Master Tara Singh and His Reminiscences

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Master Tara Singh (1885-1967) was pre-eminent and the most durable leader of the Sikhs for more than four decades of the 20" century. The Sikh multitude reposed trust in him because of his impeccable integrity and honesty. Starting his career as an educator, he was driven to the arena of Gurdwara Reform movement and Sikh politics by his strong religious impulse that got ignited with Nankana Sahib Massacre in February 1921. Thereafter his proximity to the Sikh affairs catapulted him to the centre-stage of the community by early 1930. He led the Sikhs from the front in fight for freedom of India; but never hesitated to assert his stand which was not in line with the 'consensus' reflected by the congress. As a consequence, he became a victim of vilification.

Master Tara Singh was a strange brand of a politician who was essentially a seeker of truth. Sikh religion inspired him to dedicate his life to the service of the Panth, the poor and the hapless, the country and humanity. The Panthic concerns remained closer to his heart throughout. In the process, even his family became a victim of neglect, his patriotism was doubted, his anxiety to ensure a secure/respectful place for his community in the emerging political set-up of a secular India; was dubbed as treason. It was the tenacity and resoluteness of Master Tara Singh that exasperated; the obstinate Mohd. Ali Jinnah, Jawahar Lal Nehru and even compelled the British to acquiesce to the partition of the Punjab and acknowledge the Sikh position in the transfer of power. Reflecting on the events, Master Tara Singh wrote, "I am deeply attached to the Sikh faith. I shall give all my love to the country wherein Sikh religion flourishes and remains safe. The Sikhs abandoned their homes, hearths and Isacred shrines in Pakistan and trekked to India, where they thought their religion would be safe." "If any one calls me communal for such ideas, he is free to do so. I have no regrets", he concluded.

Such was the illustrious; though much maligned and grossly misunderstood leader that the Sikhs brought forth during the critical and fateful phase of their history in the 20th century. He surely deserves a serious study on his life and contribution. The book in hand is the first-ever effort in this direction.

Prithipal Singh Kapur, an eminent educationist and historian, has been the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and Director of Punjab State University Text Book Board, Chandigarh. He took over as Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism at Punjabi University, Patiala after Professor Harbans Singh. He has authored/edited several books on Sikh history/history of the Punjab including Jassa Singh Ramgarhia (Pbi., 1957), Punjab Da Itihas (1469-1799) (Pbi., 1962), Master Tara Singh: Itihasak Pakh Ton (Pbi., 1968), The Khalsa (Conjoint with Dharam Singh, 1999), Main Currents of Freedom Struggle in Punjab (Pb. Govt., 2004) (Pbi. & English) and edited works such as Sewa Ram Singh's The Divine Master: Life & Teachings of Guru Nanak, John Malcom's Sketch of the Sikhs, History & Philosophy of Sikh Religion by Khazan Singh (2 volumes).

Some friends and well-wishers persuaded me to write an autobiography. As it is, I do not find time to contemplate to recollect important events or look into the newspapers and some other records of my time to correct the exact dates of events etc. etc. related to various events of my life. Therefore, in the following pages, I am putting to pen only what has remained committed in my memory. I have not verified any information by consulting a friend or checking it up against a newspaper or some file. Whatever I write is from my own memory and, I am afraid, I do not have a good memory either. Therefore, it is possible that some inaccuracies might have crept in while recording a date or year.

I have not even given in this book the date or year of my birth because I fail to remember it at the moment. However, for the information of the readers, I would like to mention that B.K. 1942 (C.E. 1885) is the year of my birth. I was born at around nine or ten o'clock on the morning of Nirjala Ekadashi'. I have never tried to get this converted to a corresponding date of the Christian era.

Except about the childhood period of my life, I have refrained from writing about those events of my life which I think are of little interest to the common readers.

**Contents and Sample Pages**