Ans. King Farakh Saiyyar asked Baba Banda Singh, what kind of death he would like to have. The determination personified Baba Banda Singh replied,
“The kind of death he (Farakh Saiyyar) himself would like to have”. This answer is even firmer than the historical answer that Raja Porus gave to Alexander-the-Great (i.e. that Alexander should treat him as a king would treat another king).
When Baba Banda Singh stayed unmoved, even after his son Ajay Singh was ruthlessly butchered before his eyes, the prime minister of the Delhi king, Mohammed Amin Khan, could not help ask, why was all that happening? Baba Banda Singh replied, “No one had the capability of killing me. Let me tell you why all this is happening. When human beings become sinners and go astray from the path of justice and resort to atrocities (on innocent people) then God Almighty creates people like me to exterminate such atrocious persons. However, we are all human beings – full of faults, and do not know how much punishment should be given. Sometimes we exceed the limits that God would allow. Then the same God creates men like yourself in order to square up our account”.
According to ‘Bansavali Naama’, “Banda, along with many Sikhs gave his head but stayed steadfast on the path of ‘Dharma’. He kept his ‘Dharma’ spotless.Bhai Mani Singh uttered the following words when he was being martyred by cutting one joint at a time: “This poor body has no value compared to Sikhi (faith) which must stay unscathed. One may get human form many times but a Sikh form is hard to come by”.
By getting his body cut into pieces, one joint at a time, and still staying firm in his resolve, Bhai Mani Singh proved the validity of the hymn of Guru Granth Sahib:
ਕਹਾ ਭਇਓ ਜਉ ਤਨੁ ਭਇਓ ਛਿਨੁ ਛਿਨੁ ॥
ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਜਾਇ ਤਉ ਡਰਪੈ ਤੇਰੋ ਜਨੁ ॥
(SGGS, P. 486)
“It does not matter if this body is reduced to pieces. My fear is that I may not lose Your love, O God”.
Bhai Gulzar Singh, one of the companions of Bhai Mani Singh, was also martyred by chopping off each joint, and by first skinning alive. His last words were: “Even if he is skinned alive, a Sikh will still not tell a lie”.
When people suggested to Bhai Tara Singh to leave the village for a few days, because the news of his absence would prevent the (Afghan) invaders, who were looking for him, to come to the village. Bhai Tara Singh replied, “I have determined to face the enemy and court martyrdom. Therefore I am not going to run away like a coward”. He also said, “by sustaining injuries (in a battle), a Sikh’s body is sanctified”.
Bhai Taru Singh kept on reciting Japu Ji while he was being scalped alive.
When Bhai Subeg Singh and his son, Bhai Shahbaz Singh, were ready to be put on the spiked wheel, they said, “Blessed is this hour, blessed is the wheel, blessed is your justice (the rulers) and, blessed are our bodies, ready to go on the wheel for the righteous cause”.
Let us compare this with what Jesus Christ uttered at the sight of the cross (why have Thee abandoned me O Lord?).
This is the reason why bishop C.F. Andrews, when he saw Sikhs being ruthlessly beaten by batons but still smiling, said, “I am watching a thousand Christs being put on the cross and none of them has uttered a cry or a sigh”.
When the Quazi suggested to Bhai Subeg Singh to save the life of his son, Bhai Shahbaz Singh, (by having him convert to Islam) so that his family name would continue, he replied, “your suggestion is valid but our Gurus sacrificed their own lives and those of their family members for our sake, so why should I be selfish and save my bloodline?
When Bhai Mehtab Singh Mirankot, who had accompanied Bhai Sukha Singh Marhi Kantho and beheaded Massa Ranghar (who had desecrated the Golden Temple), was ready to be martyred by nailing his body, he was asked to express his last wish. Bhai Mehtab Singh said, “I would like to see Bhai Taru Singh. I have great affection and regard for him and would like to die along with him”.
When Bhai Sukha Singh heard that sharp shooters had been positioned on the top of houses around the Golden Temple and announcement had been made to dare the Sikhs to come and take bath in Amritsar lake, he wrote (to the Muslim officer in charge), “I am not a thief, therefore I will not come stealthily at night to take a bath. I will come during the day time”. He came at noon from the direction of Guru Ram Das saraae, took bath and challenged aloud, “If anyone has the courage, he should come and stop me”.
Baba Deep Singh was at Damdama Sahib when he heard about the desecration of Golden Temple. At once he decided to go to Amritsar to avenge this horrible act. He knew that a large number of enemy forces were stationed on the way and his martyrdom was a certainty. But he took a vow to give his head in the Golden Temple precinct. (Blessed be Baba Deep Singh who took this unusual vow to give his head for the sanctity of “Darbar Sahib” and that too within its precinct). When he was near Amritsar, he was fighting with Aman Khan, the commander of the Afghan army). At that time he got a deep wound in his neck and his head got severed. Another Singh, who was fighting nearby, reminded Baba Ji of his vow, that Amritsar was still over a mile from there and he would not be able to keep his promise to the Guru. At that moment Baba Ji picked up his severed head on his left palm and with sword in his right hand proceeded towards the Golden Temple, fighting on his way. On reaching the precinct of ‘Darbar Sahib’, he threw his head and uttered the Khalsa greeting (Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Fateh) and thus kept his promise.
At the time of courting martyrdom, Baba Gurbakhsh Singh put on a saffron-coloured attire after taking a bath in Amritsar (the Golden Temple lake). He then recited six stanzas (the first five and the last one) of Anand Sahib and proceeded to Akaal Takhat where he prayed in supplication to the Satguru to grant him strength to maintain his Sikh form until the end. Following this he listened to the hymns of “Ghorian” from Guru Granth Sahib. He did not even wear his armour before riding for battle.He told his companions that he would ask the Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh, “Why these Western invaders plunder and loot the wealth of Punjab which the Sikhs deserve to use? Then he dared his companions to keep going forward in the battle because it was a matter of (national) honour. To retreat would be dishonour and people would (tauntingly) say that Sikhs ran away from the battlefield. Saying so he rode his horse (along with his companions) and plunged himself into the battle. He kept on proceeding forward, mowing his enemies – never looked back until his end came.