Baba Sukha Singh Kalsi (Marhi Kamboki)

 ਅਬ ਸਾਖੀ ਸੁੱਖਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੀ ਸੁਨੀਏ ਮਨ ਚਿਤ ਲਾਇ‍ ।

Here's a tale of (Baba) Sukha Singh (Kalsi)

ਕੰਬੋ ਕੀ ਮਾੜੀ ਭਯੋ ਜਾਤ ਤਰਖਾਣ ਕਹਾਇ ।

He came from Marhi Kamboki (village) and belonged to Tarkhans.

(Prachin Panth Parkash (1809-1841) by Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu

THE GREAT SIKH WARRIOR BHAI SUKHA SINGH KALSI, MARI KAMBOKE, AMRITSAR.

The entire Sikh & Khalsa history is full of Great and wonderful Sikh Warriors and Martyres, who bravely fought battles and laid down their lives for the protection of the Independence and honor of the Sikhs and other communities without consideration of any caste or religion etc. A similar great courageous, warrior, determined fighter and a true SINGH (LION) of The Gurus was Bhai Sukha Singh Kalsi of Mari Kamboke, Amritsar. This village is about 40-42 km. from Amritsar and very near to the Pakistan Border. He was born to Mother Bibi Haro and Father Ladha, in the month of Magh, 1707. It was the time when Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, attacked Sirhind and destroyed it to take revenge of the Martyrdom of YOUNGER SAHIBJADAS and thus jolted the very foundations of the Mughal Empire in India. That is why the entire Mughal, Nadir and Abdali raiders were bent upon to finish the Sikhs once for all. So the Sikhs were fighting a guerrilla war against all the enemy forces, from Jungles and Hilly area hideouts to keep their existence and other heritage intact. In these difficult and uncertain times, Bhai Sukha Singh got AMRIT PAUHAL (Sikh Baptising) from Panj Piaras and became a Khalsa at the age of 14-15 years.

TO JUMP IN THE WELL TO COMMIT SUCIDE (DUE TO HAIRCUT)

The entire village shocked with his this act and came to his house with village Sarpanch to complain with his Father and Mother. The villagers asked the Father and Mother of Bhai Sukha Singh to denounce the Sikhism and thus save themselves and other villagers from the tyrnee of Mughal Rulers. So, the parents of Bhai Sukha Singh, advised him not to be SINGH & keep his hairs and turban etc. but he did not budge from his determination. His mother, out of fear and love to her son thought a secert plan and mixed some intoxicants in his dinner and got CUT HIS HAIRS while he was in deep sleep under the influence of the intoxicants. When he got up in the morning and did not find his hairs on his head he became very angry & furious and decided to finish his life by jumping into the village WELL. Some body who saw him jumping in the well, told his parents as well as other villagers. Everybody came to the scene and requested by Bhai Sukha Singh to come out of the Well but he did not agree and refused to come out but to die. Incidently at the same time some members of Jathedar S. Sham Singh Kroria, passed that side and saw the villagers and enquired about the matter. The villagers and his father and mother told the whole story, then they advised him to come out of the Well as to commit sucide is against the teachings of the Gurus and God. But Bhai Sukha Singh said he did not want to live without AMRITPAN, HAIRS AND TURBAN etc. They replied, if you want to die, then come alongwith us and kill the Mughals, Afgans and other enemies of the Sikh Panth and get martyredom with honour and respect. He agreed to them immediately and got ready to go along with them. He took a Horse of the village Nambardar with him to ride and to go, after reaching the hideout of the Jatha at BUDHAJOHAR, RAJASTHAN, he again took Amrit and became a Khalsa. He learnt all the skills and drills of fighting a gurrilla war and how to use all types of Arms against the enemy. This training changed his life and he became a great fighter and struggler for the Sikh Panth in particular and for the whole humanity in general.

BATH IN AMRIT SROVAR, HARMANDAR SAHIB JI.

