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Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar

 

Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh was born on 11th October 1977 to the blessed womb of mother, Mata Bibi Surinder Kaur and father, Jathedar Sardar Piara Singh Lambardar, in the village of Bharsinghpura, Phillaur, district Jallandhar. He was the youngest of three sons. His primary schooling was done at the local village school. It was in his mere adolescent years that Bhai Hardeep Singh came into contact with the infamous Jhujarus in his area, Shaheed Bhai Gurdeep Singh Deepa (Heranwala) and Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind. Bhai Hardeep Singh counted himself privileged to have built such close relations with these great Jhujaru Singhs of Khalistan Commando Force. He was inspired at their bravery and the fervour to fight for a free homeland, Khalistan.

 

Having spent much time with the Jhujaru Singhs he then came into contact with Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara (Currently in Burail Jail, Chandigarh). In the year 1993-1994, Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjer went to England, UK. After living in the UK for three years, he went onto the land of the Ghadar Movement, Canada. Here he filed a case of asylum/refugee. His Anand Karaj (marriage) was then arranged with Bibi Harjinder Kaur in 1998. They settled in Surrey, Vancouver, where he trained to become a Plumber. With his hard work and dedication, he progressed to build his own successful business.

 

Bhai Hardeep Singh was a people’s person and a very active member of his community. Whenever there was a call or need for supporting any community project or requirement, he would be the first to lend his support and take on any responsibilities. From a religious and human rights standpoint, Bhai Hardeep Singh advocated for a free Sikh homeland and would always be the first in any protest and campaigns wielding the Khalistan flag with pride and hope. To talk and have any discourse on the topic of Khalistan was like food for his soul. He would happily chat with the young and old encouraging them to realise the need for our own homeland and educating them on the great Sikh heritage. It was as if the Guru had made him as the natural spokesman that he was.

 

Bhai Hardeep Singh believed in earning an honest living and fulfilling any task to its fullest by the sheer efforts of your own hands. He selflessly helped the needy and felt great satisfaction and peace in doing so. Bhai Hardeep Singh did not differentiate nor discriminate within the religious arena. He supported every Panthic organisation, every Jhujaru Singh, every prisoner of the Sikh struggle and all those fighting for the cause in Punjab. To continue and extend the wave and support for Khalistan, he joined the ‘Referendum 2020’ movement and worked tirelessly with the collective team in spearheading the referendum project.  Even knowing for four years that the Indian Govt had put a bounty on his head, he did not fear and remained steadfast in his mission. The Sikh community applauded him in every way and saw his revolutionary and selfless personality. This led him onto becoming the leader of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in 2019.

 

Bhai Hardeep Singh was an exceptional in his leadership role at this Gurdwara. He served the institution and the Sikh community selflessly, encouraged education on the Sikh faith, advocated in remembering the martyrs of June 1984, raising awareness and honouring the families of these great Shaheeds. His work didn’t stop here, he very much cared for the younger generations ensuring accessible facilities for their growth and education. The Gurdwara setup music classes teaching classical Gurmat Sangeet with classical instruments, kids were able to learn and recite Kirtan, Sikh martial art lessons, Horse riding lessons and full training in reading and reciting Gurbani known as Santhiya.

 

Where he was loved wholeheartedly by his family and community, the Indian state was on a rampage to malign his character and label him a terrorist. The peaceful movement for a Khalistan Referendum was undigestible by the anti-Sikh elements and the Indian Government and much negative press was published against him and the movement. Anyone who advocated its campaign was being watched by the Indian state. To the point, the Indian Government made claims that the peaceful movement was in fact a branch off from the firearm movement and therefore a terrorist faction. It listed and banned the Sikhs for Justice group as terrorist group. In turn, it gave free writ to falsely accuse Bhai Hardeep Singh as a dangerous terrorist and placed a bounty on his head of 100,000 rupees. His land in Punjab was also confiscated.

