Giani Gurdial Singh Dula alias Giani Aroor Singh

Khalistan Liberation Force

Giani Gurdial Singh Dula alias Giani Aroor Singh of 5 member Panthic Committee, Amritsar, 26thJanuary 1986, was born in a Gursikh family of Sardar Chanan Singh and from the womb of Mata Surjit Kaur on 3 February 1958 in village Dula near Kaddian, district Gurdaspur.

Bhai Sahib’s grandfather Sardar Thakur Singh is the man of history. Sardar Thakur Singh was part of Guru Ka Baagh Morcha, Jeto Ka Morcha and fought in the Nankana Sahib ka Morcha when the Mahant Narayan took over Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhai Sahib’s grandmother Mata Kartar Kaur spent 3 months in jail for being involved in Punjabi Subha Movement. Sardar Chanan Singh’s older brother Sardar Joginder Singh, Bhai Sahib’s uncle took part in the Dharam Yudh Morcha which was started on 4thAugust 1982 and spent 3 months in Ferozpur Jail.

Bhai Sahib studied at local school of Dula for primary education, and then went to a school in Kaddian for his secondary school. Bhai Sahib was in 9thclass when Mata Surjit Kaur, Bhai Sahib’s mother passed away. Mata Surjit Kaur’s sister was married to Sardar Joginder Singh, the couple looked after Bhai Sahib, washing Bhai Sahib’s hair, foods, cloths etc. Bhai Sahib never felt alone thanks to his Massi Ji. When Sant Kartar Singh Bindranwale held a nagar kirtan in Kaddian in remembrance of 9thGuru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, which Bhai Sahib attended with rest of the school kids. Sant Kartar Singh Bindranwale got many youth of drugs and alcohol and always got the youth to recite this line from gurbani;

“Mera Sir Javai Te Javai, Mera Sikhi Sidak Na Javai.”

“If I lose my head, so be it. But I must not lose my Sikhi.”

Bhai Sahib recited this line all the time, this line was planted deep in the heart of Bhai Sahib. All the locals heard Bhai Sahib recite was “Mera Sir Javai Te Javai, Mera Sikhi Sidak Na Java

After Sant Kartar Singh Ji Bindranwale passed away, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale came down to village Kaddian and held Mahan Kirtan Katha Smagam amrit sanchar, from which Bhai Sahib took amrit from the 5 beloved singhs of Dam Dami Taksal Jatha Bindran Mehta.

The 1978 Sikh massacre of 13 Sikhs, from the hands of Narakhdhari leader Gurbachan Singh, left Bhai Sahib devastated and looking for justice. Bhai Sahib was close to the Taksali singhs of his town and singhs from Khujala and Harchowal, Bhai Manjit Singh Khujala, Bhai Mann Singh, Pandit Mohan Singh Khujala, Bhai Surta Singh Harchowal, Bhai Lakha Singh Bandala, Bhai Wassan Singh Sakheera.

In connection with the murder of Lala Jagat Narayan, the police had issued an arrest warrant of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale peacefully gave himself to the police in Mehta on 20thSeptember 1981, but the police and the government wanted to create tension. The police fired bullets into the sangat which killed 24 Sikhs. Bhai Sahib witnessed this massacre as Bhai Sahib was there with his family.

Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale was released on 15thOctober 1981, and moved to Nanak Niwas from Mehta. Bhai Sahib stayed more with the singhs of Dam Dami Taksal at Sri Harimandir Sahib then he would at his village. Bhai Sahib was close with the Ustad of Dam Dami Taksal, Giani Mohar Singh as Giani Ji gave gurbani santhaya to the singhs in Khujala. Bhai Sahib also got very close to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale. Bhai Sahib was 26 years old, physically fit and fully supported the mission of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale to abolish the slavery of Sikhs to the Indian Government.

Bhai Sahib was always ready to die for the right cause, and do as much as possible for the Sikh Freedom Movement. Bhai Sahib believed in the old tradition of the Khalsa, “Mera Sir Javai Te Javai, Mera Sikhi Sidak Na Javai.” Looking at the great history of Bhai Sahib’s family from his grandfather to his uncles, we’d be wrong to think that Bhai Sahib was going to be any different. When the June 1984 attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib happened Bhai Sahib was in his village Dula. The Indian army destroyed the Akaal Takht, 37 surrounding gurudwaras and killed countless innocent Sikhs. The Indian army was going around Punjab arresting and killing baptised Sikhs. The following Sangraand after the June 1984 attack, the Indian army reached the village of Kaddian. Bhai Sahib left home and went on a run, Bhai Sahib was living in the jungles to avoid being caught by the Indian army, as many Sikh youth had no other choice. Bhai Sahib searched for the Khadku Singhs as Bhai Sahib wanted to get justice for the innocent Sikhs murdered,

Bhai Sahib met up with Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sakheera, Bhai Tarsem Singh Kohar, Bhai Manvir Singh Chaheru, Bhai Manjit Singh Khujala, Baba Ranjit Singh Dyalgarh, Jathedar Durga Singh RFK, Bhai Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, Bhai Harinder Singh Kahlon, Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Bhai Kuldeep Singh Muchal, Bhai Gurmej Singh Dilwan, Bhai Avtar Singh Bramha and Bhai Sher Singh Sher. A Shaheedi Smagam was held at Dam Dami Taksal, Gurudwara Gurdarshan Parkash in memory of the 1984 Shaheeds. Sangat from all over India came to pay their respects, at this Smagam some important issues were raised such as, rebuilding Akaal Takht from the money of Sikhs and not the government. Nihang Santa Singh had used the money of Congress Party to rebuild the Akaal Takht, to which the Sikhs did not agree. Baba Thakur Singh Ji of Dam Dami Taksal assured the Sikhs that fight for Freedom is not yet over. Dam Dami Taksal and Sikh Student Federation wanted the Sikh struggle to move to new heights and announced to the sangat to attend Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar on 26thJanuary 1986, here the Sikh nation will decide what to do next. Dam Dami Taksal and Sikh Student Federation along with highly educated Sikhs of that time planned Sarbat Khalsa programme.

