Eminent Punjabi writer, scholar Bhai Vir Singh remembered

The Nankana Sahib tragedy of February 21, 1921, remains one of the defining episodes of the Sikh reform movement. Around 130 members of a peaceful jatha, led by Bhai Lachhman Singh, were killed after being attacked by armed mercenaries, allegedly hired by Mahant Narain Das, then custodian of the shrine. The massacre shocked the country and intensified demands for representative management of Sikh gurdwaras.

Speaking to The Tribune, Director General of Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan Mohinder Singh said the tragedy transformed the Gurdwara Reform Movement into a national cause.

"Mahatma Gandhi visited Nankana Sahib and described the sacrifice of the martyrs as extraordinary. The incident brought the Sikh community's struggle into the mainstream of India's freedom movement," he said.

Singh noted that the movement consciously adopted the principles of non-violence, moral discipline and public engagement. He highlighted the role played by newspapers and public opinion in mobilising support for the cause.

He also recalled the contributions of Prof Ruchi Ram Sahni, then a trustee of The Tribune, who documented developments related to the Akali movement and helped bring its concerns to a wider audience. According to Singh, Sahni later resigned from the newspaper's board to independently report on the Guru ka Bagh agitation after witnessing the treatment of peaceful protesters.

The Sadan's director also highlighted the role played by Sir Ganga Ram, who intervened during the Guru ka Bagh agitation and helped defuse tensions by purchasing disputed land at the centre of the conflict, thereby removing the basis for criminal proceedings against Sikh volunteers.

Paying tribute to Teja Singh Samundri, Singh said the leader's sacrifice extended beyond his imprisonment during the agitation. He recalled Samundri's efforts to promote education, particularly for girls, and his role in establishing educational institutions in Punjab.

The event also remembered leaders such as Baba Kharak Singh and Master Tara Singh, who were honoured for their contributions to the Sikh community and the freedom movement. Singh described Baba Kharak Singh as a leader who never sought political office despite commanding immense public respect, while recalling Master Tara Singh's reputation for personal integrity and simplicity.

The commemorative programme featured an exhibition of rare photographs, archival material and publications documenting the Sikh reform movement, the Singh Sabha movement and the contributions of Bhai Vir Singh and his contemporaries.

One of the panels at the exhibition showcased the struggle for Gurdwara reform and highlighted key moments from the Akali movement against British control over Sikh shrines. The display traced the historic agitation launched after British officials took away the keys of the Toshakhana at the Golden Temple, leading to the famous “Keys Morcha.” The panel noted how the sustained protest forced the authorities to return the keys to Baba Kharak Singh, then President of the SGPC.

The exhibition also featured references to the Guru ka Bagh Morcha near Amritsar, where Akali volunteers faced brutal police action while peacefully protesting restrictions on gathering wood for community kitchens.

Organisers said the event aimed to connect Bhai Vir Singh's literary and spiritual legacy with the sacrifices and reformist traditions that helped shape modern Sikh and Punjabi identity.