SOHAN SINGH, BHAl

SOHAN SINGH, BHAl (1890-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was the youngest of the six children of Bhai Sher Singh and Mai Gabo of the village of Dingarian, in Jalandhar district. On the opening of the Lower Chenab Canal Colony during the 1890`s, the family migrated to Chakk No. 91 Dhannuana in Lyallpur district (now Faisalabad district of Pakistan). Sohan Singh grew up into a hefty young man with an uncommonly strong physique. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the 76th Battalion, then stationed at At lock. There he took the vows of the Khalsa and learnt to read and write Gurmukhi.

He got his discharge in 1912 but reenlisted after the outbreak of the Great War (1914-18), this time in 27th Battalion (later 3/15 Punjab Regiment), and served in France where his left arm received serious injuries in a bomb blast, and he came home on a pension of Rs. 8 per month. During January 1921 he got himself registered as an Akah volunteer for the liberation of the Nankana Sahib shrine, and attained martyrdom along with Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharovali`s men. BIBLIOGRAPHY Sliamsher, Gurbakhsh Singh, Shahidi Jivan. Nankana Sahib, 1938 G.S.G SOHAN SINGH, BHAl (1891-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was (lie son of Bhai Kesar Singh and Mai Jivan Kaur of Kaulo Ghakka in Gujranwala district.

The family later shifted to Vanotianvali in the newly formed Sheikhupura district. Sohan Singh received the vows of the Khalsa in 1914 at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar. He joined the Indian army but soon got his discharge. Once on a visit to Gurdwara Khara Sauda, Chuharkana, he learnt about the corruption prevalent in the holy places under the control of mahunts or hereditary custodians. He made up his mind to join the ranks of the reformists. He had himself registered as an Akali volunteer. On 20 February 1921, he fell a martyr in the firing by the enemies of reform inside Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib.

References :

1. Sharnsher, Gurbakhsh Singh, Shahidi Jivan. Nankana Sahib, 1938