TWO VALOROUS SHAHIDS OF 18th CENTURY: BHAI MEHTAB SINGH JI AND BHAI SUKHA SINGH JI
The Sikh history of 18th century is replete with horrent Sakas of Shahids. In addition to
the two Ghallugharas – Chhota Ghallughara (1746) and Wadda Ghallughara (1762) a
series of valorous Shahids – Baba Banda Singh Bahadur JI (1916), Bhai Taru Singh
Ji (1727), Bhai Mani Singh Ji (1738), Bhai Bota Singh Ji and Bhai Garja Singh Ji
(1939), Bhai Haqiqat Rai Ji (1742), Bhai Taroo Singh Ji (1745), Bhai Subeg Singh Ji
and his son Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji (1945), Baba Dip Singh JI (1757), Bhai Mehtab
Singh Ji also spelled as Bhai Matab Singh Ji) and Bhai Sukha Singh Ji who
assassinated Masse Khan Raghar in 1740 are unforgettable and every Sikh will
remember these Shahids for their courage, stead fastens and fearlessness for all
times to come. In addition to these several other Sikhs who sacrificed their lives to
uphold their religious belief will be also always remembered with respect.
Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji also known as Bhai Matab Singh Ji the son of S. Hira Singh Ji
a Jat Sikh of Bhangoo clan was born in the village Mirankot which is 8 kilometers north
of Amritsar. When the staunch policies of Mughals killing Sikh boys had reached their
peak, several young Sikh boys left their homes in Punjab to take shelter in the hilly
areas and deserts. At this time Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji like all other Sikh boys left
Mirankot and went to Rajputana and started working in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Some writers think that Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji went to Bikaner, Rajasthan. But
according to S. Rattan Singh Bhangoo his grandson Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji entrusted
his family to the care of a village elder, Nattha, Khahira Jat and reached Jaipur. In
Jaipur he started serving the Sikh boys who like him had left their homes in Punjab
and reached Jaipur. He kept in close contact with these boys to learn about the
conditions prevailing in Punjab. In Jaipur the dera of Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji became a
comfortable place to stay for these boys. In summer 1740 a Sikh boy told Bhai Mehtab
Singh Ji that a Musalman Faujdar Masse Khan Ranghar of Jandiala Kotwal of Amritsar
had occupied Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar and he cruelly treated all the Sikhs. He had
ousted all the Sikhs from that area. He was told that Massa Ranghar sits on a cot at
the sanctum and sitting there he smokes and drinks liquor and the prostitutes dance
there. He caroused at that holy place. In addition to this empty liquor bottles are seen
floating in the holy sarovar. Listening to all this Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji immediately made
up his mind to punish Massa Ranghar. Bhai Sukha Singh Ji a close associate of Bhai
Mehtab Singh Ji also got ready to cooperate with him.
Bhai Sukha Singh Ji joined the Dal Khalsa in its raid on the camp of Ahmad Shah Abdali at Sarai Nurudin during Abdali’s first invasion on India early in 1748. In 1749, when disturbed by the rebellion of Shah Nawaj Khan of Multan, Mu’in ul-mulk, the governor of Lahore sought the assistance of the Sikhs. Bhai Sukha Singh Ji and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Ji joined the campaign in which Shah Nawaz Khan was killed.
An important fact to be noted here is that Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji had grown up amidst
the most ruthless persecution of Sikhs under the Mughals. After the martyrdom of
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji the Sikh boys had organized themselves into Jathas.
Zarkiya Khan the governor of Punjab during 1726-1745 as already mentioned above
had intensified the campaign against the Sikhs forcing them to seek shelter in hilly
areas and deserts.
Listening to what Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji told him Bhai Sukha Singh Ji a warrior of village
Mari Kambo, district Amritsar got ready to corporate with him.
