13th January

1588:     Foundation stone of Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, laid by Sain Mia Mir.

Foundation stone of Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, was laid down by the renowned Sufi Saint of Qadiry order, Mir Mohamed Khan, popularly known as Hazarat Mian Mir of Lahore. Sri Harimandir Sahib, unlike any other place of worship, was built at a lower level than the surrounding area. It has doors on all four sides, signifying both humanity and universalism and that it was open to people of all the denominations.

1761:     Janam Din Akali Phula Singh Ji.

PHULA SINGH AKALI was son of Siha village (Bangar) resident Eshwar Singh. After being introduced to amrit through Nihangh Singh (of Naena Singh Shaheedhi misl), he assumed the name Phula Singh. He was one of the precious flowers of Kalgidhar’s Akali garden. He led the Akali movement in restoration of our Gurudwaras and general improvement of the whole Panth. He traveled extensively in pursuit of Gurudwara reforms. However, he maintained his residence in Amritsar. Even today there is a “burgh” and an establishment, named after him, in Amritsar. Akali Phula Singh helped Maharaja Ranjit Singh fight and successfully win numerous wars. He was so true to his faith and strong in his principles that he did not hesitate in pointing Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s lapses in public forums. Further he actively sought appropriate punishment (Tankha) for such lapses.

1764:     Conquest of Sirhind by the Khalsa Dal.

Sirhind was attacked and successfully conquered by the Khalsa Dal. The city was plundered and the walls of the fort were pulled down. Sirhind is the place where the younger sahibzadas, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Fateh Singh Ji, were bricked alive at this place. Ahmed Shah Abdali’s proclation to blow up Sri Harminder Sahib was answered by the total demolition of Sirhind.

1849:     Battle of ChellianWala fought between Khalsa Army and East India Company resulting in tremendous loss of lives on both sides.

1913:     Walls of the Gurudwara RakabGanj forcibly demolished by the British Government.

1974:     Harbhajan Singh Yogi was honored with the title of “Bhai Sahib” at Sri Akal Takhat, Amritsar. He had been honored for his contributions for the American Sikh movement that accounted for 500,000 of American decent.

14th January

1553: Guru Amar Das visits Kurukshetra.

The solar eclipse of “Abijit Nakshatra (recurring after about 25 years) brought Guru Amar Das and his Sikhs to Kurukshetra for preaching Guru Nanak’s mission to the vast multitude. It led to discussions with yogis, naked ascetics, sanyasis and the followers of all the six schools of Hindu philosophy. The earlier solar eclipse had taken Guru Nanak to Kurukshetra, known as a big centre for pilgrimage on such an occasion.

1705: Mela Maaghi (Muktsar) in remembrance of 40 Muktas.

Mela is observed every year at Muktsar. Guru Gobind Singh cast off the blue dress that he used for his escape at Dhilmi. He then moved on to Talwandi and was at Rohi when a group of 40 Sikhs from Majha, accompanied by Mata Bhag Kaur, visited him. They were visiting to convey their condolences at the death of his four sons and his mother, and also to offer their services to mediate a compromise between the Guru and the Mughal authorities. However, the Guru put them on the defensive by narrating the series of Mughal atrocities from Guru Arjan’s martyrdom through Guru Hargobind’s incarceration for several years at Gawalior, Guru Tegh Bahadhur’s martyrdom to the laying of the seige of Anandpur.

1761: Abdali destoyed Panipat but the Sikhs faced him in Goindwal and rescued their honor.

15th January

1350: Bhagat Namdev Ji passed away. Annual mela observations are held in village Ghumaan, district Gurdaspur.

16th January

1766:     Sirdar Chadat Singh Sukarchakia killed Hameed Khan and captured Gujrawala.

1841:     Chand Kaur defended Lahore against Sher Singh’s attack with the help of Gulab Singh. Fort was well defended by Gulab Singh and Gardner. Dhian Singh returned to Lahore. Sher Singh lost about 5000 men. And Gulab Singh left fort and Lahore and carried away great wealth.

1923:     First abortive attempt is made to kill Arjan Singh Patwari of Haripur. He was alledged to be responsible for Master Mota Singh’s arrest.

17th January

1766:     Jahan Khan, the Commander of Ahmed Shah Abdali’s forces, attacked Amritsar. The united forces of the Sikh Misls, faced Jahan Khan and successfully deafeated the enemy forces at Putlighar, on the outskirts of Amritsar.1846   The Khalsa Army of Ranjit Singh ransacked a garrision of East India Company at Ludhiana.

1872:     Baba Ram Singh, Naamdhari Leader, was arrested by the British government. He was subsequently exiled from India.

1872:     42 Naamdhari GurSikhs, accused of seccisionist acts, were bown-up at Malaerkotla, after being tied with the cannons while one boy was cut to pieces. These executions were carried out under orders of Mr. L. Cowan, Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana, Malaerkotla.

1922:     All Akalis arrested in connection with the Keys agitation are released.

1925:     A jatha of 500 Akali Sikhs, led by Lakha Singh JahanShah (Gujran Wala), ready to lay down their lives was stooped from proceeding to Gangsar, Jaito – the place of Sikh agitation, and arrested.

19th January

1908: First Gurdwara Sahib in Canada 19th,1908 the was officially opened at 1866 west 2nd Avenue Vancouver B.C., under the management of the Khalsa Diwan Society. This Gurdwara Sahib served the Greater Vancouver Sikh community until new Gurdwara Sahib was occupied on April 25th,1970. The 2nd Avenue property was sold for $100,000 to build a bigger (present) Gurdwara Sahib. It was very unfortunate to lose this historical Sikh monument.