Quaint Punjab village a testament to Sikh valour, service

The quaint village of Aladinpur — small in terms of area and population — holds great religious and historic significance. Situated along National Highway 54, the village houses a population of 4,000, and spans across 17 sq km.

Since the village is situated alongside a key highway, its residents are able to approach Tarn Taran and other big towns for higher education and jobs.

Among the many stories of Sikh history this quaint village houses is a gurdwara dedicated to Baba Hazara Singh of Aladinpur and Baba Hukam Singh of Vasakot — the first two martyrs of the Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar (gurdwara

improvement movement).

Baba Hazara Singh and Baba Hukam Singh sacrificed their lives on January 28, 1921, on the premises of the Tarn Taran Darbar Sahib.

At that time, gurdwaras across the region were under the control of mahants (priests), who had reportedly been using these sacred spaces for personal gains, acting against Sikh Rehat Maryada (the official, standardised code of conduct and conventions for Sikhs).

As Baba Hazara Singh and Baba Hukam Singh aimed to free the gurdwaras from the clutches of the mahants, both — unarmed themselves — were attacked and killed by mahants and their supporters.

The act was largely condemned in Sikhs circles, and led to the strengthening of the Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar, forcing mahants to give up control of the gurdwaras.

It is pertinent to note that, a year earlier, in 1920, the British Raj had formed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), but the move failed to convince the mahants to give up possession of gurdwaras to the SGPC.

In memory of the two brave martyrs, the SGPC established the gurdwara at Aladinpur, where a congregation is organised with great reverence on January 28 every year.

Among the people who have called the village home over the years is the family of Baba Hazara Singh. Pritam Singh (90), his grandson, was the Sarpanch of the village for over 15 years.

Also, the water of the sarovar at the Tarn Taran Darbar Sahib, established by fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev, has been supplied from the village’s Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) for over 140 years.

A stone laid in 1883 by then British Governor Robert Egerton is testimony to the arrangement.

The canal water is purified at the village, and, then, through a ‘hansli’ (underground system), is carried to the sarovar, where it flows in a light-blue hue.

Late Baba Basta Singh from the Aladinpur Gurdwara looked after the water supply for more than 25 years, and, today, many villagers recall his selfless services with great respect.