BALMUKAND(Bhai)
Born in 1889 at village Kariala, District Jhelum (now in Pakistan) he was son of Bhai Mathura Das. A daring revolutionary of early twentieth century, he hailed from the family of the famous martyr of Sikh history, Bhai Mati Das, and was the first cousin of Bhai Parmanand. After graduation he took to the profession of teaching. His interest in national movement was aroused while he was a student Hie events of 19^07 had great impact on his mind and he became an ardent nationalist. He, however, did not like the methodology of the moderates who dominated the Indian National Congress at that time and enrolled himself as a member of the Revolutionary Party in Lahore. As such, he engaged himself in preparing and distributing patriotic literature.
On-December 23, 1912 when Lord Hardinge was marching in state through the Chandni Chowk, Delhi, a bomb was thrown on him as the result of which the Viceroy received minor injuries and one of his attendant was killed. About five months later, on May 17, 1913, a bomb was exploded in the Lawerence Garden of Lahore outside the Montgomery Hall where Europeans were enjoying a ball The investigations that followed these two cases, revealed Bal Mukund*s connexon with them. Several arrests were made. Bal Mukund was arrested in 1914 from Jodhpur where he was working as Tutor of the Jodhpur Maharaja’s sons. His room at Jodhpur as well as his house at Kariala were thoroughly searched but nothing incriminating could be found. All the same, he was held guilty of complicity in both the bomb explosions and distribution of objectionable literature. He was sentenced to death on December S, 1914 at the end of a trial which was held at Delhi. It is said that he was first awarded life imprisonment but as the Punjab Governor Sir Michael O* Dwyer thought it too mild for such a great revolutionary, the award was converted into death sentence.
Bal Mukand was hanged in the Ambala Central Jail on May 1 1, 1915. He was just 32 years old at that time.