A GLIMPSE AT THE LIFE OF SHAHEED BABA DEEP SINGH JEE
Childhood and meeting Guru Sahib
Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji was born on January 20, 1682, in the village of Pahuwind, district Amritsar. His father's name was Bhai Bhagtu Ji. At the age of 12, Baba Deep Singh Ji went with his parents to Anandpur Sahib to meet Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh guru. They stayed at Sri Anandpur Sahib for several days, doing sevaa (service) with the Sangat. When his parents were ready to return to their village, Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked Baba Deep Singh Ji to stay with him. He humbly accepted Guru Ji's command and began serving him.
Training & knowledge
From Bhai Mani Singh Ji Baba Ji began learning reading and writing Gurmukhi and santhiyaa (exegesis) of Gurbaani. As well as Gurmukhi he learnt several other languages. Guru Gobind Singh Ji also taught him horseback riding, hunting and Shastar-vidiyaa (weaponry). At the age of 18, on the Vaisakhi of 1700, he received the blessing of Khande-di-pahul (Amrit) from the Guru-roop Panj Piyaare. As an Amritdhari Sikh, Baba Deep Singh Ji took an oath to serve in Akaal Purakh's Fauj (the Almighty's army) and that following the way of the Khalsa one is to always help the weak and needy, and to fight for truth and justice. Baba Deep Singh Ji soon became one of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's most beloved Sikhs.
Return back home
Baba Deep Singh Ji stayed in Guru Gobind Singh Ji's service for about 8 years. At Guru Ji's request, he returned to his village to help his parents and he got married. Guru Gobind Singh Ji met Baba Deep Singh Ji at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo in 1705. Here, he learned that two of the Guru' sons, Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji, had become Shaheed (martyred) in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib. Guru Ji also told him that his two younger sons, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, were cold-heartedly bricked alive and attained Shaheedi (martyrdom) at Sirhind under the orders of the governor Wazir Khan.
Sent Message to meet Guru Sahib at Damdama Sahib
In 1706, Guru Gobind Singh Ji placed Baba Deep Singh Ji in charge at Sri Damdama Sahib, while Bhai Mani Singh Ji was made Head Granthi of Sri Harmander Sahib in Amritsar. After Guru Sahib left for Delhi, he took up the duty of preparing copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and carried on the sewa blessed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji of managing this Sikh Centre. 'Taksaal' means a minting factory. Sri Damdama Sahib, had become a factory where Sikhs would come to mint and prepare their shastars (weapons), as well as mint their minds and enshrine Gurbaani within their hearts through learning the correct pronunciation and grammar of reading Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. As a result this centre of education and weaponry was known as 'Damdami Taksaal'. Baba Deep Singh Ji spent many years at Sri Damdama Sahib preaching Sikh values and teachings and doing sevaa of the Sangat. He was always ready to serve those in need and to fight for justice.
The Khalsa delivers justice to the Tyrants
In 1709, Baba Ji joined Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadar in punishing the tyrants of Sadhaura and Sirhind. In 1733 Nawab Kapoor Singh Ji, the commander of the Khalsa forces, appointed Baba Ji as the leader of one of the jathas (groups) of Dal Khalsa (a united and collective body of groups of Khalsa divided and dispersed across Panjab). On Vaisakhi day of 1748, when Dal Khalsa was reorganised into twelve misls, he was entrusted with the leadership of Shaheedaa(n) di Misl.
