Today March 25 marks the date of Shaheed Bhai Subegh Singh Ji and Shaheed Bhai Shabaaz Singh Jis shaheedi. Everyday in Ardas we remember and are reminded to remember those Shaheed Singhs who were turned on spiked wheels ( ਚਰਕੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਚੜੇ).
During the Mughal Raj the Mughals grew weary in trying to convert the Singhs. The Singhs were simply to strong in faith to convert in exchange for the safety of their lives. The torturers tried every method and they kept failing. Eventually they invented a turning spike wheel which was designed to tear the flesh and crush the bones of its victims. The first to test the sturdiness of this device were Bhai Subegh Singh Ji and Shaheed Bhai Shabaaz Singh Ji .
Bhai Subeg Singh was born to Rai Bhaga in the village Jambar (Lahore ). He was a Gursikh at a young age , and at a young age Bhai Subegh Singh Ji learnt Arabic and Persian from his father. After his studies he managed to get a contracting job within the
courts of the Mughals.
The Khalsa Fauj became an annoying thorn for the Mughal administration. The Khalsa were the only ones to contest and rebel against the tyranny of the Mughal Raj. However, the Khalsas rebellious opposition left them stranded, scattered and wanted dead or alive in ever city and town; thus, the Khalsa could not openly congregate and practice Sikhi openly, since they were banned from all Mughal boundaries. The Mughals knew that every time they would kill a Sikh 10 more Sikhs would replace that Sikh. The more they killed the more appeared. The Mughals finally came to the realization that they could only win the submission of Sikhs through a truce which would entitle the Khalsa to land entitlements. In 1733, the Mughal authority decided by the orders of Zakariya Khan, the Governor of Lahore, to lift the banishment enforced on the Khalsa Fauj and make an offer of a grant to them royalties.
Because Subegh Singh Ji was a Gursikh the governor appointed him to send out this truce to the Sikhs and encourage them to take the land settlements and nawabship ( governing power) .With the greatest intentions of the Panth, many times he approached at feet of the Singhs and communicated on behalf of the Mughal governor but the Singhs turned down the deal as Khalsa does not make deal with tyrants . Bhai Subegh Singh Ji had no desires to ruin the works of the Khalsa Panth. Seeing the impoverished condition of the Singhs he thought to himself what hypocrisy is it for me to work for such an oppressive regime. After having sangat with these Singhs , Bhai Subeg made some radical changes. He started keeping rehat and he started doing Naam Abhyiaas night and day.
The Mughal authorities were not receptive of Bhai Subegh Singh Jis radical change. Orders were sent to seize both Bhai Sahib and his son ( Bhai Shabaaz Singh Ji) from their village. They were brought to the court, andthe Governor said "come to the religion of Islam and you will acquire wealth, women (kaam), and land". Bhai Sahib and his son refused the offer and thus the torturing process began.
When placing Bhai Subegh Singh Ji on spiked wheels the Nawab ( Governor) said if you do not want to die then just accept Islam. Bhai Subegh Singh Ji responded with Gurfateh and said blessed is the spike-wheel and blessed is this time. He then said do not delay my death continue turning these wheels. Regard me a Sikh of the Guru who is happy to offer his life for the love of his Guru. Bhai Sahib then started saying ਧੰਨ ਨਵਾਬ ਧੰਨ ਤਵ ਦੀਨ "blessed is the Nawab and blessed is his religion of compulsion"
The Nawab could only wonder and ask Bhai Sahib why face death when you can live by accepting Islam?
Bhai Sahib reponsed
ਮਰਨੋਂ ਡਰ ਹਮ ਦੀਨ ਮੋਂ ਕਰੋ, ਹੋਇ ਦੀਨ ਮੈਂ ਫਿਰ ਨਹਿ ਮਰੋ?
ਜੌ ਫਿਰ ਭੀ ਸਿਰ ਮਰਨੋੱ ਰਹੈ, ਐਸ ਜੀਵਨ ਕਿਉ ਧਰਮ ਤਜ ਬਹੈ?
If I accept your religion through fear while I no longer face death by becoming Muslim.
If death is eventual/unavoidable then why renounce my religion in this life.
Bhai Subegh Singh Ji then demanded the governor to turn the spike wheel. He said " if you love Islam then continuing turning the wheel.The Nawab continued the order of spinning the spiked wheel, and Bhai Sahib would not forget
Japping WaaheGuru-Gurmantar. ਊਚੇ ਚਾੜ੍ ਫਿਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਘੁਮਾਯਾ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਤਿਨ ਨਾਹਿ ਭੁਲਾਯਾ
At this point the Nawab was convinced that he could not convert Bhai Sahib through the threat of death or through torture.
So instead he cunningly tried to convince Bhai Sahib by torturing Bhai Sahibs son ( Bhai Shabaaz Singh Ji). But when Bhai Sahib saw his son being tortued with his own eye he was just amazed with his sons steadfastness and said
ਧੰਨ ਧੰਨ ਪੁਤ੍ਰ ! ਧੰਨ ਦਿਨ ਯਹੈ- blessed blessed is the son blessed is this day.
He then stated blessed is that person who stays firm in his faith; blessed is the person who desires the Gurus lotus feet.
The Nawab became irritated and cunningly stated the following to Subegh Singh Ji "Listen Sikh Subegh! Save your child and future posterity from the sword of death by reciting the Islamic kalma of conversion "There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is the messenger of Allah". Bhai Sahib responded " my Guru handles the affairs of all his Sikhs; after offering my head
to him I have become part of his family. My Guru has offered his four sons yet his family continue to live!
Bhai Sahib and his son refused to recite the Islamic kalma and instead told the Nawab that their Kalma is WaaheGuru ( Gurmantar).
The Nawab became angered and continued with the torture while the Gurmukhs continued reciting the Gurmat Kalma
WaaheGuru WaaheGuru WaaheGuru WaaheGuru WaaheGuruuuuuu
The Nawab started to think there is something supernatural about these Singhs. He thought they had black magic powers , and started thinking they might use their power to do black magic and put a curse on the Nawab; thus, he then had them executed immediately.
At the hands of the executioner Gurmukhs Bhai Subegh Singh Ji and Bhai Shabaaz Singh Ji breathed their last while reciting the Gurus Kalma " Waaheguru Waaheguru". Waaehguru!
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
