Shaheed Bhai Nirmal Singh Nohra

All India Sikh Student Federation

Bhai Nirmal Singh was born in the house of Sardar Didar Singh and from the womb of Mata Surjit Kaur in the village of Nohra, district Patiala. Bhai Sahib’s parents did not know their son would one day make them proud. Bhai Sahib was the third eldest of his 4 siblings, Bhai Gurmail Singh, Bibi Manjit Kaur, Bibi Ginder Kaur and Bhai Sukhdev Singh. In this family not only did a great warrior take birth but also a great athlete. Bhai Sahib studied his primary education at the local school of Nabha, and in 1979 he studied at Multi-Purpose Higher Secondary School of Patiala. Bhai Sahib was a great player in volleyball. Bhai Sahib took part in the Junior National Games in Srinagar and won a bronze medal. As well as being a great athlete, Bhai Sahib also was a good student with high grades.

In 1982, Bhai Sahib took admission at Guru Nanak Engineering College in Ludhiana and studied electrics. But Bhai Sahib’s heart wanted to take part in the Sikh struggle started by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. After the June 1984 attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib and Sri Akaal Takht Sahib, Bhai Sahib’s mentality completely changed. Wanting revenge from the unjust government, Bhai Sahib punished a Congress minister. When the family would ask Bhai Sahib to get married, he would laugh and answer with, “I’ve already tied a knot with death after June 1984.”

Bhai Hakam Singh Dhadhgal had attained martyrdom fighting the Indian security forces, he was an example of martyrdom and a role model to Bhai Sahib. The Punjab police arrested Bhai Sahib on 5th January 1986 and on false cases sent him to Patiala jail. Here Bhai Sahib met more like minded and high spirited Singhs and his need for giving sacrifice further increased. After being released from jail, family of Bhai Sahib got him a job at Electricity Board near Sangrur. Bhai Sahib didn’t want work for the corrupt government and chose to work for the true government of Khalistan. Bhai Sahib quit his job and jumped into the battlefield against the killers of the Sikhs.

Amargarh police force arrested Bhai Sahib but Bhai Baldev Singh Mann, a senior advocate bailed Bhai Sahib on his responsibility. The SHO of Dhuri made Bhai Gurcharan Singh Rajumajra and Bhai Ekam Singh Hathan martyrs of Khalistan via cruel torture and arrested additional 17 Sikhs youths from the area and sent them to Patiala jail. Seeing this injustice, Bhai Sahib decided to leave home and Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu president of All India Sikh Student Federation made him the deputy secretary. Now the Punjab police had put 1 lakh Rupees reward on Bhai Sahib’s head. Shortly after Bhai Satpal Singh Dhillon attained martyrdom and Bhai Sahib was made the general secretary.

On the say so of an informant the Punjab police surrounded the hostel of Punjabi University of Patiala in search for Bhai Sahib. All the telephone lines were cut by the police. Bhai Sahib saw the cordoning of the police and seeing no escape he swallowed a cyanide capsule and attained martyrdom. This was done to avoid being captured alive and being tortured for information. The police took Bhai Sahib’s body to the Rajindra Hospital of Patiala. The police did not return Bhai Sahib’s body to his family. The students of Punjabi University held mass protests to have Bhai Sahib’s body released. As the news of Bhai Sahib’s martyrdom spread, Sikhs from all over Punjab started gathering up in Patiala and soon the police gave into the Sikh demand of releasing Bhai Sahib’s body. Bhai Sahib’s cremation was done at his maternal village of Nohra. Thousands of Sikhs attended the cremation of Shaheed Bhai Nirmal Singh Nohra and paid their final respects.

Sikh Student Federation president Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar, Bhai Rashpal Singh Chhandran of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan, Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar of Khalistan Commando Force, Jathedar Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala of Khalistan Liberation Force and Dr Pritam Singh Sekhon also of Khalistan Liberation Force had humbly requested the Sikhs to attend Shaheed Bhai Nirmal Singh Nohra’s final Ardas. Even due to heavy police presence, thousands of Sikhs and Punjabis of other faiths attended the final Ardas of Bhai Sahib. Bibi Bimal Kaur Khalsa, wife of Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh Maloya who assassinated Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, Bhai Darshan Singh Mallewal, Gurcharan Singh Tohra the president of SGPC announced Shaheed Bhai Nirmal Singh Nohra amongst the great martyrs of the Sikh struggle for Khalistan.

Sant Sipahi – February 1991