Baba Maharaj Singh Puratan Shaheed

Baba Maharaj Singh ji's childhood name was Nihal Singh. He was blessed soul who had holy darshan of Mahapurakhs like Baba Mani Singh ji, Baba Deep Singh ji and Baba Gurbaksh Singh ji in childhood. He later on joined Jatha of Baba Sahib singh ji bedi and was instrumental in creation of Khalsa Raaj with Babaji. Baba Sahib singh ji was real mind behind a unified Khalsa Raaj. After Babaji left for sachkhand in 1834, SInghs of Jatha moved to Naurangabad, a village in Amritsar and Baba Bir Singh ji became the Jathedar. This place of Baba Bir SIngh ji became a centre of SIkh unrest against Dogra takeover of Khalsa Raaj. Dogras attacked this place in 1844 and Baba Bir SIngh ji attained Shaheedi.

Baba Maharaj SIngh ji was elected next Jathedar and he continued to lead Sikhs in battles against British and dogras. He was a Mukt-Aatma who believed in Freedom of SIkh panth and supremacy of Khalsa Raaj. When Britsh took over Lahore Darbar in 1846, he revolted and didnt accept Firangi raaj. He incited Raja Sher SIngh to revolt against British empire, which led to second anglo-sikh war. Babaji, at the age of 118 years, fought like lions in battlefields of Gujrat and Chillainwala, which are considered to be the most humiliating defeats of British in South Asia, in which thousands of British soldiers died. Even viceroy and generals of British army were removed after these battles. But Raja Sher Singh showed weakness and surrendered to British later. Baba Maharaj SIngh ji refused to surrender and carried on the revolt. He was feared by British for his spiritual powers and was known as 'karnivala' by them. He was arrested by British one Amritvela, when Babaji was in Samadhi with his 25 Gursikh soldiers. He was kept in Jail for some time, but as he was a 'Dangerous Guru', He was shifted to Singapore where he was kept in solitary confinement for 6 years and wasnt allowed to meet anyone, except his hazooriya, Bhai Kharak Singh ji. Babaji suffered from many physical diseases, but Cruel british empire refused to free him or even let him take a walk. at last, on 5th august 1856, the great Sant-sipahi-freedom fighter Baba Maharaj Singh ji left his body and the Mukt Aatma went to the land of his beloved.

such was the spirit of Gursikhs of 18th and 19th century, that even at age of 118 years they fought for freedom and Independent Khalsa Raaj, and went through every possible torture, even of separation from Motherland at age of 125 years. Lakh lakh Parnaam to Baba Maharaj SIngh ji. 
(Babaji's spiritual lineage continues with Rarewali Samparda, in which came holy Baba isher Singh ji Maharaj.)

Baba Maharaj Singh ji..The free soul who had seen the lives and battles of Singhs of 18th century was the one of leaders of Khalsa army in battle of chillianwala. Babaji was riding a white horse and this 118 year old 'Buddha Sher' of Panth waving his sword in his hand was exhorting Khalsa army with words

''When i was young,I heard Baba Deep Singh ... See Moresay in battlefield to his Akali Fauj,'The Day Sikhs learnt to live in Slavery,Sikhi is doomed.The day Sikhs became afraid of getting cut to pieces for Guru,Sikhi is
doomed.Its better to chop the enemy or get cut to pieces rather than living a life of dishonor and slavery'.And I saw Khalsa fight without head.I need that Khalsa back.Today's the day to cut or get cut for Guru, for SIkhi. Its better to die a Shaheed than live as a slave''.

And world knows what happened at Chillianwala that day.5th august was the day this hole soul left this planet, but very few of us know abt the greatness and courage of Mahapurakhs like Babaji. lets rememeber them, revere them, make them our idols, only than will we achieve freedom.