IMMORTAL MARTYRDOM
It was evening time. There was silence all around in the park. This park was situated in a secluded place outside the city, so only a few people used to come here for a stroll. Baba Sukhdev Singh was lost in thoughts sitting on a bench in the park.
It had been almost a month since BabaJi was in Kabul. There was no decrease in the devotion of the devotees. Every day BabaJi would get new gifts, and offerings would be made, but there was no hope of the work for which BabaJi had come being completed. Therefore, his mind would always remain agitated. If his mind was too worried, he would come and sit in this park to calm his mind.
BabaJi's full name was Sukhdev Singh Sodhi. He was a resident of Hiranpur Sodhi town of Jhelum district in Punjab. Sodhi people were considered to be people of the Guru tradition at that time. BabaJi had a good reputation in the Six Panth. His disciples were spread far and wide, who from time to time used to give gifts and donations to BabaJi. BabaJi had a good influence on the Sikhs of western Punjab.
Malikbala is a town near Hiranpur. At that time, it was the kingdom of Tiwane Maliks. There was always a competition between the Tiwane Maliks and Baba Sukhdev Singh to humiliate each other.
This was the time when the British were fighting the First World War. At that time India was a slave of the British. Therefore, the British government used to recruit soldiers from India and send them to the war front. In the initial days, recruitment was done rapidly, but later due to the defeat of the British on many fronts of the war, the pace of recruitment slowed down. To speed up the pace of recruitment, the English officers sought help from their native loyalists. Baba Sukhdev Singh considered this a golden opportunity to gain the favour of the British. He started working on the recruitment work with full force. The Tiwanes were already in the good books of the British and were engaged in the recruitment work.
Baba Sukhdev Singh had achieved great success in the recruitment work by working day and night. He was going to get a huge property from the British. Baba Sukhdev was very happy. He was confident that now he would succeed in humiliating the Tiwanes. But then an incident happened which dashed all BabaJi's hopes.
BabaJi's son Sudarshan, who was studying in Lahore, joined the revolutionary party. The information about his exploits reached the British government.
The Deputy Collector of Lahore sent a message to BabaJi to come to Lahore immediately. BabaJi thought that the DC sahab had called him to give him property and a reward. Therefore, BabaJi dressed up and happily reached Lahore. But on reaching there he got to see a different scene. On seeing BabaJi, the British DC pounced upon him. He said in a harsh tone, "Your son is supporting the rebels. Now he will be punished, you will also have to go to jail."
BabaJi was very angry. This was the first time in his life that he had heard such harsh words from someone. He had placed a lot of hope in his only son Sudarshan. He had never even dreamt that Sudarshan would turn out to be like this. He was left speechless.
BabaJi cried and pleaded a lot in front of the DC, and then the DC put forward a proposal to BabaJi. He said that Mathura Singh, the leader of the revolutionaries, is currently hiding in Kabul. Our government has been trying to catch him for a long time, but he is not being caught. You have many disciples in Kabul, secondly, Mathura Singh is from your in-laws' house in Dhundiyal. Therefore, you can go to Kabul and get Mathura Singh caught. If you succeed in catching Mathurasingh, then I will forgive your son and give you an award.
BabaJi was in a dilemma. He did not want to leave his home and village and go so far away, but due to his love for his son, desire to get the reward, and intense desire to humiliate Tiwane, BabaJi agreed to go to Kabul.
Ever since he had come to Kabul, he was secretly looking for Mathura Singh. But he was not able to find any clue about Mathura Singh. He was worried day and night about how the British government would treat Sudarshan after the delay.
BabaJi was lost in these thoughts when someone came from behind and touched his feet. BabaJi turned and saw that a person looking like a Muslim was touching his feet with great reverence.
BabaJi was very surprised to see a Muslim doing this. After giving his blessings, he respectfully made him sit near him and asked - "Tell me Sheikh Sahab, where are you coming from?"
"I am not a Sheikh, I am a simple Sikh. My name is Mathura Singh. I am from your in-laws' place Dudhiyal. I had heard your name for a long time, but I got the good fortune of meeting you today only." The visitor said with great reverence.