Bhai Sukha Singh was a strong built youngman and was very energic to do extraordinary work for the Sikh Panth. He was always in the front line as and when there was any challenge to the community or any indivisual. As already stated that the Mughal Rulers were bent upon to finish the Sikhs for ever. So they were killing every Sikh or family where ever they were. Mughal rullers asked their generals, while so many sikhs are being killed by us but still they are there to fight with us, why they are not getting finished. It was told to them that their Gurus had put some AB-E-HAYAT (HOLY WATER OR AMRIT ) in the SROVAR AT GOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSAR. They come over there and take a dip in the Holy water and get ready to fight again with full streanth and zeal. If any one injured in the war could not come here, the other fellowmen take the Holy water with them and pour the same into the mouth of that person and he also get ready to fight with us. Then Mughal rulers annoused a complete ban on taking bath in the Srovar or taking the Holy water with them and put their forces to keep a strict watch and ordered if any body tries to do so, he should be elliminated immediately. Now the local Mullah and Kazi etc. started giving challenges to the Sikhs that if there was any Sikh warrior that can dare to have a Bath in the Amrit Srovar? Some Sikhs went to the Jathedar Sham Singh Kroria at Budha Johar and narrated the whole story and the challenge of Mughal rulers. The Jathedar called all the warriors of his Jatha and asked who will take this challenge. Most of them were not ready to take the challenge due to the encirclement of the Amrit Srovar by heavy forces of the Mughals. Now Bhai Sukha Singh offered himself to the Jathedar for his permission to take the Challenge of the Mullas and Kazi etc. Every body was wondering, how he will perform this difficult task singlehandedly. But Bhai Sukha Singh assured them that he will do it without any problem. After hectic discussions and hesitations, we was allowed by the Jathedar to go to Amritsar and everybody prayed to the Gurus and Almighty God for his safe return. The Lion hearted Bhai Sukha Singh started his journey to Amritsar in muslim get up and reached Amirtsar early next morning when all the guards and other forces were in deep sleep. He took off his clothes and had a dip in the Holy water of the Srovar, then after wearing his clothes and riding his horse, with his sword in hand, he challenged the Mughal Guards in loud voice that the Guru’s SINGH had taken the bath in the Holy Srovar and now you stop me if you can. All the guards and rulers were very much shocked & astonished to hear it and tried to catch him but by the time they do anything, Bhai Sahib went far away and reached his place safely. Every body took a sigh of relief and given a pat with all the blessings of the Gurus and God. Now he became a known figure and beloved of all. Everyone priased his bravery and daredevelness.