 

The day of his assassination, was on 18th June 2023, where he was shot multiple times sat in the driver seat of his car on the Gurdwara premises in the Car park. Three men, hired by the Indian state, were seen on a motorbike and firing the shots at approximately 7pm, then fleeing the area. On this day, Bhai Hardeep Singh attained Shaheedi and left behind his legacy. Death is the guaranteed and is the ultimate truth, no one can avoid death, nor run from it or hide. But Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a brave warrior and left the earth leaving behind the Sikh Quam in awe of who he was and inspired the younger generations to wake up and rise from their sleep and bestowed the realisation of the true meaning of Shaheedi (martyrdom).

 

His fate was already planned by the Indian State, the continuous defamation of character and mass streaming fake propaganda across their media platforms. Just the mention of his name would cause the Indian Government sleepless nights. But for up to four years, Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar remained engrossed in his Sewa (selfless service) to his people and the cause. Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar was the first martyr on Canadian soil killed fighting for a free homeland, Khalistan. Canada will forever remember Shaheed Bhai Mewa Singh and Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar with honour and respect, for generations to come.

 

The past five decades provides enough evidence on what the Indian state think of the Sikh Nation. They do not believe nor practice that the Sikh people are a privileged part of India or Indian society. The Sikhs are treated like second class citizens with no autonomy under state rules. The Indian state has continuously down trodden the Sikh people, betrayed, attacked, massacred. On the day of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s funeral, his body was laid for Darshan at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey-Delta. The Sikh congregation continued to pay their respects to him one last and stood in a queue of up to three hours. Yet, there were many more waiting in line who did not get the chance, due to time restrictions and agenda of the day. Then thousands walked the distance of 4-5km by foot, behind Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s horse and carriage, to reach the crematorium. It was a sight never seen before. Orange Khalistan flags were blazing through the skies as the congregation made sure it was a send-off to be remembered in history. Slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ and the praise of the Almighty ‘Satnam Waheguru’ could be heard echoing far and wide.

 

Along the route to the crematorium, many well-wishers and families from the Sikh community were distributing food and water to the thousands of funeral-goers. It was like a Nagar Kirtan. As much as there was sadness and pain in his departure, the sight saw the spirit of Chardikala in each and every person who attended that day. The fight was larger than themselves.

 

Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara exclaimed: ‘The fight for Khalistan should not be dimmed, rather this should ignite and excel the flame of the movement.’ Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara believed the assassinations of Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda and Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was a clear challenge by the Indian state. To also have killed a prominent Sikh activist on the grounds of a Sikh Gurdwara was a target to Sikh sentiments. It may have seemed the sun had set the day Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar was assassinated, but it should be remembered that the sun would be rising on the other side of the world. The dream of our Sikh homeland is still as fresh as it has ever been. His departure should not hinder our courage, we will continue to rise and fight for the cause.

 

The Indian state is doing everything in its power to instil fear into the supporters of Khalistan. The instigated killings and elimination of our prominent Sikh activists is another fear mongering tactic of theirs. We will not succumb to these fickle attempts to break down the morale of the Sikh freedom fighters. We remain united and continue our efforts to progress the movement. Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara shared his condolences but also gave a very strong message. The passing of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar is a void that can never be filled. The Indian state is not instigating any dialogues with Sikhs in the diaspora, rather they are threatening and using violence to eliminate individuals. This is nothing less than terrorism on foreign soil. The Indian state is delusional if they think they can eliminate the Sikh nation and its’ activists. If anything, we will multiply and fight for our rights until it is achieved. This is the power of the Sikh people. Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara shared that when he was captured in Thailand, since then he had appointed Bhai Hardeep Singh as the leader of the organisation, Khalistan Tiger Force. Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar continued to fight for the cause until his last breaths, even amidst threats on his head. He was able to keep the movement alive in a peaceful and non-violent manner across North America. This was his quality and hence the reason he was the leader ‘Pardhan’ of one of the most prominent Gurdwaras in Canada. The Sikh community had utmost respect for him. Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian citizen and this is an attack on Canada. Canadian authorities and the UNO should ensure no tables should be left unturned in fighting for justice and holding the killers accountable.

 

Information given by family of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar