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Boiled Alive: Shahid Bhai Gurdev Singh Debu
 Satguru Arjan Dev jee showed his
Sikhs by his example to endure the most horrific of tortures but not compromise
on principles. In the scorching months of May and June, Guru Arjan Dev jee was
boiled alive and made to sit on burning plates with hot sand being poured on his
head. Even then he kept repeating ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਾਂਗੈ
After Guru Arjan Dev, countless Sikhs have given their lives but not given up
their faith. Sikhs like Bhai Dayala jee followed Guru Arjan Dev jee’s example
and were boiled alive. But for so many of us, even the thought of being boiled
alive is too distant to understand. But it is a fact that many Gursikhs in
recent years have been tortured in this brutal way but taking their inspiration
from Guru Arjan, did not give up their cause. One such Gursikh is Shahid Bhai
Gurdev Singh Debu.
Early Life
Bhai Gurdev Singh Debu was born on July 15, 1961 in village Dheerpur, Jallandhar.
His parents were Mata Gian Kaur and father Sd. Gurbachan Singh Sekhon. Bhai
Gurbachan Singh was a farmer.
Bhai Gurdev Singh completed his primary education in Dheerpur and finished high
school in nearby Dialpur. After this, Bhai Sahib began to work on motors and
became known as an expert.
Change in Nature
In 1978, the Narakdhari cult with the connivance of the Government began to
attack the Sikh faith and shot dead 13 Gursikhs in Amritsar on the day of
Vaisakhi. The perpetrators were never brought to justice and were in fact
protected by the Government. Bhai Gurdev Singh was deeply hurt by what had
happened and after this began to remain very sad. He would talk to his friends
about how much of an injustice had happened and expressed his desire for revenge
on the enemies of the Panth.
 Bhai Sahib’s parents were alarmed at this change in nature and thought that
perhaps marriage would help settle him down. Bhai Gurdev Singh was married to
Bibi Balvinder Kaur and they would have one daughter and one son together. But
Bhai Sahib’s pain at the state of the Panth did not lessen. Along with the local
Sangat, Bhai Gurdev Singh went to Sri Darbar Sahib and heard the lectures of
Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindravale. He was so impressed that he decided to
remain there with Sant jee to serve in the Dharam Yudh Morcha. After some time,
Bhai Gurdev Singh became very close to Bhai Amrik Singh and Sant Jarnail Singh
Khalsa.
Seva for the Panth
From December 26 to 31, 1984, Bhai Gurdev Singh participated in a camp organized
by Sant Jarnail Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh where Gurbani, Sikh history and
philosophy were taught. The goal of the camp was to create Sikh preachers who
could transform the Punjab countryside. He was given a certificate at the end of
the course. Bhai Sahib used this knowledge to travel to schools and colleges to
establish units of the All India Sikh Student Federation.
On March 2, 1984, in a conference organized by the AISSF, Damdami Taksal and
others, Bhai Gurdev Singh was mad the president of the Kartarpur area. After
this, the police made Bhai Gurdev Singh and his family one of their main
targets. His parents along with his brothers were arrested and tortured and
later even his sister and wife were taken away. But Bhai Sahib did not return
home after that and refused to leave his seva.
Bhai Gurdev Singh travelled from village to village organizing Gurmat
conferences and amrit sinchaars. Sant Jarnail Singh also gave Bhai Gurdev Singh
the seva of doing saskaar of old beeRs of Sree Guru Granth Sahib at Goindval
Sahib. Bhai Sahib was busy doing this seva when the Government of India attacked
Sree Harmander Sahib Amritsar and slaughtered countless men, women and children.
After 1984
The attack on Sree Amritsar was unbearable for Bhai Gurdev Singh. He gathered
together with his few remaining companions and decided to show the government
that not all the Singhs had been finished. They burnt down government rail
stations and became a persistent nuisance for the Security Forces.
The police began to hound Bhai Gurdev Singh and he decided it would be best to
travel to Pakistan for training and some quiet time. When Bhai Sahib returned to
India, the government broadcast his picture along with the pictures of the other
Singhs on television advising citizens to be on the look out. Bhai Sahib
remained in Chardi Kala and did not care who could recognise him.
Khalistan Commando
Force
 Bhai Sahib joined with Bhai Manbir Singh Chaheru, Bhai Mathra Singh, Bhai Tarsem
Singh KuhaaR and others to form the original Khalistan Commando Force. Bhia
Gurdev Singh became the Area Commander for Doaba and participated in many
actions. He was respected not only by the Singhs in the KCF, but by all
Jathebandis. The police began to dread the very name of Bhai Gurdev Singh.
