SAKA NANKANA SAHIBMASSACRE AT NANKANA SAHIB

Nankana Sahib Gurudwara Nankana Sahib is the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Great Master.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh had attached handsome landed properties to many of the Gurdwaras. The earlier Mahants were devoted Sikhs and true missionaries. Later mahants were corrupted. They started treating the Gurdwara properties as their personal wealth. Mahant Narayan Das was the mahant of Gurudwara Nanakana Sahib In the early 20th century.

This Gurdwara had a property of over 19000 acres of highly fertile land, which yielded enormous income per year. Money and the power made the Mahant corrupt. He started using the Gurdwara’s money for his personal gains. Being an Udassi, he opposed ‘Khalsa Rahat Maryada’ (Sikh code of conduct). He had kept a Muslim girl as his mistress. Dance girls were frequently called to Gurdwara. These girls performed dance and sung obscene songs within the holy premises. The Mahant arranged a dance show by a prostitute near the holy Gurdwara In 1917. A retired A.A.C. officer visited the Gurdwara with his 13 years old daughter to offer prayers In 1918. One of the Mahant’s rogues raped the minor girl in a room within the Gurdwara premises. The father of the girl lodged complaint with the Mahant and requested him to take action against the rogue, but, the Mahant ignored his request.

In the same year, six young female devotees from Jaranwal village (Lyallpur) visited the Gurdawara on Puranmashi (full Moon) to pay their offerings at Gurdwara. These girls were also raped. These issues were brought to the notice of the public through The Akali (Punjabi), published from Lahore by Master Sunder Singh Lyallpuri, a true patriot and the founder of the Akali Movement and Shiromani Akali Dal.

Lyallpuri belonged village Bohoru, which was located close to Nankana Sahib. He protested against the debauchery of the Mahant in the nearby villages and continued to organise Sikhs for a dynamic movement to bring reforms to the Gurdwaras. In October 1920, a congregation was held at Dharowal, District Sheikhupura (now in Pakistan) to introduce reforms in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The leaders informed the gathering of devotees about the corrupt practices followed by the Mahant of the Gurdwara Nankana sahib.

A management committee was formed On November 15, 1920 to manage the Gurudwaras properly. The movement of Gurdwara Sudhar (Reform) Lehar (Movement) was started on December 14, 1920. A political party named Shiromani Akali Dal was also formed.

Shiromani Committee held a general meeting on January 24, 1921 and decided to hold a Dewan (congregation) in Nankana Sahib on March 4, 5 and 6 and advise Mahant to hand over the Gurdwara to the Committee. On February 14, Mahant held a secret meeting with his associates to chalk out a secret plan to kill the Sikh leaders at Nankana Sahib on March 5. Mahant recruited 400 hooligans including fierce Pathans to oppose the Sikhs.

He succeeded in getting the arm licenses through some government officials. With the help of the government, he collected guns, pistols, arms and ammunition from Lahore. He brought and stored fourteen tins of paraffin. He got the Gurdwara gate strengthened with holes in it to fire bullets. He also hired some criminals for protection of the shrine. The Shiromani Committee made an effort to resolve the issue by talking to the Mahant but he did not turn up after repeated efforts of the committee. Ultimately, The Shiromani Committee decided to meet the Mahant on March 3, 1921 to advise him to hand over the charge of the Gurdwara to the committee.

Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Farooqabad, Pakistan

The Committee got information from its intelligence sources that Mahant was planning to kill Sikh leaders with the help of hired gundas during their planned meeting on March 3. Therefore, the Sikh leaders met at Gurdwara Khara Sauda on 16, 1921 to chalk out the future course of action. Committee also got the information that Mahant was going to Lahore on February 20, 1921. Therefore, it was decided that jathas (squads) led by Bhai Lachhman Singh and by Bhai Kartar Singh Virk (alias Jhabbar) would meet at Chander Kot on the February 19. From that location, they would reach Nankana Sahib early in the morning of February 20. It was decided to take charge of Gurdwara in his absence of the Mahant.

