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India has turned into a grazing field for all kinds of religious bigots led by the Hindutva gang. Even PM of the country who took oath to uphold democratic-secular polity is identifying himself as a Hindu nationalist as if he is in office to serve the cause of Hindutva. The RSS/BJP rulers are openly declaring their commitment to turn India into a Hindu state where Brahmanical Code of Manu which reduce women and Dalits to sub-human status would be the law of the land. For them India is Fatherland and Holyland for Hindus only. It is to be noted that as per the Hindutva definition only those can be considered as Hindus who have Aryan blood, believe in Casteism, are of fair colour and treat Sanskrit as a holy language. These are not Muslims and Christians only who are out of Hindu nation, even faiths such as Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism can survive only as sects of Hinduism.

However, it was not the scenario 103 years ago, when the British rulers perpetrated one of the worst massacres in the modern history; the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. People of India subjugated by the most powerful imperialist power of the world, Britain, presented a heroic united resistance. It is not hearsay but corroborated the contemporary narratives and retained in the archives of the colonial masters. These amazing documents were part of the British archives, established in 1891 at Calcutta which became National Archives of India after Independence. As a pleasant surprise these documents were made public to mark the 75^th commemoration of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as part of an exhibition titled Archives and Jallianwala Bagh: A Saga of Independence.

The documents, concerning the most volatile period of the Indian freedom struggle, not only showed how the Britishers brazenly flouting human rights-democratic norms, indulging in barbarism while suppressing the mass discontent but also brought to light hitherto hidden aspects of Indian people’s united heroic fight-back. The documents exhibited were both saddening and amazing. It was immensely saddening to watch the ‘civilized’ British indulging in acts of unprecedented violence against Indians and amazing way the people of India, collectively and individually, belonging to different faiths and Castes, rose in revolt.

khoon se Punjab ke Dyer kee likhee diary,

(1975-77) for less than a month, receive INR 10,000 and less than 2 months as INR 20,000 as family pension! The demand of the families of the martyrs that at least they should be entitled for pension and railway concession have not been accepted. Disgusted, ‘the Jallianwala Bagh Shaheed Parivar Samiti’ wrote a letter to the British PM that England should compensate their loss! It only shows the helplessness and hopelessness of the families of the martyrs but surely shamelessness and spinelessness of the Indian rulers too.
Unsung martyr: Udham Singh who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre

This exhibition displayed a telegram that went out on April 16 1940. That was the date of Udham Singh’s trial in London. It read:

“We understand that during the trial the accused intends to pose as a martyr and indulge in heroics. We would be glad if steps are taken to secure that press in England do not report substantially and that Reuters only carry as brief and unsensational a summary as possible.”

This telegram from the Governor General in New Delhi to the Secretary of State for India at London clearly showed that the British, glorified as great believers in the fair-play and rule of law and democracy, were masters in manipulating the fourth estate.

For more than 47 years this telegram remained a secret document in the British intelligence files and kept hidden by the free India’s governments also till 1994. There were other amazing documents displayed in 1994 which pieced together, the complete story of Udham Singh which was so far known only in tidbits. Narrating the reason for killing Michael O’Dyer, the Lt. Governor of Punjab at the time of massacre, he said:

“I did it because…he deserved it. He…wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years I have been trying to wreak vengeance. I am happy I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country.”

He continued,

“I do not care about sentence of death…I am dying for a purpose…We are suffering from the British Empire…I am proud to die to free my native land and I hope that when I am gone…in my place will come thousands of my countrymen to drive you dirty dogs out; to free my country…you will be cleansed out of India. And your British imperialism will be smashed…I have nothing against the English people at all…I have great sympathy with the workers of England. I am against the imperialist government. DOWN WITH BRITISH IMPERIALISM!”

These words of Mohammad Singh Azad rang out through a London courtroom on March 13, 1940 where he was produced immediately after killing Michael O’Dyer, the Lt. Governor of Punjab, and the architect of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Mohammad Singh Azad was none other than Udham Singh. Born in a Dalit Sikh family and brought up in an orphanage, Udham Singh, a 20-year old youth was present in Amritsar on the fateful bloody Baisakhi day of 1919. So deep was the hatred that he vowed not to rest until he had avenged the killing of the innocent hundreds. He achieved his target 21 years later. And ‘Mohammad Singh Azad‟– the name he adopted-underscored the fact that the overthrow of the British rule was impossible without the unity was impossible without the unity of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh populace of the land.

It was 83 years ago (July 31, 1940) Udham Singh died on the gallows in the Pentonville prison of London. Through the documents so far prohibited we also got to know that before reaching London he had been to Mesopotamia, Kenya, Uganda, USA and USSR, all in quest of Indian revolutionaries and ammunitions. It was on reaching the English shores that he took the alias of Mohammad Singh Azad. He even attempted to organize fellow English laborers. Udham Singh’s choice of the name as Mohammad Singh Azad was not a fluke. He chose it to underline the cardinal fact that India could be liberated only by collective and united efforts of all Indians. He stated that whoever refused to call him as Mohammad Singh Azad would not be his friend. There is a reasonable apprehension that if Udham Singh returns to India with this name today, he may be lynched.

It is sad that some communal elements have added ‘Ram’ before Mohammad Singh Azad believing ‘Azad’ an Urdu word could not be a name of a Hindu!

The list of martyrs only underlines the multi-religious and multi-Caste character of the anti-British freedom struggle

The Hunter Commission list of martyrs makes it clear that the protest meeting at Jallianwala Bagh held in protest against Rowlatt Act and arrests of renowned Congress leaders, Dr. Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew (whose son Toufique Kitchlew, an author died in penury) was attended by men, youth, women of all religions and Castes. According to the list there were 381 died due to the firing of the British army under the command of Brigadier General Reginald Dyre. His invading force mainly consisted of Nepali Gurkhas, Baluch Regiment (manned by Punjabi Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs), the 54th Sikhs and the 59th Sind Rifles soldiers making it clear that the British ruled India with the help of the Indian stooges.

Out of 381 martyrs, 222 were Hindus, 96 Sikhs and 63 Muslims. Another significant aspect of this gathering, which reflected in the list of martyrs too, was that if on the one hand businessmen, lawyers, journalists, literary persons, government employees, intellectuals were present, on the other hand, large number of audience were engaged in professions like ironsmith, weavers, barbers, helpers, daily-wage earner, carpet knitters, masons, cobblers and safai karamcharis. Many women were also present. This reality once again underlined the fact that before the appearance of protagonists of Hindu and Muslim separatism, Indian freedom struggle was a united movement over-riding religious and Caste divisions. It was a true anti-colonial movement for an inclusive India.

