ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>HAQ&#298QAT R&#256I (1724-1742)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="HAQ*QAT,RI,Person,Person"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279HAQ&#298QAT R&#256I (1724-1742) was born to well-to-do Khatr&#299 parents, B&#257gh Mall Pur&#299 and Gaur&#257&#7749 of Si&#257lko&#7789. He was married to a Sikh girl Durg&#257 Dev&#299, daughter of Kishan Si&#7749gh Uppal of Ba&#7789&#257l&#257, in Gurd&#257spur district. Haq&#299qat R&#257i came under the influence of Sikhism in consequence of his marriage into a devout Sikh family. Even his own family were not unacquainted with the new creed. As <i>Gur&#363 K&#299&#257&#7749 S&#257kh&#299&#257&#7749</i> mentions, while Gur&#363 Har R&#257i was at Si&#257lko&#7789 on his way to Kashm&#299r in 1660, Bh&#257&#299 Nand L&#257l Pur&#299, grandfather of Haq&#299qat R&#257i, came along with his three sons, Ma&#7749gal Sen, B&#257gh Mall and Bh&#257g Mall, to make obeisance to the Gur&#363. As a young boy, Haq&#299qat R&#257i went to a Muslim school to study Persian and Arabic. One day some of his Muslim classmates made disparaging remarks about Hindu gods and goddesses. Haq&#299qat R&#257i retaliated by attacking a personage from Muslim tradition. He was charged with sacrilege before the <i>q&#257z&#299</i>, who referred the case to the chief <i>q&#257z&#299</i> at Lahore. Haq&#299qat R&#257i was taken to the city under heavy police escort. A trial was held by the chief <i>q&#257z&#299</i> at the conclusion of which he was given the choice of Islam or death. Haq&#299qat R&#257i refused to forswear the faith of his forefathers. Appeals for mercy were laid by the parents and other citizens of Lahore before the governor, Zakar&#299y&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257n, and his minister, Lakhpat R&#257i, but nothing availed. On the other hand, Haq&#299qat R&#257i remained firm in his resolve not to renounce his faith at any cost. Under the orders of his persecutors, he was first chained to a pillar and caned. Then on the Basant Pañcham&#299 day, 29 January 1742, he was handed over to the deathman for execution. According to the <i>Panth Prak&#257sh</i>, the Sikhs fell on the <i>q&#257z&#299</i> who had pronounced the verdict against Haq&#299qat R&#257i, captured him and severed his head from his body.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Haq&#299qat R&#257i's body was cremated near the mausoleum of Sh&#257h Bil&#257val, 3 km east of Lahore. A shrine was built on the site and pilgrims came the year round to pay homage to the memory of the young martyr. On Basant Pañcham&#299 day was observed the anniversary of the martyrdom. Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh had special reverence for Haq&#299qat R&#257i's shrine and sometimes called his <i>darb&#257rs</i> in its precincts.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Nijjar, Ba<u>kh</u>sh&#299sh Si&#7749gh, <i>V&#299r Haq&#299qat R&#257i</i>. Patiala, 1975<BR> <li class="C1"> Aggr&#257, "V&#257r Haq&#299qat R&#257i" in Ga&#7751&#7693&#257 Si&#7749gh, ed., <i>Pañjab di&#257&#7749 V&#257r&#257&#7749</i>. Amritsar, 1946<BR> <li class="C1"> Padam, Pi&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh, and Gi&#257n&#299 Garj&#257 Si&#7749gh, eds., <i>Gur&#363 k&#299&#257&#7749 S&#257kh&#299&#257&#7749</i>. Patiala, 1986<BR> <li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Panth Prak&#257sh</i> [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970<BR> <li class="C1"> Bha&#7749g&#363, Ratan Si&#7749gh, <i>Prach&#299n Panth Prak&#257sh</i>. Amritsar, 1914<BR> <li class="C1"> Lakshman Singh, Bhagat, <i>Sikh Martyrs</i>. Madras, 1928<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Bhagat Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>