Bhai Satwinder Singh Bhola, the ex-leader of the AISSF (All Indian Sikh Student Foundation), was stabbed to death on August 17, 2015, by unidentified assailants in Peoria (near Chicago, USA) under mysterious circumstances when Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s struggle for the release of political Sikh prisoners was at its peak in Punjab.
An Akhand Path Sahib in this concern was launched on August 14 at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib, where the starting Hukamnama (order of the Almighty Lord) came as “ਜਾ ਕਉ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਲਾਗੋ ਇਸੁ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਸੋ ਕਹੀਅਤ ਹੈ ਸੂਰਾ॥” (He alone is called a warrior, who is attached to the Lord’s Love in this age).
Following the culmination of the Sri Akhand Path Sahib, Ragi Jatha of Bhai Harjit Singh created a serene atmosphere by singing Gurbani verses such as “ਮਰਣੁ ਮੁਣਸਾ ਸੂਰਿਆ ਹਕੁ ਹੈ , ਜੋ ਹੋਇ ਮਰਨਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੋ॥” (The death of brave heroes is blessed, if it is approved by God) and “ਅਤਿ ਹੀ ਰਣ ਮਹਿ ਤਬ ਜੂਝ ਮਰੋਂ ॥ (May I die fighting in the battlefield)” in melodious tones.
Granthi Bhai Amarjit Singh Jodhpur performed the ‘Ardas’ on this occasion, where the following sacred Hukamnama “ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਸਰਣਿ ਸਗਲ ਭੈ ਲਾਥੇ ਦੁਖ ਬਿਨਸੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਦਇਆਲੁ ਹੋਆ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਪੂਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ॥ (In God’s Sanctuary, all fears depart, suffering disappears, and peace is obtained. When the Supreme Lord God and Master becomes merciful, we meditate on the Perfect True Guru)”.
Interacting with media, the General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) S. Amrik Singh Ballowal said that personalities like Bhai Satwinder Singh Bhola rarely take birth on this earth. Shedding a light on his contribution in the struggle for Sikh sovereignty in 1980’s and 1990’s, he said that everyone including Bhai Bhola’s political rivals used to be fond of his political analytical skills and bravery.
“He was a true son of the tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who laid his whole life while unwaveringly fighting for the cause of Sikh nation”, he added.