Sikh History This Week- June 30, 2023, to july 6, 2023

30th June

1813 Raja Karam Singh became Maharaja of Patiala. Raja Karam succeded Maharaja Sahib Singh at the age of 15. He helped the British in the conflict with the Gorkhas and was rewarded with 16 parganas (district sub-divisions) in Simla Hills as gifts.
1984 Indian government presets its inquiry finding into the operation Bluestar in form of a White paper. Then Governor of Punjab, B.D. Panday resigns.
1989 Babbar Khalsa International Conference, Montreal. Babbar Khalsa organization in Canada held its first conference in Montreal to commemorate the Sikh martyrs who laid their lives for the cause of the Sikh nation. The devout Babbars urged Sikhs to observe memories of their courage annually. About 500 Sikhs attended the conference.

1st July

1745 Martyrdom day of Bhai Taru Singh Ji, in Lahore. Bhai Taru Singh left his mortal remains. On Harbhagat Naranjania’s complaint, Bhai Taru Singh of his village was arrested and accused of providing rations to the Sikhs. Bhai Taru Singh admitted the facts. Nawab Zakaria Khan ordered the removal of his scalp. Bhai Taru Singh said that the Governor would suffer as much torture. And Bhai Taru would take Zakaria Khan along with him to the other world.The Nawab’s orders were carried out on June 27, 1745. The same day Zakaria Khan’s urinary system stopped functioning, puttiung him in great pain. The Qazi addressed Bhai Taru Singh Oh Kafir, what have you done? The Nawab can’t urinate. He is in great pain. Bhai Taru Singh told him to take his shoe and beat it on Zakaria’s head to make him urinate. On the fifth day of shoe beating, Zakaria Khan died on July 1, 1745. On hearing of that the same day Bhai Taru Singh left his mortal remains.
1918 Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered Kashmir and combined it with Sikh State.
1983 By now Indian Government had given gallantry awards to over 50 policemen for killing Sikhs. This was done to boost the morale of the policemen as well as create terror among Sikhs.
1984 Regional Conference at Kamloops.
The attack on the Golden Temple by the Indian army struck the Sikh world like a thunderbolt. All shades of Canadian Sikhs came together at the desecration of the supreme emblem of their faith. Because of the shoratage of time, the Sikh institution’s executives decided to take the Canadian Sikhs into immediate confidence on the kind of action required. This was done by holding regional conferences at Kamloops and Toronto. The Kamloops conference was attended by representatives of all Sikh Societies from Western. While the Toronto Conference was attended by the socities of the eastern region. The Calgary Sikh Society, which was not on good terms with the federation, provided unqualified support for any action the Federation recommended.

2nd July

1978 Reorganisation Of The Sikh Students Federation. Amrik Singh elected the President of All India Sikh Federation.
The Sikh Students Federation was reorganized in response to the Amritsar massacre in which Nirankaris kill 13 Gursikhs who protested their provacations against the Sikh faith. Since the elected official, while ruling Punjab, continually bowed before the Central (Hindu) Government and refused to ban the activities of this gang of bohemians. While simultaneously they addressed various Sikh congregations and spoke against the Nirankaris so that the Sikh masses should not become furious against them for their indifferent (or pro-Nirankari) attitude. Thus this became the starting point of the new phase of the struggle of the Sikh nation. The lead was given by the Sikh Youth under the guidance of the Sikh intelligentsia. They had to fight various platforms: the Hindus, the Communists and some of the pseudo-Akalis, who loved their office more than their nation.

4th July
1955 Indian police entered Darbar Sahib complex and arrested several Akali leaders.
1965 Nalwa conference Ludhiana asserted Sikh’s right to self-determination.

5th July

1856 Nihal Singh, alias Bhai Maharaj Singh, died a hero’s death in the Singapore prison. His death was to the cancer that had developed as a result of his fast while in prison. Bhai MAHARAJ SINGH: Born in village Rabbon, near Malud, Ludhiana Dist. Parents named him Nihal Singh. As a young lad, he went to stay at Bhai Bir Singh’s Dera at Naurangabad. Did sewa for many years, took Amrit at the hands of Bhai Bir Singh, was given the name Bhagwan Singh, and eventually became his chela. The Dera was practically a military camp with 1200 musketmen and 3000 horsemen. It had always been a sanctuary for political refugees. It became the centre of the Sikh revolt against Dogra dominance over the Punjab.
Hira Singh Dogra, the chief minister of the Punjab, attacked the Dera in 1844 with 20000 troops and 50 cannon. Several hundred Sikhs, including General Attar Singh Sandhanwalla, Prince Kashmira Singh and Bhai Bir Singh were killed. Bhagwan Singh became the head of the Dera.
The British, who had been waiting for the right moment to intervene and establish their authority, made their move in 1847. They deported Rani Jinda. The Sikh chiefs revolted, including Bhagwan Singh. He was welcomed by Sikhs saying “Ah Wo Maharaj”, because of his sanctity, thus, soon he came to be referred to as Bhai Maharaj Singh.
1973 Akali Dal initiates the Karnal Morcha.

1984 Nine Sikhs hijacked an Indian Airliner to Lahore (1984).
To protest against the invasion of the Indian army on the Darbar Sahib, nine Sikhs belonging to the Sikh Students Federation hijacked an Indian Airliner from Jammu to Lahore. On January 20, 1986, three of them were sentenced to death, two were sentenced to life-imprisonment and four were acquited. Later in 1989 the death sentence was commuted to life-imprisonment under the orders of a general amnesty. Two of the four acquited were killed by the Indian army while they were returning to India.

6th July
1946 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru assured fruits of freedom for Sikhs. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, first prime minister of India, assured the Sikhs in Calcutta session that all steps will be taken to create a region in which Sikhs could enjoy the fruits of freedom. Such promises remain unfulfilled to date.

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