It is sad that such narratives of joint struggle and joint martyrdom of Indian people lie hidden in the dark rooms of the National Archives. If only these are made accessible to the younger generation, they might quell many of the communal, Casteist and sectarian agendas running in the country.

On the centenary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 2019 the hypocrisy of the Indian rulers was to be seen and believed. They instead of upholding the great legacy of Jallianwala Bagh martyrs who laid down their lives opposing the draconian Rowlatt Act brought in terror laws and citizenship laws which were not passed even by the British masters. The Hindutva rulers of India shamelessly have gone far ahead the colonial masters in putting India under Iron Heel which even the British rulers did not try.

Other pieces by Shamsul Islam:

A historicity of Savarkar’s rehabilitation project

Do not let Hindutva rulers destroy heritage of communal unity of Jallianwala Bagh martyrs

131st Birth anniversary of Frontier Gandhi

On 72nd anniversary of the Indian Constitution

The post On the 103rd Commemoration of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The RSS-BJP rulers of India declare India to be a battle-ground between Hinduism and Islam. Muslims have been declared as ‘Internal Threat’ number ONE [RSS ideologue, MS Golwalkar’s Bunch of Thought chapter xvi]. Many of their leading cadres including those who hold high constitutional posts have been conspiring over-time to ignite a civil war between the two communities (they believe that only such a scenario would divert attention from the anti-people rule by the Hindutva gang). They refuse to treat Muslims as part of the Indian nation, which according to them is a Hindu nation. They have no hesitation in identifying themselves as ‘Hindu nationalists’. Awfully, PM Modi who took oath to uphold democratic-secular polity in 2014, long before had identified himself as a Hindu nationalist with total commitments to the Hindutva project.

However, it was not the scenario during the freedom struggle which the Hindutva organisations; RSS and Hindu Mahasabha led by VD Savarkar, willfully betrayed. Nobody should be surprised to know that in the pre-independence literature of RSS there is no mention of this massacre. The unity of the Indian masses could be witnessed when the British rulers perpetrated one of the worst blood-baths in modern history; the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. However, people of India shackled by the most powerful imperialist power of the world, Britain, presented a heroic united resistance. It was no exception. It could be seen again and again since the First War of Independence 1857. It is no hearsay but corroborated by the contemporary British government documents. These amazing eye-opening documents were part of the British archives which became National Archives of India after independence.

The documents, concerning the most volatile period of the Indian freedom struggle, not only showed the Britishers brazenly flouting democratic norms, indulging in barbarism while suppressing the mass discontent but also brought to light hitherto hidden aspects of Indian people’s united heroic fight-back. The contemporary documents are both saddening and amazing. It was hugely shocking to watch the ‘civilized’ British indulging in acts of unprecedented violence against Indians and the amazing way the people of India, collectively and individually, belonging to different faiths and Castes, rose in revolt.

British rulers perpetrated the massacre; Independent India remained/remains indifferent to the victims

These documents make shocking revelations about the reprehensible attitude of the foreign rulers towards victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In June 1919 the home department came out with the statement which described the British causalities but kept mum on the count of Indian deaths raising an idiotic argument that whatever number would be made public by the British government would not be acceptable to the Indians! 

However, when government repression in Punjab drew world-wide condemnation, the British government appointed a commission of enquiry for investigating the violence in Punjab on October 14, 1919, headed by a jurist from Scotland, Hunter. This commission came to be known as Hunter Commission. It came to the conclusion that at Jallianwala Bagh 381 Indians, including males, females and even a 6-month-old baby were killed by General Dyer’s force. This count was highly disputable as the unidentified bodies (of the people who were not Punjabis but were in Amritsar as it was a famous business/religious centre where also people from other states constantly came in search of livelihood) were disposed of.

The list of martyrs only underlines the multi-religious and multi-Caste character of the anti-British freedom struggle 

The Hunter Commission list of martyrs makes it clear that the protest meeting at Jallianwala Bagh held in protest against Rowlatt Act and arrests of renowned Congress leaders, Dr. Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew (whose son Toufique Kitchlew, an author died in penury) was attended by men, youth, women of all religions and Castes. According to the list 381 Indians died due to the firing of the British army under the command of Brigadier General Reginald Dyer. His invading force mainly consisted of Nepali Gurkhas, Baluch Regiment (manned by Punjabi Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs), the 54th Sikhs and the 59th Sind Rifles soldiers making it clear that the British ruled India with the help of the Indian stooges.  

Out of 381 martyrs only 376 were identified, 220 were Hindus, 90 Sikhs and 66 Muslims. Another significant aspect of this gathering, which reflected in the list of martyrs too, was that if on the one hand businessmen, lawyers, journalists, literary persons, government employees, intellectuals were present, on the other hand large number of audience belonged to the professions like ironsmith, dhobi (washer men) weavers, barbers, helpers, daily-wage earner, carpet-knitters, masons, cobblers and sweepers. Many women were also present. The Caste identities were as wide and included, chartist (traders), Pathan, Jet, Rajput, Brahmins, Barrages, banyan, Sheikh, Slayed, Mambo etc. Notably, 14 Kashmiri Muslims were also martyred who are treated as anti-national by the RSS-BJP rulers. The women martyrs were, Harbir Kaur identified as Jatni and Bitto sister of Sher Singh Jat.

These realities once again underlined the fact that before the appearance of protagonists of Hindu and Muslim separatism, Indian freedom struggle was a united movement over-riding religious and Caste divisions. It was a true anti-colonial movement for an all-inclusive India. 

The ideal of Joint Martyrdoms-Joint Heritage of Jallianwala Bagh carried forward by Udham Singh by adopting the name ‘Mohammed Singh Azad’

Udham Singh was 20-year-old orphan (born in a Dalit family) who witnessed the massacre. So deep was the hatred that he vowed not to rest until he had avenged the killing of the innocent hundreds. In order to enter England where one of the perpetrators was living, he travelled to Mesopotamia, Kenya, Uganda, USA and USSR, all in quest of Indian revolutionaries and ammunitions. He survived working as a carpenter and helping to organise the labour movements in the countries where he took refuge. He spent almost two decades as a refugee in different parts of the world. Finally, he could fulfill his vow of taking revenge on March 13, 1940 when he shot dead Michael O’Dwyer, the Lt. Governor of Punjab (the architect of the Jallianwala massacre who ordered the crackdown) at Caxton Hall, London. When taken to court after arrest he identified himself as Mohammad Singh Azad. By adopting this name underscored the fact that the overthrow of the British rule was impossible without the unity of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh of India.

