13 January – Birth Anniversary of Shaheed Bhai Sahib Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji Naurangabad Let us take a glimpse into the life of this great saint-soldier. The Sikh Panth holds the honour of giving 85% of all sacrifices in India’s freedom struggle, while their population has always been around 2%. To free India from Mughal rule, Guru Sahiban and countless Singhs sacrificed their lives for Punjab and this land. In the same way, the credit for launching the very first armed rebellion against British rule goes to Shaheed Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji of Naurangabad. He was the leading figure of the first revolutionary wave against the British after the Anglo-Sikh wars. Birth and Early Life He was born on 13 January 1780, on the day of Lohri, in the village Rabbon Neechi, District Ludhiana. His birth name was Nihal Singh. His childhood was spent in the dera of Nirmala saints, which shaped his saintly and spiritual nature. When he heard about the greatness of Baba Bir Singh of Naurangabad, he went there and began serving in the langar. As he lovingly served the sangat saying “Lo Maharaj Ji, Lo Maharaj Ji,” the sangat affectionately began calling him Maharaj Singh. Beginning of Leadership After the martyrdom of Baba Bir Singh, the sangat appointed him as the Mahant of Naurangabad Dera. During a time of crisis for the Sikhs, he handed the gaddi to his disciple Bhai Veer Singh and moved to Amritsar. There he set up his headquarters at Sandhu Ka Talab and began organising resistance to save Punjab and the Sikh community. He toured villages and united Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs—anyone who opposed British rule. Struggle to Save the Sikh Empire The Sikh Raj had collapsed, but despite his age, he tried wholeheartedly to restore it. However, internal traitors betrayed the Panth, costing the freedom struggle dearly. He supported the Sikh armies during the battles of Ramnagar and Chillianwala, with great figures like Bikram Singh Bedi, Sher Singh, and Rachhpal Singh standing alongside him. The Plan to Rescue Maharaja Duleep Singh — The 'Prema Plot' For one year, Maharaja Duleep Singh had been under house arrest at Lahore Fort. Bhai Maharaj Singh planned to rescue him and move him to safety— a plot that also involved eliminating the British Resident Henry Lawrence and the traitorous officials helping the British. Maharani Jind Kaur, then imprisoned by the British, heard the plan and reached out to Bhai Sahib with deep hope. She longed to reunite with her son and reclaim the lost empire. Misalignment with Mul Raj Bhai Maharaj Singh, along with 400 armed followers, went to meet Mul Raj. He was welcomed warmly by the sangat. But after crossing the Jhang River and meeting Mul Raj, he realised that Mul Raj only cared about his own Multan, not about Punjab or the Sikh nation. Whereas Bhai Maharaj Singh’s vision was the restoration of Sikh sovereignty and protection of Punjab. So he quietly withdrew from the alliance. Beginning of Revolutionary Struggle When the British learned that Bhai Maharaj Singh was the mastermind of the plot, they ordered him to appear before the Regency Council. He refused. The British banned him from leaving Naurangabad and confiscated his property. Thus began his underground revolutionary movement. Stopping the Sikh Army from Surrendering In 1849, when Sikh forces were about to surrender at Gujarat, he rushed there and opposed the surrender. He urged them to fight one more decisive battle, but due to the influence of traitors, the leaders ordered disarmament. At that emotional moment, he declared: “Today, Ranjit Singh has died.” Because that day, the spirit of the Sikh nation was dealt a deadly blow. Fighting Alone Against the British After the fall of Sikh Raj, he continued the resistance alone. He established a hidden base near Jammu in Jasowal village. He fixed 3 January 1850 as the day of a massive rising. Rebellion was to begin from the Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur cantonments. Everything was ready— The people flocked to join him, weapons and funds were to be seized from British treasuries. Arrest Before the Uprising But six days before the rebellion, on 28 December 1849, a spy informed the Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner, and Bhai Maharaj Singh was arrested from Adampur Jheeri. In Jalandhar jail, massive crowds came daily to bow outside the walls. Fearing an uprising, the British transferred him first to Fort William (Calcutta) and then exiled him to Singapore. He was kept in a dark cell with bricked windows, no light, no air—only suffering. For six years he survived through naam simran. He lost his eyesight and developed cancer, yet he never bowed to the British. Finally, on 5 July 1856, he attained martyrdom in Singapore Jail. British historian R. Arnold wrote: “Had Bhai Maharaj Singh not been arrested on 28 December, Punjab would have slipped out of our hands.” Memorial in Singapore At Selat Road in Singapore stands a Gurdwara and memorial in his memory. People from many communities—Chinese, Tamil, Sri Lankan, Malay—come to pay respects. Memorials in Punjab In his native village Rabbo, Gurdwara Sri Damdama Sahib and the memorial of his companion Baba Khadak Singh are established. Every year, 13 January – Birth Anniversary 5 July – Martyrdom Day is commemorated. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
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