DALLA, BHAI

DALLA, BHAI (later Dall Singh), a Siddhu Jatt and chaudhari or landlord of Talvandi Sabo, enthusiastically received Guru Gobind Singh when he arrived there with his entourage early in 1706, and attended diligently to the needs and comforts of the daily growing sangat. According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Dalla maintained a private army of several hundred warriors of whom he was very proud. He more than once commiserated with Guru Gobind Singh on the events that had overtaken him, boastfully adding that had the Guru called him for help he would have joined him with his bold warriors and that he (the Guru) would have been saved much of the travail. Guru Gobind Singh every time dismissed the topic saying, “God`s will must prevail. It is useless to brood over the past. ”

Once as Dalla was repeating his boast, two artisans of Lahore came and presented the Guru with two costly muzzleloading guns. The Guru asked Bhai Dalla to provide a couple of his men as targets for him to test the range and striking power of the weapons. The strange demand stunned Dalla and put his men out of their wits, and none of them came forward. The Guru thereupon invited two Rarighreta Sikhs, father and son, who happened to be busy tying their turbans near by.

They both came running, turbans in hand, each trying to be in front of the other in order to be the first to face the bullet. Bhai Dalla, astonished at the Sikhs` spirit of sacrifice, was ashamed and learnt to be humble. He took the initiation of the Khalsa, receiving the name of Dall Singh. A small domed shrine within the precincts of Takht Damdama Sahib at Talvandi Sabo honours Dall Singh`s memory to this day. A sword and shield and a few other articles claimed to have been bestowed upon him by Guru Gobind Singh are preserved in the descendant family as sacred relics.

References :

1. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1926-37
2. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa. Patiala, 1970
3. Sukha Singh, Bhai, Gurbilas Dasviri Patshahi. Lahore, 1912
4. Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1909