BHAG SINGH, BHAI

BHAG SINGH, BHAI (1872-1914), one of the leaders of the Punjabi immigrants in Canada, was born at the village of Bhikhivind, in Amritsar district. His father`s name was Narain Singh and mother`s Man Kaur. Bhag Singh joined the British Indian cavalry at the age of twenty, receiving a discharge certificate of meritorious service when he resigned. Thereafter he served in the municipal police at Hankow, China, for about three years, resigning from the service to go to Canada, where he settled in Vancouver.

He was elected president of the Khalsa Diwan Society of Vancouver. He and Balvant Singh, of Khurdpur, became leaders of the Indian community in Canada and continued to campaign for its rights. Bhag Singh was once arrested by the immigration authorities but was released as the charges against him could not be substantiated.

On 5 September 1914, Bhai Bhag Singh was shot dead in the Gurdwara, as he sat reciting the Guru Granth Sahib, by Bela Singh, a tool in the hands of Inspector William Hopkinson of the Canadian immigration department, whose attitude towards Indians was very hostile and insulting. Bhai Bhag Singh`s murder was avenged by Meva Singh, of Lopoke, who killed Inspector Hopkinson at a hearing in the appellate court. A group of Sikh revolutionaries took the revenge on Bela Singh, pursuing him back to the Punjab and killing him in his village.

References :

1. Jagjit Singh, Ghadar Parti Lahir. Delhi, 1979
2. Sainsara, Gurcharan Singh, Ghadar Parti da Itihas. Jalandhar, 1969