On 26thJanuary 1986, Dam Dami Taksal, Sikh Student Federation and all other Sikh groups gathered at Sri Harimandir Sahib along with Sikhs from all corners of the world. When the question of, if Akaal Takht should be rebuilt, the Sikh nation agreed and shouted war cries which were heard all over Amritsar. Also 5 members of Panthic Committee were announced which were, Bhai Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Bhai Gurdev Singh Osmanwala, Bhai Dhanna Singh, Bhai Wassan Singh Zaffarwal and Giani Aroor Singh, the 5 members were given Saropa and the Sikh nation respected this decision. To rebuild the Akaal Takht, the sewa was given to 5 Kar Sewa groups. Sarbat Khalsa would not have been possible if it wasn’t for Dam Dami Taksal and Sikh Student Federation. Meanwhile SGPC and the Indian government tried their very best to stop the rebuilding of Akaal Takht. But the message from the Sikhs was clear, to keep the tradition of Sikhs alive, we will give our heads and also take heads in needed.

26thJanuary 1986 Sarbat Khalsa restored the confidence back into the Sikhs. As well as announcing the rebuilding of Akaal Takht the singhs also announced the armed struggle for the freedom of Sikhs. Bhai Manvir Singh Chaheru worked under name of Bhai Hari Singh of Khalistan Liberation Force and Giani Gurdial Singh Dula did sewa under the name of Giani Aroor Singh of Panthic Committee, Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sakheera, Bhai Gurdev Singh Osmanwala, Bhai Dhanna Singh and Bhai Wassan Singh Zaffarwal were the main singhs of the armed struggle at the that time.

29thFebruary 1986 all 5 Panthic Committee members held a press conference in Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar to announce the needs of the Sikh nation, which was Khalistan. Reporters were called from all major newspapers, and all their questions regarding Khalistan were answered. After the press conference all the singhs disguised themselves in shirt and trousers and instead of wearing Taksali turban they put on the Chonj turban, and made their escape before the police came. 30thApril 1986, Surjit Barnala sent the police to Sri Darbar Sahib and got Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke arrested along with many more Sikhs. Surjit Barnala belonged to a Sikh family but he tried to justify the attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib by the Indian army.

Bhai Sahib bought many freedom fighter groups under one name. Jathedar Durga RFK of Tat-Khalsa, Baba Ranjit Singh Dyalgarh of Khalistan Armed Force, Bhai Manjit Singh Khujala of Khalistan Armed Police, Sardool Dasmesh Regiment, Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, Bhai Waryam Singh Khappian Wali of Kesri Commando Force, Khalistan National Army and many more groups joined hands and came under one roof and one name, Khalistan Liberation Force. The Khadku Singhs made Bhai Sahib the chief of Khalistan Liberation Force. Under the command of Bhai Sahib, Khalistan Liberation Force was feared by the Indian security forces. Khalistan Liberation Force was punishing army generals, police officers who killed innocent Sikhs and anybody who was doing injustice to the Sikh nation. Khalistan Liberation Force was doing Panthic sewa at a top level in 1986 and onwards.

As well as keeping the armed struggle alive, Bhai Sahib also stayed in contact with Bhai Harinder Singh Kahlon of Sikh Student Federation. After Bhai Harinder Singh Kahlon was arrested the command of Sikh Student Federation was given to Bhai Gurjeet Singh, who also was in regular contact with Bhai Sahib. Bhai Sahib was arrested from Basant Avenue in Amritsar. The police tortured Bhai Sahib to get the location of other members of Panthic Committee. But only words that came out from Bhai Sahib’s mouth was “Mera Sir Javai Te Javai, Mera Sikhi Sidak Na Javai.”

The police kept Bhai Sahib separate from other inmates, so the police could physically torture Bhai Sahib as well as mentally. Bhai Sahib fell ill due to the blind torture of the Punjab police. The police did not get any medical help for Bhai Sahib. Bhai Sahib could not walk properly and had problems with the functioning of brain. The police could not keep him in jail as no cases that were put against him had evidence, and bailed Bhai Sahib. When Bhai Sahib was at home, Bhai Sahib remained ill and took his final breath reciting “Mera Sir Javai Te Javai, Mera Sikhi Sidak Na Javai” on 30thJune 1993.

After Bhai Sahib’s shaheed, Bhai Avtar Singh Bramha was givenm the command of Khalistan Liberation Force, after Bhai Avtar Singh Bramha’s Shaheedi Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, then Dr Pritam Singh Sekhon. Whenever the Khadku Singhs made headlines, Khalistan Liberation Force was mentioned along with the names of Giani Aroor Singh, Bhai Avtar Singh Bramha, Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala and Dr Pritam Singh Sekhon.

Khadku Yodhe – Maninder Singh Baja