The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 7 of 8
Bedis
cont'd
During February 1801, Ranjit Singh had installed
himself as ‘Maharaja’
(King). It was Sahib Singh Bedi
who presided over the ancient Hindu ‘Kyshatriya’
(warrior) coronation ceremonies conducted by
Brahmins. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, in gratitude
gave Baba Sahib Singh a ‘Jagir’
(ownership) of 78 villages in Una. Ranjit Singh
always looked upon Baba Sahib Singh as a ‘Guru’,
in context of a spiritual guide and mentor.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Bahadur
'Sher-e-Punjab' (Lion of Punjab) who was consecrated
is Maharaja by Sahib Singh Bedi on 12th April
1801 in Lahore
It is said that it was Baba Sahib Singh who
had saved the life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
as a child. When Maha Singh, father of Ranjit
Singh died, many Sikh Missl ‘Sirdars’
(chieftains) came to pay their respects. Amongst
them were some of Maha Singh’s old enemies.
During this mourning, some of these Sirdars
decided to murder the toddler Ranjit Singh.
Ranjit Singh’s mother came to hear of
this plot, and took herself and her child to
Baba Sahib Singh. As these Sirdars approached
to kill Ranjit Singh, his mother hid him under
the bed of Baba Sahib Singh. Baba Sahib Singh,
and Bhai Mansa Singh, a learned servant in Baba
Sahib Singh’s employment confronted these
Sirdars and with their wise words turned the
Sirdars away. Hence, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was
always very fond of Baba Sahib Singh, his childhood
savior.
Another great comrade of Baba Sahib Singh Bedi
was the Jathedar of the Budha Dal and Akal Takht,
96 Crore Jathedar Singh Sahib Akali Nihang Baba
Phoola Singh Ji. Akali Nihang Baba
Phoola Singh once had a confrontation with the
British.
96 Crore Jathedar Akali Nihang Baba
Phoola Singh
An enamel miniature depicting the fifth 'Jathedar'
(commander-in-chief) of the Akali Nihang Singh
Khalsa and Akal Takht (died 1823)
The British demanded that Ranjit Singh arrest
the Jathedar of Akal Takht, and hand him over
to them. According to Budha Dal oral tradition,
it was Baba Sahib Singh who persuaded the great
warrior Baba Phoola Singh to cease hostilities
with the British, and go to Amritsar with him.
Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh comments:
‘Akali Phoola Singh
came here to Dam Dama Sahib. From here,
he launched an attack to Anandpur. All their
[British] military posts he destroyed. The
Angrez complained to Ranjit Singh: “They
[Akali Nihangs] have caused great damage.
Who are they? Why did you not stop them?”
He [Ranjit Singh], then from Raol fort sent
a force under command of Moti Ram to Anandpur
to go and capture Akali Phoola Singh Ji.
The army went and laid down their arms.
They said:
“We have been initiated into the Khalsa
by him and become Singhs. How can we fight
him.”
The army threw down it’s weapons Ranjit
Singh could do nothing. Then Baba Sahib
Singh Bedi of Una came. He was a descendent
of Guru Nanak. He said to Akali Phoola Singh
Ji: “Oh Singh Ji these Angrez
are to come and make their Kingdom. They
are going to do everything. So why do all
this. Lets go to Amritsar. ”
Sahib Singh took him to Amritsar. To capture
him they had come. But who was to capture
him. They were initiated into the Khalsa
from here [Budha Dal]. They became Singhs
from here. They all threw down their weapons
saying: “We do not want to fight.
”
Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh, transcript
of interview on 27-10-1999