It was 81 years ago (July 31, 1940) Udham Singh died on the gallows in the Pentonville prison of London. Before kissing the gallows Mohammad Singh Azad said:  

“I did it because… he deserved it. He… wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years I have been trying to wreak vengeance. I am happy I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country.”

After announcement of death sentence he had told the court:

“I do not care about sentence of death…I am dying for a purpose.. We are suffering from the British Empire…I am proud to die  to free my native land and I hope that when I am gone…in my place will come thousands of my countrymen to drive you dirty dogs out; to free my country…you will be cleansed out of India. And your British imperialism will be smashed…I have nothing against the English people at all…I have great sympathy with the workers of England. I am against the imperialist government. DOWN WITH BRITISH IMPERIALISM!”

There is a strong livelihood that Udham Singh returns to India with this name today he will be lynched by the Hindutva goons.    

Shockingly, even after Independence of the country, nothing changed for the surviving members of the martyrs and grievously injured. They remained neglected what to talk of honouring the families. In India, where persons who were behind bars during Emergency (1975-77) for less than a month, receive INR 10,000 and less than 2 months as INR 20,000 as family pension, the demand of the families of the martyrs that at least they should be entitled for pension and railway concession have not been accepted. Disgusted, ‘the Jallianwala Bagh Shaheed Parivar Samiti’ wrote a letter to the British PM that England should compensate their loss! It only shows the helplessness and hopelessness of the families of the martyrs but surely shamelessness and spinelessness of the Indian rulers.

Hindutva rulers resorting to far more draconian laws than used by the British

On this anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre the hypocrisy of the Hindutva rulers is to be seen and believed. This lot like every anniversary will laud the sacrifices at Jallianwala Bagh and condemn repression by the British by imposing draconian laws like Rowlatt Act.  While they are using far worse draconian laws like DIR, MISA, TADA, POTA, UAPA, AFSPA as every day’s governing tool discarding democratic-secular norms enshrined in the Constitution. It is difficult to count how many intellectuals, lawyers, journalists, activists, authors, poets, artists are behind bars under these laws.

RSS-BJP rulers justify killing by police under their command

It is sad that on the eve of 102nd commemoration of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in which Hindus-Muslims-Sikhs laid down their live together, some RSS-BJP leaders are allegedly hailing the brutal killing at Sitalkuchi village of 4 young Muslim voters by a central Para-military force under the ministry of home headed by Amit Shah. The Bengal BJP chief, Dilip Ghosh declared that “there would be a Sitalkuchi everywhere.” Another RSS-BJP leader of the State, Rahul Sinha went to the extent of demanding that central forces should have killed eight rather than four people in Sitalkuchi in West Bengal. It is high time that in order to save our democratic-secular India from the clutches of the Hindutva rulers we remember the heritage of joint martyrdoms of Jallianwala Bagh and use it as antidote to the criminal communal polarizing game played by them. It would be the fittest homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh too.

*Views expressed are the author’s own.

Other articles by Shamsul Islam:

On 72nd anniversary of the Indian Constitution
Demolition of democratic, secular Constitution, old project of Hindutva gang
In times of CAA & NRC remember the words of Kakori martyrs 

The post Do not let Hindutva rulers destroy heritage of communal unity of Jallianwala Bagh martyrs appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It was 80 years ago (July 31, 1940) Udham Singh died on the gallows in the Pentonville prison of London. Through the contemporary police documents, we come to know that before reaching London he had been to Mesopotamia, Kenya, Uganda, USA, and USSR, all in quest of Indian revolutionaries and ammunition. It was on reaching British shores that he took the name of MOHAMMAD SINGH AZAD. In fact he had secured a passport with this name. He even attempted to organise fellow English labourers. Udham Singh’s choice of the name as MOHAMMAD SINGH AZAD was not a fluke. He chose it to underline the cardinal fact that India could be liberated only by the collective and united efforts of all Indians. There is a reasonable apprehension that if Udham Singh returns to India with this name today he may be lynched.

The British masters wanted to censure any news about his trial so that Udham Singh’s revolutionary deeds were kept hidden in India. The day his trial started in London the Governor General in New Delhi sent a telegram to the Secretary of State.. It read:

“We understand that during the trial the accused intends to pose as a martyr and indulge in heroics. We would be glad if steps are taken to secure that press in England do not report substantially and that Reuters only carry as brief and unsensational a summary as possible.”

This telegram showed that the Britishers, glorified as great believers in the fair-play and rule of law, germane to democracy, were masters in manipulating the fourth estate.

Explaining the reason behind the killing of one of the main perpetrators of Jallianwala Bagh massacre Udham Singh made the following statement.

“I did it because… he deserved it. He… wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years, I have been trying to wreak vengeance. I am happy I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country.”

He continued,

“I do not care about the sentence of death…I am dying for a purpose…We are suffering from the British Empire…I am proud to die to free my native land and I hope that when I am gone…in my place will come thousands of my countrymen to drive you dirty dogs out; to free my country…you will be cleansed out of India. And your British imperialism will be smashed…I have nothing against the English people at all…I have great sympathy with the workers of England. I am against the imperialist government. DOWN WITH BRITISH IMPERIALISM!”

These words of MOHAMMAD SINGH AZAD rang out through a London courtroom on March 13, 1940, where he was produced immediately after killing Michael O’Dyer, the Lt. Governor of Punjab, the architect of the Jallianwala massacre who ordered the crackdown. MOHAMMAD SINGH AZAD was none other than Udham Singh. Born in a Dalit Sikh family and brought up in an orphanage, Udham Singh was present in the public meeting at Amritsar on the fateful bloody Baisakhi day of 1919.

Having fallen under a heap of dead bodies, Udham Singh had miraculously survived the carnage. But so deep was the hatred evoked by the 20-year old vowed not to rest until he had avenged the killing of the innocent hundreds. He achieved his target 21 years later. And ‘Mohammad Singh Azad’-the name he adopted-underscored the fact that the overthrow of the British rule was impossible without the unity of the Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh populace of the land. Today this call is more relevant when Hindutva rulers are bent upon dividing the Indian nation on the basis of religion.

