Hari Singh, Bhai

Was born in Assu 1954 Bk/July-August 1897, the son of Bhai Kanhaiya Singh and Mai Jion Kaur of Chakk No 10, Thothiafi in Sheikhupura district, now in Pakistan. He attended the village primary school and trained as a scripture-reader and as a singer of the holy hymns. He was a member of the village choir and recited with gusto ballads of Sikh martyrs.

Hari Singh grew up into a handsome, lusty youth and excelled in rural sports such as wrestling, weight-lifting and kabaddi. He enlisted in the army and served for some time in 27th Punjab (later 3/15 Punjab Regiment), and got his discharge at the end of the Great War in 1918.

Meanwhile, his friend and mentor, Bhai Nand Singh, had also resigned from the army and returned home. Both received the Khalsa pahul, and set up a platform for reciting gurbani and preaching the Singh Sabha creed. Hari Singh joined the Akali ranks and volunteered his services during the Gurdwara Rikabganj agitation. On receiving the call for the liberation of Gurdwara Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib, he along with Bhai Nand Singh joined the jatha of Bhai Lachhman Singh of Dharovali and attained martyrdom on 20 February 1921. He was survived by his wife and three sons who were granted a family pension of Rs 175 per annum by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.