Valiant Jathedar Kapur Singh Ji Shaheed (Kashmir -1947)

The Kapur Singh about which you are going to read is not the Nawab Kapur Singh of 18^th century nor is Sirdar Kapur Singh, the National Professor of Sikhism. He was a great Sikh Leader and Martyr of Kashmir (now called as Jammu & Kashmir, India and Azad Kashmir in Pakistan). I would like to share glimpses of his life but it would make this post too much lengthy. So, here I will post only on his martyrdom.

He was popularly known as Jathedar Kapur Singh in Kashmir Province of British India. He was well known for his bravery, humbleness, determination and far-sightedness not only among Sikhs but also among Hindus and Muslims.

In the pre-1947 division period, India which was once a peaceful country now was burning in the fire of communalism and separatism between Hindus and Muslims. This communalism now took form of riots, murders, killings of innocent Kaafirs (Hindus) and Malechhs (Muslims). But the Sikhs had to suffer much and much more than any other community in India. This fire and wounds were much more severe in Punjab than any other part of the country. Kashmir, a princely state of British India, was also burning in the same fire. Perhaps, Kashmir was the most destructed state in 1947 after Punjab or it may be Bengal.

Jathedar Kapur Singh Ji’s far-sightedness already had a clear vision of the result of growing worse and tense state. He asked Sikhs in Kashmir to be Shastardhari. He asked them to buy weapons by selling their useless and needless belongings and goods. He also advised them to move to the safer areas of Kashmir before anything worse happens.

In this changing and challenging time, Master Tara Singh, a great Sikh Leader of that time went to Jammu. He had a meeting with Pandit Kaak (ਪੰਡਤ ਕਾਕ), the minister of Kashmir. He showed Pandit Kaak the threat of attack of Pakistan on Muzzafarabad from the side of Krsihna-Ganga Bridge. He advised that the nearby castle and some guns should be given to the Sikhs of Naulchhi (ਨੌਲਛੀ). In this way, Kashmir would be saved from the Pakistan attack. Then they both went to Naulchhi. The Sikhs at Naulchhi were very brave. They were well organized under the command of Jathedar Kapur Singh Ji. Pandit Kaak told Master Tara Singh that the person having keys is not present. But he will give the keys and weapons to the Sikhs later. But he betrayed. He gave Sikhs nothing.

Finally, Pakistan army attacked Kashmir through that same way killing thousands of Hindus and Sikhs. Even Muslims were also not spared. They were not killed but robbed. Those Muslims who used to help Sikhs and Hindus were severely tortured. Jathedar Kapur Singh Ji, along with his Shastardhari Singhs was helping a large number of Hindus and Sikhs to reach Punnchh (ਪੁਣਛ), near Jammu. He arranged a large number of Jathas and he himself used to accompany each one of them till border.

His family and his close friend Hakumat Singh were in last Jatha. They asked him to come along with them. But he said,” Why I should turn my back by looking bullets, swords and death? If someone died waiting for me, then what is the use of me living?” Hakumat Singh said,” There are only dead bodies. Living people need you. Everything is destroyed there.” He said,” But I am not satisfied till I have complete information of all the villages.” At that time a deadly rain and a fast wind were blowing. And he was wearing just a Kachhera, a vest, a loi (ਲੋਈ) and a small turban. He carried some clothes, some weapons and a gun. This was his last meeting with his family.

He went to his village Ambro (ਅੰਬਰੋ). Only dead bodies could be seen there. He was getting news of some Jathas going to Punnchh and Kashmir, various clashes between Jathas and army, martyrdom of a number of Sikhs, torture by army at Refugee Camps, forcing Non-Muslims to embrace Islam by army etc. He was trying to help those suffering people. He was being helped by a kind Muslim, Ismail Khan, with whom he was staying. One day Ismail Khan asked Jathedar Ji to leave with his sons (Ismail Khan’s sons). He got information that enemies have been able to locate Jathedar Ji’s position.

So, Jathedar Ji along with Ismail Khan’s sons left to Faqir Muhammed, who had been once Jathedar Ji’s faithful servant. He stayed there for a couple of days. Then he crossed Jehlum River to village Meran Motharian (ਮੈਰਾਂ ਮੋਥਰੀਆਂ) where he met Gurdit Singh. Together they were collecting information of Sikhs and Hindus who were still suffering in Refugee Camps and losses which the Sikhs suffered. In village Kakarh (ਕੱਕੜ), enemies surrounded them. He asked Gurdit Singh to leave who reached India through Kashmir. On the other side, Bhai Sahib Ji kept fighting with enemies. He was able to get out of their hands. He struggled a lot in that time. He went to many places trying to help the suffering people in Camps and looking for someone who is still wandering in mountains and forests seeking for some help.

In the end, he was in some home nearby Uri. He was staying with a Muslim Faqir. There too news leaked out. That Faqir took him out in the night. But army saw them and shouted. He fought valiantly with the army. But they were too many. And he was alone. He was severely injured. He jumped into the Jehlum River and tried to cross it. On the other side military also came. They may also have fired at him. But he was unable to cross that river. And he was martyred.

It is very sad that such honorable leaders and valiant saints are having no respect in our country as well as our Panth. We have completely forgotten these heroes. His martyrdom reminds me of a Hindi Movie Gadar, in which Sunny Deol goes to Pakistan to get his wife back with his friend and a son. That’s a fiction. But Jathedar Kapur Singh Ji’s struggle and martyrdom is a reality. Moreover, he went for suffering people not for getting his wife back.

It is my prayer to Waheguru that He may bless someone and give him Power to make some movie over Jathedar Ji’s life. Salutations to such a great Warrior Saint!!!