2. Bhai Taru Singh was born on October 6, 1720 at the village of Phoola in Amritsar district of
Punjab. Bahia Taru’s father went to battle and lost his life while fighting. He was brought up with
Sikh values by his widowed mother. Bhai Taru Singh lived with his mother and younger sister at
his native village Pahoola, Amritsar, Punjab. He was a farmer by profession.
Bhai Taru Singh followerd the principles of Guru Nanak, honest work, meditation and sharing.
Bhai Taru Singh took amritpan (initiation to Khalsa) from Bhai Mani Singh. Therefore, he was
influenced by that great personality. He was soft spoken and was ever ready to extend all
possible help if someone approached him in the time of need.

3. During that time, Sikh revolutionaries were plotting the overthrow of the Zakaria Khan,
Governor of Lahore, a merciless killer of the Sikhs and Hindus. Bhai Taru Singh gave food and
extended all possible help to those Gursikhs.
After few days, a squad of Sikhs passed that way. Bhai Taru Singh informed them about the
problem of Rahim Bakhsh. That squad raided Patti, rescued the girl and handed her over to the
father. The Commander of Patti was killed in that raid.
One day, Rahim Bakhsh, a Muslim fisherman informed Bhai Taru Singh that the Commander of
Patti had forcibly abducted his daughter. He also informed that he complained the issue to the
Governor of Lahore. It was of no use, he was thrown out of the court and no one listened to the
complaint of the poor fellow. Bhai Taru Singh assured him, that his complaint might have been
turned down by the Governor, but, it would certainly be heard in the house of Guru Nanak. He
also assured him that his daughter would reach his house within a short time.

4. Hoping that Bhai Taru Singh will help in arresting other revolutionary Sikhs, the Governor told
him that his all acts of helping revolutionary Sikhs would be pardoned if he embraced Islam and
gave information about the revolutionary Sikhs. Bhai Taru Singh replied that he would prefer to
keep his faith and will not provide any information. The Governor got annoyed with the reply of
Bhahi Taru Singh. He ordered a cobbler to scalp the hair of Bhai Taru Singh along with skull skin.
During the torture, Bhai Sahab was heard reciting Japji Sahib (One of the Sikhs routine prayers).
After the scalping, Bhai Taru Singh was thrown in a ditch.
Khushala, the headman of village Pahoola, informed Zakaria Khan, the Governor, about the role
of Taru Singh in this incident. The Governor sent his soldiers to arrest Bhai Taru Singh. Bhai Taru
Singh told the soldiers that they had come to arrest him on the orders of their master. He
informed them that he was also bound by the orders of his Master and would not let the go
without taking meals. The soldiers acceded to his request and took meal, arrested him and
presented him to the Governor.

5. Before leaving, Bhai Taru Singh told that the Governor would pay for the inhuman act by the
beating of his shoes. This incident took place on June 9, 1745. Immediately after Bhai Sahib was
scalped, Zakaria Khan felt unbearable pain and the inability to pass urine. When the efforts of
the physicians failed, he consulted his advisers about the sudden illness. He was told that the
illness was due to his ill treatment of Bhai Taru Singh. Due to the unbearable pain and as a last
resort, he sent Bhai Subeg Singh to Bhai Taru Singh to seek pardon on his behalf. Bhai Subeg
Singh returned and informed that the Governor would pass urine if he was hit on the head with
the shoe of Bhai Taru Singh. The agony of the Governor was so grave that he took the shoe of
Bhai Taru Singh and struck it on his head. Governor was surprised that he was able to pass urine
without a problem. This process continued for 22 days and the Governor died. After hearing the
news about the death of the Governor, Bhai Taru Singh left for the heavenly abode. He was
barely 25 years of age at that time.

6. Today, Bhai Taru Singh is viewed as a martyr and a symbol of the importance of Kesh (hair). A
Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj was erected in memory of Bhai Taru Singh in the Naulakha Bazaar of
Lahore (now in Pakistan). It marks the place where his scalp along with hair was removed. This
place has become a pilgrimage for the Sikhs.
Gurdwara Mehdiana Sahib, Ludhiana, Punjab displays the suffering of the great Sikh martyrs
through sculptures. A life size sculpture shows the glorious deed of Bhai Taru Singh.