The post Unsung martyr: Udham Singh who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
Today, India has turned into a grazing field for all kinds of religious bigots led by the Hindutva gang. Even the Prime Minister of the country, who took an oath to uphold the Constitution, is identifying himself as a Hindu nationalist, as if he is in office to serve the cause of Hindutva. The RSS/BJP rulers are openly declaring their commitment to turn India into a Hindu state, where the Brahminical codes of Manu, which reduce women and Dalits to sub-human status, would be the law of the land. For them, India is the Fatherland and holy land for Hindus only. It is to be noted that as per the Hindutva definition, only those can be considered as Hindus who have Aryan blood, believe in casteism, are of fair colour, and treat Sanskrit as a holy language. It is not just Muslims and Christians who are out of Hindu nation, even faiths such as Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism can survive only as sects of Hinduism.

However, this was not the scenario 100 years ago, when the British rulers perpetrated one of the worst massacres in the modern history: the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. People of India shackled by the most powerful imperialist power of the world–Britain–presented a heroic, united resistance. This is not hearsay, but proven by official, mostly British documents. These amazing documents were part of the British archives, which became National Archives of India after Independence. These documents were made public to mark the 75^th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, as part of an exhibition titled, ‘Archives and Jallianwala Bagh: A Saga of Independence’.

Most documents, concerning the most volatile period of the Indian freedom struggle, not only showed the British brazenly flouting democratic norms, indulging in barbarism while suppressing the mass discontent, but also brought to light hitherto hidden aspects of Indian people’s united heroic struggle. The documents exhibited were both saddening and amazing. The documents outline the ‘civilized’ British indulging in acts of unprecedented violence against Indians, and amazing way the people of India, collectively and individually, belonging to different faiths and castes, rose in revolt.

The saddest part has been that this treasure of visual and written narratives was put back in the dark rooms of the National Archives, never exhibited again. It has not been taken out even at the centenary commemoration that is currently underway. It seems that the rulers and managers do not want future generations to know about the barbarism of the colonial masters, as well as united great heroic resistance of the people of India.

The barbarism of the British rulers
Photographs in the exhibit showed heart-wrenching scenes of the barbarity by the British rulers when dealing with the unrest in Punjab during 1914 to 1919: Punjabis, especially, Sikhs, tied on wooden/metal frames, being flogged, or forced to crawl on their bellies on public roads, their naked bodies in full view of the public, filled all with shame and anger. Punjab had become a military camp. The rulers worked to crush the self-esteem of patriotic Indians by forcing Indians to salute every Englishman/woman, barred them from riding bicycles, and forcibly pulled moustaches and beards. There is no doubt that such repression produced revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and his comrades.  

The records narrated the story of the newly married Rattan Devi, who had spent the night of April 13-14, 1919 by the side of her husband. He was dead, lying amidst the hundreds strewn all over the Bagh. The place was overflowing with blood, as she narrates in the chilling statement on display, and after removing her husband’s body to a drier place,

“I sat by his side… I found a bamboo stick which I kept in my hand to keep off dogs. I saw three men writhing in great pain and an injured boy, about 12 years old, entreated me not to leave the place, I told him that I would not go anywhere leaving the dead body of my husband. I asked him if he was feeling cold, if he wanted a wrapper I could spread it over him. He asked for water, but that could not be produced at that place…”

In this exhibition a stunning story from a Hindi daily, ‘Abhiuday’ (October 4, 1919) was included, which narrated an account (and photographs) of two friends, Abdul Karim, 18, and Ramchander, 17, who came together from Lahore to attend meeting at the Jallianwala Bagh against Rowlatt Act. Both were martyred here. It was later found that Karim had passed the matriculation examination for Punjab University (Lahore) in first place.  
 
Air bombardments
Particularly startling is the hitherto unknown fact that the British government had, during the disturbances in 1919, used Royal Air Force planes to bombard the interiors of Punjab. A top-secret document, made public for the first time, was a Task 14.4.1919. It reads thus:  
“Aero plane No. 4491 Type BO E-2.E. Squadron No. 31. Pilot captain Carbery. Hour at which flight started from Lahore: 14.20. Hour at which flight concluded: 16.45. [The details] 15.20: village two miles north west of Gujranwala (now in Pakistan)-dropped three bombs on party of natives 150 strong…50 rounds machine gun fired into village. 15.30 Village one mile south of above-party of 50 natives outside village. Two bombs dropped…25 rounds machine gun fired into village. About 200 natives in fields near a building. One bomb dropped, 30 rounds MG fired into party who took over in house. 15.40: Gujranwala-Bombs dropped on large crowd of natives in south of town. 100 rounds MG fired into parties of natives in the streets. At 15.50 when machine left for Lahore no natives could be seen on the streets…”

Another highlight of the exhibition was the hand-written original of Rabindra Nath Tagore’s letter to the viceroy renouncing his Knighthood to protest the repression in Punjab. He wrote:
“The time has come when badges of honors make our shame glaring in their incongruous context of humiliation, and I for my part wish to stand, shorn of all special distinctions, by the side of those of my countrymen who, for their so called insignificance, are liable to suffer degradation not fit for human beings.”

Another heartening document was the original facsimile of the resignation letter dated March 28, 1919 of MA Jinnah from the Imperial Legislative Assembly in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and repression in Punjab. His letter openly blamed the British rulers for the atrocities and the passing of the Rowlatt Act. He wrote:
“A government that passes or sanctions such a law [Rowlatt Act] in times of peace forfeits its claim to be called a civilized government.”   
 
It is sad that Jinnah later joined the bandwagon of two-nation protagonists.
 
The level of anger the Rowlatt Act generated in every part of India could be gauged by the violent resistance. The Gujarat area was generally considered to be compliant. The displayed documents showed that in Gujarat within 2 days (11-12 April, 1919) protesting mobs in Ahmedabad and its vicinity burnt offices of the Collector, city judge, flagstaff, jail, the main telegraph centre, and 26 police stations.

