In previous post, you read about the martyrdom of Jathedar Kapur Singh Ji. Now, I will give you a brief over view of his life.
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.
He was born in June, 1901 in village Amor (ਅਮੋਰ), Kashmir (now Pakistan). His father was Subedar Major S. Ram Singh Ji and his mother was Mata Kaur Ji.
He was religious right from his childhood. He completed his study as well as Gurbani Santhia at Baba Prem Singh ‘Basnarhe’ (ਬਸਨਾੜੇ) vale. He was the only child of his parents.
In 1922, he contributed to Akali Movement in Punjab. He also led a number of Jathas from Kashmir to Punjab for Akali Movement. He imprisoned for 2 years and fined with amount of 1000 rupees. He was also given punishment of crushing grains etc. After crushing his grains, he used to crush other prisoner's grains. By the time, he was set free, his hands were severely damaged.
In those days, Kashmir was a princely state of British India. The ruler was a Hindu Dogra, Raja Hari Singh. The majority of people in Kashmir were Muslims and they were also having a number of political organizations. But the condition of Sikhs was very poor in this changing and challenging situation. Neither had they any political stand. Shromani Akali Dal was established but that too was limited in Punjab. So, he formed a political Sikh organization “Shromani Khalsa Darbar” in 1934. He was chosen as its first president and he remained at this position until his martyrdom in 1947.
He started Akali Movement in Kashmir so as to free the Gurudwaras from the clutches of Mahants there. The first agitation took place at. Gurudwara Chhevin Patshahi Naluchhi (ਗੁਰੂਦੁਆਰਾ ਛੇਵੀਂ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਨਲੂਛੀ) In those days, the Dogra Government accompanied with Kashmiri Pandits shrewdly started Ramayana Paath in Gurudwara Sopur, Pehli Patshahi (ਗੁਰੂਦੁਆਰਾ ਸੋਪੁਰ, ਪਹਿਲੀ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ )many historical Gurudwaras so as to turn these Gurudwaras into Hindu temples. It was seen that no heed was paid by government officials despite of sending a number of appeals. Finally, he started sending Jathas of peaceful protestants who were arrested by police. He also asked for help from the Sikhs in Punjab. And finally, government gave up by giving the control to the Sikh Panth as well as setting out the arrested Singhs free. Similar agitations took place at Gurudwara Pehli Patshahi , Uri Mattan (ਗੁਰੂਦੁਆਰਾ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ, ਊੜੀ ਮਟਨ), Gurudwara Chhevin Patshahi Raina Vaarhi (ਗੁਰੂਦੁਆਰਾ ਛੇਵੀਂ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਰੈਣਾ ਵਾੜੀ), Gurudwara Satvin Patshahi (ਗੁਰੂਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਤਵੀਂ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ) etc. There were many similar events that took place in Kashmir due to treacherous Pandits and Dogra government.
The Sikhs in Kashmir were very poor and uneducated. He started a Sikh boarding school at Gurudwara Chhevin Patshahi Naluchhi (ਗੁਰੂਦੁਆਰਾ ਛੇਵੀਂ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਨਲੂਛੀ ) where both Gurmat and worldly education was delivered to sikh students. Till then hardly any Sikh would have been gone to school. It was no more than a dream for them. It was due to their less population, financial weakness as well as discrimination being done by government. They were considered as third class people and were having no respect in society.
In those days, Brahmini rituals and rites were still performed by the Sikhs. He inspired Sikhs to strictly follow only Khalsa rituals. Infact, he was the first one who married his daughter Bibi Vaas Kaur with Bhai Sangat Singh strictly according to Gurmat after Amrit vela Diwan.
He was a torch-bearer who used to enlighten everyone. There were many Rajputs and Muslims who became Khalsa. One of them used to be a Muslim who became Sujan Singh. He was excommunicated by his society. Jathedar Ji asked Sikhs in a Diwan to marry his daughter or sister with this poor Sikh. None of them stood up. Finally, Jathedar Ji married his own daughter Bibi Harbans Kaur with Sujan Singh. He also bought some land and a truck to Sujan Singh so that he is able to stand on his own.
It was astonishing that he held leadership of Shromini Khalsa Darbar, Gurudwara Chhevin Patshahi Naluchhi, Gurudwara Chhevin Patshahi Raina Vaarhi, Gurudwara Panja Sahib, Akali Dal wing, SGPC (Amritsar) in a very short span of time. He was always chosen as Sarpanch by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs in Muzzafarabad in Kashmir (Pakistan). Still he was very humble. He also started a newspaper “Shamsheer” in Kashmir.
In Kashmir, Dera Nangali Sahib was established by Bhai Pheru Singh Ji for Gurmat Prachar. He was ordered by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This Dera is responsible for so much Prachar in Kashmir. Even now, Gurmat Prachar in Kashmir is much better than Punjab. Government also respects Dera Nangali Sahib. In 1946, Dera Leader Bhai Mangal Singh Ji got ill and before leaving this world he wanted to appoint his successor. He asked Jathedar Ji for some suggestion. Jathedar Ji suggested,” In the changing environment, next leader must be educated one.” He was asked to get such Singh. He had already called out Bhai Bachitar Singh Ji in Diwan, who was well educated. Bhai Mangal Singh Ji found him capable of being a good leader. In the presence of whole Sangat, Bhai Bachitar Singh Ji was appointed as the next leader. On the other side, there were some Singhs who wanted Sant Hari Singh to be the next leader. Jathedar Ji went to Sant Hari Singh and his companions and he solved the whole dispute, thereby, preventing dissociation into two parties. He boosted up Bhai Bachitar Singh Ji’s morale to do leadership of Dera Nangali Sahib. He also supported him in his first Prachar Daura(ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਦੌਰਾ). Bhai Bachitar Singh Ji remembered Jathedar Ji’s help in his whole life.
In the tense state it became necessary for Sikhs in Kashmir to join hands with either Hindus or Muslims. Jathedar Kapur Singh JI decided to join hands with Muslim Conference on the promise of security and welfare of Sikhs. The name of Muslim Conference was changed into National Conference under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Abdul. Together they started a powerful movement against Dogra Government. After 1947, though this promise was not kept completely but it was much better than the promise kept by Congress.
In 1947, India was partitioned into two states- India and Pakistan. The result of this partition was suffered by thousands and thousands of innocents who lost their livelihood. Jathedar Ji helped a large number of them to get into safer areas. But he was not able to get out of the clutches of Pakistan. And he was martyred. I have already posted on how he was martyred. It can be read in detail in this link
Jathedar Ji’s martyrdom was a big loss to the Sikhs in Kashmir. After him, there had been no such successful leader who has been able to lead Panth in a right direction. There are still a number of people who miss him and pray to God that He may bless them with one more such Kapur Singh.
Today we need one more Kapur Singh. But in vain, we are forgetting such leaders. He is truly a torch-bearer for our present leaders.
