Sakhi Series: Akaali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji
When Hanuman Singh Ji became the leader, it was a very difficult time for the Sikhs.
Akaali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji was an important leader in Sikh history. He was born in November 1755 to parents Baba Garja Singh Ji and Mata Harnam Kaur Ji. As he grew up, Hanuman Singh Ji became a brave warrior. He fought in many big battles alongside two famous Sikh leaders, Akaali Baba Naina Singh Ji and Akaali Baba Phula Singh Ji. These two leaders were in charge of a group called the Budha Dal before Hanuman Singh Ji.
In 1823, something important happened. Akaali Phula Singh Ji died in a battle at a place called Naushera. After this, Hanuman Singh Ji became the new leader of a group called the Akaali Nihangs. He was 68 years old at the time. He also became the leader of a very important Sikh religious place called Akaal Takht Sahib.
Standing tall as the pillar of strength
When Hanuman Singh Ji became the leader, it was a very difficult time for the Sikhs. Many big changes were happening. The powerful ruler of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had died from a sickness. After his death, some of his family members who were supposed to rule next were killed. Then, a group called the Dogras did something very bad. They helped give control of the Sikh government, called the Lahore Darbar, to the British. At the same time, the British were making plans to take over Punjab completely. All of these events made Hanuman Singh Ji's job as a leader very challenging.
Sardar Sham Singh Attari, a trusted Sikh general, traveled to the city of Amritsar. He was looking for help to fight against the British. So, he went to see Jathedar Hanuman Singh, an important Sikh leader.
They met at the Akaal Takht, a holy place for Sikhs. Sham Singh spoke to Baba Hanuman Singh, saying, "Baba Ji, I wish to fight against the British, but have no army. I have no more then myself and my sons."
Baba Ji replied "Oh Singh Ji, who does this Akaali fauj belong to, if not to the Sikh nation."
Later, during a big fight called the Battle of Sabroan, Sardar Sham Singh Ji and many other brave Sikh warriors died fighting. They were called martyrs because they gave their lives for their cause. Even though they lost their lives, they managed to hurt the British army badly.
After the battle, Baba Hanuman Singh Ji and the Sikhs who were still alive decided to set up camp in Patiala. Patiala was a small kingdom ruled by Sikhs. The king of Patiala was Maharaja Karam Singh. When he heard that the Guru's knights (another name for the Sikh warriors) were in his kingdom, he got scared. Karam Singh had helped the British before, and he was afraid the Sikh army might be angry with him. Because of his fear, he told the British where to find Jathedar Hanuman Singh and the Sikh army.
Baba Ji and his Sikh soldiers found themselves in a difficult situation. They were completely surrounded by the British army and their allies. These allies included Sikh rulers who had chosen to side with the British, such as the princes of Patiala, Jind, and Faridkot. These rulers were seen as traitors by Baba Ji and his followers.
The battle began when the British forces and their Sikh supporters started firing cannons at Baba Ji's army. The attack was devastating. Many Sikh soldiers lost their lives in this fierce battle. It happened at a place where the Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran now stands in Patiala district. According to official records, about 15,000 Sikhs died there. However, the Budha Dal, a Sikh organization, believes the number was much higher. They say that 32,000 Sikh soldiers became martyrs during this fight.
Not everyone in Baba Ji's army fell in the initial attack. The leader of the Sikh army, Jathedar Baba Hanuman Singh Ji, survived along with about 500 Nihang warriors. Nihangs are a group of Sikh fighters known for their bravery. Despite facing heavy cannon fire from the British, these survivors kept fighting. They used whatever weapons they had - swords, bows and arrows, axes, and some old-fashioned guns called matchlocks.
The battle continued until the Sikh warriors ran out of gunpowder for their matchlocks. By this time, thousands of Sikh soldiers had already died fighting. In the end, even the brave leader of the Khalsa army, Akali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji, fell in battle. He was 90 years old when he died fighting for the freedom of Punjab and its people.
The warrior’s dusk
After Baba Hanuman Singh died as a martyr, Akaali Baba Prehlada Singh Ji became the 8th leader of the Akaali Nihang Singh Khalsa. This was a difficult time for the group. The British rulers had ordered their soldiers to shoot and kill any Nihang Singhs they saw. Because of this danger, Baba Prehlada Singh decided to travel to the holy Takht Sahib at Nander. He wanted to gather the Akaali army there and make new plans. The Nihang Singhs who were left had two choices. Some went with Baba Ji to Hazoor Sahib. Others moved to hide in the forests of Punjab and Rajputana. They did this to keep the traditions of the Guru's army alive.
There is a special place called Gurdwara Sohana Sahib Ji. It is in the Mohali district of Punjab. This gurdwara was built where Baba Hanuman Singh Ji died as a martyr. It stands as a memorial to honor this brave leader of the Sikh nation. People can visit this place to remember and pay respect to Baba Ji.
Baba Ji lived his life as a true Khalsa. This means he followed the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in everything he did. His life was an example of devotion and courage. As the poet Bhagat Kabir Ji once wrote in beautiful words that are still remembered today:
ਗਗਨ ਦਮਾਮਾ ਬਾਜਿਓ ਪਰਿਓ ਨੀਸਾਨੈ ਘਾਉ ॥
The battle-drum beats in the sky of the mind; aim is taken, and the wound is inflicted.
ਖੇਤੁ ਜੁ ਮਾਂਡਿਓ ਸੂਰਮਾ ਅਬ ਜੂਝਨ ਕੋ ਦਾਉ ॥੧॥
The spiritual warriors enter the field of battle; now is the time to fight!
ਸੂਰਾ ਸੋ ਪਹਿਚਾਨੀਐ ਜੁ ਲਰੈ ਦੀਨ ਕੇ ਹੇਤ ॥
He alone is known as a spiritual hero, who fights in defense of religion.
ਪੁਰਜਾ ਪੁਰਜਾ ਕਟਿ ਮਰੈ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਛਾਡੈ ਖੇਤੁ ॥੨॥੨॥
He may be cut apart, piece by piece, but he never leaves the field of battle
*Based on an article published in tuhitublogpost.com on 6th April 2016