Baba Deep Singh (26 January 1682 – 13 November 1757) is deeply revered among Sikhs as one of the most venerated martyrs in Sikh history. He is honored for his unwavering devotion and sacrifice in upholding the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. Baba Deep Singh served as the first leader of Misl Shaheedan Tarna Dal, a Khalsa military order founded by Nawab Kapur Singh, who was then the head of Sharomani Panth Akali Buddha Dal. The Damdami Taksal also acknowledges him as the first head of their order.
Early Life
Baba Deep Singh was born on 26 January 1682 in a Sandhu Jat Sikh family in Pahuwind village, Amritsar district. His father, Bhagta, was a farmer, and his mother was Jioni.
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| Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib | |
| In office 1706–1757 | |
| Succeeded by | Sudh Singh |
| Jathedar of Damdami Taksal | |
| In office 1708–1757 | |
| Preceded by | Guru Gobind Singh |
| Succeeded by | Baba Gurbaksh Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 January 1682 Pahuwind, Tarn Taran, Punjab, Mughal Empire |
| Died | 13 November 1757 (aged 75) Golden Temple, Amritsar |
| Cause of death | Killed in Action |
| Known for |
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| Military service | |
| Commander |  Dal Khalsa |
In 1700, he traveled to Anandpur Sahib during the Vaisakhi festival, where he was formally initiated into the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh through the Khande di Pahul (Amrit Sanchar) ceremony. During his time at Anandpur Sahib, he remained in close association with Guru Gobind Singh, acquiring skills in weaponry, horseback riding, and martial arts. Under the guidance of Bhai Mani Singh, he learned to read and write Gurmukhi and studied the teachings of the Sikh Gurus.
After spending two years at Anandpur Sahib, Baba Deep Singh returned to his village in 1702. In 1705, he was called by Guru Gobind Singh to Talwandi Sabo, where he assisted Bhai Mani Singh in the transcription of the Guru Granth Sahib, the central scripture of Sikhism.
Warrior
Misldar
In 1709, Baba Deep Singh fought alongside Banda Singh Bahadur in the Battle of Sadhaura and the Battle of Chappar Chiri. By 1733, Nawab Kapur Singh appointed him as a leader of an armed squad (jatha). During the Vaisakhi of 1748, at the Sarbat Khalsa assembly in Amritsar, the 65 jathas of the Dal Khalsa were reorganized into twelve Misls, with Baba Deep Singh being entrusted as the leader of the Shaheed Misl.
The Demolition of the Harmandir Sahib
In April 1757, Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded Northern India for the fourth time. While returning to Kabul from Delhi with captives and looted wealth, the Sikhs planned to intercept his forces and liberate the prisoners. Baba Deep Singh's squad, stationed near Kurukshetra, successfully freed a large number of captives and seized a significant portion of Durrani's treasury.
Upon reaching Lahore, Durrani, angered by the setback, ordered the demolition of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). The sacred shrine was destroyed, and the holy pool was defiled with the entrails of slaughtered animals. Durrani assigned the Punjab region to his son, Prince Timur Shah, supported by a force of ten thousand men under General Jahan Khan.
At the age of 75, Baba Deep Singh felt a profound responsibility to restore the sanctity of the desecrated shrine. Emerging from scholastic retirement, he declared his intention to rebuild the Harmandir Sahib to a congregation at Damdama Sahib. Five hundred Sikhs volunteered to join him. Before departing for Amritsar, Baba Deep Singh offered prayers, vowing, "May my head fall at the Darbar Sahib."
As he advanced through villages, more Sikhs joined his cause. By the time he reached Tarn Taran Sahib, just ten miles from Amritsar, his force had grown to over five thousand warriors armed with swords, hatchets, and spears.
Death
In 1757, Baba Deep Singh vowed to avenge the desecration of the Golden Temple by the Afghan forces. Leading an army of Sikhs, he marched to defend the shrine, culminating in the Battle of Amritsar on 13 November 1757. During the fierce conflict, Baba Deep Singh was fatally wounded and decapitated.
There are two prominent accounts of his death. According to the most popular version, despite being completely decapitated, Baba Deep Singh continued fighting, holding his severed head in one hand and his sword in the other, slaying his enemies. He finally fell after reaching the sacred city of Amritsar.
The second version states that he was severely wounded by a blow to the neck but not entirely decapitated. A fellow Sikh reminded him of his vow to reach the periphery of the holy pool. Summoning his remaining strength, Baba Deep Singh supported his head with his left hand and continued to fight with his 15 kg (33 lb) Khanda (double-edged sword) in his right hand. He reached the boundary of Harmandir Sahib, where he breathed his last. The Sikhs celebrated Bandi Chhor Divas in the Golden Temple that year in his honor.
Following Baba Deep Singh's sacrifice, the Sikhs reclaimed their honor by defeating the Afghan forces, compelling them to retreat.
The site where Baba Deep Singh's head fell is marked within the Golden Temple complex, and it continues to be a revered spot for Sikh pilgrims worldwide. His Khanda, used in his final battle, is preserved at the Akal Takht, the highest seat of temporal authority in Sikhism.
Battles Fought by Baba Deep Singh
- Battle of Sadhaura (1710) – Fought alongside Banda Singh Bahadur during his campaign against Mughal oppression.
- Battle of Chappar Chiri (1710) – Participated in the battle where Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of Sirhind, was defeated.
- Siege of Sirhind (1710) – Engaged in the successful siege against the Mughal stronghold of Sirhind under Banda Singh Bahadur's leadership.
- Battle of Amritsar (1757) – Led an army against Ahmad Shah Durrani's forces to defend the Golden Temple, where he was martyred.
References
- (No date a) Baba Deep Singh Ji: The sikh warrior and scholar. Available at: https://dvnetwork.org/page/baba-deep-singh-ji-the-sikh-warrior-and-scholar (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- (No date b) Https://x.com/?mx=2. Available at: https://x.com/?mx=2 (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- Baba Deep Singh (no date a) Badass of the Week. Available at: https://www.badassoftheweek.com/babadeepsingh (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- Baba Deep Singh (no date b) Baba Deep Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Baba_Deep_Singh (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
