21 February
On this day in 1924
Jaito Morcha firing
In 1924 the first Shaheedi Jatha of 500 Akali Sikhs, marching from Sri Akal Takht Sahib to Jaito, was fired upon in Nabha territory. Around a hundred were killed and many more wounded; foreign observers testified the jatha was unarmed and peaceful.
Also on this day
- 18492nd Anglo-Sikh war was fought at Gujrat This was the last war between the Khalsa forces and the British that resulted in a severe defeat for Khalsa forces and triggered the annexation of the Khalsa Raj.
- 1915Marked the revolt within India against British occupation Sikhs played a major role in this revolt.
- 1921Sri Nankana Sahib’s keys and control was handed over to SGPC The news of Nankana Massacre spread like wild fire. Within hours Sikhs from all everywhere marched on to Nanakana Sahib, despite the road blocks, re-routed trains and deployment of troops to cordon off the area. By the afternoon, 1000 Akalis and some members of the SGPC confronted the Deputy Commissioner and were resolved to advance on the Gurudwara or be shot by the troops. Bhai Kartar Singh Jabbar with a Jatha of 2200 entered the Gurudwara Janam Asthan, Shri Nankana Sahib defying Deputy Commissioner’s orders. The show of force at this time retrieved the Sikh prestige. The commissioner of Lahore, M. C.M. King yielded and asked Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar and Sardar Mehtab Singh to form a committee of seven members which immediately took control of the Gurudwara under the Presidentship of S. Harbans Singh of Attari, a moderate Chief Khalsa Diwan leader. He took over in the name of SGPC. The troops and the police were withdrawn. -Ref "The Sikhs in History," by Sangat Singh, 1995 "Babbar Akali Movement, A Historical Survey," by Dr. Gurcharan Singh, Aman Publications, 1993.
- 1921Karam Singh of Daulatpur organised a politcal conference at Mehtapur
- 1924Shaheedi Saka Gangsar Jaito - when the agitation of Jaito took a serious turn Under the orders of Nabha State Authorities, Punjab, police opened fire to prevent the march of the Sikh devotees to their holy shrine at Jaito - Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib. More than 400 died on the spot, yet many valiant Sikhs continued their undeterred march and successfully reached the holy shrine. AMongb the dead included Sikh, Hindu and Muslim Indian as well as "goraa" policemen on the pay of British. Over 1,500 Sikhs were arrested and imprisoned during this incident. (see description below on jaito).