Punjab de kUJH BHULLE KISSE

Sucha Singh Surma

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Sucha Singh is a folk legend. He is widely admired in Punjabi culture for upholding the honour of his family by killing his sister-in-law Balbiro and her extra-marital lover Ghukkar, who at one time was his own best friend.

Balbiro and Ghukkar's Killings

Balbiro's Wedding to Naraina
Balbir Kaur aka Balbiro aka Biro was married to a man Juaarh Singh in a village at the border of Patiala-Sangrur. She was a lustful and greedy wife, and when her husband failed to fulfill her expectations, she, according to various theories, poisoned him. Having done that very innocently, she and her parents invite other marriage proposals (as you might understand, she would not be expected to be married to a a very able person because of her widowhood, given the traditions in ace>Punjab ace> ). Having heard about this invitation, Sucha Singh Jawanda and Ghukkar Mall Chahal, residents of village Samaon near Sangrur, go to see her and speak to her for Sucha's elder brother Narain Singh.

She accepts the offer for getting married to Naraina on a few conditions. She asks them to load her with jewellary on the wedding, give her freedom in terms of running the house, doing other chores, eating, drinking etc. By the way, she relished drinking liquor and eating meat and chicken. (these as you might again understand were things quite far-fetched to women folk in Punjab aIntending to get Naraina married ( he was an addict to opium, as Biro would claim it later ), they agree upon all her conditions. Ofcourse she was beautiful too.
Growing Relationship With Ghukkar
After marriage, she was provided with whatever she desired within the families social and financial limits. As Sucha and Ghukkar were very close friends they would often meet up at Sucha's place. As Ghukkar began to frequent his visits, he decided to propose to Balbiro. She was hesitant because of her brother-in-law Sucha but at the same time was attracted to Ghukkar, who was a landlord, a wrestler and an influential person in the village.
Ghukkar's Wily Schem
As per the scheme, Ghukkar sympathised with Sucha on his financial plight and suggested that they should join the army in Multan. As they go to get recruited, Ghukkar on the pretext of feeling homesick comes back to the village and openly indulged in sex and drunken revelries with Biro.
Sucha Singh's Return
Biro’s husband, a submissive person, wrote to Sucha explaining the situation to him. Sucha comes back with the intention of resolving things, conveyed messages to Ghukkar, called upon wiser folk of the village, but Ghukkar did not pay heed or oblige to any instructions. In the meantime, Biro tried to pacify Sucha from taking any extreme step.

'' Juaan deor de khauf se, paein naar nu haul, Rafal dunaali vekhke, Biro kare makhaul.''

Sucha usually responded by beating her up for bringing this to his house. Biro tried everything, from changing her stance and saying that Ghukkar forced her into doing this --

'' Biro ro-ro deor nu kahaani dassgi, jaal vich gheri vi bateri fassgi. Baahle dukh katte nikkal bhambaur se, mallo-malli aanwda ghukkar zor se.''

-- to meeting up with Ghukkar to identify a solution, tried to convince her friends to explain it to Sucha that she and Ghukkar were lovers, just like the famous Heer Ranjha etc, and even threatened Sucha with dire consequences because majority of the village was on Ghukkar’s side.
The Showdow
Ghukkar organized a singing programme (Akhara) and on this pretext calls upon his various allies from other villages as well. '' Nerre-terre baasak nagar Chahalaan de, daru maas veswa patte ve vailaan de, Chobar bulaale saare deke vaadhi ai, ghukkar pind waale ne sadaale dhadi ai.''

Basically, the stage was now set for a face to face confrontation between these one time best friends. The moment came when Biro was passing by and was commented upon by Ghukkar as being his property/possession/mistress. And he asked Biro to come to him and enjoy with him in the company of his friends. Biro obliged. Ghukkar and his friends got drunk and threatened Sucha who prepared himself his rifle and single-handed challenged Ghukkar and his allies to face him in this battle of egos. Ghukkar’s allies seeing the weapon and Sucha’s high spirits, sheepishly just ran away. '' Sihtt jaan chhaviyaan gandaase chhodge, pal vich saare hi yaaraane todge. Belt gale ch kaartoos sann ge, vekh ke rafal nu hawayiyaan bann ge.''