Resistance literature banned 
On display were the copies of literature, poetry, prose and plays that were written and circulated against British barbarism, but banned. These treasures depicted the united and pervasive nature of the resistance. It must be noted that the exhibition must have displayed just a fraction of the banned literature available in the Archives. Some of the important banned books were: Bagh-e-Jallian, a lyrical play in Hindi authored by Ram Saroop Gupta, Jallianwala Bagh, a long poem in Gurmukhi penned by Firoziddin Sharf, Punjab kaa Hatyakand, a play in Urdu, and Jallianwala Bagh, a long Gujarati play. The last two were by anonymous authors in order to avoid identification by the repressive regime.    

Some of the representative lyrics read:  
जुल्म डायर ने किया था रंग जमाने के लिए
हिंद वालों को मुसीबत में फंसाने के लिए।
[zulm Dyer ne kiya thaa rang jamane ke liye/Hind walon ko museebat maen phansane ke liye.]
खून से पंजाब के डायर की लिखी डायरी
रुबरु रख दी मेरी तबियत जलाने के लिए।
[khoon se Punjab ke Dyer kee likhee diary/roo-baroo rakh dee mere tabiyat jalane ke liye.]
बाग़े जलियां में शहीदों की बने गर यादगार
जायेंगे अशिके-वतन आंसू बहाने के लिए।
[Bagh-e-Jallian maen shahidon kee baney gar yaadgaar/jayenge aashiq-e-watan aansoo bahane ke liye.]
हम उजड़ते हैं तो उजड़ें, वतन आबाद रहे,
मर मिटे हैं हम के अब वतन आजाद रहे।
वतन की खातिर जो अपनी जान दिया करते हैं,
मरते नहीं हैं वो हमेशा के लिए जिया करते हैं।
[hum ujadte haen tau ujdaen, watan aabaad rahe/murr mitey haen hum ke aab watan azad rahe.
Watan kee khatir jo apnee jaan diya karte haen/marte naheen haen who hamesha ke liye jiya karte haen.]
 
British rulers overlooked martyrs, Independent India too remains indifferent 
These documents make shocking revelations about the reprehensible attitude of the foreign rulers towards the victims of the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh. In June 1919, the Home Department issued a statement that described the British casualties, but failed to acknowledge the number of Indian deaths, making the bizarre argument that any number made public by the British government would not be acceptable to Indians.
 
However, when government repression in Punjab drew worldwide condemnation, the British government appointed a commission of enquiry for investigating violence in Punjab on October 14, 1919, headed by a jurist from Scotland, Lord William Hunter. This commission came to be known as Hunter Committee. It came to the conclusion that at Jallianwala Bagh, 381 Indians, including males, females and even a six-month-old baby were killed by  General Dyer’s forces. This count was highly disputable as the unidentified bodies (of people who were not from Punjab but were in Amritsar, as it was a famous business/religious centre) were disposed of.
 
Shockingly, even after Independence, nothing changed for the surviving members of the martyrs and the grievously injured. They remained ignored. In India, where people who were jailed during the Emergency (1975-77) for less than a month received Rs. 10,000, and jailed for under two months Rs. 20,000 as family pensions, the demands of the families of the martyrs that they should at least be entitled to pensions and railway concessions have not been accepted. Disgusted, the ‘Jallianwala Bagh Shaheed Parivar Samiti’ wrote a letter to the British Prime Minister, arguing that England should provide compensation. This not only shows the helplessness and hopelessness of the martyrs’ families, but also the shamelessness and spinelessness of the Indian rulers.
 
Unsung martyr: Udham Singh who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
This exhibition displayed a telegram that was sent on April 16, 1940. That was the date of Udham Singh’s trial in London. It read:
“We understand that during the trial the accused intends to pose as a martyr and indulge in heroics. We would be glad if steps are taken to secure that press in England do not report substantially and that Reuters only carry as brief and unsensational a summary as possible.”
This telegram from the Governor General in New Delhi to the Secretary of State for India clearly showed that the British, glorified as great believers in fair play and the rule of law, germane to democracy, were masters in manipulating the fourth estate.
For more than 47 years, this telegram remained a secret document in  British intelligence files, and was kept hidden by India’s government until 1994. There were other amazing documents displayed in 1994 that pieced together the complete story of Udham Singh that had thus far only been known in tidbits.

“I did it because… he deserved it. He… wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years I have been trying to wreak vengeance. I am happy I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country.”
He continued,
“I do not care about sentence of death…I am dying for a purpose.. We are suffering from the British Empire…I am proud to die to free my native land and I hope that when I am gone…in my place will come thousands of my countrymen to drive you dirty dogs out; to free my country…you will be cleansed out of India. And your British imperialism will be smashed…I have nothing against the English people at all…I have great sympathy with the workers of England. I am against the imperialist government. DOWN WITH BRITISH IMPERIALISM!”

These words of Mohammad Singh Azad rang out through a London courtroom on March 13, 1940 where he was produced immediately after killing Michael O’Dyer, the Lt. Governor of Punjab, the architect of the Jallianwala massacre who order the crackdown. Mohammad Singh Azad was none other than Udham Singh. Born in a Dalit Sikh family and brought up in an orphanage, Udham Singh was present in the public meeting at Amritsar on the fateful, bloody Baisakhi in 1919.

Having fallen under a heap of dead bodies, Udham Singh had miraculously survived the carnage. But so deep was his hatred, that the 20-year old vowed not to rest until he had avenged the killing of hundreds of innocents. He achieved his target 21 years later, and ‘Mohammad Singh Azad’, the name he adopted, underscored the fact that the overthrow of the British rule was impossible without the unity of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh populace of India. There is a reasonable apprehension that if Udham Singh returns to India with his adopted name today, he may well be lynched.     

It was 79 years ago (July 31, 1940) that Udham Singh died on the gallows in London’s Pentonville prison. Through the documents it was found that before reaching London, he had been to Mesopotamia, Kenya, Uganda, the USA and the USSR, all in quest of Indian revolutionaries and ammunitions. It was on reaching the English shores that he took the alias of Mohammad Singh Azad. He even attempted to organize fellow English laborers.
 
The list of martyrs only underlines the multi-religious and multi-caste character of the freedom struggle
The Hunter Committee’s list of martyrs makes it clear that the meeting at Jallianwala Bagh held to protest the Rowlatt Act, and the arrests of renowned Congress leaders Dr. Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew (whose son Toufique Kitchlew, an author, died in penury) was attended by men, women, and youth of all religions and castes. According to the list, 381 people died in the firing of the British army under the command of Brigadier General Reginald Dyer. His invading force mainly consisted of the Nepali Gurkhas, the Baluch Regiment (manned by Punjabi Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs), the 54th Sikhs and the 59th Sind Rifles, making it clear that the British ruled India with the help of Indian stooges.  
 
