Shaheed Bhai Mohinder Singh Bhathal

Martyr of June 1984

 

Bhai Mohinder Singh was born in the house of father, Sardar Gora Singh in the village of Bhathal Bhai Ke, district Tarn Taran. Bhai Mohinder Singh had only one younger brother, Bhai Kashmir Singh (Malaysia). Bhai Mohinder Singh did not get the opportunity to go to school. He however had great general knowledge and kept up to date with all the current affairs. The family earned their livelihood by farming their land and lived a very simple life. Bhai Mohinder Singh’s father was very much active in the Akali Morcha in the 1920s and was imprisoned many times at Lahore Jail for this activism.

 

Bhai Mohinder Singh was married to Bibi Parkash Kaur and were blessed with five children, two sons and three daughters; Bhai Kartar Singh, Bhai Sukhdev Singh (also a martyr of June 1984), Bibi Charanjit Kaur, Bibi Sukhwinder Kaur and Paramjit Kaur. Bhai Mohinder Singh’s son Bhai Sukhdev Singh was of a very religious mindset and became close with a religious institution known as the Damdami Taksal. In 1977, he was blessed to receive Amrit and become a baptised Gursikh from this institution. After which, the rest of the family too were positively influenced and started participating in this congregation.

 

In the year 1983, Dharam Yudh Morcha was initiated by the great Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. This religious protest was to raise voices against the religious persecution and blasphemy inflicted by many anti-Sikh elements, instigated by the Indian State. Bhai Mohinder Singh and his sons were very close associates to the Singhs of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. The Singhs were already anticipating the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib and so preparations were being made to secure the complex and be ready to fight back should the time come. Bhai Mohinder Singh and his two sons Bhai Kartar Singh and Bhai Sukhwinder Singh were ready to lay down their lives for the Quam (Sikh Nation).

 

In June 1984, the Indian government attacked the holiest shrine of the Sikhs, Sri Harmandir Sahib. The brave Singhs and Singhnia fought back to protect their Guru and Sangat. Bhai Mohinder Singh and his two sons also fought in the battle of Amritsar. General Shabeg Singh had aligned and assigned all battle positions for the brave Gursikhs. Bhai Mohinder Singh was positioned on top of the red building next to Sri Akaal Takht Sahib, his son, Bhai Kartar Singh was alongside him. Bhai Mohinder Singh’s other son, Bhai Sukhdev Singh was positioned on the other side of the Sri Akaal Takht Sahib by the Simco building. All three, father and sons, showed great bravery and stunned the Indian Army who were eliminated in their hundreds, collapsing into piles. Bhai Amrik Singh and General Shabeg Singh came to meet Bhai Mohinder Singh at their positions in person and congratulated him for his bravery and tactic.

 

When the day dawned on 5th June 1984, the Indian Army attacked and destroyed the position where Bhai Mohinder Singh was situated. The whole area was up in smoke and nothing could be seen. Bhai Mohinder Singh then repositioned himself by a nearby rooftop and continued to fire bullets from there. The Indian army then retaliated and fired back to that position. Bhai Mohinder Singh attained Shaheedi.

 

His son, Bhai Sukhdev Singh was also martyred at the front of the Simco building. His other son, Bhai Kartar Singh was arrested by the army and subjected to much torture and then kept him in Jodhpur jail for many years. It is believed that had it not been for the fierce retaliation from these positioned fronts, the Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex would have been destroyed much sooner. These fearless Singhs fought and managed to push back the army from entering. Bhai Mohinder Singh’s family also provided immeasurable service to the Jhujaru Singhs during the armed Sikh struggle. Bhai Kartar Singh is very proud of his family who sacrificed their lives protecting the honour and sanctity of Sri Darbar Sahib.

 

Information given by Bhai Kartar Singh, son of Shaheed Bhai Mohinder Singh Bathal