About Bhai Sukha Singh Ji it is worth mentioning that he was born to Bhai Ladha Ji
and Bibi Haro Ji in the village Mari Kambo, district Tarn Taran in a family of carpenters
of the Kalsi clan. From his early childhood he was interested in knowing about brave
Sikhs who had sacrificed their lives in those days of fierce persecution. Although his
parents fearing his involvement in the struggle of Sikhs got him married when he was
barely 12 years of age. But he went to Amritsar and received Khande De Pahul (neclar)
and started entertaining fugitive Sikhs in his home. His parents feared that the
Mughal’s persecution policy may kill him, they cut off his hair one night when he was
sleeping. On waking up he felt so frustrated that he jumped into a well to commit
suicide. He did not let the passers – by to save him. But one Sikh boy told hm that it
was sheer cowardice and sin to end one’s life. He allowed that Sikh boy to pull him out
of the well. He regrew his hair and joined a jatha or band of Sardar Shiam Singh Ji.
He acquired the warfare skills and won the appreciation of his comrades. Once he
accepted the challenge of a qazi Abd-ur-Rahman, the Kotwal of Amritsar to have a dip
in the holy sarovar if he dared. He went in broad daylight and took a dip in the holy
sarovar and loudly declaring who he was, rode away to the safety of woods. The
infuriated Qazi had an encounter with the Sikhs in which he was killed. Thus with this
background in August 1740 he readily agreed with Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji to punish
Massa Ranghar who was the successor of that Qazi as Kotwal.
They left Jaipur and started for Amritsar. They both rode their horses and reached
Amritsar. Ignoring the heat and storm they reached Amritsar. On the way at several
places attempts were made to stop them but they reached Amritsar.
It may be mentioned here that all the writers agree that Massa Ranghar had occupied
the holy Harmandar Sahib and converted it into a pleasure house and that Bhai
Mehtab Singh Ji and Bhai Sukha Ji assassinated him, but there are two versions about
the procedure of killing Massa Ranghar and both of these are being written here.
According to one version that of Bhagat Lachman Singh on reaching Amritsar Bhai
Mehtab Singh Ji and Bhai Sukha Singh Ji took a holy dip in the sarovar. Then they
went to the market and bought a bag. They filled this bag with debris and some coins.
When Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji and Bhai Sukha Singh Ji reached the entrance of Sri
Darbar Sahib they tied their horses outside. They gave the appearance of revenue
collectors. The guards allowed him to go in. The guards even offered them chairs to
be seated but they said they want to hand over the box. Bhai Sukha Singh Ji was
stationed at the entrance to ensure that nobody goes in or comes out.
Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji approached Massa Ranghar and told him that he had brought
the tax collected from his area. Massa Ranghar tried to take the bag from his hand but
he cunningly put the bag under his cat so that Massa Ranghar will have to bend down
to look at the bag. So it happened that Massa Ranghar bent down to look at the bag
which he thought was full of money. Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji at the speed of lightening
drew his sword from the sheath and separated the head of Massa Ranghar from his
body.
There was pin drop silence. The prostitute who was dancing wearing ghungroos
(ringing hills) became unconscious. Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji and Bhai Sukha Singh Ji
came out of the Darbar Sahib complex and fled away on their horses towards Jaipur.
According to the second version of the episode of killing Massa Ranghar, Bhai Mehtab
Singh Ji and Bhai Sukha Singh Ji before reaching Amritsar disguised themselves as
tax collectors carrying on their back bags which seemingly looked as if they were full
of money. It was a scorching heat of the noon of desi month Bhadon. As reported by
Rattan Singh Bhangoo a strong wind was raising a lot dust, giving the two an excuse
to cover their faces. Massa Ranghar in the sacred sanctuary was enjoying music
appropriate to the rainy season.
