1. SAKA NANKANA
SAHIB
MASSACRE AT NANKANA SAHIB

2. Nankana Sahib
Gurudwara Nankana Sahib is the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Great Master.

3. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had attached handsome landed properties to many of the
Gurdwaras. The earlier Mahants were devoted Sikhs and true missionaries. Later
mahants were corrupted. They started treating the Gurdwara properties as their
personal wealth. Mahant Narayan Das was the mahant of Gurudwara Nanakana Sahib
In the early 20th century.
This Gurdwara had a property of over 19000 acres of highly fertile land, which yielded
enormous income per year. Money and the power made the Mahant corrupt. He
started using the Gurdwara’s money for his personal gains. Being an Udassi, he
opposed ‘Khalsa Rahat Maryada’ (Sikh code of conduct). He had kept a Muslim girl as
his mistress. Dance girls were frequently called to Gurdwara. These girls performed
dance and sung obscene songs within the holy premises. The Mahant arranged a
dance show by a prostitute near the holy Gurdwara In 1917. A retired A.A.C. officer
visited the Gurdwara with his 13 years old daughter to offer prayers In 1918. One of
the Mahant’s rogues raped the minor girl in a room within the Gurdwara premises.
The father of the girl lodged complaint with the Mahant and requested him to take
action against the rogue, but, the Mahant ignored his request.

4. In the same year, six young female devotees from Jaranwal village (Lyallpur) visited the
Gurdawara on Puranmashi (full Moon) to pay their offerings at Gurdwara. These girls were also
raped. These issues were brought to the notice of the public through The Akali (Punjabi),
published from Lahore by Master Sunder Singh Lyallpuri, a true patriot and the founder of the
Akali Movement and Shiromani Akali Dal.
Lyallpuri belonged village Bohoru, which was located close to Nankana Sahib. He protested
against the debauchery of the Mahant in the nearby villages and continued to organise Sikhs for
a dynamic movement to bring reforms to the Gurdwaras. In October 1920, a congregation was
held at Dharowal, District Sheikhupura (now in Pakistan) to introduce reforms in Gurdwara
Nankana Sahib. The leaders informed the gathering of devotees about the corrupt practices
followed by the Mahant of the Gurdwara Nankana sahib.

5. A management committee was formed On November 15, 1920 to manage the Gurudwaras properly.
The movement of Gurdwara Sudhar (Reform) Lehar (Movement) was started on December 14, 1920.
A political party named Shiromani Akali Dal was also formed.
Shiromani Committee held a general meeting on January 24, 1921 and decided to hold a
Dewan (congregation) in Nankana Sahib on March 4, 5 and 6 and advise Mahant to hand over the
Gurdwara to the Committee. On February 14, Mahant held a secret meeting with his associates to
chalk out a secret plan to kill the Sikh leaders at Nankana Sahib on March 5. Mahant recruited 400
hooligans including fierce Pathans to oppose the Sikhs.
He succeeded in getting the arm licenses through some government officials. With the help of the
government, he collected guns, pistols, arms and ammunition from Lahore. He brought and stored
fourteen tins of paraffin. He got the Gurdwara gate strengthened with holes in it to fire bullets. He
also hired some criminals for protection of the shrine. The Shiromani Committee made an effort to
resolve the issue by talking to the Mahant but he did not turn up after repeated efforts of the
committee. Ultimately, The Shiromani Committee decided to meet the Mahant on March 3, 1921 to
advise him to hand over the charge of the Gurdwara to the committee.

6. Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Farooqabad, Pakistan
The Committee got information from its intelligence sources that Mahant was planning to kill
Sikh leaders with the help of hired gundas during their planned meeting on March 3. Therefore,
the Sikh leaders met at Gurdwara Khara Sauda on 16, 1921 to chalk out the future course of
action. Committee also got the information that Mahant was going to Lahore on February 20,
1921. Therefore, it was decided that jathas (squads) led by Bhai Lachhman Singh and by
Bhai Kartar Singh Virk (alias Jhabbar) would meet at Chander Kot on the February 19. From that
location, they would reach Nankana Sahib early in the morning of February 20. It was decided to
take charge of Gurdwara in his absence of the Mahant.