Later, the committee got the information that the Mahant had changed his plan to go to Lahore on February 20. Therefore, the Parbhandak Committee held another meeting in the office of Akali Patrika (News paper) on February 19. During this meeting, it was decided that the squads would not go to Nankana Sahib on February 20. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar was present in the meeting. He was asked to inform the new decision of the committee to Bhai Lachhman Singh. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar dispatched Bhai Waryam Singh to stop the other squad at Chanderkot. Meanwhile, in accordance with the original programme, Bhai Lachchman Singh reached Chander Kot with his squad of about one hundred and fifty Sikhs before the arrival of Bhai Waryama Singh on the night of the February 19. He waited for the squad of Bahia Kartar Singh Jhabbar for some time. During this time, Bhai Lachhman Singh convinced the squad that they would remain peaceful under all circumstances. Thereafter, the squad prayed for their success in the Nobel cause. When, the Squad was about to move forward, Bhai Waryam Singh arrived. He showed them the letter conveying the new decision of the Committee. Bhai Tehal Singh Said that they had resolved to go to Nankana Sahib and cold not change their decision at that stage. The squad moved ahead as per their original plan following Bhai Tehal Singh.

Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, Pakistan The Squad arrived at Nankana Sahjib in the early morning on February 20. People bathed in the holy pool and entered the premises of Gurdwara at 0600 hrs. Bhai Lachchma Singh sat in ‘Taabiya’ (Behind Guru Granth Sahib). The Mahant was aware of the squad’s arrival at Chander kot in the evening of February 19. He collected his men at night and briefed them about his action plan.

NANKANA SAHIB MASSACRE After the squad settled in the Gurdwara, the Mahant signaled his men to execute the predetermined plan. The main gate of the Gurdwara was closed and Mahant’s men started firing at the devotees. Twenty six Sikhs were killed due to the firing in the courtyard while about sixty devotees remained sitting peacefully inside the Gurdwara Sahib and faced the bullets without any resistance. When the Mahant’s men saw that the devotees were determined and showed no sign of resistance, they came down with swords and choppers. Any Sikh found breathing was cut to pieces.

Historical Jand tree at Nankana Sahib, Pakistan The dead and the dying Sikhs were dragged to a pile of the logs of wood; paraffin was poured on these bodies to burn them. Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali, who was wounded with gun shot was tied to a Jand tree and burnt alive. Hearing the sound of the gun fire, Bhai Dalip singh and Bhai Waryam Singh, who were sitting in the factory of Bhai Uttam Singh rushed towards the Gurdwara. When the Mahant saw them coming, he shot Bhai Dalip Singh with his pistol while his men had cut Bhai Waryam Singh to pieces.

Sardar Uttam Singh conveyed the news by telegram through Sardar Karam Singh Station Master at Nankana Sahib Railway station to the Governore of Punjab, commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of police and Sikh centers at 0915 hrs. Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Curry reached at 1230 hrs, while Commissioner; Mr. King arrived at 2130 hrs. Twenty Pathans were arrested and the Gurdwara was locked. City was handed over to Army, which cordoned it to restrict any Akali movement to take over Gurdwara.

Jathedar Kartar Singh ji Virk (Jhabbar) Sardar Kartar Singh Jhabbar arrived with his Squad on February 21. Deputy Commissioner warned him that if he tried to enter city with his squad, army would open fire on them. Kartar Singh Jhabbar and his jatha (squad) of twenty two hundred Sikhs kept moving towards city. At last, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Curry handed over the keys of Gurdwara to Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar. The bodies of the devotees were cremated according to Sikh tradition at 0730 hrs on February 22. An urdu newspaper called ‘Zamindara’ wrote in its editorial of February 23, 1921 that Muslims were shamelessness as they helped the Mahant. Muslims were warned that the cup of their shamelessness and impudence was full at that time. Editor felt ashamed as the guns and swords of Muslims were used against the devotees who had gone to Nankana Sahib to perform their religious duty. The editor warned the people that they were not fit to be called Muslims and they were worse than infidels. Mahant and 20 Pathans were tried by British Government. Mahant and couple of Pathans got death sentence for killing more than 50 peaceful devotees.

The news of the Nankana Sahib massacre was a great shock to the whole country. Sir Edward Maclagan, Governor of the Punjab, visited the site on February 22.

Mahatma Gandhi reached Nankana Sahib on March 03. Mahatma Gandhi acknowledged the movement by saying that the peaceful and passive resistance of the Sikhs had brought the glory and the prestige to the India’s Struggle for freedom. He was accompanied by the following Muslim leaders

Princess Bamba Duleep Singh, daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, accompanied by Sir Jogendra Singh also reached Nankana Sahib to offer her homage to the the martyrs.

This saka (demonstration or agitation) displayed the unprecedented discipline, self-control and exemplary patience displayed by the peaceful Sikh protesters even in the face of extreme barbarism.

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