Bhai Taru Singh Ji (1720–1745) A Great Sikh Martyr of the 18th Century Bhai Taru Singh Ji was one of the great Sikh martyrs of the 18th century. He was born in village Pohla, in the Amritsar district, around 1720. Birth: 1720 (Pohla, Amritsar) Martyrdom: 1745 (Lahore) Faith: Sikhism Mughal Oppression After the martyrdom of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his companions in 1716, the Mughal empire unleashed brutal oppression on Sikhs. They even placed bounties on Sikh heads. The then Governor of Lahore, Zakariya Khan, was among the worst offenders. In such conditions, Sikhs took refuge in forests to resist tyranny. During this time, Bhai Taru Singh Ji and his family served the Sikh warriors by offering langar (food) and other essentials. Arrest Bhai Taru Singh’s location was betrayed by a person named Niranjania Randhawa, also called Haribhagat Niranjania Randhawa. He quickly informed Zakariya Khan, who immediately ordered Bhai Sahib’s arrest. Bhai Taru Singh was captured and brought before the authorities, where he was tortured severely for the “crime” of supporting fellow Sikhs. Despite the suffering, he never wavered from his Sikh beliefs. Order to Remove His Skull Zakariya Khan demanded that Bhai Taru Singh convert to Islam. When he refused, Zakariya ordered his hair (kesh) to be cut. Bhai Sahib firmly responded: "I can give up my head, but I will not give up the sacred gift of hair given by my Satguru." Zakariya then commanded the executioner to scrape off Bhai Taru Singh’s scalp with a chisel. Despite the agony, Bhai Sahib remained composed, accepting divine will (bhana). As the Panth Prakash writes: “The more the Turks oppressed the Singhs, the redder the cheeks of the Singhs glowed.” Martyrdom It is believed that even after his scalp was removed, Bhai Taru Singh remained alive for 22 days. He attained martyrdom in 1745 CE. We remember his supreme sacrifice daily in our Ardaas (Sikh daily prayer). The tradition of martyrdom in Sikhism began with Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and Bhai Taru Singh Ji is a shining example of this legacy — one who laid down his life for faith, nation, and humanity.
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