Sucha seeing Ghukkar’s friends running for their life, confronts Ghukkar who pleads for his life. Sucha would not listen, and fired right into Ghukkar from point blank (as they say) after which he killed one of Ghukkar’s friends who was brave enough to come back and try to avenge his friends death. '' Modhe naal laawe chakk ke machine nu, dabbke stud bhare magazine nu, Mall vanni chhadde jor-jor shistaan, der na lagawe taahr deve kishtaan.''

Filled with rage and vengeance, Sucha then kills his sister-in-law who had in the meantime run home. '' Goliyaan de naal bhann sitte pathhe ji, Biro te ghadola digg paein kathhe ji. Pai geya bhadaaka kaun jhalle sajjno, sarad-sarad goli challe sajjno.''

Sucha committing those murders, ran from his village and went west towards Muktsar. Police came really close looking for him, and had some local courageous men rewarded for looking for him. One pathan caught up with Sucha and challenged him. Sucha was the first one to shoot though and kills the pathan too. '' Jor leya rafal nu andar khes de, hune naam likh deyaan marabbe es de.''


Later Exploit

Murder of Muslim Opressors
An year passed after the incident in Samaon that Sucha resurfaced again. This time, on his way back to his village to see his brother, he came across an old hindu woman crying sitting outside her house in a village Bargaadi near Kotkapura. Upon inquiring, he came to know that some savage muslims in the village were ill-treating the hindus .. so much so that they forcible took their cattle away and killed it and feasted eating the meat, while forcing the hindus to eat it too. Sucha went to the scoundrels and tried to stop them as they were about to kill another cow. This interference infuriated the muslims who went ahead with the killing anyway. Sucha shot five of them down while a few others managed to run away.

Sahib Kaur's Murder

Later, Sucha joined a group of dacoits and ran havoc in the area. Soon enough, another situation very familiar arose and required his discretion. A widow and a mother of two sons, Sahib Kaur (the elder of the sons, Basant Singh was in his early teens) in village Gehri in Bathinda, started hanging out with another influential man from the same village. Her kids tried to stop her but she would not listen. On the contrary, she got her elder son beaten up by her lover Gajjan Vaili. Basant made contact with his paternal uncle, Ran Singh, who was coincidentally in the army too (just like Sucha). This infuriated Ran but he although had heard the story of Sucha, did not feel he was brave enough to carry out justice there. But he knew that Sucha was around in the area making loots and all. He managed to convey the message to Sucha about the problem his sister-in-law (Sahib Kaur) had put his family in. Sucha responded quickly and killed both Sahib Kaur and Gajjan Vaili.
Capture of Sucha Singh

Police tracked Sucha down in Kotshamir, a village close to Gehri, after this incident. He was hanged in Gehri.

''Khich lainde phatta jeya lagge na phattka, vajjeya hulaara dhaun khaagi jhatka, Suche de nikkle praan pal mein, bolke jaikaara tandi paali gal mein.''
 
Dulla Bhatti


Dulla Bhatti was a famous legendary hero of Punjab, who led a rebellion against the famous mughal king Akbar. There is a kind of epic in Punjabi language called Dulle di var, which narrates the battle events of Dulla Bhatti. Still there is a famous region in Punjab, Pakistan, called Dulle Di Bar means the forest of Dulla Bhatti. This legendary Punjabi hero is buried at Miani Sahib Qabristan (Graveyard) in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Early Days
Dulla Bhatti was born to mother Ladhi and father Farid Khan in the area of Sandal Baar, near Lahore now in Pakistan (Sandal Baar is also related to the legend of Mirza Sahiba). He belonged to the warrior like rajput clan of Bhattis who would not bow down to the then Mughal EmperorAkbar’s authority. So prideful they were that they refused to pay any taxes and even admit Akbar as their ruler. When Akbar came to Lahore, he ordered the execution of the rebels. Dulla’s father and his grandfather were both killed. To instill fear into the hearts of the common man, Akbar got their skins stuffed with wheat hay (toori) and hung the dead-bodies on the main door.