The guards were either resting under the shelter or listening to the songs of the
dancing girls. Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji and Bhai Sukha Singh Ji got their God given
chance. They hid their horses and spears outside the main entrance, concealing their
swords under their armpits, one at either side and advanced as if some soldiers were
walking smartly. They reached where mardang (Indian double-sided band) was being
played. One of them immediately drew his sword and severed Massa Ranghar’s head
like a gourd is plucked off the plant, while the other removed the ornaments from the
body. There rose a tumult, but the two rode away on their horses and vanished in the
forest. This happened on 11 August, 1740. Soon thereafter Bhai Mehtab Singh’s
village Mirankot was raided by a strong military contingent under the Faujdar Nurdin
Natha the village elder. The son, nephew and two servants were killed, while
attempting to escape with their ward Rai Singh the young son of Bhai Mehtab Singh
Ji. Rai Singh was grievously injured and was left as dead. But of Bhai Mehtab Singh
Ji there was no trace. Five years later on hearing the news of the arrest of Bhai Taroo
Singh Ji, Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji surrendered himself voluntarily to die by Bhai Taroo
Singh Ji’s side. Harsh torments were reserved for Bhai Taroo Singh Ji, his scalp was
removed from his head with lancers and Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji was booken on the
wheel (Charkhari) in the notorious Nakhas square of Lahore.
After assassinating Massa Ranghar Bhai Sukha Singh Ji continued his activities to
have encounters with the Mughals. Early in 1746, he accompanied Jassa Singh
Ahluwalia to push northwards and entered the Eminabad territory in District
Gujranwala where the local Jagirdar, Jaspal Rai brother of Lakhpat Rai, who was
diwan of Yahiya Khan, the Governor of Lahore was killed in the encounter. This made
Lakhpat Rai an enemy of the Sikhs and he started a relentless campaign against the
Sikhs. He said a Khatri had started the Sikh religion and now myself a Khatri will kill
all the Sikhs. This campaign initiated Chhota Ghallughara which ended on May 1,
1746. During this fateful battle of Chhota Ghallughara, Bhai Sukha Singh Ji’s leg was
fractured by a direct hit from an enemy’s swivel. He immediately tied his leg to his
saddle with his own turban and continued to fight and led his men across the Rivers
Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. After three days he took the survivors of the Chhota Ghallughara to the safety of the sandy desert of Malwa and got his injury properly
dressed. Taking advantage of the civil war between the sons of Zakriya Khan, which
started in November, 1746 the Sikhs recrossed Sutlej and assembled in Amritsar. Bhai
Sukha Singh Ji who was comping in Jaito, District Faridkot joined them. He raided
Sarai Nurudin, Sanglerkot, Majitha and Chhina. At the last village he killed Karma
Chhina in a duel who was a notorious informer of the Mughals and was responsible
for the execution of several Sikhs.
Bhai Sukha Singh Ji joined the Dal Khalsa in its raid on the camp of Ahmad Shah
Abdali at Sarai Nurudin during Abdali’s first invasion on India early in 1748. In 1749,
when disturbed by the rebellion of Shah Nawaj Khan of Multan, Mu’in ul-mulk, the
governor of Lahore sought the assistance of the Sikhs. Bhai Sukha Singh Ji and Jassa
Singh Ahluwalia Ji joined the campaign in which Shah Nawaz Khan was killed. Having
thus overcome the Multan rebellion, Mu’in-ul-Mulk re-continued the policy of
persecution of the Sikhs with doubled vigour forcing the Sikhs to seek safety in their
jungle haunts. Early in 1752, Bhai Sukha Singh Ji and his Jatha lay in the forest along
the Ravi River north of Lahore. Abdali came leading his third invasion on India and
camped at Shahdara preparing for an attack on the Punjab’s capital. Bhai Sukha Singh
Ji who was on a foraging expedition north of the river, encountered a strong body of
enemy troops. A fierce battle ensued in which Bhai Sukha Singh Ji and his men died fighting to a man. This happening took place sometime during the first half
of January 1752. Thus Bhai Sukha Singh Ji who along with Bhai Mehtab Singh
Ji had assassinated Massa Ranghar in 1740 became a martyr fighting twelve
years later. During these twelve years he evinced his warfare skills and emerged as
a hero.
HAIL THE MARTYRS BHAI MEHTAB SINGH JI AND BHAI SUKHA SINGH JI !
Dr. Amrit Kaur (Retd.), Professor Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab
Email: amritkaurchd40@gmail.com