Sikhism - Culture - Gurmat Veechar

discussed so -far, the Sikhs were not having a congenial atmosphere to
live peacefully in most part of the 18 th century. The Muslim
governments of the day influenced by their clergy and some self
centered and ulterior intentioned Hindus, were suspecting an imminent
threat to their very existence from the new Religion that surfaced out of
the teachings of Guru Nanak and subsequent Gurus and as the same
emerged out ofBaisakhi of 1699. The Sikhs were being ordered to be
killed to the finish. They were tortured to death on flimsy grounds.
Despite all the odds against them, the Khalsa ofDasmesh was always
in '~qw' high spirits.
Bhai Taru Singh was a Sikh ofthe Gurus and was living in village
Puhla district Kasoor now in Pakistan. His father died when Bhai
Sahib was still a child. His mother brought her up and filled in him
Sikh values. He grew up as a very popular and well sought ofperson as
he was liked by all around him, be they be, Hindus, Muslims or Sikhs.
He was in the habit ofhelping all irrespective of one's caste, creed or
religion. Out ofhis this popularity, he was living in the village and had
not shifted to the jungles around. He however, was visiting his brethren
Sikhs in the jungles and was trying to share with them his earnings by
supplying them some food or other articles ofdaily requirement.
People with ulterior motives could not tolerate his this helping
nature. One such person in the history has been mentioned as Har
Bhagat Niranjania. He also lived in the vicinity and was also an
informer of the government. He lodged a false complaint with the
Governor Zakaria Khan that he was helping the terrorist Sikhs who
were living in jungles and were preparing themselves to revolt against
the government. The governor passed the orders to arrest him and for
producing him in his court.
When Bhai Taru Singh, was produced before him, he asked for his
offence. He told him that he was a hard working farmer. He has never
defaulted and was regularly paying all the taxes to the government. He
was helping all the needy irrespective of their religion. Zakaria Khan
on listening to him is reported to have said that since he was a good and
a popular person, he must belong to Islam, as such he should embrace
Islam. Several lucrative allurements were also offered to him. In the
alternative he was asked to face a torturous death.
When the governor repeated his proposal with a firm order that
Bhai Tarn Singh had to choose either death or Islam, Bhai Sahib asked
him, ifhe could assure that he was never to die after embracing Islam,
198 I The Sikhism - Culture, History & Religion