwali of 1757 A.D. in Harminder Sahib.
Salute to great Sikh Warrior Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji.
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