On hearing the visitor's name, BabaJi jumped with joy. He did not let his emotions show on his face.
He said - "So you are Mathura Singh, the leader of the revolutionaries. I have heard a lot of praise for you. I am very happy to meet you."
The conversation started. BabaJi was eloquent, and through his conversation, he proved to Mathura Singh that he was a true sympathizer of the revolutionaries and a lover of Mother India's freedom. BabaJi did not forget to say that he had also willingly permitted his son to join the revolutionary group.
On knowing this, Mathura Singh's reverence for BabaJi increased even more. He said - "BabaJi, I have a work for you, but I am feeling hesitant. If you permit, shall I tell you?"
"What are you saying, Mathura Singh? Is this even something to ask? You people are roaming around for the freedom of the country with shrouds tied on your heads and if I cannot do even a small task for you, then shame on my life." BabaJi said while establishing his influence on Mathura Singh.
Mathura Singh got into BabaJi's trap. He had complete faith in BabaJi. He said, "Before leaving Punjab, I had left a stock of bombs there. No one else knows their whereabouts except me. I will give you their address. You will deliver the letter to Lahore. At this time, bombs are urgently needed to release the revolutionaries of Lahore and his revolutionary companions from jail. Therefore, the sooner this work is done, the better it is.
"Is this some work? I will first deliver the papers and then enter the house. As far as hurry is concerned, I will leave from here the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, I will be present here tomorrow at the same time with the papers." Mathura Singh touched BabaJi's feet and left.
At this time BabaJi's happiness knew no bounds. He felt like jumping on the green grass of the park. He had not even dreamt that Mathura Singh would come into his custody so easily. He was thinking that tomorrow he would get one revolutionary arrested and he would have the addresses of many other dangerous revolutionaries. Now what is the need for me to go to that worthless DC, I will go directly to His Highness.
BabaJi went to the camp and announced that he would leave here the day after tomorrow. His disciples started preparing for his departure.
In the darkness of the night, he reached the police station in disguise. There he told the officers everything about Mathura Singh. So that no one gets to know about this, he returns secretly in the dark. That night BabaJi slept very soundly.
The next day BabaJi reached the park at the appointed time. He sat on the bench and started waiting for Mathura Singh. As per the plan, the police personnel in plain clothes were hiding in the bushes around the park in disguise.
BabaJi started weaving the fabric of the future. In his mind, he started imagining the property and reward he would get from the British. He was thinking that this time Tiwane will also come to know what Baba Sukhdev Singh is.
Then his conscience scolded him, what are you going to do Sukhdev Singh? In the greed of reward, you are going to get that man arrested who is roaming around with a shroud tied on his head for the freedom of Mother India. This will be a betrayal to the country. It will be a betrayal to the entire community.
'What are you thinking, you fool? Get Mathura Singh arrested and get the reward and property. Such opportunities do not come again and again.' His mind argued.
There was a conflict between BabaJi's mind and soul. The soul said - You will not be able to be happy if you betray the country. Sukhdev Singh, you will be called a traitor. People will spit on your name.
The storm of thoughts was not stopping. Various kinds of imagination and bad thoughts were coming to his mind. Sometimes in his imagination he would find himself in a huge building given by the British government and the next moment he would feel as if he was standing surrounded by a crowd and the crowd was shouting from all sides that he is a traitor, kill him. 'No, I will not let this happen.' He muttered to himself. Perhaps he had reached some decision.
Just then he saw Mathura Singh coming. BabaJi stood up with a jerk and shouted "Mathura Singh, run, there is police in the park."
Mathura Singh ran away. The constables ran to catch him. BabaJi ran to save Mathura Singh. Seeing Mathura Singh running, the English inspector aimed at Mathura Singh and tried to shoot. Before the bullet hit Mathura Singh, BabaJi ran and came in between. The bullet hit BabaJi's stomach.
The bullet had done its job. BabaJi was lying on the ground, counting his last breaths, but he was happy that he had succeeded in saving Mathurasingh. Two flowers from a rose plant standing nearby fell on BabaJi's body. It seemed as if nature was also honoring this immortal martyrdom.