CUTTING THE HEAD OF MASSA RANGHAR

After the martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh ji, his nephew Bhai Pathar Singh killed the Kotwal of Amritsar. With this the Subedar of Lahore Jakaria Khan got very angry and decided to teach a lesson to Sikhs. He appointed Massa Ranghar as Kotwal of Amritsar and given him a full liberty to do what ever he wanted to do with the Sikhs and their Holy places. He was a known enemy of Sikhs and a bad character. He was a heavy drinker and found of womenfolks. He ordered to convert all Gurudwaras in to horse stables and to put all types of waste in them and he himself occupied the Harmandir Sahib. He started smoking Hukka, Drinking, eating meat and dance of women dancers , descretion of the holy place with the blood of cows, filling it with horse waste and filth etc. When some sikhs saw this scene they immediately reached at Budha Johar, Rajasthan and reported the matter in details. All the Singh Soorme and the Jathedar were very angry and their blood started boiling. The Jathedar asked who will cut the head of Massa Ranghar and bring it here for proper punishment. As usual Bhai Sukha Singh ji and Bhai Mehtab Singh ji, offered themselves to perform this job. Both were given the best possible horses and other needed arms and a prayer also made to the ALMIGHTY for the success of the mission. Both changed their getups as muslim pathans and started their journey for Amritsar, Punjab. They made thier first halt at Gurudwara Damdama Shib for night stay. From there they went to Patti, a small town near Amritsar, because a relative named Jit Singh, was living there. Both stayed with him and discussed the matter. He told them that a dancer that dance before Massa Ranghar, lives in this village. So he contacted the dancer and asked her that how he can meet the Massa Ranghar. She told him that after 8-10 days it will be her turn to dance inside Harmandir Sahib and also the Nambardars of Patti will go there to pay the anuual Mamla (revenue) to Massa Ranghar. So you may come there and I will help you to meet him. Bhai Jit Singh gave all this information to Bhai Sukha Singh and Bhai Mehtab Singh Jatt. Now both of them made the plan to meet Massa Ranghar. They collected some broken pichers and made small round pieces like Silver Rupees, and filled them in two small bags. In the early morning on the fixed day they started to reach Amritsar, on the way near Tarn Taran, Foujdar Yakoob Khan met them with his soldiers and asked them where they are going. Bhai Sukha Singh told him that they were the Nambardars of Patti and going to Amritsar to give Mamla to Massa Ranghar. He told them that he is also going there and they may handover the money to him and he will deliver the same on their behalf but they refused to do so. When Yakoob Khan insisted and started fighting, so both of them finished the Yakoob khan as well as his all soldiers and reached Amritsar before noon. After reaching at Darshani Deori, they tied their horses with the LACHI BER and told the watchmen that they were nambardars of Patti and had come to deliver Mamla to Massa Ranghar. When they reached inside the Harmandir Sahib, they found that Massa Ranghar Sitting at the big size Charpoi (big cot) and smoking hukka, drinking and eating meat of cows and goat etc. the dancer was dancing on the tunes of the musicians. Both of them saw each other and started their action plan. First they told him that we were the Namberdars of Patti and had come to pay the Mamla to him. He welcomed them and asked for the amount, then they thrown away both the bags toward him. As soon as he bent to see the bags, Bhai Sukha Singh cut his head with his sword and, Bhai Mehtab Singh cut all others inside the place. Bhai Sukha Singh very carefully put the head of MASSA RANGHAR in the clothes and tied it with him then both of them immediately came out and also killed all the watchmen outside. They rode on their horses and started their journey back. Within minutes they were out of the Amritsar city and reached again Dam Dama Sahib for night stay. From there they reached Budha Johar in the evening and then showed the head of Massa Ranghar to the Jathedar and all the Sikh Sangat. They had well done the job and every body was praising there bravery and daredevelness. They were given all the respect and honour for doing this immpossible task. They now became the Heros of the Sikh Sangat and they thanked the Gurus and God for the blessings and help. This way a notorius enemy of the sikhs was punished by the brave Singh Soormas for his all wrong doing and desecrition of the Sikh Shrines.

FIGHT WITH A AFGHAN GILJA (AFGHAN WARRIOR)

