Shaheed Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

Thirst For Martyrdom: Shaheed Bhai Anokh Singh jee Babbar

Taken From So Kaheeat Hai Soora, Sept. 2004

Translated by Admin www.tapoban.org

Introduction

Shaheedee (martyrdom) is the lifeblood of a community. Shaheedee revives dying communities and creates the thirst for freedom. But martyrdom only goes only to blessed souls. A normal person is born, lives life and in the end dies. But a Shaheed chooses his own death and for the sake of his people, abandons a life of pleasure and goes on the path of the gallows. To give a selfless Shaheedee is perhaps the greatest task in the world. Very few warriors vow to become shaheeds, but among these was the brave warrior of the Sikh Kharkoo movement, Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar.

Childhood

Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar was born in the home of Bapoo MakhaN Singh and mother NiranjaN Kaur in village VaRing Sooba Singh in Amritsar district. Bhai Sahib was one of four brothers: Bhai Joga Singh, Bhai Santokh Singh, Bhai Anokh Singh and Bhai Hardeep Singh. The entire family was amritdhari and Gursikh.

Bhai Anokh Singh was from childhood of a quiet and spiritual disposition. While working around the house he would recite gurbaaNee. Bhai Sahib graduated and after his education, become and inspector in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. According to his companions, where Bhai Anokh Singh did his duty with integrity and commitment, he used to also encourage those near him to do their jobs without greed (without embezzling or taking bribes). Bhai Sahib believed that money from the Guru Ghar was like poison for a Gursikh (and thus could never take it). It was meant for helping society and serving the poor only.

Bhai Sahib and the Panth's Property

One of Bhai Anokh Singh's greatest qualities was that he never misused the Panth's money. Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sakheera's sister was married to Bhai Anokh Singh's brother Bhai Santokh Singh. When Satguru jee gave Bhai Santokh Singh the gift of a son, Bhai Anokh Singh went to see the newborn. He took two rupees out of his pocket and gave it as a gift to the baby. Bhai Anokh Singh's sister-in-law was surprised and said jokingly to Bhai Sahib, "Brother Anokh Singh, you're such a big Jujhaaroo Singh and at the birth of your brother's son, all you're giving is two rupees?"

Bhai Anokh Singh, recognizing his sister's annoyance replied, "Bhabee jee, even this money seems too much to me. These two rupees are the Panth's property and I don't want that my family's newborn should use any of the Panth's money."

When Bhai Anokh Singh was first arrested by the Daehlo(n) police, his brother Bhai Santokh Singh came to meet him at his court appearance in Ludhiana. Bhai Anokh Singh called him close and told him one thing: "If the police make me a shaheed, don't sell my blood [try to profit from my death]." Not only that, he used to visit home to take the dasvandh from the family's crops. If Bapoo MakhaN Singh or another family complained of the family's money-situation, and asked that the dasvandh not be taken, Bhai Sahib would reply, "Keep a full account, to every penny. Dasvandh is the Guru's and you have no right to it."

Shaheedee

Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar had a great desire to die for the Guru's cause. Bhai Anokh Singh used to say, "May I be a Shaheed and may the enemy even cut me piece by piece, but no cry of pain should come from me." When Bhai Sahib's companions freed him from Ludhiana, Bhai Sahib used to say, "After so long Shaheedee came near and I had to run. I was tested and I failed." Bhai Sahib used to tell his father Bhai MakhaN Singh, "Bapoo jee, when the Sikh Sangat does a road block or surrounds a police station (called a Ghirao in Punjabi), you too should go. If you are hit by a bullet, then you will achieve martyrdom, which only comes with great luck."

Finally, this warrior who welcomed death was arrested while riding his bike by the Jalandhar Police. After bringing him to Vairovaal Police Station (dist. Amritsar), Bhai Sahib was unspeakably tortured. His hip was broken and using a bayonet, his eyes were removed. While he was doing simran, Bhai Sahib's tongue was cut out. Two foot long bars were heated and then hammered from the soles of his feet up to his knees. Heated rods were put through his chest and one was put through his skull. But this brave son of Dashmesh Pita kept doing ardaas that his kesh and Sikhi would remain intact till his final breath. Seeing Bhai Anokh Singh's avasthaa of doing simran with every breath, a well known butcher police official [sSP Azhar Alam] was shocked. In the end, Bhai Sahib's badly broken and wounded body was shot. But the Shaheed's soul had already, with the power of naam, been liberated from the body.

Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar's amazing Shaheedee proved that even today in the Sikh community, there are still the souls of the shaheeds of the 18th century. (It should also be noted that after Bhai Sahib's Shaheedee, his father Bapoo MakhaN Singh was also abducted by the police and martyred after heavy torture).

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

[lowest of the low singhni]

From an earlier post on Bhai Sahib's glorious Shaheedee:

I had always wanted to read a detailed account of how Bhai Sahib was martyred. I found a very good account in Amardeep Singh Amar's "Tay Deeva Jagdaa Rahaygaa..."

______

One day Bhai Sahib was arrested by Vairoval Police in the Amritsar area. For many days Bhai Sahib was kept hanging upside down in the police station. Foot-long metal rods were heated up and hammered into his legs, from the heels upward. A pin was put through his private parts and an electricity connection was attached to it so that he could be shocked. Hot metal rods were also passed through his chest. But the Guru's Singh took the tortures calmly. All the torturers heard was "Vahiguru". No cries of pain, no screams.

After the torture, Bhai Sahib was left on the ground, unable to move. The time for Rehraas arrived. Bhai Sahib opened his eyelids but the sockets that held his eyes were hollow. His beautiful beard was soaked in blood. Those eyes which were once lost in deep meditation had been taken out by the dushts.

Bhai Sahib called out, "Sentry! Bhai Sahib jee, what time is it?" He felt around himself with his hands to find the guard.

"It's 7.15 Babio. What? What has happend to your eyes??"

The Sentry looked at Bhai Sahib's face and felt frightened.

"Oh, it must be time for Sodar then. Sodar tera kayhaa..." Bhai Anokh Singh began to recite Rehraas Sahib lying on the ground. Even though his body was shattered, Bhai Sahib recited the paath in a sweet voice. The Sentry too felt the vairaag.

After Sodar, Bhai Sahib, still lying on the ground began Ardaas. It was a daily part of his routine. "Ten Gurus, Punj Pyaaray, Chaar Sahibzaaday, The Guru's Jhanday and Boongay..." Bhai Sahib then began his personal ardaas: "Hay Akaal Purakh Suchay Paatshah Guru Nanak dev Gareeb Nivaaj Satguru, the day which rose in your bhaaNaa has passed in happiness, meditating on your naam. Suchay Paatshah, night has arrived, may it too pass while remembering your Naam and in your BhaaNaa....Satguru, May I be a Shaheed...Suchay Patshaah, save me from becoming a traitor...Satguru, may the Sikhi and kesh you have given me last with me till my final breaths...Such Paatshah, have mercy on all....Bolay So Nihaal...Sat Sree Akaal!!"

The Jaikara Bhai Sahib sounded echoed throughout the police station.

The Sentry ran to the station-head and surrendered his rifle and tabled his resignation.

"I can't do this job that forces people to kill saints...I can't..." He kept repeating himself.

The SSP cursed, "They are all magicians...another of our officers has left the service because of this paath!!"

And then another atrocity was committed. Bhai Sahib's tongue was cut off using a metal cutting saw. Streams of blood flowed from Bhai Sahib's mouth but the faithful Singh raised his hands in Ardaas and thanked Vahiguru.

In the end, the police became tired of all this and shot Bhai Sahib in the station. When the shot was fired, a motor cycle was started so that the gun could not be heard. Over night, Bhai Sahib's body was thrown into the river Beas.

[lowest of the low singhni]

Master Niranjan Singh ji was once explaining rehitnamas. Afterwards he mentioned the high jeevans of Gursikhs, that he had met. Two of which were Bhai Anokh Singh ji, and Meeth- jathedar Bhai Sulakhan Singh ji.

Both he said were Poouran Gursikhs. Both kept strict rehit, solid amrit velas, and would sit through whole rainsbhais and akhand paths.

Then he said both were so blessed that they attained the hardest shaheedi, in the same manner as the great Bhai Mani Singh ji himself, and were cut joint from joint. Both were tortured by Police to find out where abouts of jathedar Sukhdev Singh ji. Neither said anything.

