Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh Shinder

Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinder’ was born in Nakodar, Punjab on November 1, 1960 to his mother Surjit Kaur and father, S.P. Sardar Santa Singh Bhaur. He grew up in Phagwara and was educated at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. During his studies he had the opportunity to attend the lectures of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. After graduation he immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1982 and enrolled himself into an electrical engineering program to further his education. Upon completion of his first year he received a scholarship to continue his studies. That very summer he visited India to get married.

Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh Shinder

When arriving in India he was wrongfully arrested with his father (Retired S.P.) by Punjab Police under the National Security Act (NSA). They were both imprisoned during the attacks on the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhs and several other Sikh temples. These attacks resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent pilgrims. Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinder’ was deeply saddened by the events that led to the attacks on the Golden Temple and even more so after the massacres that followed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination. This assassination resulted in the ruthless killings of 150,000+ innocent Sikh men, woman and children – an act of retaliatory violence carried out by Indian government officials. This genocide demoralized Sikhs across the globe.

Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinder’ was one of many Canadian Sikhs that was deeply hurt by the injustice that was brought upon the Sikh nation. After being released from prison in late 1984, he made a vow to help Sikhs that were being wrongfully killed in Punjab. He had strengthened his relationships with Sikh freedom fighters before returning to Canada. He became especially close with one of the most famous and effective Khalsa generals to have taken part in the Sikh Liberation Movement – Bhai Avtar Singh Brahma. Bhai Avtar Singh Brahma shared a very special relationship with Canadians and other Western Sikhs who had gone to fight for freedom on the land of Punjab, India.

The Sikhs of Punjab had a simple ask from the very beginning: for India to be a democracy in the true sense i.e. allowing all of its citizens to be given equal opportunity and rights, a country that would eliminate discrimination, a nation that would rid its government of corruption. This was blatantly ignored. Shortly after the Khalistan (“Khalis” meaning “pure” and “stan” meaning “land”) movement gained momentum, the State of Punjab closed international media and communication channels so that all the terror struck by the Indian government would remain confined within the State of Punjab. To date, human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are not permitted in Punjab to investigate the atrocities committed by the Indian government on the Sikhs. 

Although Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinder’ had returned to Canada to continue his studies, he actively kept in touch with his affiliates in India and Pakistan. He was disturbed by how the news and media was falsely being portrayed globally about the events taking place in Punjab – he had a Canadian’s perspective. He had also come to learn that the founder/president of the Punjab Hindu Shiv Sena terrorist organization – Rama Kant Jalota was responsible for the tortures and killings of 800+ youths in the vicinity of his home town, Phagwara. Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinder’ visited Punjab on several occasions in the 1980’s and was allegedly accused of assassinating Shiv Sena President – Rama Kant Jalota, several high ranked political figures, police officers and news reporters that were supportive of the genocide in and around the Phagwara area. 

Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh Shinder

The Indian government had issued a reward on his head, and like many other prominent Sikh freedom fighters he was betrayed by a close associate that turned into an informant (Police Black Cat). Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinder’ was unarmed at the time of capture. He was set up in a fake police encounter on his way to the airport as he was returning to Canada. He was martyred on June 17, 1989.

Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh Shinder

Not only did Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinder’ sacrifice his life for equal Sikh rights in Punjab, but also a promising future in Canada, his relationship with his parents, siblings and nieces and nephews. He has left behind a legacy that will live on forever in our hearts by fighting for what he believed in and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. May his legacy live on forever.

Shaheed Bhai Baljit Singh Khela

The all-powerful almighty has given his people such a passionate fire for freedom that it burns away the shackles of slavery. The authoritarian governments throughout the history have tried to suppress this passion for freedom but the lovers of freedom have always fought for it, despite the tortures and brutalities of the government.

After the wounds inflicted by the partition of their homeland, families, and places of worship in 1947, the Sikhs were again hurt in 1978 by the Nirankari massacre. But the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple was the last straw that convinced the Sikhs that they have to fight for their freedom. One of the most prominent freedom fighters in this movement was Bhai Baljit Singh Khela – whose brief life history will be presented here.

Shaheed Bhai Baljit Singh Khela

Bhai Baljit Singh was born to Sardar Makhan Singh & Mata Swaran Kaur in 1972 in the village Khela situated in the sacred town of Goindwal Sahib. Bhai Sahib was born in a middle class family and was provided with a good education in the hope for a good future. He completed his B.A and training in typewriting and got a government service in Goindwal sahib.

Despite getting busy in his job and fulfilling his responsibilities at home he always made sure to complete his Nitnem. Bhai Sahib deeply analysed the machinations of central government against Punjab. While in Goindwal sahib, he came in contact with Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha (BTFK) and was so moved and impressed that he resigned from his government job that he had been doing for two and half years, and jumped into the Sikh resistance movement.

Bhai Sahib faced several encounters with the security force, on one such occasion Bhai Baljit Singh Khela and his party entered into a firefight with the central forces near village Turr. Bhai Khela fought bravely and was able to escape safely after killing many of the security force personnel. After this incident Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha started to regard Bhai Baljit Singh as one of his chief comrades and was considered Bhai Sangha’s right hand man.

After Operation Bluestar, the government had surrounded all the historic Gurdwaras with security personnel and to keep an eye on and harass the pilgrims. The entrance of Sri Darbaar Sahib at Tarn Taran was also deployed with CRPF. The Jujharoos of the BTFK Sangha group issued three warnings to remove the CRPF personnel from the entrance of Gurdwara Sahib. When no action was taken, Bhai Sangha’s group attacked the CRPF with such intensity that the CRPF personnel had to hide in shops to save their lives. Bhai Baljit Singh Khela played a big role in this action.

Bhai Sahib was a deep thinker and thought ahead of times, and as such was opposed to robbery. When somebody looted his scooter, he immediately took action to get it back from the looters and also gave a stern warning to not repeat it.

Shaheed Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha - General of Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan

While serving in the resistance movement under the guidance of General Sukhwinder Singh Sangha, Bhai Baljit Singh along with five other Singhs in village Bhullar when on November 3, 1990, the central forces surrounded them on all sides. Both the sides started firing and there was a fierce combat. The brave warriors of Khalsa panth fought to their last breath and last bullet. In this combat, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha, Bhai Baljit Singh Khela and Bhai Bikramjit Singh Narla attained Shaheedi (martyrdom).

Bhai Baljit Singh Khela’s father Sardar Makhan Singh and his younger brother Bhai Sukhjit Singh Khela were also tortured by the police. Sukhjit Singh is still enduring the pain of the wounds inflicted by the police torture.

The sacrifice of Bhai Baljit Singh and other countless Singhs will always be an inspiration for the future generations. Bhai Sahib joined the movement despite having a government job, when he could have lived a comfortable life. But he placed the interests of his community above his personal interests.

According to a poet –
Where the roads have been paved with the blood of my brothers,
Where my people have come out of slaughterhouses, onto the glorious pages of history,
O mother earth! Give birth to my brothers on such a blessed land!