In 1748 when Abdali attacked India, his forces were advancing toward river Satluj, the Khasla forces were also there in nearby. To be in better position the Khalsa forces decided to cross the river and reach the other side. When the Abdali forces came to know that the Khalsa forces had crossed the river, they sent a message that you say that you are the SINGHS(LION) OF GURU but you had ran away after seeing our forces it shows that you are not the Singhs of the Gurus and cannot fight with us. They also proposed that our ONE AFGHAN (GILJA) will fight with your 2-3 Singhs. Then Khalsa forces replied that we are always ready to fight with you to teach you a lesson so our ONE SINGH will fight with your 2-3 Giljas and thus got ashamed for thier challenge. At last it was decided that both sides will send one each fighter to have this fight. Who so ever will survive, his forces will be treated as winner and there will not be any war. The Gilja was a big structure and strong built body, deadly apprearance and fully covered with Iron head cap, iron knit clothes and other fighting arms etc. with a horse to ride. Now sikh forces started to see who will fight this Gilja, then again Bhai Sukha Singh offered himself to fight with the Gilja. But the Jathedar refuced to agree to him since he was a no match to such a notorious fighter. Bhai Sukha Singh insisted for his offer and at last everyone had to agree to him. So a best quality horse, Iron cap, iron knit clothes and arms were given to him to fight with the Gilja. An ARDAS (PRAYER) was performed to the GURUS AND ALMIGHTY for his success. Both the fighters fought a pitched battle with their full streanth and skills for hours and at last fallen on the ground. With grace of Almighty Bhai Sukha Singh’s got up before the Gilja and with the full force and power he pierced the body of his enemy with his BROKEN SWORD and thus killed him. After this he immediately went back on his horse to his forces. All the sikh soldiers and Jathedars, welcomed him with great joy and the whole sky was sounded with BOLE SO NIHAL. When the opponents saw their Gilja killed by the Sikh fighter, they filled with sorrow and anger and went back from their promise of no-war. They started fighting with the sikh forces whereas the sikh forces were also ready to fight and gave them a befitting reply. After heavy fighting and casualties etc. the Afgan forces started retreating and reached Lahore without any gain. Now every one including Jathedars were praising Bhai Sukha Singh for his unparallad bravery, supermacy in fighting and offered him many rewards including best horses but he humbly returned the same to them and with bowed head & folded hands said it is not his win alone but it is the win of all of us and of our Gurus and the God. I am only a small servent of my Great Guru’s and Sikh Sangat.

SMALL CARNAGE (CHHOTA GHALOO-GHARA)

In the year 1746, Jakaria khan the subedar of Lahore died and his two sons Yahya Khan and Shah Nawaj Khan started fighting for the throne. Shah Nawaj Khan took away every thing from Yahya Khan, thrown him out and took control of the throne. The two bothers Diwans (Ministers) of Jakaria khan, named Lakhpat Rai and Jaspat Rai were also the enemies of the Sikhs and were doing all the injustice with sikhs with their wast powers and resources. They were having their own forces, elephants, horses and big havelies. They were having a big Jageer (GIFTED LAND) in Aimnabad area. In the month of March 1748, the Sikhs made a gathering at GURDWARA RORI SAHIB, AIMNABAD to discuss some urgent matters. When Jaspat Rai got the news, he immediately came their with his small force and asked the Sikhs to disband the gathering and go away. When the Sikh Jathedars refuced to wacate the place then Jaspat Rai who was riding on the Elephant, started calling bad names with anger. On hearing this some Singhs came out of the Gurudwara and Bhai Nigah Singh immediately rode on Jaspat’s elephant and cut his head with his sword and his other guards were also killed by other Singhs. All his arms and ammunition, valueables and eatables also taken away from the fleeing soldiers. When his brother Lakhpat came to know of it he got angry and went to the Subedar of Lahore with complaint of Sikhs. He said to the Subedar, that a Kashatri (SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI )had bowed the seeds of Sikhism and now a Kashtri (Lakhpat rai) will root out Sikhs. The subedar given him moral support and encouraged him with all the forces, arms & ammunition etc. Lakhpat Rai now called help from the rulers of Kasoor, Multan and Nawabs of other areas to finish the Sikhs once for all. When the Sikhs got the news, they started collecting at the CHHAMB OF KAHNUWAN in Gurdaspur near river beas. Many prominent Sikh Sardars such as Bhai Sukha Singh, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Tara Singh, Charhat Singh, Jai Singh, Kapoor Singh, Hari Singh Bhangi, Deep Singh, Dargaha Singh, Gurdial Singh, Hardial Singh, Daljit Singh and Sham Singh etc. were in this gathering to fight with the enemy forces. Lakhpat also came there with his forces and encircled the Sikh forces and a great fighting started. Sikh forces were fighting a gurilla type fight and doing a great loss to the enemy. After many days of this gurilla fight, Lakhpart ordered to burn the Chhamb area. Now Sikh forces had no other option than to fight face to face and decided to find and kill the Lakhpat rai and thus win the war. Bhai Sukha Singh asked all the Sikh Sardars that he will lead and go to find the Lakhpat rai and they should follow him to kill the enemy soldiers covering the Lakhpat rai. With this plan he started going toward Lakhpat rai after fierce fighting with his soldiers and other Sardars were also following him. When he reached very near to him a cannon ball struck to his leg and his leg got broken. He immediately tied his broken leg with the saddle of his horse and continued to fight but in the meantime the Lakhpat rai got the time to save himself and getting away from him. So he lost the chance to kill the Lakhpat rai, however, he continued to fight the enemy forces for 7 days and to save at least 3000 to 3500 of his forces . After reaching across river Beas, he got the treatment of his broken leg from the local Hakeems. In this fight alone the enemy lost 30,000 to 35,000 soldiers and Sikh forces also lost 10,000 to 12,000 lives. That is why it is called as small carnage (CHHOTA GHALU-GHARA) in sikh history. Bhai Sukha Singh despite his broken leg, was able to save as many as 3000 to 3500 brave soldiers from the enemy with his strong will and leadership. In the same year Ahmed Shah Abdali again attacked India, Diwan KAURA MAL a welwisher of Sikhs requested the Sikh leadership to help Mir Mannu, then subedar of Lahore. Sikh forces fought against Abdali thus he lost the war and ran away from India. Now Sikh leadership asked Diwan Kaura Mal to handover Lakhpat Rai to Sikhs. He asked Mir Manu to do the same, which he immediately agreed. The sikh leadership arrested Lakhpat Rai and tied him well and thrown him in the TOILET and asked all the sikhs to do toilet over him. In few days he died and sikhs taught him such a lesson that his coming generations will remember it for ever.

