Shaheed Bhai Balvir Singh Ludhar
Shaheed Bhai Balvir Singh Ludhar
Babbar Khalsa
Ajj Kaum Nu Khatra Ho Gaya Singho Sardaro
Veri Nu Vich Medaan De Aa Ke Lalkaaro
Jail’ch Tohadi Kaum Di Rulay Jawani
Sarka Te Dulleh Khoon Di Vekho Kurbani
Ran Vich Jorh Dikha Dayo Ajit Jhujaru
Tohadi Peelee Pagh Nu Veri Haath Paunde
Fir Kera Muh Le Sonayo, Guru Agay Jao Ge
Uthho Bache Budhe Gabru Te Mutayaro
Ajj Kaum Nu Khatra Ho Gaya Singho Sardaro
Laake Naake Pinda Vich Len Telaashi
Bheina Diyan Izzata Nu Haath Paunde Veri
Satha Vich Behthhan Walayo Gappa Na Maro
Ajj Kaum Nu Khatra Ho Gaya Singho Sardaro
Tout Police De Jo Kaum Nal Dagha Kamaunde
Kar Chugli Singh Bedoshiyan Nu Farh Marvaunde
Lahnat Tohade Jeevan De Oh Kaum Dayo Gadaaro
Ajj Kaum Nu Khatra Ho Gaya Singho Sardaro
Vich Medaan De Aa Ke Veri Nu Lalkaaro
The above writing is one of many poems written by Shaheed Bhai Balvir Singh Ludhar, in this poem he writes a message to the Sikh nation, making them aware of the dangers they face and telling them to wake up and fight against injustices. Bhai Balvir Singh was born in the house of Sardar Bota Singh and from the womb of Mata Gurdial Kaur in the village of Lagiana, near Bagha Purana. Bhai Sahib’s name is amongst those martyrs of Khalistan, who as well as fighting in the guerrilla warfare, also wrote many poems to inspire people of Punjab to support and be a part of the Sikh Freedom Movement.
Bhai Sahib had joined the Sikh struggle started by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale at a very young age. Bhai Sahib’s grandparents were involved in sewa with Dam Dami Taksal from the time of Sant Kartar Singh Ji Bhindranwale, the family of Bhai Sahib also held a Sri Akhand Paath Sahib at their house which was done by singhs of Dam Dami Taksal. Even during the Dharam Yudh Morcha, Bhai Sahib’s parents would regularly go to Sri Harimandir Sahib and on many occasions had given their arrests. Bhai Sahib’s family have always done sewa for the Sikh panth and have given many sacrifices. Bhai Sahib himself was very close to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, he also wrote many poems on Sant Ji’s life. Bhai Sahib had a note book in which he wrote his poems, but many years ago a young man came and asked the family to borrow it but he never returned it to them, for which the family is regretful.
Instead of going underground in the Sikh struggle, Bhai Sahib remained in the public domain and created awareness on the injustices and the slavery the Sikhs were going through. Bhai Sahib was arrested in 1984 for the first time and after spending a lengthy sentence in Faridkot jail, Bhai Sahib returned home. It was during this time the family had arranged Bhai Sahib to be married, but Bhai Sahib said that he wants to attain martyrdom and not to be married. Bhai Sahib had tried everything not to get married, he walked with a limp in front of the bride’s family, so they’d think he had polio and cancel the wedding. These attempts to cancel the wedding did not work and in the end Bhai Sahib’s family told him that they can’t cancel the wedding and it would bring shame upon the girl’s family and like this he was married on 6th September 1986. In his family life, Bhai Sahib saw the birth of his 2 sons and a daughter.
The attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib in June 1984 and the killing of innocent Sikhs by the Indian army had a deep impact on Bhai Sahib. Knowing about the injustices and slavery hovering upon the Sikhs, Bhai Sahib even thought it was a crime to smile. Bhai Sahib explains his pain in one of his poems:
Kadde Hasaya Nahi Karde Gulam Sajna
Kahton Khushi Tu Mnaai Hai
Bazaara Vich Sarayam Teri Izzat Rulai Hai
Delhi De Katil-E-Aam Di Yaad Tinu Aundi Nahi
Banni Jo Film Tere Agay Mandraundi Nahi
Tinu Loka Vich Kitta Badnaam Sajna
Pagh Siir Utto Laee Hai
Kadde Takaya Ee Onha Maava Da
Pushaya Hai Jaake Dukh Onha Ablaavan Da
Subha Shaam Jina Haddha Te Haddhai Aa Ne
Kanpur Te Bokaro Kadde Dekhaya Hai Jaake
Kai Amyian De Lal Jionde Saaray Ttail Paake
Ethe Dhian Pena Kitiyan Neelaam Sajna
Aag Dushta Ne Laee Hai
Kadde Takaya Punjab Tera Hoya Mand Haal
Kadde Takaya Hai Jaake Taahaya Takht Akaal
Jo Si Shanti Da Soma, Kitta Aag Nal Lal
Jithe Mian Mir Warge Kargay Salaam
Sajna Kitti Os Di Tabhaaee Hai
Kadde Hasaya Nahi Karde Gulam Sajna
In another writing of Bhai Sahib, he clearly gives a message to the enemies of the Sikh nation that they will not win in their injustices upon the Sikhs:
Jeri Kaum Nal Shayraya Hai Jang Tusi
Eh Kaum Na Kisse Ton Darhan Wali
Tank’a Agay Sareer Vishaa Deve
Eh Hai Wang Patangaya Saaran Wali
Gulami Kadde Na Es Kabul Kitti
Has Fansi De Rasay Te Charan Wali
Karja Sameht Viaj De Taaran Wali
Nahi Takht Koi Es Nu Maaran Wali
Raj Khalsa Es Ne Le Lena
Kithe Maa Tohadi Hukam Karan Wali
Ludhar Khos Ju Takht Taaj Tohade Ton
Vaari Aau Gi Karni Paran Wali
In his Jhujaru life, Bhai Sahib was arrested for the second time in the village of Mallian. At this time Bhai Sahib wasn’t underground, he had been secretly active in the Sikh struggle. For 20 days Bhai Sahib was tortured in different police stations. Bhai Sahib’s hair were pulled during torture, when he would gain consciousness he’d gather his hair and give to his family on their visits. Even after brutal torture, the police failed to get any information off Bhai Sahib regarding his fellow Jhujaru Singhs. Bhai Sahib was sent to jail on fake charges of accommodating Jhujaru Singhs, these charges did not stick for long and Bhai Sahib was released. During this time Bhai Sahib was sent to Ferozpur jail and then transferred to Faridkot jail from which he was released.
The third time Bhai Sahib was arrested was in 1991, at this time Bhai Sahib was in Rajasthan collecting weapons. From whom Bhai Sahib was supposed to collect the weapons from had reported Bhai Sahib to the police and had him arrested. Bhai Sahib spent some time in Rajasthan jail and after was transported to Faridkot jail. Upon being questioned in Faridkot by the police, Bhai Sahib was asked why he had gone to Rajasthan to collect weapons? Bhai Sahib answered, “One of the Jhujaru Singhs has killed one of my family members, and I wanted a weapon to take revenge.” Upon hearing this the police said they would allow Bhai Sahib to break out if he killed the Jhujaru Singh he had named. Bhai Sahib played the clever by agreeing and after escaping he went underground knowing that the police would be hunting him like hungry dogs.
Bhai Sahib had broken all his relations and dropped the luxuries of life to join Babbar Khalsa and fight on the battlefield for freedom. On 6th September 1992, Bhai Sahib was killed by police informants in the village of Sangatpura to receive the reward on Bhai Sahib’s head.
Khalsa Fatehnama – November 2015