Shaheed Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji was a remarkable young man who, despite his tender age of 29 years, carried the weight of both family legacy and community responsibility on his shoulders. Born into a family deeply devoted to Guru Ghar (the Sikh faith and tradition), Bhai Sahib lived a life that was as humble as it was committed to the principles of Sikhism.
Family Roots and Early Life
Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji’s father, Sardar Charan Singh Ji, hailed from the village of Firuka, located in District Sargodha (now part of Pakistan following the Partition of 1947). The family had to relocate after the traumatic events of Partition, like many other Sikh families, and settled in Kanpur, India. Here, Sardar Charan Singh Ji established himself as a well-respected cloth merchant, known for his integrity and devotion to Guru Ghar. The family’s business dealings were marked by honesty, a virtue deeply ingrained in them through their spiritual upbringing.
The family’s devotion to Sikh values was not merely in words but in actions. Bhai Sunder Singh Ji, the grandfather of Shaheed Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji, was an active participant in the Kirpan agitation during British colonial rule. The Kirpan agitation was a historic movement where Sikhs, under the oppressive British regime, fought for their right to wear the Kirpan (a mandatory article of faith for initiated Sikhs). Bhai Sunder Singh Ji also took part in the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha, a significant protest against British tyranny where many Sikhs were brutally beaten and imprisoned for resisting colonial oppression. His active role in these movements displayed the family’s long-standing tradition of standing firm in the face of injustice, instilling values of courage and sacrifice into future generations.
Marital Life and Personal Commitments
Five years before his martyrdom, Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji married Jasbir Kaur, the daughter of Sardar Bahadur Singh Bajaj, a respected member of the Sikh community. Their union was not only a marriage of two individuals but also a fusion of families deeply rooted in Sikh tradition and spirituality. They were blessed with a child, who was just three and a half years old when Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji attained martyrdom. Despite having a young family to look after, Bhai Sahib remained committed to serving his community and fighting for the rights of Sikhs.
Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji’s family, particularly his father, Sardar Charan Singh Ji, always maintained a quiet dedication to Guru Ghar. Sardar Charan Singh Ji was known to serve in silence, avoiding the public eye. His humility and reluctance to reveal his true identity reflected a deeper spirituality—one that believed in serving without seeking recognition. This trait of quiet service is a significant aspect of Sikh tradition, where one serves selflessly without expectation of fame or glory.
Kanpur Massacre and Martyrdom
The tragic events leading to Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji’s martyrdom occurred during the Kanpur massacre on 26 September 1978. The massacre was one of the darkest moments in Indian history, where peaceful Sikh protestors were met with brutal violence. This event was part of a broader wave of attacks on Sikhs during the period of turmoil following the rise of anti-Sikh sentiment in parts of India.
Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji, being a devoted Sikh, could not remain a passive observer when his fellow Sikhs were in danger. On that fateful day, he actively participated in the protest procession that was organized to oppose the growing violence against Sikhs. The atmosphere was tense as the protestors marched in unity, but little did they know that the day would turn into a bloodbath.
At around 10 a.m., as the Sikh congregations peacefully protested, chaos erupted. Gunfire broke out, scattering the protestors as they tried to find safety. Like many others, Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji had no choice but to retreat temporarily. However, his conscience would not allow him to abandon his vehicle behind. Around noon, he returned to the protest site to retrieve his scooter. Unfortunately, it was during this act that he was caught in Police’s fire. The police, without any hesitation, fired upon him, even though he was not a danger to anyone. Bhai Sahib was struck multiple times by bullets—some hitting him in the back, others tearing through his brain and chest.
Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji’s martyrdom was a harrowing loss, not only for his family but for the entire Sikh community. His martyrdom symbolized the senseless brutality faced by Sikhs during that period and became a rallying point for Sikh resistance against oppression.
Legacy
The legacy of Shaheed Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji is one of steadfast commitment to Sikh values, courage in the face of adversity, and a deep sense of responsibility towards the Sikh community. His family’s lineage of sacrifice and devotion continues to inspire generations. His martyrdom on the streets of Kanpur is remembered not just as an act of individual bravery but as a collective symbol of Sikh resilience and the undying spirit of standing up against injustice.
Even martyrdom of Shaheed Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji’s life serves as a reminder of the Sikh ethos—where sacrifice is the ultimate expression of devotion to the Guru and the community.
—written by Editor and Admin of June84.com with reference from ‘Sura’ Amritsar -Monthly Magzine, by AKJ, November 1978
ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਭਾਈ ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ
ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਭਾਈ ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ 29 ਸਾਲ ਦੇ ਹੋਣਹਾਰ ਨੌਜੁਆਨ ਸਨ। ਆਪ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਸ. ਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਫ਼ਿਰੂਕਾ, ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਸਰਗੋਧਾ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਨਪੁਰ ਵਿਚ ਕੱਪੜੇ ਦੇ ਬੜੇ ਉੱਘੇ ਵਪਾਰੀ ਸਨ। ਆਪ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਾ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਬੜਾ ਹੀ ਮਿਲਣਸਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ‘ਤੇ ਅਨਿੰਨ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਸੀ।
ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਦੇ ਦਾਦਾ ਭਾਈ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਰਾਜ ਵੇਲੇ ਕਿਰਪਾਨ ਦੇ ਮੋਰਚੇ ਵਿਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਬਾਗ਼ ਦੇ ਮੋਰਚੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਵੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਰੀਰ ‘ਤੇ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਡਾਂਗਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਾਰ ਸਹੇ ਸਨ।
ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਦਾ ਵਿਆਹ ਪੰਜ ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸ. ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਬਜਾਜ ਦੀ ਸਪੁੱਤਰੀ ਜਸਬੀਰ ਕੌਰ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ। ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਦਾ ਇਕ ਬੱਚਾ ਓਦੋਂ ਸਾਢੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਕੁ ਸਾਲ ਦਾ ਸੀ। ਆਪ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਜੀ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਪਤ ਰਹਿ ਕੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਜਣਾਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਸਦਾ ਸੰਕੋਚ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹੇ। ਕਾਨਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀ ਸਾਕੇ ਵਿਚ ਭਾਈ ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਵੀ ਰੋਸ-ਜਲੂਸ ਵਿਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਸਨ।
ਗੋਲੀ-ਕਾਂਡ ਵਰਤਣ ਸਮੇਂ 10 ਕੁ ਵਜੇ ਸਭ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਖਿੰਡ-ਪੁੰਡ ਗਈਆਂ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਆਪ ਵੀ ਅੱਗੇ-ਪਿੱਛੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਸਨ। ਭਾਈ ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਬਾਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਕੁ ਵਜੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਕੂਟਰ ਲੈਣ ਲਈ ਉਸ ਅਸਥਾਨ ‘ਤੇ ਗਏ ਤਾਂ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਗੋਲੀ ਪਿੱਠ ਵਿਚ, ਇਕ ਦਿਮਾਗ ਵਿਚ ਅਤੇ ਇਕ ਛਾਤੀ ਵਿਚ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
—ਸੂਰਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ, ਮਾਸਿਕ ਰਸਾਲਾ, ਅਖੰਡ ਕੀਰਤਨੀ ਜੱਥਾ, ਨਵੰਬਰ 1978