Of the 381 martyrs, 222 were Hindus, 96 were Sikhs, and 63 were Muslims. Notably, attendees at the gathering, including those who were martyred comprised not just businessmen, lawyers, journalists, literary persons, government employees, and intellectuals but also large numbers of ironsmiths, weavers, barbers, helpers, daily-wage earners, carpet knitters, masons, cobblers and safai karamcharis. Many women were also present. This reality once again underlined the fact that before the appearance of the protagonists of Hindu and Muslim separatism, the Indian freedom struggle was a united movement overriding religious and caste divisions. It was a true anti-colonial movement for an inclusive India. 
 
It is sad that such narratives of a joint struggle and joint martyrdom of the Indian people lie hidden in  the National Archives. If only these were made accessible to the younger generation, they might quell many of the communal, casteist and sectarian agendas dominant in the country.
 
 
 

The post A Century Down, Key Archival Docs remain buried: Jallianwala Bagh appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Nanak Singh, a renowned Punjabi poet, songwriter, and novelist was present at the bagh that day. He collapsed in a stampede triggered by the firing and had been left for dead under a pile of corpses.

Khooni Vaisakhi: A Poem from the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919, was written by Nanak Singh soon after. The poem — a harrowing account of the events leading up to the massacre and its immediate aftermath — was banned soon after its publication in May 1920 and then, lost for decades until a copy of the book was discovered and published in November 1980. To mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massaccre, Singh’s grandson Navdeep Suri has translated the poem in English. The following are excerpts from the book:

Image Courtesy: Harper Collins

रोलट बिल दा रौला 

रोलट बिल ने घतिया आन रौला,
सारे हिन्द दे लोक उदास होए।
वांग भठ दे तपिया देश सारा,
मानो सब दे लम्बा ‘ते सास होए।
लगा मिलण अनाम अज हिन्दियां नूं,
जेहड़े मुदतां तों सीगे दास होए।
फ़ासी जमां दी गल पै गई यारो,
जिस नूं देख के बहुत निराश होए।

Rowlatt Act Controversy

Rowlatt Act stirs up a hornet’s nest
Gloom spreads like fire across the land.
A smouldering cauldron, this Hindustan,
With bated breath, trying to understand.
A reward they thought they’d get for sure
For service long, abiding each command.
Instead, as they hear of these shackles new,
Hopes are dashed, crushed into sand.
[…]
जलसे अते मारशल ला

आख़रकार हुण सब निराश हो के,
लिखे आपने नूं बहि के रोण लग पए।
सचमुच हो गिया यकीन सब नूं,
भारत वरश दे भाग हुण सौण लग पए।
सारे सुख आराम काफूर होए,
केवल दुख ही दुख नज़र औण लग पए।
कोई पुछदा आण के हाल नाहीं,
सबो कूंज़ वांग करलाउण लग पए।
कम कार चा सब ने बंद कीते,
लोक वांग दीवानियां भौण लग पए।
हर इक शहिर दे विच हड़ताल होइ,
सब दे कालजे मूंह नूं औण लग पए।
भारत माता दे पुत्तर इकत्तर हो के,
घत जफ़ीआं नीर वहौण लग पए।
दुख दिलां दे खोल सुणान खातर,
थाउं थाई इजलास तद होण लग पए।
दूजी तरफ़ दे यार प्रसन्न हो के,
घरीं बैठ के खुशीं मनौण लग पए।
मिशन आपने विच कामयाब हो के,
वाजे खुशी दे ख़ूब वजौण लग पए। 
झोली – चुक ते कौम – फ़रोश जेहड़े,
उहनां पास जा चुग़लीयां लौण लग पए। 
बाग़ी चोर बदमाश बेवफ़ा कहि के,
दिल उहनां दे ख़ूब भड़कौण लग पए।
बेगुनाह ताईं गुनहगार दस के,
वेखो मुलक दा नास करौण लग पए।

Protests and Martial Law

Dispirited and despondent by the turn of events
They lamented, aghast at miserable fate.
With sinking hearts, they then witnessed
A shadow spread across a nation great.
All comforts and pleasures now sadly gone
Leaving gloom and grief to stalk the state.
So sad they sound, like the wailing crane
To smile or greet they hesitate.
Shops closed and workplaces empty
Forlorn and lost, in streets they wait.
Strikes called in every city and town
Sobs muffled, they roam in a sorry state.
Those valiant sons of Bharat Mata
Shedding tears, dismayed and desolate.
Each tragedy retold, notes get compared,
Every nook and corner, a place to debate.
But a scene so different on the other side
Friends gather at homes to celebrate.
A mission accomplished, the Act is done
’Tis time for wine and feast ornate.
Their quislings, turncoats and traitors all
Come laden with gossip and tales narrate.
‘Rebel’, ‘robber’, ‘scoundrel’ and more
Names used against us, to aggravate.
Frame our heroes with guilt and treason
Damage they wreak on our nation great!
 
हाकम लोक भी उहनां दे लग आखे,
बदली अग ‘ते तेल पलटौण लग पए।
सर माईकल उडवाईर साहिब,
मारशल ला दा हुकम चड़ौन लग पए।
पकड़ पकड़ बदोशियां आजज़ां नूं,
जेल खानियां विच पहुंचौण लग पए।
हाए! लिखदियां डिगदी कलम हथों,
रोम रोम सुण के खड़े होण लग पए।
छोटी उमर दे आजज़ां  बचिआं नूं,
फड़ के मछीयां वांग तडफौण लग पए।
नाल टिकटिकी बंन नीमाणियां नूं,
बैंत मार के खल लहौण लग पए।
मास तूंबियां नाल उडौण लग पए।
लहू नाल इशनान करौण लग पए।
मावां बाप उहनां दे जे कोल आवण,
धक्के मार के पिछांह हटौण लग पए।
अठ वजे तों बाद जो बाहर निकले,
गोली मारन दा हुक्म सुनौण लग पए। 
मातम नज़र आवे चारों तरफ़ उदों,
सबे दुखां दे सोहले गौण लग पए।
नानक सिंह की खोल के हाल दसे,
जेहड़े दुख पंजाब ते औण लग पए।

