Bhai Amolak Singh’s 1978 Vaasakhi Sakhaa Lecture in English - Part 4
What were your feelings when you saw the Nirankaris opposing the Gurus?
Actually son, when u go for something, because we were altogether, when we went to protest, we were told when we started not to be aggressive, or do any action which will start any fighting. We were only to go there to protest and that was it. But if they are attacking you then you go for it. That was the discussion when we started from the Darabar Sahib.
So we know, we were prepared just in case, only 5 Singhs had kirpans and 2 singhs that was me and Bhai fauja singh had shields. The rest had no weapons. We knew what was going to happen as police stopped us and told us not to go any further. The police said that they will go there and chase them out. But rather than doing what they said they were going to do, they went and told them that the Sikhs were coming and get prepared.
So they took about 30-35 minutes to get prepared in an attacking force. We never knew what was happening. Some of our Singhs saw from the top of a building what they were doing and that's when the fighting broke out. So once the fighting broke, we couldn't stay behind. Once we saw that the Singhs were fighting then Bhai Fauja Singh Jee said to the policeman 'What is the point in talking to you'. Then we went and started fighting, we were never scared or afraid. We never thought what is going to happen, we went to fight.
Did Bhai Fauja Singh Jee give to the needy?
He was always giving his earnings where ever he could, to the needy. In a week, he used to work for 5 days and on Saturday and Sunday he used to go around places and in the countryside and do Smagams and devout his time there, If the local Gurdwara or people needed money he used to donate from his own pocket and we used to help him. He never used to keep money in the bank. If anyone needed the money he would always give it.
*Sevadaars Note - Guru Jee's Hukam is for every Sikh of his to give 10% of his income to Dasvand, mostly for Parchar and worthwhile causes. Bhai Sahib Jee used to LIVE on 10% of his income and give 90% to Dasvand. In the west and even in India it is even hard to give 10% these days. Please remember the Jeevan of Bhai Sahib and give your 10% without even considering it as yours.
What was your age when you met Sant Bhindrawala?
My age was 26
Are Nirankaris still there?
Yes Nirankaris are still there, the government protected them. Earlier on they used to speak openly against Sikhs but now they don't.
In 1978 who was the Nirankaris baba?
Gurbhajan Singh
During the attack, did any of the Singh's try to kill Gurbhajan?
Because we were only a few left, the rest scattered as they had no weapons, the oppositions had guns, bows and arrows, acid bottles, most ran away and only a few were left. The leader was taken away by the Government, if the Government was serious he wouldn't have got out of Punjab.
The final part of the lecture will be posted soon, it will have a story which Bhai Amolak Singh narrated regarding Bhai Fauja Singh Jee's Bravery and concluding comments by the sevadaars.