In the twilight of the Sikh Empire, when treachery and colonial ambition threatened Punjab, one 90-year-old Nihang warrior stood like an unyielding fortress—Jathedar Hanuman Singh Ji, the legendary 7th leader of Budha Dal and Jathedar of Akal Takht. His life was a blazing saga of unyielding courage, faith, and resistance against British imperialism.
From Nihang Warrior to Jathedar of the Khalsa
Born in 1755 CE in Narang Singh Wala to Bhai Garja Singh Bath and Mata Harnam Kaur, Hanuman Singh was forged in the fires of Sikh martial tradition. As the spiritual heir of Akali Phula Singh Ji, he took command of the Akal Takht at 68, guiding the Khalsa in an era of upheaval after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death.
The Last Stand Against the British
When the East India Company and Patiala’s traitorous royals conspired to crush Sikh sovereignty, Baba Hanuman Singh refused to surrender.
- 1846 CE: He rallied 500 Nihang warriors—armed only with swords, axes, and matchlocks—against British cannons at Sabraon.
- “We fight with faith, not fear!” he roared, as his Singhs charged into certain death.
- Though outgunned, the Nihangs slaughtered countless enemy soldiers before retreating across the Sutlej.
Martyrdom by Betrayal
The Patiala king, Narinder Singh, lured Baba Ji into a false truce. At Suhana (Mohali), the aged warrior was ambushed:
- Struck by cannon fire at 90, he fell—but not before taking dozens of foes with him.
- With his last breath, he passed the Budha Dal leadership to Baba Prahlad Singh Ji, ensuring the Nihang legacy lived on.
Immortal Legacy
Today, his memory burns bright:
- Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan Suhana (Mohali): Marks his martyrdom site.
- Hanuman Singh Kabaddi Academy: Trains youth in Sikh warrior spirit.
- Symbol of Resistance: His defiance inspires generations against oppression.
“A Nihang never dies—he becomes the soil of Punjab, waiting to rise again.”
⚔️ Dhan Dhan Jathedar Hanuman Singh Ji! ⚔️
📍 “Remember him not in tears, but in the clang of swords and roars of ‘Bole So Nihal!’”
