Shaheed Bhai Satwinder Singh Gehri Mandi

Martyr of June 1984

 

Bhai Satwinder Singh was born in the 1950s from the womb of Mata Parseen Kaur and in the house of Sardar Gopal Singh in the village Gehri Mandi, near Jandiala, district Amritsar. Bhai Sahib was one of 6 children, and Bhai Sahib was only an infant when his father, Sardar Gopal Singh passed away. Bhai Sahib did not go school, but started to learn reading and writing Gurmukhi from the Granthi Singh at the local Gurdwara Sahib. As Bhai Sahib became a teenager, he went to Chownk Mehta and stayed here under the command of Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. Bhai Sahib studied Gurbani here and continued doing selfless service at Chownk Mehta, then couple of weeks later Bhai Sahib would visit home and see the family. It was during this period Bhai Sahib had decided to dedicate his remaining life to Sikhi. Bhai Sahib remained in Damdami Taksal and continued to do Sewa under Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale.

 

After the passing of Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, Bhai Sahib started doing Sewa as a Rasoiya (cook) of Bhai Amrik Singh Khalsa. As Bhai Sahib was very closely connected to the Singhs of Damdami Taksal, he also became very close to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. From 1982 onwards, Bhai Sahib was pretty much involved in most movements and organisations that happened closely to Bhai Amrik Singh Khalsa and Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. For example, establishment of All India Sikh Student Federation, and also the Dharam Yudh Morcha.

 

When Indira Gandhi sent her army to attack Sri Harimandir Sahib in June 1984, and demolish the free voice of the Sikhs, many Jhujaru Singhs took a stand against the Indian army under the command of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa, Bhai Amrik Singh Khalsa and foremostly General Shabeg Singh. Bhai Sahib was within the complex during this assault by the army on Sri Darbar Sahib, he moved around mostly with Bhai Amrik Singh and in the end attained martyrdom in his bunker that was set up opposite Sri Akaal Takht Sahib on the night of 5th June 1984.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Satwinder Singh Gehri Mandi