LAST WAR WITH AHMED SHAH ABDALI

In 1754, Ahmed Shah Abdali attacked India 3rd time and started looting and destroying Lahore, Sarhind and Delhi etc. As usual, Subedar of Lahore, Mir Mannu and his minister Diwan Kaura Mal sent messages to Sikh leadership for urgent help to fight Abdali. This time Sikh leadership was not united but the Misls Sardars were fighting each other for supermacy. So no body was willing to fight with Abdali for the sake of Mir Mannu. However Bhai Sukha Singh and his jathedar Bhai Sham Singh Kroria agreed to fight with Abdali with a force of 250 to 300. It was their view that once we will start fighting with Abdali, the other Sikh Sardar will come automatically with their forces to help them and thus will join the war as before. But this thought did not prove true. No Sikh Sardar or forces joined them and they were forced to fight it alone with Abdali forces of many thousands. Bhai Sukha Singh and his other associates and soldiers crossed River Ravi and attacked Abdali forces with his full streanth and might and continued to kill as many enemy soldiers as they could. Bhai Sukha Singh started finding Abdali to kill him but as usual he was under the cover of his guards and behind his forces. It was not possible to reach him without killing all the forces and gaurds etc. with such a meager force of 250 to 300 soldiers. Even then he continued his best efforts to reach Abdali but could not succeed. Being out numbered, at last he got the Martyrdom while fighting the enemy in the battlefield of a small village named Mehmood Booti, across river Ravi. BHAI SUKHA SINGH, was a great warrior, fearless fighter and one of the daredevils to accomplish such difficult and immpossible task such as to kill a huge size Afgan Gilja, to bath in the Harminder Sahib Srovar despite heavy forces of the Mughal Rulers, to punish and cut the head of Massa Ranghar inside the Harmandir Sahib and to fight at least 14 big wars with Mughals, Nadirs and Afghan Pathans etc. for the honour of the Khalsa Panth and humanity as a whole. He was of 6’ height and strong built, expert in gurilla as well as face to face sword fighting and was so fast and speedy that within seconds he pull down the enemy. It was he only that he continued fighting for 7 days, even when his leg was fractured with the enemy cannon fire ball. There is no such an example in any history of the world. He was unmarried, lived only 47 years.