Baba Deep Singh Ji has the honor of staying with Guru Gobind Singh Ji for 2 years in Anandpur Sahib during his childhood. While staying here, he acquired knowledge of Gurmukhi, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit and other languages from Bhai Mani Singh Ji. Bhai Mani Singh Ji made him study Gurbani and other scriptures as per the Guru Ji’s instructions.
Bhai Bhagtu Ji and his wife Jeuni Ji, residents of village Pahuwind in district Lahore (Amritsar Sahib), used to go to the Sangat of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji frequently. This was a Gursikh family. Baba Deep Singh Ji was born in their home on 26 January 1682 AD. When Baba Deep Singh Ji’s parents took him to Sri Anandpur Sahib to see Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj Ji in his childhood, after seeing Guru Ji, Baba Deep Singh Ji asked his parents for permission to let him stay in the Guru’s company in Anandpur. He said that when you grow up, you can definitely come and stay in Anandpur Sahib.
On the occasion of Baisakhi in the year 1700, his parents dedicated him to Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Ji administered Amrit to him. He trained him in weapons. Baba Deep Singh Ji got married in 1702 AD. After spending three years with his family, when Baba Ji came to know about Guru Ji leaving Anandpur Sahib, he came to Guru Ji at Talwandi Sabo in 1705 AD.
Baba Deep Singh Ji was a great warrior, but he was also a renowned scholar. He was very intelligent. Even in the most difficult situations, you remained the same and finding a solution was a game of your left hand. When Guru Ji prepared Damdami Bir (the original Bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) at Talwandi Sabo, you helped Bhai Mani Singh Ji with ink and paper etc. Later, you made four copies of this sacred Bir. These four copies were sent to the four Takht Sahibs where they are still present. This Bir is considered completely authentic among the Sikhs. When Guru Ji left Talwandi Sabo for the south, he appointed Baba Deep Singh Ji as the head of Talwandi Sabo and ordered that he should serve here only. Guru Ji appointed Bhai Mani Ji as the chief granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib Amritsar and sent him to Amritsar.
When Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji came to Punjab, in 1709 AD, Baba Deep Singh Ji participated in the battles of Sadhaura and Sirhind along with Baba Ji’s army and achieved victory. He was highly respected among the Sikhs, and Nawab Kapur Singh Ji entrusted him with leadership responsibilities within the Dal Khalsa. From 1748 onwards, Baba Deep Singh Ji emerged as the guiding figure of the Shaheed Misl. In the meantime, when Ahmad Shah Durrani was attacking India and would tie up the Hindu daughters-in-law and girls and take them with him and also loot a lot of wealth, the Sikhs would loot him on the way. The Sikhs would rescue the Hindu daughters-in-law and girls from Durrani and take away the wealth looted by Durrani.
In March 1757, when Ahmad Shah Abdali came to attack India for the fourth time, he looted a lot. He looted diamonds, jewels, etc. from the capital Delhi and from religious places. When Timur and Jahan Khan were going towards Lahore with this loot, Baba Deep Singh Ji’s army attacked them near Kurukshetra and rescued a large number of Hindu girls and women, and took away their wealth and property. Ahmad Shah appointed his son Timur Shah as the Viceroy of all the Indian territories under him and gave strict instructions that no matter what, the name and trace of the Sikhs must be destroyed.
Timur Shah had now gone to extremes. He desecrated the Amritsar Sarovar and also damaged the Golden Temple. He asked Jahan Khan to attack Amritsar Sahib with a large army. Jahan Khan also sought the help of Atai Khan. Atai Khan also had a large army. Jihad was launched against the Sikhs. When Baba Deep Singh Ji came to know about this, Baba Ji challenged the Singh and announced that from now on Diwali would be celebrated only in Amritsar Sahib. Baba Ji, holding his khanda in his hand, set out for Amritsar. A large number of Singh gathered under the leadership of Baba Ji. Coming towards Majha, a large number of Singh gathered under the leadership of Baba Ji and by the time they reached Tarn Taran, this number had increased to 5 thousand.
The interesting thing was that according to Baba Ji’s message, the Singh had come dressed in bright clothes like those who were going to the battlefield, with their hands tied with garlands, and with saffron sprinkled on their clothes. This meant that all of them had come with the spirit of becoming martyrs. Baba Deep Singh Ji drew a line on the ground with his khande and challenged the Singh that whoever loved his life should stay on the other side of this line and whoever wanted to sacrifice his life for the Guru Ghar should cross the line and come to the other side. Hearing Baba Ji’s angry speech, all the Singh jumped and crossed the line. Baba Ji took a vow that his head would be offered to Amritsar Sahib. In November 1757 AD, a clash took place between Baba Ji’s Singh and Jahan Khan’s forces near Goharwal. The enemy could not stand before the Singh. They were scattered and Jahan Khan tried hard to stop them, but they fled. At that time, Atai Khan arrived with 20 thousand troops, due to which the enemy started gathering again. The Singh pushed the enemies to the village of Chabba. The battle started again. The Sikhs fought with all their might and killed thousands of enemies. Baba Deep Singh Ji struck such a blow that the souls of the enemies trembled.
Finally, seeing his army weakening, Atai Khan himself came into the field. The two generals were face to face on the battlefield. Both of them attacked each other. A joint attack took place and he treacherously struck Baba Ji’s neck with his sword. The heads of both Baba Ji and Atai Khan were separated from their bodies with this joint attack. One Singh said, “Baba Ji, you had vowed that you would go to Amritsar and sacrifice your head, and now you have become a martyr here.” At this moment, it is believed that a supernatural incident happened. It is Baba Ji placed his head on his left palm and started killing the enemies with the dagger held in his right hand. Seeing his torso alone fighting without a head, the enemies started running away in fear. Baba Deep Singh Ji came to the Parkarma of Sri Darbar Sahib Ji and offered his head and became a martyr. A place has been built in the Parkarma in memory of Baba Ji, while another large place has been built near Ramsar where the Akhand Jyoti is burning. Even at the advanced age of 75 years, Baba Ji showed such qualities that people will continue to remember Baba Ji for the rest of the world and will continue to learn lessons on how to protect the Guru Ghar.
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