Fauja Singh (Sikh leader)

Fauja Singh
Born Fauja Singh
(1936-05-17)May 17, 1936
Gurdaspur, Punjab (British India)
Died April 13, 1978(1978-04-13) (aged 41)
Cause of death Killed in protest against Nirankari
Nationality Indian
Religion Sikhism
Spouse(s) Amarjit Kaur
Parent(s) Surain Singh

Fauja Singh (Gurdaspur, Punjab (British India), May 17, 1936 – Amritsar, April 13, 1978) was one of 13 Sikhs killed during a protest against the Nirankaris in 1978.[1][2]

Early life

Singh was born in District Gurdaspur. His father, Surain Singh, was a middle class farmer.[3] 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.[4]

Baisakhi Day, 1978

On 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

The cremation of the 13 Sikhs took place on 15/4/78 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.[5]

Afterwards

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]

In the year 1989, Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh Charitable Trust was established in city of Amritsar to take care of orphan children of Sikh militants and any other orphan children irrespective of their caste and creed. This trust is being run by Fauja Singh's widow Amarjit Kaur.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Bhai Fauja Singh: Baisakhi Day, 1978 and the Martyrs of Amritsar
  2. ↑ Sikh Orphan Fund - Index
  3. ↑ "Bhai Fauja Singh (1936-1978)". khalsaspirit.com. http://www.khalsaspirit.com/files/ShaheedBhaiFaujaSinghJee.pdf.
  4. ↑ The Sikhs of the Punjab - Google Books
  5. ↑ Sikh Cyber Museum - History
  6. ↑ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
  7. ↑ WSN-Religio-Political news-KAC, Dal Khalsa march for 1978 Martyrs
  8. ↑ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
  9. ↑ The Times of Punjab - The Site of Exclusive News, Daily Newspaper in Punjabi and English
  10. ↑ Shelter home now orphanage - The Times of India
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