Deep Singh Shaheed: The undaunted warrior saint

Madanjit Kaur

Writing history was not a scientific pursuit among the Sikhs in the early days. Therefore, one has to depend on folklore and oral traditions for pursuing research in this area. The early Persian chronicles compiled by the Mughal court historians and diary writers of the Afghan invaders held a biased view of the Sikhs, who were depicted as infidels. They, however, did mention the bravery, fighting skills and commitment of the Sikh soldiers.

Europeans were the first to record historical accounts of the Punjab and the Sikhs. However, whatever they have written of the early period is based on oral tradition, folklore and hearsay. It was only in the 19th century that Persian, Gurmukhi and Urdu accounts of the local historians came into existence. Therefore, the task of carrying out research in the early Sikh history remains difficult and one has to face scarcity of resources besides the challenge of sifting truth from myth and fiction.

Author Harisimran Singh has worked hard to tackle both literary and historical sources related to his subject of study in compiling this excellent monograph on the popular Sikh warrior hero. Luckily, there is a vast storehouse of folklore in the form of vaars (ballads) sung in the glory of the heroes in Punjab and Harisimran Singh draws on that for this book.

Baba Deep Singh belonged to Pahuwind village in Amritsar. He was born in the late 17th century and received pahul (Sikh baptism) from Guru Gobind Singh in 1700. Deep Singh was a brave soldier, undaunted warrior and a devout Sikh. Besides, he was an accomplished scholar in Sikh scripture, Sikh theology and calligraphy. He was appointed in-charge (Jathedar) of the Sikh centre of learning at Sabo Ki Talwandi (Damdama Sahib, Guru Ki Kashi).

Along with Bhai Mani Singh, the senior Sikh scholar of theology and interpreter of the scripture, Baba Deep Singh was assigned the job of preparing copies of Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh. The Bir prepared by Baba Deep Singh is called Damdami Bir. The printed Bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib available at present are copies of the Damdami Bir.

The political situation changed in Punjab and the Mughal state took coercive steps to suppress the progress of the Sikh organisation under the command of the Guru. The Guru and his Sikhs were treated as enemies and a threat to the state. Moreover, the Hindu rajas of the hill states had also joined the Mughals. In 1705, Guru Gobind Singh was forced to evacuate the fort of Anandpur Sahib. The Guru sent his family to a safe place and stayed at Talwandi Sabo for some time. He decided to carry out his mission from Deccan. Before his departure to Deccan in 1706, Guru Gobind Singh appointed Baba Deep Singh as the Jathedar of Damdama Sahib and Bhai Mani Singh as in charge of Sri Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. The Guru commanded them to stay at their seats till further orders. The Sikh centre at Talwandi Sabo flourished under the guidance of Baba Deep Singh. Here, besides teaching Sikh theology (Gurmat) and Sikh scripture, baptised youths were imparted training in the use of arms, horse riding and warfare. Soon, a considerable number of trained Khalsa soldiers formed the jatha of Baba Deep Singh.

Baba Deep Singh fought in many battles of Banda Singh Bahadur too. After Banda Singh’s death in 1716, the Mughal rulers launched an intensive military campaign for the complete liquidation of the Sikh community. But the Sikhs intensified their fights with the Mughals and the Afghans to free their homeland. By virtue of his position as a senior spiritual and military leader of the Khalsa community, Baba Deep Singh assumed the central role in the affairs of the Sikh community.

Baba Deep Singh was a living embodiment of the Khalsa ideology of Sant Sipahi (Saint Soldier) in every aspect, beliefs and deeds. He played a significant role in the spiritual, academic and military affairs of Sikhs during the most critical period of Sikh history when they were declared outlaws by the Mughal state, prices were fixed on their heads and they were to be killed wherever seen.

Invasion after invasion followed — Amritsar was besieged, desecrated. In 1757, while Ahmad Shah Durrani was on his way back from Delhi, more than 5,000 armed Sikhs, mostly peasants, had gathered under the leadership of Baba Deep Singh. They vowed to protect Amritsar and the holy precincts of Harmandir Sahib at the cost of their lives. The battle proved ferocious. Baba Deep Singh was severely wounded in the battlefield. Supporting his almost severed head, he pushed forward through the enemy lines and reached his destination, the precincts of Harmandir Sahib, and fell down dead on the parikarma of the holy tank. In this way, the great hero kept his tryst with death and earned the title of ‘Shaheed’.

The Sikhs suffered considerable losses, the city of Amritsar was conquered, and the tank and temple were desecrated. But the Afghans failed to destroy the zeal and power of the Khalsa.

The martyrdom of Baba Deep Singh had a deep impact on the future of the Sikhs. The episode of shaheedi ignited the spirit of sacrifice and Chardi Kala (optimism) in the Sikh community to carry on their struggle for independence.

A year after Baba Deep Singh’s death, the Khalsa Army, under the leadership of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, routed out the Afghans from Lahore and captured the town.

Baba Deep Singh Shaheed is worshipped in Punjab and by the Sikh diaspora. His bravery is profoundly engraved in the Sikh psyche. The episode of the shaheedi of Baba Deep Singh generated a number of heroic vaars glorifying the event. His paintings adorn homes, shops, gurdwaras, public places, offices, etc. His miniatures are seen on trucks, cars, autos, buses and are deemed as lucky charm and protector from sufferings and mishaps.