Shaheed Bhai Lakha Singh Nagoke

Shaheed Bhai Lakha Singh Nagoke was born on the 15th April 1954, in the house of Sardar Gurbaksh Singh and from the womb of Mata Gurbachan Kaur, in the village of Nagoke, district Amritsar. Bhai Lakha did his initial studies at the local government school. Bhai Lakha was the only son and had a sister, Bibi Ram Kaur. Bhai Lakha was married according to Gurmat Maryada to Bibi Amarjeet Kaur the daughter of village Pheruman’s ex-Sarpanch, Sardar Sarvan Singh. They had three sons, Bhai Ranjit Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh, Bhai Surjeet Singh and two daughters, Bibi Darshan Kaur, Bibi Rajvinder Kaur. At this time Bhai Lakha would help his father with the farming to provide for their families.

In those days, 8th to 11th April 1978, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale had come to Gurdwara Sri Tapiana Sahib, in Khadur Sahib to do Katha at a Gurmat Smagam. On 11th April 1978, Bhai Lakha Singh took Amrit from Sant Jarnail Singh Ji’s Jatha. All the Nagoke Singh’s including Bhai Lakha Singh then went with Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale to do darshan of Sri Darbar Sahib for Vaisakhi. It was at Amritvela on 13th April that Bhai Fauja Singh (Shaheed) came and told Sant Ji that ‘Gurbachana Narakhdhari’ who had disrespected Guru Granth Sahib ji, is coming to Amritsar. Sant Ji sent Singhs from his Jatha along with the Singhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha to protest against the Narakhdhari cult. During this peaceful protest 13 Singhs attained martyrdom, and is remembered by Sikhs as the Vaisakhi Massacre of 1978. Bhai Lakha Singh was also part of the Jatha sent by Sant Ji and saw it all with his own eyes. Over 130 Singhs and Singhnia were also injured during the protest and Bhai Lakha was given the duty of looking after the injured Sikhs at the hospital. This took a great effect on Bhai Lakha, so thereafter he vowed to avenge the martyrdom of the 13 Singhs and for the countless Sikhs injured. At the time of the massacre, Shaheed Bhai Kulwant Singh Nagoke, Shaheed Bhai Gian Singh Nagoke, Shaheed Major Singh Nagoke and Shaheed Bhai Jagbir Singh Nagoke were all with Bhai Lakha Singh.

All these Singhs discussed the situation and what should be done about Gurbachana the leader of the Narakhdhari Cult. Bhai Gian Singh Nagoke who managed to get a job at Gurbachana’s house in Delhi, was introduced to Bhai Ranjit Singh. A plan was made and the time had come to carry out this Panthic mission. Bhai Lakha Singh and 15 other Jhujaru Singhs surrounded Gurbachana’s house and successfully assassinated Gurbachana on 24th April 1980. All the Singhs made it back to Punjab safely and Bhai Lakha returned home.

After the assassination of the Narakhdhari cult leader, Bhai Lakha Singh was arrested from his home and sent to Tihar Jail. About three months later, the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee were able to bail him out. When Bhai Lakha returned to his village Nagoke, a few months later an incident occurred in Tarn Taran and he was targeted by the Punjab police again and kept in jail for another three months. After a follow up by the Sikh congregation, Bhai Lakha was bailed out and released. But then another incident happened in Patti, so the Punjab police tried to arrest him again however this time Bhai Lakha had already managed to go underground before the police could get to him.

After a little while, Bhai Lakha went to Chownk Mehta and met Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale at the Damdami Taksal headquarters, from then on Bhai Lakha joined the Jatha permanently. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale had a lot of love for Bhai Lakha Singh. Bhai Lakha was given the status of “Jathedar” and was known as one of the senior Singhs in Sant Ji’s Jatha. A Singh who was part of the Jatha at that time remembers how Bhai Lakha Singh always stayed “Tyar Bar Tyar” (Always ready). Bhai Lakha would only carry a sword with him that was sharp enough to be battle worthy.

On 2nd May 1984, while the Dharam Yudh Morcha was in full strength, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale had sent Bhai Lakha Singh on a mission in Nagar Vairowal. However, the Punjab police found out about this and surrounded Bhai Lakha. At the time Bhai Lakha was with a few other Jhujaru Singhs and after a lengthy fierce encounter Bhai Lakha attained martyrdom.

Singh Garj – May 2018