27th February
1926
The following 6 Babbar Akalis were hanged to death in Lahore Central Jail, under the First Babbar Akali Conspiracy case, by the orders of Lord Reading and Malcolm Hailey.
Jathaedar Kishan Singh Gargaj, son of Fateh Singh, Birring village, Jullunder
Babu Santa Singh, son of Suba Singh of Chhoti Herion village, district Ludhiana
Dharam Singh, son of Sobha Singh, Hayatpur village, Hoshiarpur
Nand Singh, son of Ganga Singh of Ghurial village, Jullunder
Dalipa, son of Labh Singh of Dhamian village Hoshiarpur
Karam Singh, son of Bhagwana, Haripur village, Jullunder
Additionally, 13 were sentenced to life imprisonment, 4 transported for 14 years, 17 sentenced to 7 years improsonment, 5 were transported to 5 years imprisonment, 1 to 4 years of impronment, 3 died during the trail, and 40 were acquited. Besides these 91 were implicated in the case but were killed in encounters with the police or died in judicial lock up.
1927
The following 6 Babbar Akalis were sentenced to death and actually hanged in the Babbar Supplementary case II
Banta Singh, Gurusar Satlani village (Amritsar)
Gujjar Singh, Dhapai village (Ludhiana)
Mukand Singh, Jassowal village (Ludhiana)
Nikka Singh, son of Butta Singh, Alowal village (Amritsar)
Nikka Singh, son of Dhonkal Singh, Gill village (Ludhiana)
Sunder Singh, son of Karam Singh, Lohke village (Amritsar)
Addtionally, 14 were sentenced to life imprisonment.
==> BABBAR AKALI MOVEMENT: “Babbar” is an Arabic word which means a lion. Sher and Akali are Punjabi words which mean lion and without death, respectively. In Sikh context Akali is a Sikh who worships the Almighty and who is without death or fear. When combined with word Babbar, word Akali means a Sikh who is without death and is fearless and brave, like a lion. This is how the Babbar Akalis really were. They defied death, fought with great courage, and received martyrdom. They fought the holy war without any selfish motive.
Babbar Akalis had established their rule in the Doaba region of Punjab in the early 20s. Commissioner Towshed of Jalandhar wrote a long letter to the Governor of Punjab,
"The British rule is over in Doaba. No one is ready to cooperate with the government for the fear of the Babbars. There are some people, loyal to the British goverment, who visit my residence in a very secret manner and utter the news, in a low tone, into my ear."
In addition ot the brave men of Doaba, several Sikhs from the Majha and Malwa region also gladly accepted martyrdom. Those include Babu Santa Singh son of Sardar Suba Singh of village Shoti Harion (Tehsil Samrala); Babbar Nikka Singh son of Sardar Buta Singh, village Alowal, Tehsil Tarn Tarn. (Source – Babbar Akalian da Itihas by Dr. Bakhshish Singh Nijjar)
There are some books available on the Babbar Akalis. Two prominent books about this topic are by Dr.’ Bakhshish Singh Nijjar (M.A. PhD in history, M.A. Punjabi, M.A.M.L.O. Farsi). He is a Rtd. director of Punjab State Archives and curently living in USA. His books are:
- Babbar Akalian da Itihas (Punjabi)
- Babbar Akali Lehar da Itihas
- History of the Babar Akalis
There is another gentleman, Dr. Gurcharan Singh Aulakh who recently wrote his PhD thesis on the Babbar Akalis. His book is called, “Babbar Akali Movement” and is published by Aman Publications, Punjab.
Two other useful books on the Akalis and Babbar Akalis are:
Babbar Akali Lehar (Punjabi) by Sunder Singh Babbar
Akali Lehar (Punjabi) Partap Singh Giani.
1966
Master Akali Dal demanded the formation of Sikh Homeland.