Shaheed Bhai Dara Singh Driver

Bhai Dara Singh was born when Punjab was being divided, when the whites were leaving the country and the blacks were taking over. The Sikhs were trying to make their minds up if to live with Pakistan or with India. The British wanted to give the Sikhs the land from Sri Nanakana Sahib to Panipat (Sikh State, Khalistan) but our leaders were weak and fell into the traps of Nehru and Gandhi.

Bhai Dara Singh was born in the year of 1947 in the village of Punia, district Tarn Taran, in the house of Sardar Arjan Singh and from the womb of Mata Gurmej Kaur. Bhai Sahib had 3 younger brothers Bhai Darbara Singh, Bhai Sarwan Singh and Bhai Subeg Singh. Bhai Sahib studied up till 5th class at a school in the Ghariala village, and then sometime after Bhai Sahib started working as a truck driver, also in Ghariala. Bhai Sahib was 22 years old when he had his Anand Karaj with Bibi Sukhwinder Kaur. From this marriage Bhai Sahib had one son, but unfortunately later both Bibi Sukhwinder Kaur and her son passed away. Then Bhai Sahib got married again to Bibi Amarjit Kaur and from this marriage he had 3 sons Bhujangi Nishan Singh, Bhujangi Bachittar Singh and Bhujangi Malkit Singh.

 Then in 1970, Bhai Sahib became a driver for Baba Jeevan Singh and Baba Hari Singh of Kar Seva. Then in 1978, the Narakhdhari massacre happened in which 13 Singhs of Damdami Taksal and Akhand Kirtani Jatha were martyred and many more including Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal were wounded. The martyrdom of Bhai Fauja Singh and other Singhs had a deep impact on Bhai Sahib, in his heart a spark took birth. Then Bhai Sahib decided to do Sewa with the leader of the Sikh Panth and the 14th Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. After meeting Sant Ji, Bhai Sahib started staying with the Jhujaru Singhs of Damdami Taksal and Sant Ji had made Bhai Sahib the driver for his vehicle.

Bhai Sahib’s family were closely attached and had a lot of love for the 13th Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, whenever Sant Ji passed Bhai Sahib’s house he would always stop to meet the family. And now Bhai Sahib had a strong attachment to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. Sant Ji also gave Sewa of transporting equipment related to the Sikh struggle from Pakistan into Amritsar. Sant Ji would discuss many matters with Bhai Sahib privately and any Sewa he gave to Bhai Sahib, Bhai Sahib would do that Sewa with total respect and commitment.

After 19th July 1982, when the Dharam Yudh Morcha was at its peak, Bhai Sahib did Sewa day and night to bringing Sangat from all over India to Amritsar and as well as this, Bhai Sahib also joined the Jhujaru Singhs to do some actions as the Punjab police were committing their injustices upon Sikhs. The Punjab police wanted Bhai Sahib and framed him for the murder of DIG Atwal, the Punjab police put 125,000 Rupees reward on Bhai Sahib’s head. Bhai Sahib was the driver, when he got Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale out of the police curfew of Chando Kalan and Bombay. The Punjab police accused Bhai Sahib of the murder of Inspector Bua Das too.

In June 1984, the Indian government attacked Sri Harimandir Sahib. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale gave Bhai Sahib the duty to give out weapons on 1st June 1984 to all the Jhujaru Singhs in the complex, these weapons were stored in the basement of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib. Following the orders of Indira Gandhi, the Indian army used guns, tanks and cannons on Sri Harimandir Sahib. But following the orders of Sant Ji, handful of Jhujaru Singhs fought back with bravery and sent many Indian soldiers straight to hell.

Bhai Sahib continued to fulfil his role that was given to him by Sant Ji, he delivered weapons and ammunition to the bunkers of General Shabeg Singh, Bhai Amrik Singh, Baba Thara Singh and even to the Singhs of Babbar Khalsa in the Langar Hall. Then on 6th June 1984, roughly at 8/9am when Sant Ji had performed the last Ardas and came out of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib with Bhai Sahib and remaining Jhujaru Singhs, these sons of Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj fought the enemy under the flag of Miri-Piri and attained Martyrdom. One of Bhai Sahib’s sons, Bhujangi Bachittar Singh also attained martyrdom here and so did the father in-law of Bhai Sahib, Sardar Gurmukh Singh of Damdami Taksal. 

Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale said, “If the Indian government attacked Sri Harimandir Sahib, then the foundation of Khalistan will be laid.” Like this Bhai Sahib added his name to the very long list of Martyrs of Khalistan. After the Martyrdom of Shaheed Bhai Dara Singh Driver, his family were helped and looked after by Baba Thakur Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale.

Khalsa Fatehnama – June 2016