7. Later, the committee got the information that the Mahant had changed his plan to go to Lahore
on February 20. Therefore, the Parbhandak Committee held another meeting in the office of
Akali Patrika (News paper) on February 19. During this meeting, it was decided that the squads
would not go to Nankana Sahib on February 20. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar was present in the
meeting. He was asked to inform the new decision of the committee to Bhai Lachhman Singh.
Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar dispatched Bhai Waryam Singh to stop the other squad at
Chanderkot. Meanwhile, in accordance with the original programme, Bhai Lachchman Singh
reached Chander Kot with his squad of about one hundred and fifty Sikhs before the arrival of
Bhai Waryama Singh on the night of the February 19. He waited for the squad of Bahia
Kartar Singh Jhabbar for some time. During this time, Bhai Lachhman Singh convinced the squad
that they would remain peaceful under all circumstances. Thereafter, the squad prayed for their
success in the Nobel cause. When, the Squad was about to move forward, Bhai Waryam Singh
arrived. He showed them the letter conveying the new decision of the Committee.
Bhai Tehal Singh Said that they had resolved to go to Nankana Sahib and cold not change their
decision at that stage. The squad moved ahead as per their original plan following Bhai Tehal
Singh.

8. Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, Pakistan
The Squad arrived at Nankana Sahjib in the early morning on February 20. People bathed in the
holy pool and entered the premises of Gurdwara at 0600 hrs. Bhai Lachchma Singh sat in
‘Taabiya’ (Behind Guru Granth Sahib). The Mahant was aware of the squad’s arrival at
Chander kot in the evening of February 19. He collected his men at night and briefed them
about his action plan.

9. NANKANA SAHIB MASSACRE
After the squad settled in the Gurdwara, the Mahant signaled his men to execute the
predetermined plan. The main gate of the Gurdwara was closed and Mahant’s men started
firing at the devotees. Twenty six Sikhs were killed due to the firing in the courtyard while about
sixty devotees remained sitting peacefully inside the Gurdwara Sahib and faced the bullets
without any resistance. When the Mahant’s men saw that the devotees were determined and
showed no sign of resistance, they came down with swords and choppers. Any Sikh found
breathing was cut to pieces.

11. Historical Jand tree at Nankana Sahib, Pakistan
The dead and the dying Sikhs were dragged to a pile of the logs of wood; paraffin was
poured on these bodies to burn them. Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali, who was wounded with
gun shot was tied to a Jand tree and burnt alive. Hearing the sound of the gun fire,
Bhai Dalip singh and Bhai Waryam Singh, who were sitting in the factory of Bhai Uttam Singh
rushed towards the Gurdwara. When the Mahant saw them coming, he shot Bhai Dalip Singh
with his pistol while his men had cut Bhai Waryam Singh to pieces.

12. Sardar Uttam Singh conveyed the news by telegram through Sardar Karam Singh Station Master
at Nankana Sahib Railway station to the Governore of Punjab, commissioner, Deputy
Commissioner, Superintendent of police and Sikh centers at 0915 hrs. Deputy Commissioner,
Mr. Curry reached at 1230 hrs, while Commissioner; Mr. King arrived at 2130 hrs. Twenty
Pathans were arrested and the Gurdwara was locked. City was handed over to Army, which
cordoned it to restrict any Akali movement to take over Gurdwara.

13. Jathedar Kartar Singh ji Virk (Jhabbar)
Sardar Kartar Singh Jhabbar arrived with his Squad on February 21. Deputy
Commissioner warned him that if he tried to enter city with his squad, army
would open fire on them. Kartar Singh Jhabbar and his jatha (squad) of
twenty two hundred Sikhs kept moving towards city. At last, Deputy
Commissioner Mr. Curry handed over the keys of Gurdwara to
Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar. The bodies of the devotees were
cremated according to Sikh tradition at 0730 hrs on February 22. An
urdu newspaper called ‘Zamindara’ wrote in its editorial of February 23, 1921
that Muslims were shamelessness as they helped the Mahant. Muslims were
warned that the cup of their shamelessness and impudence was full at that
time. Editor felt ashamed as the guns and swords of Muslims were
used against the devotees who had gone to Nankana Sahib to perform their
religious duty. The editor warned the people that they were not fit to
be called Muslims and they were worse than infidels. Mahant and 20
Pathans were tried by British Government. Mahant and couple of Pathans got
death sentence for killing more than 50 peaceful devotees.

14. The news of the Nankana Sahib massacre was a great shock to the whole country.
Sir Edward Maclagan, Governor of the Punjab, visited the site on February 22.
Mahatma Gandhi reached Nankana Sahib on March 03. Mahatma Gandhi
acknowledged the movement by saying that the peaceful and passive resistance of
the Sikhs had brought the glory and the prestige to the India’s Struggle for
freedom. He was accompanied by the following Muslim leaders
Princess Bamba Duleep Singh, daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, accompanied by
Sir Jogendra Singh also reached Nankana Sahib to offer her homage to the the
martyrs.
This saka (demonstration or agitation) displayed the unprecedented discipline, self-
control and exemplary patience displayed by the peaceful Sikh protesters even in
the face of extreme barbarism.

15. For More Details Visit:
http://sikhgurusandgurdwaras.info/wordpress/?s=nankana+sahib
http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/events/nankana.html