Bhai Sahib took part in many battles with the police and always inflicted heavy
damage. He was terror incarnate for the Indian Government. Soon if the police
knew Bhai Gurdev Singh was in a certain area, they would evacuate and leave so
that they would not run into him.
Under the command of Bhai Gurdev Singh, Doaba did not see any looters commit
crimes. They were too terrified to act. The Hindus of the area also loved Bhai
Gurdev Singh since he would help poor Hindu families by giving money and not let
anyone harass them. Even today, the Hindus remember Bhai Sahib and attend his
yearly Shahidi Memorial event.
Bhai Gurdev Singh built links with many prominent Singhs like Bhai Harjinder
Singh Jinda, Bhai Satbachan Singh Sakruli, etc. and worked on punishing the
police touts, Narakdharis, and informers.
Arrest
The police made many tries to capture Bhai Sahib but each time were
unsuccessful. But they say that when one patriot is born, thousands of traitors
are born with him. One person who brought himself close to Bhai Gurdev Singh and
showed himself to be a great Sikh Patriot, invited Bhai Sahib to his home and
put a powder in milk he served. Bhai Gurdev Singh fell unconscious and was
arrested in this state.
Bhai Sahib was considered one of the top Singhs in Movement and the police were
ecstatic at having made this catch. They had captured a sleeping lion. Bhai
Sahib was questioned about his fellow Singhs and where he had hidden the weapons
of the Commando Force. Bhai Sahib refused to speak a word. It was the hot month
of July and Bhai Sahib was kept in a small cell with no food or water. Like all
Sikh fighters, Bhai Gurdev Singh was first beaten but he did not say a word. His
bones were broken and twisted. Next, his legs were cut open and hot chilis were
thrust in but again, he gave no information. Bhai Gurdev Singh’s body was then
pierced by red hot iron rods but the reaction was still silence. The frustrated
police then went so far as to cut out Bhai Sahib’s eye. Not one hideout was
revealed and Bhai Gurdev Singh was lost in Gurbani. Like his master, he kept
repeating “qyrw
kIAw mITw lwgY ]hir nwmu pdwrQu nwnku mWgY
”.
Shahidi
The police then reached the limit of brutality. They boiled a tub of water and
put Bhai Gurdev Singh in. The scene of Bhai Dayala in the boiling cauldron was
repeated again and this Singh too did not falter. Bhai Gurdev Singh refused to
speak a word and seeing his final moments before him, only cared about Gurbani.
Bhai Gurdev Singh was boiled to death but did not reveal a single companion’s
name, hideout or weapons’ cache.
 On Friday July 3, 1987, the police attempted to show a fake encounter and claim
Bhai Sahib had been killed. The news spread like jungle fire and the entire area
was stricken with grief. Local villagers surrounded the police station with
their tractors, trolleys and buses and demanded they be given the body to
cremate with full honors. The police were terrified what the mob might do, so
they handed over Bhai Gurdev Singh’s body. The villagers saw the remains of Bhai
Gurdev Singh and even hearts of stone melted. The unspeakable torture he faced
was clear to all. All wondered how any human could possibly do this to another?
News of this brutal death spread across Punjab. Thousands of Sangat arrived for
Bhai Sahibs Bhog. The police had sealed the area to prevent a large gathering,
but the Sangat broke through all barriers to honor their Shahid. Bhai Sahib had
shown that Khalsa Spirit is alive today and Sikhs can still bear the same
tortures and not lose their faith.
Aftermath
This was not the end for Bhai Gurdev Singh’s family. The police had been unable
to take even a single piece of information from Bhai Sahib and his Shahidi had
inspired thousands of Sikh youth. The Indian Security Forces were shocked at the
horror they could inflict and still not be successful and humiliated by the
public reaction.
Bhai Sahib’s family including Bhai Gurdev Singh’s mother, father, brothers,
sister and wife were arrested and tortured. They wanted to know where Bhai Sahib
had hidden his weapons. Bhai Sahib’s mother and brothers were hung from the roof
to get information but spoke nothing.
Another family became a sacrifice to the Sikh cause, but spoke nothing.
With so much blood filling the foundations of Khalsa Raj, is there any doubt
that it will be a reality? What will we do to bring this reality about?
Taken
from Tapoban.org |
