Article By Rajveer Singh, Head of Khalsa Diary, Funding and Conflict none

ਗੁਰਬਖ਼ਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਕੀ ਸਾਖੀ ਸੁਨੋ ਸੁਜਾਨ ।
ਪਾਈ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀ ਉਨ ਭਲੀ ਭਲ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਅਸਥਾਨ ।1।
My dear sagacious readers listen further,
To the life story of Nihang Gurbakhsh Singh
Sublime martyrdom did he achieve,
At the sacred shrine at Amritsar

Baba Gurbaksh Singh was born in the village of Leel in the district of Amritsar to Bhai Dasaundha Singh, and Mai Lachchami Ji. Baba Ji entered the Damdami Taksal at a young age and was under the tutelage of Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh. After taking Amrit from the hands of Bhai Mani Singh, Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ji joined Baba Deep Singh Ji’s Shaheed Misl.

After Baba Deep Singh Ji’s divine martyrdom, Singhs such as Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Sardar Charat Singh and Jassa Singh Ramgharia began to focus on taking over Mughal territories to build up the Khalsa Raaj. Baba Gurbaksh singh spent time in the damdami taksal in stead of Baba Deep singh ji but eventually created their own misl, known as Misl Akaali.

Misl Akaali had been famous for its valour in battle and its use of firearms such as muskets and rifles. Baba Gurbaksh Singh believed that it was important to have a misl within Darbar Sahib for its protection, in order to protect its sovereignty. Stationed near the Akaal Bunga, Baba Gurbaksh SIngh would spend time doing Naam Simran and encouraging Sikhs to practise Shastar Vidhya and do Naam Simran.

When Ahmed Shah Abdali attacked India for the seventh time, the Khalsa Panth gathered at Darbar Sahib to discuss what should be done. The majority of the leaders said that it would be best to once again take refuge in the jungles and wait until the right time to attack Abdali. Baba Gurbaksh Singh stood up and said that we should not leave Darbar Sahib unguarded as it is our sovereign land that the 6th Guru had given them. Baba Ji asked the Khalsa Panth;

ਤਬ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਤ ਉਚਾਰੀ । ਹੈ ਕੋਊ ਸਿੰਘ ਇਸ ਪੰਥ ਮਝਾਰੀ ।
ਲਾਇ ਸੀਸ ਕਰੈ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਪੁਕਾਰ । ਸੋ ਪੁਕਾਰ ਉਸ ਮੰਨੈ ਕਰਤਾਰ ।23।
Thereupon Nihang Gurbakhsh Singh made a declaration;
Was there any one such Singh among the Khalsa Panth,
Who, with his supreme sacrifice, could invoke Divine intervention,
Whose invocation could get answered by the Divine Lord. (23)

ਹਠੀਆ ਤਪੀਆ ਜਪੀਆ ਜੋਇ । ਰਹਤਵਾਨ ਸਚਿਆਰ ਭੀ ਹੋਇ ।
ਪਰਸ੍ਵਾਰਥ ਹਿਤ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੁ ਲਾਵੈ । ਵਾਂਗ ਤਾਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੁਰਕਨ ਗਲਾਵੈ ।24।
Must he be firm of conviction, character and meditation,
A true follower of the Sikh code of conduct he must be.
For community’s welfare must he be ready to sacrifice,
Like (Martyr) Taru Singh must he annihilate the Mughals. (24)

Hearing this Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu writes that the Panth responded with;

ਸੋ ਸਿੰਘਨ ਸੁਨ ਐਸੇ ਕਹਯੋ । ਤੁਮ ਤੈ ਸਿਖ ਭਲੋ ਕੋ ਭਯੋ ।
ਐਸੀ ਸ਼ਕਤਿ ਔਰ ਕਿਸ ਮਾਂਹਿ । ਪੁਜੈ ਪੁਕਾਰ ਜਿਸ ਸਚੀ ਦ੍ਰਗਾਹਿ ।25।
Hearing this declaration, the congregated Singhs replied,
None else could exceed him in character and piety.
Who else but he had the power to move heavens,
His prayer alone could reach the Divine Court. (25)

Hearing this Baba Gurbaksh Singh prepared himself for the certain death that he and his 30 Singhs would face. Misl Akaali sat in the parkarma of darbar sahib and began doing Naam Simran.

When Abdali’s forces entered the parkarma for all four doors, the thirty Singhs began shooting rifles, muskets and arrows at the entrances. Baba Ji being known as a great war strategist and tactician ensured that the Singhs utilised their numbers as much as they could. Abdali forced his way through the entrance flanked by his soldiers, and brought canons into the parkarma to deal with the Singhs quickly and to destroy Darbar Sahib. One of the bricks flew from the building of darbar sahib and hit Ahmed Shah Abdali in the head. 153 days later he died from the injury.

As the Singhs became overwhelmed by the 30,000 soldiers Abdali had brought, Baba Gurbaksh Singh entered the battle, brandishing a Khanda and raining down on the Mughals like a great storm. He threw away his shield mid-battle yelling, “A singh doesn’t need to hide from wounds, they make us stronger.”

Baba Gurbaksh Singh and his few Singhs began pushing back the Mughal forces despite their great numbers. The cannons were reloaded and fired again on the Khalsa, leaving only Baba Gurbaksh Singh alive.

Qazi Nur Muhammad was Ahmed Shah Abdali’s battle reporter. His Jangnama which has been translated to English by Dr Ganda Singh says,

“When the king and his army reached the chakk (Amritsar), they did not see any infidel kafir there. But a few men who had stayed in a fortress were bent upon spilling their blood and they sacrificed themselves for their Guru. They were only thirty in number. They did not have the least fear of death. They engaged the Ghazis and spilt their blood in the process.”

Baba Gurbaksh Singh was the true definition of a Sikh who had understood the lesson that Guru Sahib had given;

ਪਹਿਲਾ ਮਰਣੁ ਕਬੂਲਿ ਜੀਵਣ ਕੀ ਛਡਿ ਆਸ ॥
pahilaa maran kabool jeevan kee chhadd aas ||
First, accept death, and give up any hope of life.

ਹੋਹੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੀ ਰੇਣੁਕਾ ਤਉ ਆਉ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥੧॥
hoh sabhanaa kee renukaa tau aau hamaarai paas ||1||
Become the dust of the feet of all, and then, you may come to me. ||1||