Story of Bhai Manvir Singh Ji Chaheru...

Shaheed Bhai Manvir Singh Ji Chaheru

Background

Shaheed Bhai Manvir Singh Ji Chaheru aka Iqbal Singh aka Hari Singh was born in 1959 at village Chaheru of Kapurthala District in Panjab. He was known as Hari Singh after the great Sikh General, Hari Singh Nalwa, due to his sharp mind and tactful fighting skills. His father Baba Mahinder Singh Ji was a well to do farmer and had lived in the village for generations. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji completed his primary education at his village school and at Kala Bakra, village of his maternal aunt; he completed the 10th grade and then started to assist his father in farming along with his two brothers and continued to do so for next six years.

Recieving Amrit

During these six years Bhai Manvir Singh Ji continuously used to visit his Bhua Ji (maternal aunt), Mata Niranjan Kaur Ji, at Kala Bakra village and that is where he came in contact Giani Joginder Singh Ji of Chak Raju Singh village who was a retired army officer and son-in-law of Mata Niranjan Kaur Ji. Giani Joginder Singh Ji encouraged Bhai Manvir Singh Ji to take up Amrit (Sikh initiation), and become a True Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji was 19 years of age when the Nirankari massacre took place in which 13 Sikhs were shot and killed on 13th April 1978. This incident left a deep mark on Bhai Manvir Singh Ji’s thoughts; he was later married with Bibi Ranjit Kaur Ji. In 1979 at Sodal Gurdwara in Jalandhar, Bhai Manvir Singh Ji along with his wife and his Chacha Ji (father’s younger brother), Bhai Karnail Singh Ji, took Amrit from the Jatha (group) of Baba Nihal Singh Harian Velan wale.

Religious Education

After recieving Amrit, Bhai Manvir Singh Ji started to attend religious classes being provided by Jatha Bhindran, a Sikh seminary group, at Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash, Mehta Chownk. The seminary teaches students how to read Sikh scriptures and provide education on Sikh history, values and spiritual-discipline. Whilst studying here he met Bhai Mokham Singh Ji, Bhai Gurjant Singh Ji, Bhai Prem Singh Ji and Baba Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale.

Recieving Seva of the Sangat

In 1981 a police car followed his motorcycle as he left the grain market towards his home. The police car caught up to him, pulled him over and then the SSP of Jalandhar, Gur-Iqbal Singh Bhullar questioned Bhai Manvir Singh Ji on his actions and where he was going. After a heated argument Bhai Manvir Singh Ji was arrested but was released on bail by his uncle Karnail Singh who said that Bhai Manvir Singh Ji will show up at the police station the next day. After this incident Bhai Manvir Singh Ji left for Sri Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar) and met with Sant Bhindranwale. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji told Sant Ji about the police incident. Sant Ji then told Bhai Manvir Singh Ji to stay with them were he would have a duty to serve in the Langar (community kitchen). After some time Bhai Manvir Singh Ji became Sant Ji’s bodyguard. During his stay at Sri Harmandir Sahib he lived in room 53 of Guru Nanak Niwas and met many courageous and devout Sikhs who later became martyrs of the Sikh nation. Meanwhile, the police arrested his uncle Bhai Karnail Singh Ji for not bringing Bhai Manvir Singh Ji to police station as promised.

The 1984 Sikh holocaust

During the Sikh holocaust of 1984 referred to as Operation Bluestar by the Indian Army, Bhai Manvir Singh Ji was not at Sri Harmandir Sahib. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji came in contact with many other youth workers, including Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda, like him who was hurt by the Indian Government for attacking Sri Harmandir Sahib. In 1986 Bhai Manvir Singh Ji and Bhai Balbir Singh Ji Raipur planned to release General Labh Singh and Swarnjit Singh from the illegally detained by then corrupt police authorities. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji was successful in freeing General Labh Singh, Swarnjit Singh and Gurinder Singh Bhola.

Arrest

During this time Bhai Manvir Singh Ji also came in contact with a retired army officer, Major Baldev Singh Ghuman, at Sri Harmandir Sahib and Mehta Chowk. Major Baldev Singh Ghuman was also deeply saddened by the government orchestrated massacre of Sikhs and wanted to do something to improve the dire situation of human rights and the freedom of Sikhs in Panjab. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji and Bhai Baldev Singh Ghuman Ji became good friends and they both respected and trusted each other. During 1986 Baldev Singh Ghuman Ji became the middle man and united freedom-fighter groups. One person had turned into an informant for the authorities and orchestrated a meeting Bhai Baldev Singh Ji’s house where Bhai Manvir Singh Ji was also invited. Following on from this, on 8th August 1986 Bhai Manvir Singh Ji was arrested by the police at the residence of Major Baldev Singh Ghuman Ji in Jalandhar. The Police also arrested Major Baldev Singh Ghuman Ji, and Bhai Charanjit Singh Ji. The raid was conducted by DSP Sawarn Singh “Ghotna”, a well renowned ‘butcher’ police officer who had committed numerous war crimes against humanity. After Bhai Manvir Singh Ji’s arrest General Labh Singh Ji took over the command of the resistance movement group.

Martyrdom

Bhai Manvir Singh Ji Chaheru was kept in various jails in Panjab and later moved to a jail in Bihar in East India. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji always stayed in Chardi Kala (forever high spirits) during his time in jal and would continuously read Sri Japji Sahib and constantly pray that one day he would be able to give his life for the Sikh faith. In December 1987 the police announced that Bhai Manvir Singh Ji had escaped from police custody whilst they were transporting him back to Panjab from Bihar. However, the reality was that the police had concontted the story to cover up the fact that they had killed him. Bhai Manvir Singh Ji's body was thrown by the police into Beas River. In Chandigarh the Chief of Panjab Police, J.F. Rebeiro, told news reporters that they don’t need to worry as "Manvir Singh will not come back."

Today Shaheed Bhai Manvir Singh Ji’s mother and brother live in Leicester, UK.

The above information was given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Manvir Singh Ji Chaheru that is posted on the Internet.