Dulla wasn’t even born yet. For some reason, he was never told of the cause of his father’s and grandfather’s death till he was a young man. One theory has it that at the same time as Dulla was born, Akbar’s rajput wife Jodha Bai gave birth to Salim (who would later become Emperor Jahangir). But Salim was a weakling and on doctors’ suggestions Akbar brought in Ladhi (Dulla’s mother and a strong rajput woman) to his palace in Delhi and made her to breast feed Salim. So both Dulla and Salim were practically brought up by Ladhi. As adolescents, these two had a good friendship. Dulla and his mother went back to their homeland.

The story of Dulla has been poetically treated by many, and has been written in style known as Saddaan (similar to Mirza by Peelu and Bhagwan Singh). The above incident is thus narrated:

Tera saandal dada maareya, ditta bhore vich paa, Mughlaan puthhiyaan khallaan laah ke bhariyaan naal hawaa.

Rise of Dulla

As Dulla grew up he became a real fighter and warrior learning the art with his keen eye from here and there, unknowingly in the foot-steps of his father and grandfather. When he was young enough, his mother told him the about the past and from then on Dulla pledged that his only purpose in life was to defeat Akbar and kill him. In the meantime, Salim had a fall out with Akbar over Salim’s love affair with Anarkali. Salim rebelled and came up North-west and met up with Dulla. Salim instigated Dulla further to achieve his own motive as well. With Salim’s support, Dulla built up a small army of dacoits which made loots from the imperial treasure and merchants in the area of Sandal Baar. The famous loots among them being stealing horses from a merchant who was supposed to be working for the Akbar, then robbing Akbar’s gifts sent from the middle east. His loots were distributed among the poor and this made him a popular and a heroic rebel. His compassion for the poor and his help in getting poor girls married is still remembered, especially during the times of celebrating the festival of Lohri (mostly falls on 13th January). Although different versions of the festive song are sung in different regions, it sounds something like:

Sundar munderiye
Tera kaun vichaara
Dulla bhatti waala
Dulle ne dhii vehaayi
Ser shakkar paayi
Kudi da saalu paata
Kudi da jeeve chacha
Kudi de maame aaye
Gin gin paule laaye
Ikk paula khus geya
Te zimiindaar russ geya
Aayiin aayiin chachi
Tera putt chadhu ga haathi
Haathi de kann vich jaun
Ni tere putt hon ge nau
Nau(h)aan di kamaayi
Ni tere dar dar chadh di aayi


Seeing so much support for his nephew, Dulla’s uncle Jalaludin, got envious and complained to Akbar against the mischievous Dulla.

Final Chapter

In the meantime, Dulla kidnapped two of Akbar’s wives who were going for the Haj pilgrimage. This infuriated Akbar and he ordered immediate capture or killing of Dulla and the safe release of his queens. A huge army was sent for the task, and Dulla would not binge. People of that area wanted to save Dulla and tried to distract the army; so much so that one girl tried to lure the army chief.

Anyway, Dulla fought bravely and for once the mughal army had to call for reinforcements because the rebels and the public support were too hot to handle. Dulla son was killed in the war. Dulla was deceitfully captured and brought to emperor’s court in Delhi. He was hanged to death.
 
Pooran Bhagat


Pooran was the son of King Salwan and Queen Ichhran of Sailkot, a kingdom in west Gorakh Nath, the saint who had blessed the King and Queen with their son advised them to have Pooran trained intensely in spirituality for the first 12 years of his life. The king agreed.

While his son was away, King Salwan got married a second time. His second wife was a low-caste young woman of great beauty named Loona and he was happy with his pretty young wife.

When Pooran returned after 12 years, he had almost a holy aura about him. When Loona set eyes on him, she forgot that he is her husband's son. Having spent so many years with a man thrice her age, she told herself that she deserves the love of this handsome young youth standing before her. She tried very hard to seduce him but Pooran turned her down. Insulted, Loona told Salwan that Pooran made a pass at her.

Salwan was outraged. He had his son's hands and feet chopped off before executing him and had his body thrown in a well.

