Shaheed Bhai Dharambir Singh Ji
Shaheed Bhai Dharambir Singh Ji was born on 15th March 1953 in Delhi. His father’s name was Bhai Lal Singh and his mother’s name was Baal Kaur. His father was from the village of Sahowaal, Tehsil Daska, in the District of Sailkot in Pakistan.
His father and his two brothers started doing construction work at a young age. The three brothers used to go around the nearby villages for building work and they were fortunate to do the Sangat of Bhai Sahib Jawala Singh Ji in the village of Bhiki. This Gurmukh used to live in basic accommodation and constructed a very beautiful place for Guru Granth Sahib Ji where Amrit-Bani was read daily and pilgrims could get Langar and rest. Bhai Lal Singh and his smaller brother Bhai Gopal Singh were so influenced by the Granthis of the Gurdwara, Bhai Sobha Singh and Bhai Tarlok Singh, that they eventually decided to stay in the village (Bhiki) to continue building work.
After the formation of Pakistan they lived for a while in Hoshiapur, then in Delhi and finally they all met up in Amritsar. Here, Bhai Sobha Singh formed a Gurdwara in a Masjid and Bhai Tarlok Singh did Sewa of the Sangat just like him. With Satguru’s Grace they started Kirtan, Langar and Karah Prashad here just like the Bhiki Gurdwara in Pakistan.
Four of five families lived near this Gurdwara Sahib and Bhai Dharambir Singh’s father and uncle (Bhai Lal Singh and Bhai Gopal Singh) also settled here with their families. By meeting this Gursikh Sangat they listened to Kirtan and Nitnem everyday and after a while Bhai Gopal Singh and Bhai Lal Singh started going to Akhand Kirtani Jatha Smagams and slowly both families took Amrit.
Bhai Dharambir Singh took Amrit during his school education and he was also taking the Shromani Committee’s religious exams. After studying up to the tenth Class his life took a change in direction. At this time both brothers made a home in Ajeet Nagar and the smaller brother Bhai Gopal Singh opened a factory for making Kirpans. Bhai Dharambir Singh learnt how to make Kirpans from his uncle and started up a separate factory where he worked for five years.
During this time he would also attend Akhand Kirtani Jatha Smagams and would take part in doing Sewa of Ishnaan of Harmandir Sahib during the night. Where he had great enthusiasm in listening to Kirtan, he was also very keen in learning Kirtan. He was learning the Harmonium and Tabla and had started to learn the Dilruba.
Since the start of his there were many Gursikhs who used to come to him. He had a lot of respect for them and did as much Sewa as he could for them. If any Gursikh needed money he would be happy to help and never asked for it back, even if he could only just get by himself.
The love and friendship between Bhai Dharambir Singh and Bhai Fauja Singh grew day by day and he always accompanied him for religious causes. Bhai Dharambir Singh also accompanied Bhai Fauja Singh when they went to stop some thugs who were showing disrespect to Guru Granth Sahib at Guru Ke Mehal and Bhai Salo and had planned to attack Guru Ke Mehal. Stones and acid bottles attacked the Gursikhs and in that case the Gursikhs were arrested and Bhai Dharambir Singh was jailed for about three months.
He attained Shaheedi at a young age. He was due to be married.