He wanted to see the country free at any cost. Did not believe in violence. They achieved victory only through peaceful movement. Many times the British bowed before him. Decisions changed. Also frightened, because they do not get involved in incidents like fighting, vandalism, attacks etc. Such was the freedom fighter Baba Kharak Singh. He breathed his last on 6 October 1963 in Delhi at the age of 95. There is a road named after him in Connaught Place, Delhi. A postage stamp was issued in the year 1988.
He was one year older than Mahatma Gandhi. If we talk only about the contribution of the Sikh community in the freedom movement, then he was just like Gandhi. The eyes of any patriot can become moist while reading his contribution. The first successful movement against British rule in Punjab took place under his leadership.
Jallianwala Bagh incident shocked
His life was going smoothly on a very straight track. Schooling completed. Took bachelor's degree from Lahore University. The financial condition of the house was good. Father was an industrialist. Baba Kharak Singh reached Allahabad to study law. During this time, father Rai Bahadur Sardar Hari Singh died untimely. He had to leave his studies and come back. Started handling the household business.
When he turned 51, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place. This incident shook Baba deeply and he devoted his life to the freedom movement. Due to this, difficulties also arose. But they did not waver. Meanwhile, he was elected the first president of Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee.
At that time the terror of the British was at its peak. Martial law was also imposed in Punjab. In this way, within no time he came to the center of Sikh politics.
Arrested but the movement did not stop
The British Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar had taken possession of the keys of the treasury of the Golden Temple. As president he led the movement. Kharak Singh was arrested but the movement did not stop. This movement was non-violent. The British rule had to bow before him and on 17 January 1922, in a public ceremony in the bitter cold, the British handed over the keys of the treasury of the Golden Temple to him.
When Mahatma Gandhi congratulated
Mahatma Gandhi sent a telegram to Baba Kharak Singh congratulating him on the success of this movement. He wrote – The first battle for India's independence has been won. Congrats. In fact, this victory also silenced those people who repeatedly raised questions about Gandhi's movement in a Gandhian way because neither Gandhi was anywhere in this movement nor did he have any kind of leadership.
Movement started in jail
After this, jail became like his second home. Many times he went in and out but remained steadfast in the fight for freedom. Neither moved nor wavered. The British officers accused him of seditious speech. Once he was imprisoned for making a sabre. Once he was sent to remote Dera Ghazi Khan jail. There the British officers issued an order that no prisoner would wear Gandhi cap or black turban. Baba also made this a movement inside the jail.
The prisoners gave up all their upper clothes. This movement continued until the ban was lifted. The officers bowed here too. The officers felt embarrassed when the prisoners were not ready to wear clothes even in the extreme cold. Fearing something untoward, he withdrew his order. Even when Baba left the place after completing his sentence, he was still not wearing clothes. Even in his absence, he was again elected President of Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee. However, he later resigned and decided to protest solely to protect the interest of the Sikhs.
Even though he did not agitate with Mahatma Gandhi, there was a lot of similarity in the thoughts of both of them. Baba Kharak Singh also continued to oppose the Muslim League's demand for Pakistan and Punjab for the Sikhs. He also opposed the Communal Award imposed by the British. Gandhi was in Yerwada jail of Pune at that time. He started a fast there and then the movement ended after an agreement. In this way we can also call him Gandhi of Punjab.
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