And a smirk of delight it brings upon the rulers
Who divide and rule, planting seeds of hate!
Sir Michael O’Dwyer, armed with a pen
Brings martial law and a Police State.
Young men of ours, innocent, upright
Sent packing to jail at an alarming rate.
My pen shudders, drops from trembling hands
Ah! Tales of torture – so deliberate.
Young boys flogged and bleeding lie
Like fish out of water, in dire straits.
Tied to poles and whipped with canes
Skin peels, their tender backs lacerate.
Flesh and bone do take the brunt
As streams of blood rush to the gate.
In desperate search their parents reach
Pushed rudely, ordered: Go home and wait!
Stay in your homes, don’t dare come out!
Or face a bullet, if it’s later than eight!
A funereal spirit pervades the air,
A stifled wail, a silent dirge and a pain innate.
Says Nanak Singh, Ah! The pain of Punjab!
Words choke as I speak, they suffocate.
[…]
राम नोमी दी धूम- धाम
अते हिंदू मुसलमानां दे पिआर दा सबूत

सारे सिख हिंदू अते मुसलमानां,
रल मिल एह पुरब मनाईया सी।
मुसलमानां ने अज ईतफाक वाला,
एह अदुती सबूत विखाईया सी।
भावें पुर्न सी असल विच हिंदूआं दा,
अपर मोमनां ख़ब सजाईया सी।
उस दिन दी की में गल दसां,
अजब समा करतार लिआईया सी।
“डाकटर किचलू ते सत्या पाल साहिब,
जिन्हां अज दा वक्‍त दिखाईया जी।
गले दोहां दे फलां दे हार पा के,
सारे शहिर नं दरशन कराईया जी।
हर एक हिंदू मुसलमान ताईं,
दिलों जाणदा माई दा जाईया जी।
कदी ऐशां दा प्रेम ना किसे डिठा,
जगत जदों दा रब बणाईया जी।
एह ता नवां ही प्रेम दा बीज ऐथे,
किसे अरश तों आण के लाईया जी।
दूरी सब दे दिलां तों दूर होई,
वीर वीर ताईं नजर आईया जी।
पाणी इक गलास दे विच पीता,
खाणा इक थां सब ने खाईया जी।

Ram Navami Celebrations Amid Hindu–Muslim Unity

Hindus and Muslims they gathered together
To rejoice at a festival, O my friends.
Brotherhood conveyed by Muslims that day
Beyond incredible it was, my friends.
A festival of Hindus though it was
Muslims made it just their own, my friends.
‘Tis hard to describe this feeling new
A miracle, it truly seemed, my friends.
Doctors Saifudin, Satyapal together
Tread on a path united, my friends.
Feted with garlands, our stalwart duo
Sent out a message clear, my friends.
Their friendship displayed a bond so strong
Hindu Muslim were the same, my friends.
Such harmony never seen before
Since God made this world, O my friends.
The seed of friendship between these faiths
Descended from heaven itself, my friends.
Discord and difference seemed to vanish
Each saw the other as brother, my friends.
Shared the same glass to drink their water,
Sat down for meals together, my friends.

सारी उमर दे विछड़े वीरनां नूं,
अज आप करतार मिलाईया जी।
उस दिन हर जगा ‘ते मुसलमानां,
दुद्ध दीआं छबीलां चा खोलीयां जी।
नाल हिंदूआं सब ने होए शामल,
पाईयां फूलां दीयां भर झोलीयां जी।
कीती हिंदूआं दी दिल खोल सेवा,
थाउू थाईं बनाई के टोलीयां जी।
मानो कृष्ण ने अज प्रसन्न हो के,
ब्रिंदाबन विच खेडीयां होलीयां जी।
होणी आखदी सुणो नादान लोको,
हटां कास नूं अज चा खोलीयां जी।
भलके फेर है तुसां हड़ताल करनी,
नाले वसणगीयां तुसां पर गोलीयां जी।

Like brothers separated since their birth
Stood united now by a miracle, my friends.
Each Muslim tried to outdo the other
Served sweetened drinks to all, my friends.
Each one stood with their Hindu mate
Showering flowers on devotees all, my friends.
Groups joyous lined up on the festive route
Cheering the jubilant Hindu parade, my friends.
Lord Krishna seemed charmed by the sight
Like Holi played at Vrindavan, my friends.
But Fate, it had some different plans
Why open your shops today, my friends?
The town will be on strike tomorrow
You’ll catch a hail of bullets, my friends.
[…]
जलियां वाले बाग विच इक्ट्ठ

पंच वजे अप्रैल दी तेहरवीं न,
लोकीं बाग वल होए रवान चले।
दिलां विच इनसाफ दी आस रख के,
सारे सिख हिन्दू मुसलमान चले।
विरले आदमी शहिर विच रहे बाकी,
सब बाल ते बिरध जवान चले।
अज दिलां दे दुख सुणान चले,
सगों आपने गले कटवाण चले।
छड़ दिउ हुण आसरा जीवने दा,
क्योंकि तुसीं हुण छड जहान चले।
किस ने आवणा परत के घरां अंदर,
दिल दा दिलां विच छोड़ अरमान चले।
जलिआं वालड़े उजडे बाग ताईं,
खून डोल के सबज़ बणान चले।
अज होएके सब पतंग कटे,
उपर शमा सरीर जलाण चले।
हां हां जीवने तों डाढे तंग आ के,
रुठी मोत नूं आप मनाण चले।
अनल-हक मनसूर दे वांग यारो,
सूली आपनी आप गड़ाण चले।
वांग शमस तबरेज दे खुशी हो के,
खलां पुठीआं अज लुहाण चले।
 
The Gathering in Jallianwala Bagh

As the clock struck five on thirteenth April
They all gather in the Bagh, my friends.
Seeking justice fair and honour, they stand
Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims together, my friends.
Folks young and old, and lads went too
For only a handful had stayed back, my friends.
They went to speak, to share their grief
Place lives at stake without fear, my friends.
Worrying no more about their precious lives
They left this world behind, my friends.
With slender hope of coming back home
Desires and dreams abandoned too, my friends.
With their own blood, they wanted to bloom
The parched soil of the Bagh, my friends.
Like swarms of moths, they gathered around
To be singed by violent flames, my friends.
Fed up with life, they courted death
Forcing Yama to accept their will, my friends.
Like Mansour, who said, ‘I am the Truth!’
When he knew he’d meet the gallows, my friends.
Like Shams Tabrizi, whose quest for God
Ended up in a painful death, my friends.

