Bhai Amrik Singh
Encyclopedia
Bhai Amrik Singh was the President of the Sikh Students Federation after being elected into the position on July 2, 1977 and remained president until his death on June 6, 1984. He had passed his Masters in Punjabi
from Khalsa College in Amritsar
. After this he began research work on his Ph.D. thesis.
He was the son of Sant Giani Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, the 13th leader of the Damdami Taksal
which meant he was well versed in Gurbani and Sikh literature. He devoted much of his life to Sikh missionary activities. Amrik Singh was also one of the Sikh community's most prominent leaders along with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
On April 26, 1982 a campaign was started to get Amritsar, Punjab
, status as a holy city. It was while campaigning for this that Amrik Singh was arrested on July 19, 1982 along with other members of the Damdami Taksal. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale began the Dharam Yudh Morcha to free Amrik Singh and other prominent Sikhs. The Dharam Yuda Morcha was also the first collective push to implement the Anandpur Resolution which primarily requested more autonomy for the Sikh people, many of whom argued that they were being oppressed and treated unfairly by the Indian government.
When the government of India decided to use lethal force in an effort to assert its authority over the Sikh faith's most holy shrine, the Golden Temple
, Amrik Singh was one of the first of hundreds of Sikhs who gave their life to protect the integrity of the temple. He died at the foot of the two Nishaan Sahibs (Sikh Flags) near the Akal Takht
.
Along with Amrik Singh and hundreds of other Sikhs who fought against the Indian army's action, hundreds of innocent women and children were killed by the Indian government in the crossfire. Western observers such as Joyce Pettigrew saw Amrik Singh as one of the Sikh community's most respected and saintly leaders.
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
from Khalsa College in Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
. After this he began research work on his Ph.D. thesis.
He was the son of Sant Giani Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, the 13th leader of the Damdami Taksal
Damdami Taksal
The Damdami Taksal is a 300 years old educational organization said to have been founded by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. According to the Damdami Taksal, it was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the reading , analysis and recitation of the Sikh scriptures by Guru Gobind...
which meant he was well versed in Gurbani and Sikh literature. He devoted much of his life to Sikh missionary activities. Amrik Singh was also one of the Sikh community's most prominent leaders along with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
On April 26, 1982 a campaign was started to get Amritsar, Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, status as a holy city. It was while campaigning for this that Amrik Singh was arrested on July 19, 1982 along with other members of the Damdami Taksal. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale began the Dharam Yudh Morcha to free Amrik Singh and other prominent Sikhs. The Dharam Yuda Morcha was also the first collective push to implement the Anandpur Resolution which primarily requested more autonomy for the Sikh people, many of whom argued that they were being oppressed and treated unfairly by the Indian government.
When the government of India decided to use lethal force in an effort to assert its authority over the Sikh faith's most holy shrine, the Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib also Darbar Sahib , also referred to as the Golden Temple, is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab . Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev...
, Amrik Singh was one of the first of hundreds of Sikhs who gave their life to protect the integrity of the temple. He died at the foot of the two Nishaan Sahibs (Sikh Flags) near the Akal Takht
Akal Takht
The Akal Takht of the Timeless One or Seat of God. It is one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs equivalent to any parliament of world sovereign country. Akal means The Timeless One - another term for God. Takht means 'seat' or 'throne' in Persian...
.
Along with Amrik Singh and hundreds of other Sikhs who fought against the Indian army's action, hundreds of innocent women and children were killed by the Indian government in the crossfire. Western observers such as Joyce Pettigrew saw Amrik Singh as one of the Sikh community's most respected and saintly leaders.