Both had there eyes pulled out, nails pulled, electric shocks, muscles cut and chilli powder put inside, aswell as other unexplainable tortures, Eventually they were cut piece by piece. May Guru Maharaj bless these pavitaar Gursikhs.

[lowest of the low singhni]

During the late 80`s, many of Sikh youth who were fighting for khalistan started running out of funds. Buying ammunitions, and supporting shaheed parivaars, was using up the resources. General Labh Singh of KCF was another eminent freedom fighter. He masterminded a bank robbery in Ludhiana, which became the largest heist in Indian History, and funded the movement for many years to come.

General Labh Singh and all the other youth all held Bhai Anokh Singh in very high regard. Everyone knew he was a brahmgiani. After the heist, General Labh Singh approached Bhai sahib. He said we have this money now which will fund the movement for many years. Babbar khalsa will also need money. He offered Bhai Sahib a large sum. Bhai sahib politely refused it. Bhai sahib, we live in the mercy of Guru Ji. We fight for the Home of Guru Gobind Singh jis family, and everything we do should reflect his Will. I cannot accept any money from robberies. This demonstarted the high character of Bhai sahib. In the hardest of times, they never forgot their asools.

The story is no reflection on General Labh Singh. He too was a great Gursikh fighter, and attained shaheedi. We need more of these Singhs today.

[lowest of the low singhni]

This is an account narrated to me by Bhai Amarjeet singh who has served in the movement from 1984 onwards Bhai sahib's health is very poor due to the numerous torture's he suffered at the hands of Punjab police.

It was 1985 Bhai Amarjeet singh lived in a village near dera baba nanak, (the name escapes me now). Bhai Anokh singh and two other singhs Shaheed Bhai Satnam Singh and Shaheed Bhai Rashpal Singh arrived at Bhai Amarjeet Singh’s House. They asked to stay the night as it was getting dangerous for them to travel. Bhai Amarjeet singh of course obliged, the singhs were just getting ready to rest when, someone else came into the house and told Bhai amarjeet singh that the police was coming up the road towards the village.

Bhai Anokh singh decided they should move on and not endanger the people of the village anymore. As they got to the edge of the village Bhai Anokhs singh suggested that the Singhs split up and and make best the escape, they agreed to meet at another safe house the following evening.

With this the Singhs said fateh and departed, within 20 mins the police came knocking on Bhai Amarjeet singh's door they always came to his house first. They checked Bhai sahibs house fully and could not find anything. They had the village surrounded, Bhai Amarjeet singh had got onto the roof of the house, he saw that police had a encircled the village and where now searching the fields around the village. The search had been continuing for about 2 hours when Bhai Amarjeet singh went up onto the roof again, he could see that the police was now very close to the houses they were about 400ft away. Then Bhai Amarjeet noticed that in the field nearby that Bhai Anokh singh was sitting cross legged in field of wheat. He was sure Bhai Anokh singh could see that the police was no more than 150ft away. But Bhai Anokh Singh was not flinching he was still, immersed in simran. The police were getting closer and closer to Bhai Anokh singh. Eventually they were less then 5 ft away from him, Bhai Amarjeet singh could not believe it, he could see Bhai Anokhs singh from over 60ft in the dark, yet the police could not see him from 5ft. During all of this Bhai sahib was still sat cross legged in the field. The police had completed the search and returned to Bhai Sahib's house, they then arrested Bhai Amarjeet singh and took him away.

Bhai Anokh Singh returned to Bhai Amarjeet singh's house some weeks later, he would not discuss that night just saying that everything that happens is in Satguru’s will, he cannot even begin to comprehend his wondrous ways. and that is the way I think we should leave it.

[lowest of the low singhni]

[BA51NGH]

guru ke pyare

[1santkhalsa]

waheguroooooooooooooo

[1978]

i memba surjit singh telling everyone at khalsa camp, how much simran bani anokh singh ji did, dat every romh (hair) on his body japped waheguroo wahegurooo, and wen u put ur ear against bhai sahibs arm u cud actually hear the simran bein repeated in his romh waheguruu, dats da stage we shud be all aiming for wer evry part of out body is filled with no1 but guroo, but wer so lost in this world, waheguru help uss

[Kumi2]

this is not a picture of Bhai Anokh Singh Ji Babbar it is the one at the bottem. The singh above may be some one else but is not Bhai Anokh Singh Ji Babbar