पंछी बना दे होएके सब कटे,
भुखे बाज नूं अज रजाण चले।
जालम डाईर दी तिर्खा मिटावणे नूं,
अज खून दी नदी वहाण चले।
अज शहर विच पेणगे वेण डूंघे
वसदे घरां नूं थेह बणाण चले।
सीस आपने रख के तली उत्ते,
भारत माता दी भेंट चढ़ाण चले।
कोई मोड़ लो रब दे बंदिआं नुं,
यारो! मोत नूं आप बुलाण नुं,
मावां लाडले बचिआं वालिओ नी!
लाल तुसां दे जान गवाण चले।
भेणो पिआरीओ! वीर ना जाण देणे,
विछड़ तुसां तों अज नादान चले।
पती रोक लो पिआरोओं नारीओ नी!
अज तुसां नूं करन वैराण चले।
पिआरे बचिओं! जफीआं घत मिल लो,
पिता तुसां नूं अज रुलाण चले।
जा के रोक लो, जाण ना मूल देणे,
मतां उके ही तुसां तों जाण चले।
नानक सिंह पर उन्हां नूं कौण रोके,
जिहड़े मुलक पर होण कुरबान चले।

Like birds from the woods, they flocked together
So the hawk could have his fill, my friends.
To quench Dyer’s deadly thirst
With streams of blood their own, my friends.
Ah! My city mourns with grief today
Happy homes lie shattered because they go.
Heads held high offered for sacrifice
For Bharat Mata’s pride and honour, they go.
Pray, stop these valiant souls of God!
Straight to the abyss, they rise and go.
O mothers, watch your precious sons
To give up their youthful lives, they go.
O sisters, hold back your brothers dear
You won’t see them again once they go.
O wives, hang on to your dear beloveds
Or you’ll spend your lives widowed, if they go.
O children, go run and hug your fathers
’Cause you’ll be orphans if they go.
Stop them, hold them, do what you can
They won’t come back, once they go.
Says Nanak Singh, Can’t stop them now
For nation’s sake to die they go.
 
जनरल डाईर ने आउणा ते गोली चलणी

ठीक वक्‍त साढ़े पंज वजे दा सी,
लोक जमा होए कई हजार पिआरे,
लीडर देश दा दुख फरोलणे नं,
लैक्चर देंवदे सन वारो वार पिआरे।
कहंदे जीवणा असां दा होएआं ओखा,
किथे जाइके करीऐ पुकार पिआरे।
कोई सुझदी नहीं तदबीर सानुं,
डाढे होए हां असीं लाचार पिआरे।
अजे लफज़ तदबीर मूह विच हेसी,
उधर फौज ने धूड़ धुमा दिती।
थोडी देर पिछे फौज गोरखे दी,
जनरल डाइर ने अगांह वधा दिती।
दे के हुक्म नहक निमाणिआं ‘ते,
काड़ काड़ बंधक चला दिती।
मिंटां विच ही कई हजार गोली,
उहना जालमां खतम करा दिती।
गोली की एह गड़ा सी कहर वाला,
वांग छोलिआं भुने जवान उथे।
कई छातीआं छानणी वांग होईआं,
असे जुलमां मारे निशन उथे।
इक पलक दे विच कुरलाट मचिआ,
धूआं धार हो गिया असमान उथे।
कई सूरमे पाणी ना मंग सके,
रही कईआं दी तड़पदी जान उथे।
 
Brig. Gen. Dyer Arrives, Gunfire Begins

Five-thirty sharp the clock had struck
Thousands gathered in the Bagh, my friends.
Leaders came to lament the nation’s woes
Taking turns to speak out loud, my friends.
Voiced grievance, hardship, anger, sorrow
Saying, no one listens to us, my friends.
What can we do, what options left?
Can’t see any ray of light, my friends.
Those words forlorn, they barely voiced
Came soldiers thundering down, my friends.
At Dyer’s command, those Gurkha troops
Gathered in a formation tight, my friends.
Under the tyrant’s orders, they opened fire
Straight into innocent hearts, my friends.
And fire and fire and fire they did
Some thousands of bullets were shot, my friends.
Like searing hail they felled our youth
A tempest not seen before, my friends.
Riddled chests and bodies slid to the ground
Each one a target large, my friends.
Haunting cries for help did rend the sky
Smoke rose from smouldering guns, my friends.
Just a sip of water was all they sought
Valiant youth lay dying in the dust, my friends.
 
भीडे राह हेसन इस बाग दे जी,
एह रोकिया उहनां ने आण उथे।
कोई राह ना जाण नू रिहा बाकी,
किदां बच करके निकल जाण उथे।
कोई बचिया होउ नसीब वाला,
नहीं तां सारिआं ने दिते प्रान उथे।
कई गोलीआं खाईके नठ भजे,
रसते विच ही डिग मर जाण उथे।
कईआं नसदिआं नूं गोली काड़ वजी,
झट पट ही दिते प्रराण उथे।
पल विच ही लोथा दे ढेर लग गए,
कोई सके ना मूल पछाण उथे।
गिणती सिखा दी बहुत ही नज़र आवे,
भावें बहुत हिंदू मुसलमान उथे।
सोहणे सूरमे छेल छबीलडे जी,
हाए तड़फदे शेर जवान उथे।
सोहणे केस खुले मिट्टी विच रुलण,
सुते लंगीआं चादरां ताण उथे।
नानक सिंह ना पुछदा बात कोई,
राखा उहनां दा इक भगवान उथे।
 
That narrow lane to enter the Bagh
Sealed off on Dyer’s command, my friends.
No exit, no escape, no way out was left
Making the Bagh a deathly trap, my friends.
A fortunate few somehow survived
While most died then and there, my friends.
Some ran with bullets ripping their chest
Stumbling to their painful end, my friends.
Others caught the bullet while running away
Dropping lifeless in awkward heaps, my friends.
In minutes, the Bagh so strewn with corpses
None knew just who was who, my friends.
Many of them did look like Sikhs
Amid Hindus and Muslims plenty, my friends.
In the prime of their youth, our bravehearts lay
Gasping for one last breath, my friends.
Long hair lay matted in blood and grime
In slumber deep they sleep, my friends.
Says Nanak Singh, Who knows their state
But God the One and Only, my friends.

Courtesy: Indian Cultural Forum
 

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