MARTYRDOM OF BHAI SUBEG SINGH JI AND HIS SON BHAI SHAHBAZ SINGH JI (1745)
The eighteenth century is replete with cases of martyrdom of Sikhs who were martyred in very torturous ways. The story of Bhai Subeg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji is a unique incident in Sikh history. Bhai Subeg Singh Ji was born in village Jambar which is a few miles away from Lahore. He was adept in Persian and Arabic He was an elite scholar of Farsi. He was a very learned person. He was respected y the Mughal Government because he possessed very high moral character and was adept in his work. Therefore, he was respected not only by the Governor Zakria Khan but also by the residents of Lahore. Zakriya Khan was governor of Lahore and Multan during 1726-1745. As soon as he became the Governor of Lahore and Multan after the death of his father in 1726 he began a policy of persecution against he Sikhs. He began issuing of bounties and rewards for those who helped him in arresting Sikhs. He sent his moving military columns in different areas in an effort to suppress the Sikh Community. During 1726-1733 he struggled very hard to suppress the Sikh Community. When he failed in his mission of suppressing the Sikh community, in March 1933 he decided to make peace with the Sikhs. He lifted the punishments forced upon the Sikhs. He offered a Jagir (fief) of one lakh and a nawabship to the Sikhs. At the first instance the Sikhs refused to accept his offers.
Bhai Subeg Singh Ji communicated with the Sikhs on behalf of the Mughal Governor to accept the Jagir and Nawabship. Because of his persuasion Sardar Kapoor Singh Ji accepted Nawabship. Bhai Subeg Singh Ji along with his 18 year old son Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji were martyred by the Mughal Government on July 1, 1745 when they refused to get converted to Islam. They are remembered by the Sikhs as very notable martyrs of the 18 th Century. Zakriya Khan was given the pseudonym ‘Khan Bahadur’. But the Sikhs had nick named him as ‘Bhabhi Khanno’, Bhabhi means brother’s wife.
When the Sikh young boys entered a village at night they sang loudly in unison “Kahina Bhabi Khanno Nu Tere Singh prahune aye” (Tell brother’s wife Bhabi Khanno that his Singh guests (sons in law) have come. Zakria Khan killed thousands of Sikhs in Nakhas Chowk of Lahore. During his reign Bhai Mani Singh Ji and Bhai Taru Singh Ji were Martyred.
Zakria Khan sent Bhai Subeg Singh Ji to Amritsar to give the offers of a Jagir of one lakh and Nawabship to a Sikh at the time of Sarbatt Khalsa in Amritsar. Towards the close of Zakria Khan’s regime Bhai Subeg Singh Ji was appointed a Kotwal or Police Inspector of the city of Lahore. But on an allegation that Bhai Subeg Singh Ji was giving secret information to the Sikhs he was removed from his post. Bhai Subeg Singh Ji was sympathetic towards the Sikhs. On many occasions he had the opportunity to cremate the heads of Sikh Martyrs with due ceremony and had monuments set up for them.
Bhai Subeg Singh Ji had a very handsome and capable 18 years old son Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji who was studying in a Madrassa and taking education from a Qazi. The Qazi was very much impressed by his intellect and high moral character. The Qazi wanted to convert him to Islam and get his daughter married to him. The Qazi started praising Islam and tried to convert him to Islam. But Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji was very proud of his Sikh faith and its rich heritage and history. When the Qazi failed to motivate him to become a Muslim he started threatening him. When Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji was not influenced by the threats of the Qazi because he was staunch in his religion. the Qazi complained to the Governor Zakria Khan that he had used derogatory words for the prophet Hazrat Mohammad Sahib and was also ritical of Islam religion. Zakria Khan was so much instigated against Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji and Bhai Subeg Singh Ji that he forgot how Bhai Subeg Singh Ji had helped him in bringing reconciliation between the Sikhs and the Mughals. He ordered that oth father and son should be arrested. He also ordered that they should be put in ifferent jails so that during their confinement they do not have any opportunity to discuss any matter with each other. Both were asked to get converted to Islam or face torturous death. Both refused to get converted to Islam and not forgo their Sikh religion. Both father and son told the Qazi that they are devout Sikhs and will not get converted to Islam. Both of them said very bravely that whatsoever tortures they are given they will not get converted to Islam. The matter was reported to the royal Qazi in Lahore who gave a Fatwa that both father and son should be tortured and killed in each other’s presence.
On July 1, 1745 when Bhai Subeg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji strongly refused to get converted to Islam they were tied in front of each other on opposite wheels of a charkhi. The wheels were rotated for a short time. The sharp knives tied to the wheels pierced the bodies of both father and son and tore them. The blood started oozing from their bodies. The wheels were stopped in between and they were asked again if they would accept Islam. Their answer was we will never abandon our Sikhi and we will never accept Islam when Bhai Subeg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji when tied with the Charkhi both kept on reciting Gurbani as directed by Bhai Subeg Singh Ji father of Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji and said ‘Akal’ ‘Akal’ at the time of their martyrdom. Both father and son uttered ‘Akal’ ‘Akal’ when their bodies were being broken on the wheel and their consciousness was immersed in their Guru. They faced the hour of great adversity and torture with great courage.
They happily accepted their martyrdoms for their Sikh faith with great valour. Their life is an impeccable example of immense faith and profound love and respect for their Guru and the Sikh faith. Their love for their religion was above and beyond this world. They lived for Sikhi and died for Sikhi. They have left a permanent remembrance among the Sikh community.
On July 1, 1745, Zakriya Khan could not see the martyrdom of Bhai Subeg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji because he died due to a severe pain a few minutes before the martyrdom of Bhai Subeg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji. After Zakria Khan Yahiya Khan became the Governor of Lahore.
Sukhvinder Singh has prepared an animated film titled Vismad in the memory of Bhai Subeg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji. A poet has expressed the sentiments of Bhai Shahbaz Singh ji when he was tied tothe Charkhi for his martyrdom:
ਚਰਖੀ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਸ਼ਾਹਬਾਜ ਪੁਕਾਰੇ, ਆਉਂਦੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਹੁਲਾਰੇ ਨੇ।
ਜਿਉਂ ਜਿਉਂ ਚਰਖੀ ਚਲਦੀ, ਜਾਵੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਹੁਲਾਰੇ ਖਾਵੇ।
Bound on to the Charkhi he exclaimed his heart is becoming happy. His heart is getting swinging love with its swinging movement. As the Charkhi moves my Guru’s love is also swinging. After the Martyrdom of Bhai Subeg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji the Sikh community all over the country became perturbed and formed 12 Jathas (misls) and they became the rulers of Punjab and for a long time they did not allow any foreign ruler to take control of Punjab.
and Bhai Shahbaz Singh Ji!
Dr. Amrit Kaur Retd. Professor Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab
Email: amritkaurchd40@gmail.com