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<p class="C1">&#65279KISHAN SI&#7748GH GA&#7770GAJJ (1886-1926), founder of the Babar Ak&#257l&#299 movement, was the only son of Fateh Si&#7749gh of Ba&#7771i&#7749g, a village in Jalandhar district in the Punjab. He joined the army as a sepoy in 1906 and rose to be a havild&#257r major in 35th Sikh Battalion. While in the army, he was much affected by events such as the demolition of the wall of the Rik&#257bgañj Gurdw&#257r&#257 in Delhi, the firing on the <i>Komagata Maru</i> passengers at Budge Budge, near Calcutta, and the Jalli&#257&#7749v&#257l&#257 B&#257<u>gh</u> massacre. He started criticizing the government for the imposition of martial law in the Punjab for which he was court-martialled and sentenced to 28 days rigorous imprisonment in military custody. He resigned from the army in 1921 and joined the Ak&#257l&#299 agitation for <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i> reform. The Nank&#257&#7751&#257 S&#257hib massacre of 20 February 1921 proved a real turning point in the life of Kishan Si&#7749gh. He blamed the British for the tragedy and nursed thoughts of revenge. At the time of the Sikh Educational Conference at Hoshi&#257rpur from 19-21 March 1921, he and Master Mot&#257 Si&#7749gh held a secret meeting and resolved to slay those responsible for the bloody happenings at Nank&#257&#7751&#257 S&#257hib. Their first target was Mr Bowering, the British superintendent of police at Lahore. The attempt on his life aborted and the men involved were arrested on 23 May 1921. Warrants for the arrest of Kishan Si&#7749gh and Master Mot&#257 Si&#7749gh were issued, but both of them went underground. Kishan Si&#7749gh continued making violent speeches whenever he had the chance. At Pal&#257h&#299, in Kap&#363rthal&#257 state, he exhorted the people to don black turbans and become Ak&#257l&#299s, to wear <i>khaddar</i> (home-spun cotton fabric) and not to co-operate with the government. On account of his fiery speeches, he came to be known as Kishan Si&#7749gh Ga&#7771gajj (the Thunderer).</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	Towards the close of 1921, Kishan Si&#7749gh formed a secret group which came to be known as the Chakravart&#299 Jath&#257. Among his trusted colleagues were Dal&#299p Si&#7749gh Gosal, Sundar Si&#7749gh Babar, Karam Si&#7749gh Jhi&#7749ga&#7771, and Sant Kart&#257r Si&#7749gh (Sharaf D&#299n before he converted a Sikh). They went around exhorting the people, especially army soldiers, to be ready for an armed rebellion against the British. From November 1921 to August of 1922, a series of <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i> was held at Bhubi&#257&#7751&#257, Ru&#7771k&#257 Kal&#257&#7749, Bulen&#257, Pa&#7751&#7693or&#299 Nijjhr&#257&#7749, Dh&#299&#7749gar&#299&#257&#7749, Har&#299pur, Bhojov&#257l, Sa&#7749ghv&#257l and other villages. While Kishan Si&#7749gh and his companions carried on their campaign in Jalandhar district, with frequent incursions into the villages of Amb&#257l&#257 district and Kap&#363rthal&#257 state, Karam Si&#7749gh of Daulatpur, who had organized a similar band of extremist Sikhs, worked in Hoshi&#257rpur district. In October 1922, both groups joined together to form the Babar Ak&#257l&#299 Jath&#257 vowed to violence. Kishan Si&#7749gh was elected president of the Jath&#257, while Dal&#299p Si&#7749gh Gosal became secretary and Karam Si&#7749gh Jhi&#7749ga&#7771 treasurer. The <i>Babar Ak&#257l&#299 Do&#257b&#257</i> was the Jath&#257's official organ to which Kishan Si&#7749gh frequently contributed articles and poems. Additionally, a series of leaflets particularly aimed at the Indian soliders was issued regularly from August 1922 to May 1923. To obtain arms and ammunition, Kishan Si&#7749gh established contact with two Sikh army soldiers --- Amar Si&#7749gh and Ude Si&#7749gh. He directed the secret campaign for the "reformation", a euphimism for liquidation or murder, of the <i>jholichuks</i> (lit. robe-bearers, i.e. British stooges and toadies), especially those who spied on the Babar Ak&#257l&#299s.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	The Punjab Government came down upon the Babar Ak&#257l&#299s with a heavy hand. A proclamation was issued announcing rewards for the apprehension of absconding Babars. Kishan Si&#7749gh's arrest carried a reward of Rs 2,000. On 26 February 1923, he was seized at Pa&#7751&#7693or&#299 M&#257hal through the treachery of K&#257bul Si&#7749gh, a resident of his own village, Ba&#7771i&#7749g. Kishan Si&#7749gh was the main accused in the Babar Ak&#257l&#299 conspiracy case. The trial lasted from 15 August 1923 to 28 February 1925. His written statement, which ran into 125 pages, centred on the inequities of British rule. Beyond making this statement, he forbore from taking any further part in the court proceedings. Kishan Si&#7749gh was awarded death sentence, and was hanged on 27 February 1926.</p>
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<p class="BIB">
BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Mohan, Kamlesh, <i>Militant Nationalism in the Punjab 1919-35</i>. Delhi, 1985<BR>
<li class="C1"> Nijjar, B.S., <i>History of the Babar Akalis</i>. Jalandhar, 1987<BR>
<li class="C1"> Nijjhar, Milkh&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Babar Ak&#257l&#299 Lahir d&#257 Itih&#257s</i>. Delhi, 1986<BR>
<li class="C1"> Prat&#257p Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Gurdw&#257r&#257 Sudh&#257r arth&#257t Ak&#257l&#299 Lahir</i> [Reprint]. Amritsar, 1975<BR>
<li class="C1"> Josh, Sohan Singh, <i>Ak&#257l&#299 Morchi&#257&#7749 d&#257 Itih&#257s</i>. Delhi, 1972<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">Kamlesh Mohan<br></p><BR>
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