News of sacrilege at Amritsar
In April 1757, Ahmed Shah Abdali, after his fourth invasion, was returning to Kabul from Delhi with precious booty and young men and women as captives. Singhs made a plan to retrieve the valuables and set the prisoners free. The jatha (squad) of Baba Deep Singh Ji was deployed near Kurkhetar (also called Kurukshetra). His squad freed large number of 
prisoners and lightened the burden of valuables of Abdali considerably. While departing from Lahore, Abdali appointed his son Taimur Shah, the Governor of Lahore and told him, "Try to finish the Sikhs". In Accordance with his orders, Taimur Shah started demolishing Gurdwaré and filling the sarovars (pool tanks) with debris and alcohol. When Baba Deep Singh Ji came to know of this beadbi (violation of sanctity) and demolition of Sri Harmandar Sahib, he narrated it to the Sangat (congregation) of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, and said, "Diwali will be celebrated at Amritsar this year." Five hundred Singhs came forward to go with him. Baba Deep Singh Ji offered an Ardaas (pray) before starting for Amritsar, "May my head fall at Sri Harmandar Sahib."
Baba jee leaves for Amritsar
Although Baba Deep Singh Ji was 75 years old, he still had the strength of a young warrior. He gathered a large group of Sikhs and advanced towards Sri Harmandar Sahib. By the time they reached the Taran Taaran, about ten miles from Amritsar, the number of Singhs had risen to about 5,000. At this time, Baba Ji drew a line on the ground with his Khanda (double-edged sword), and asked only those who were willing to fight and die to cross the line. Those willing to die for the Guru and give up their attachment for their homes and families crossed the line eagerly. Baba Deep Singh Ji then recited the shabad:
ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥20॥
"Those who wish to play the game of love (follow the Guru's path), come to me with your head in your palm. If you wish your feet to travel this path, don't delay in accepting to give your head." (Ang 1412, SGGS)
Clash with the Mughals
At the news of the approach of Singhs, the Governor of Lahore sent one of his generals with an army of twenty thousand to face them. His army took up position six miles north of Amritsar and waited for the Singhs there. Both the armies clashed near Gohalwarh on the 11th November, 1757. Fighting bravely, the Singhs pushed the army back and reached village Chabba where Attal Khan came forward and fierce battle ensued during which Attal Khan inflicted a blow on Baba Deep Singh Ji severing his head from his body. Baba Deep Singh, more than 75 years of age at that time, started to lose his footing under the impact of the blow, when a Sikh reminded him, "Baba ji, you had resolved (Ardaasa soddhyaa see) to reach the Parkarma of Sri Darbar Sahib." On hearing this, a divine energy suddenly took over, and Baba ji placed his head on the palm of one hand and with the other hand moved his 14kg Khanda (double-edged sword) with such ferocity and strength that enemy soldiers started running away in panic. Thus, Baba Deep Singh made his way to the Parkarma of Sri Harmandar Sahib where, due to the severe injury, attained martyrdom.
Baba jee lays to rest at Harmandir Sahib
The Singhs celebrated the Diwali of 1757 in Sri Harmandar Sahib. The place where his head had fallen is marked by a stone and the Sikhs go past this place on their way to pay obeisance in Sri Darbar Sahib. It reminds them that the way to Sri Darbar Sahib is paved with the sacrifices of people like Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji.
Summary
Baba Deep Singh Ji's martyrdom incited the Sikhs to continue to fight against oppression for many years. Even today, his life serves as an example for all Sikhs on how to live and die with dignity, and never stand or tolerate the beadbi (violation of sanctity) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or the Guru Ghar (Gurdwara). This is a message, which we can all learn from and aspire to follow, and ensure that Gurdwaré and individuals upkeep the respect and dignity of Gurmat and Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, something which has been highlighted in recent years with the growing rise of Gurdwaré using Gurdwara property to allow parties, which cater for alcohol, and Granthi Singhs taking Guru Ji's Saroops to Hotels and BanquetingHalls.
Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Piaare.
Dhan Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji.
ਧੰਨ ਉਹ ਧਰਤੀ ਧੰਨ ਉਹ ਬਾਪੂ, ਧੰਨ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਮਾਈ ।
ਢੰਗ ਜਿਉਣ ਦਾ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ, ਦੱਸ ਗਿਆ ਸਦੀਆ ਸਾਈਂ ।"Blessed is that land, blessed is that father, blessed is the great mother. Who's son has shown the way to live, for centuries to come."
[This article was originally published on Jan 26th 2009]