Soon afterwards, his body was discovered in the well by one of Gorakh Nath's disciples. Gorakh Nath restores Pooran's hands and feet and infuses him with life with his great spiritual powers. Gorakh Nath takes Pooran under his wing and makes him one of his disciples. Pooran starts begging for alms along with the other disciples.

One day Pooran passes through the lands of queen Sundaran. She falls for him the second she sees him. Sundaran goes to Gorakh Nath's camp and asks to be blessed with Pooran as a gift. The Guru agrees and asks Pooran to accompany her.

Instead of spending the night in bed with the queen, Pooran chooses to meditate. When morning comes, he heads bank to his Gurus camp.

Sundran is heart-broken. Gorakh Nath on the other hand is delighted with Pooran's will power to resist worldly temptations.

Some time later Pooran is asked to visit his hometown. King Salwan and Queen Loona come to see him. They do not know his true identity. Salwan has not had any children after ordering Pooran's execution and is hoping to be blessed with another son. When pooran asks Salwan about his son, Loona has an emotional breakdown. She is mad with grief for having an innocent boy killed for petty reasons. Pooran forgives his stepmother and his father.

This changes Loona's perspective forever. She traverses the material world and moves beyond the worldly concept of good and evil.
 
Sami Dhola

This story is about a Rajput Princess and how she reclaims her husband, the prince of Kot Narwar. The story starts when Raja Nala, the King of Kot Narwar, takes refuge with the chief of Poogal along with his wife and son.

During this time Rani Poogal who was previously childless, gives birth to a girl. When the princess is just 3 months old, her parents have her engaged to the prince of Narwar.

The prince and princess, nicknamed Dhola and Sami respectively are formally married soon after.

Some time after the marriage, Raja Nala is restored to his throne. Dhola goes back to Narwar and Sami being an infant, stays back with her parents. Gradually both children forget that they are married.

When Dhola turns 17, his father deicdes to marry him to a Malwa Princess named Malaani, choosing to gain a political ally rather then honouring his word.

When Sami finds out about this, she tries to get a message across to Dhola but is unsuccessful as Malwani has all her messages intercepted. She then sends her messengers disguised as musicians, and they finally manage to get through to Dhola. Dhola is deeply touched by Sami's message and goes to Poogal to be reunited with his bride.
 
Jagga Jammeya,fazar di baangay
Laudhay vele khed da firay.

Jagga jammeya te milan vadhaiyan
vadda hoke dakay marda.

Jagge mareya Lyllpur daka
taran kharhak gayian.


Jagga was born in 1901 or 1902 in village Burj Singh Wala,teh. Chunnian,distt. Kasur. Jagga's father Makhan Singh passed away when Jagga was only a small child. He grew up under the care of his Chacha Roop Singh and mother Bhagaan.

Makhan Singh and Bhagaan had six children before Jagga was born but nobody of them survived. At last Makhan Singh went to the nearby village Sodhiwala to meet and pay tribute to a saint Sodhi Inder Singh. Sodhi Inder Singh told them to buy a Bakkra (male goat) before the birth and told that it should be touched by the newly born. The Sage Inder Singh also told them to not to name the child with initials of J.

But when the child was born, an uncle of the child insited on naming the child Jagat Singh which was against the directions of the saint. In a few days Bakkra fell ill and died. So in the course 12 Bakkras died and were buried in the backyard. Finally young child survived by the great saint's blessings.

Jagga owned 10 muraba(250 acres of land) so he was not asked to do anything by his chacha and mother. He was grown up as a pampered child. Once he cut a lot of sugar cane from his one uncle and distributed those to his friends. For that, he was given a hard beating by his uncle. Jagga went at night and broke all the Tinds of his uncle's khuh and threw into the well. When this uncle told his shirika to go to the police and report against Jagga, the relatives asked him, "who told you to name him Jagga?" So he realized his mistake.

In village Burj Singh Wala, most families were Muslim Telis but only 17 or 18 families of Sidhu Jatts. Both communities used to live in harmony. When Jagga was in his teen age, he started to go wrestle at akhara (Open Wrestling Ring) with his friend Sohan Teli. Sohan Teli maitained his friendship with Jagga till the last breath of Jagga. Because of Jagga's fondness of wrestling, this is said in a folk song.


