Shaheed Bhai Kulwinder Singh Pinky

Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan

The attack of the Sikh throne, Sri Akaal Takht Sahib in June 1984 had a deep impact on all Sikhs across the globe. At that time, Bhai Kulwinder Singh Pinky was student of 8th class. Bhai Sahib forcefully took money from his parents to buy Kakkars and then took Amrit. The family didn’t take much notice of the change within Bhai Sahib, but little did they know that in 2 years-time their son would give his life for the Sikh Raj in which Sikhi and the Sikhs would be safe, and would be amongst the bravest Jhujaru Singhs of the Doaba area.

After passing 10th class, Bhai Sahib tried to study further but the armed movement for Khalistan was at its peak, who would have time to study. During this time Bhai Sahib became an active member of All India Sikh Student Federation and became involved in federation activities in the Anandpur Sahib area. Soon the police started targeting Sikh activists and Bhai Sahib came home to his village of Damuda, district Jalandhar. Here a police tout reported Bhai Sahib and the Phagwara police arrested Bhai Sahib. After 8 months Bhai Sahib was released on bail, but how could Bhai Sahib rest once he had stepped on the path of Khalistan. Soon as Bhai Sahib was released, he joined Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Iqbal Singh Bagha to take part in the armed struggle for Khalistan. Then sometime later Bhai Sahib was arrested again and was made the victim of blind torture for 2 months at the hands of Punjab police. After being released Bhai Sahib stayed in Ludhiana and joined Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan, under the command of Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha.

Bhai Sahib bravely took part in many tremendous actions of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan in the Ludhiana and Ropar area. After the high command assigned Bhai Sahib to do actions in the Doaba area. Soon as Bhai Sahib came into Doaba, he along with Bhai Hazura Singh, Bhai Kewal Singh and Bhai Onkar Singh Lalli made the Sikh freedom movement fiercer and more active.

During this time Bhai Sahib along with his Jhujaru brothers had many great battles with the Indian security forces, showing the enemy how a Sikh warrior in small numbers fights an enemy in their thousands. By the end of 1991, most of Bhai Sahib’s Jhujaru brothers had attained martyrdom and the armed struggle for Khalistan was also losing speed. Some of Bhai Sahib’s friends that lived abroad asked him to leave Punjab and be active in the struggle for Khalistan from outside India. Bhai Sahib kindly rejected this offer and vowed to stay in Punjab to free it from the Indian oppression. Bhai Sahib rejoined Bhai Iqbal Singh Bagha and continued to fight the Indian security forces and punish the killers of the Sikh people. In the end on 18th December 1992, Bhai Sahib and Bhai Jasvir Singh Pandori Bibi had a fierce battle with the Indian security force in the village of Satowali, in which both Jhujaru brothers attained martyrdom and had their names written in golden ink on the pages of Sikh history.

An interview with Bhai Pinky’s mother, Mata Raj Kaur         

 

Who came to see you in behalf of the Sikh Panth?

No one came to meet me. No one asked us how we were.

 

How much did the Punjab police harass you?

The police harassed us more than you can imagine, they harassed us every day. I myself locked our house and remained homeless to avoid the police brutalities. The eldest brother was brutally tortured by the police and even after his (Bhai Pinky) martyrdom they continued to beat and torture him.

What was Bhai Pinky’s personality like before he joined the Sikh freedom movement?

His personality was calm but as in his body he was very fast. He would finish all his work fast. He also used to be very good at farming.

When did you find out about his involvement in the movement first?

When he was arrested for the first time. First, he forcefully took Amrit while studying in 7th class, we didn’t take much notice. We knew a little bit, he was a member of All India Sikh Student Federation. That time he was studying in 11th class at Khalsa College in Jalandhar.

What do you think about the struggles today?

We want the Sikhs to honour and respect the martyrs, because they sacrificed their lives for them.

What do you think of today’s Sikh leaders?

No one asked us anything, for us they are bad.

How has everyone else been like towards you?

The local villagers have been very supportive, when they would see armed police, they would quickly inform us. Even little little children would come and tell us. The police came to the house many times and would shout at us, say horrible things to us, humiliate us. Roughly 6 months before his (Bhai Pinky) martyrdom, about 50 armed police officers came into the village. A girl from next door came and told me, “Tai (aunty), today you should hide as there is a big number of armed police officers looking for you.” So, I left my house and went to my neighbour’s house from the roof. After an hour I was going to go home, but another child said, “Bebe, the police is still outside standing.” So, I returned back to my neighbour’s house.

Did Bhai Pinky meet you after joining the armed movement?

Yes, he came home on many occasions. Once he came when I left home to stay in Delhi. The local villagers he stayed with told me he was very upset that due to his involvement in the Sikh freedom movement many family members and friends were being harassed by the Punjab police. He said, “I knew they would arrest my elder brother, but my mother has had to leave her home.”

The Jhujaru Singhs were losing their strength, even I had messages to send him abroad. His close friends live in Germany. They spoke to him on the phone too, but he didn’t agree. He would tell his close Jhujaru brothers to go abroad. We knew the armed struggle was losing its pace due to many Sikh youths, may they be Jhujaru Singh or even innocent were being killed in false encounters.

Sikh Shahadat – January 2006