The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 7 of 15
Bhai
Randhir Singh da Jatha/Akhand Kirtani Jatha
cont'd
The A.K.J. biographies of Fauja Singh also
speak of other incidents involving him, which
further demonstrate his fanatical militant character.
It is said that he once rescued a Hindu woman
from being molested by the Police. Later, in
1972, the A.K.J. claim that some Hindus had
desecrated Adi Guru Durbar in Misri Bajar, and
it was Fauja Singh who managed to capture these
desecrators and punished them severely.
In 1975, Fauja Singh was again involved in
upholding the Sikh cause by protecting another
Adi Guru Durbar at Gurdwara Bhai Salo. This
incident was played down by the S.G.P.C., which
inflamed Fauja Singh. Fauja Singh saw this as
pure cowardice on the part
of the Sikh leaders.
Fauja Singh
Fauja Singh seen here dressed as a Nihang Singh
adorning an
'Aad Chand' (half-moon crescent signifying Shiv
Swaroop) on his 'Dumalla' (conical turban)
After 1975, Fauja Singh left his job in Amritsar
and began his program to revitalize the Khalsa
spirit. In a poem of his he says:
‘…..the Jot
(Light) in the Khalsa was disappearing and
we will again awaken it.’
Source: www.tapoban.org/fauja.htm
As Fauja Singh’s plan came together,
in July 1976, he and his associates of A.K.J.
youth began touring villages around Punjab in
an attempt to convert more youth into their
brand of simple fiery fundamentalist Sikhism.
He deliberately chose to ignore Punjabi towns
believing that townsfolk were 'not spirited
enough' to sacrifice themselves for the Sikh
cause. He was looking for potential martyrs
and in his poems, he lamented at the pathetic
state of then Sikhism. He pledged to sacrifice
his head to uphold the glory of Sikhism. The
ideology that Fauja Singh propagated was that
Sikhism was analogous to a plant that required
the blood of martyrs to nourish it at least
once every 50 years.
It was with this framework of mind that Fauja
Singh and his followers went to confront the
Sant Nirankaris in 1978 (for more informaton
on Sant Nirankaris, click here).
The Sant Nirankaris, who had gathered in Amritsar
for a congregation, were considered by the A.K.J.
and other fanatical Sikhs, as being enemies
of the Sikh faith. The A.K.J. version of the
confrontation is given below:
‘On the day of Visakhi
13th April 1978 about 125 Singhs went to
peacefully protest against the Nirankari
procession and against Nakali Nirankari
Gurbachan Singhs insults against the Guru’s.
Bhai Fauja Singh was barefooted and all
the Singhs were reciting Gurbani. The Nakali
Nirankari army fired at the unarmed Singhs,
and Bhai Fauja Singh and 12 other Singhs
became Shaheeds and 70-75 Singhs were wounded.
After this Shaheedi the Leaders
and Jathedars of the Panth stated that Bhai
Fauja Singh and the other Singhs had given
“Shaheedi” for the great task
from which we had been hiding.
They had not only woken the Panth, but also
made us stronger, so that we can pay more
attention to this in the future.’
Source: www.tapoban.org/fauja.htm
Nirankaris
The late Gurbachan Singh Nirankari (seated second
from left),
the late head of the Sant Nirankaris with the
late Indra Gandhi (right)
Upon Fauja Singh’s death, his wife Bibi
Amarjit Kaur created the militant/terrorist
wing of the A.K.J. known as the 'Babbar
Khalsa', to avenge the death of her
husband.
Aftermath of 1978
Amolak Singh (center), one of the followers
of the late
Fauja Singh is consoled by Jarnail Singh Khalsa
'Bhindrawaley' (third from left)