Jagge Jatt da jahngiya patt da
killay uttay tangeya reha.


Jagga married Inder Kaur of village Talwandi. They had only a girl child, Gaabbo who is living now at village Vanwala near Lambi in Mukatsar distt. She is believed to be in her 80s now.

During the English rule, all the people of guts and independant nature were watched carefully by the British. Govt's first units of Informers were Patwari, Nambardar,Thanedar and Safedposh. Jagga was of a medium height, wheatish color, sharp features, strong body, trimmed beard and double ringed kunddian muchhan. One day Jagga went to Patwari to get the numbers (farad) of his land. Jagga paid no respect to the Parwari and paid no bribe. Patwari refused to give him the Farad. Jagga gave him the worst beating of his life that he had to give him farad and apologize as well.

In one of the folk songs we hear,


Kachay pulaan te larhaiyan hoiyan
Chhaviyan de ghund murh gaye.


This Kacha Pul was located between Jagga's village Buraj and his in law's village Talwandi. Beharhwala's Nakai used to live at their Bhua's village in Talwandi. These Nakai had some relation with Maharja Ranjit Singh's in-laws and were very notorius for their evils. Nobody could cross the bridge without their permission. One day,when Jagga was going to cross the bridge, one of the Nakai hit his horse with bamboo club (daang) thus horse and Jagga both fell. Though Jagga was alone, Nakais were 5-6 brothers. They had a fierce fight and finally Jagge ne vahni paa lae (gave them a tough beating). Later those Nakais fled the area and settled in Lahore.

Jagga's fame in the area resulted in attracting the ire of the Jaildar of Kal Mokal. Jaildar considered Jagga's braveness to be a challange. He stucked Jagga in a false case and convicted him for 4 years in the jail. When Jagga got released and came back to Buraj, in those days in vill. Bhai Feru a theft incident happened. The inspector of the area was a person named Asgar Ali who was a friend of Jaildar. Both Jaildar and inspector found this theft incident to be another chance to harass Jagga. They called Jagga to apear at the police station but Jagga declined to go. The leading and friendly people of Jagga persuaded him to appear at Police station. Their names were Kehar singh and Mehal Singh of Kawaan village and Dulla Singh of Jajjal village. This Dulla Singh made Jagga his Dharam da Puttar. (In later days this Dulla Singh and his family killed 8 people and were hanged to death).

Jagga agreed to go to the police with them but on the way he disagreed to go as he thought the haughty nature of inspector Asgar Ali. He said his fellows clearly, "If this inspector said something insulting, that will be hard to swallow for me. That's why I'm not going back." From that day Jagga went underground and became a Dacoit. First he snatched a riffle from a police sapoy then another from Atma Singh of Acharke village.

The first decoity by Jagga was at village Ghumiari at some goldsmith's house. Ghumiari vilage is located at the border of Kasur and Lohore distts. Jagga's other companions were Jhanda Singh Nirmal Ke and Thakur Singh Mandeyali. They robbed all the gold from them and lit fire to Vahis(ledgers) which were the loan records of the poor mass. They shared the gold at Jhanda Singh's khuh which was almost 1/2 ser(4 pounds?) for everyone in the group. After that Jagga made his own group. His new members were Banta Singh,his childhood friend Sohna Teli,Lalu Nai (he was Kaana from one eye), Bholu and Bawa. Lalu Nai was an expert in cooking, when all used to sleep at night Lalu Nai was guarding them with riffle.

While Jagga made many decoities but his most famous decoities are of Sayadpur and Layllpur. Jagga's one nephew, Thakur Singh was the reader of D.S.P. That D.S.P. asked Thakur Singh for the help in capturing Jagga. When Thakur Singh went to Jagga with some offer, Jagga asked him to fulfil his long desire to make an encounter with D.S.P. Thakur Singh felt to be sandwitched in two troubles, Jagga and D.S.P., so he decided to be neutral.

Jagga used to tell police in advance whatever village he went. "Capture me there or don't vex the innocents" were his words. Once he went to his nanke (maternal grandparents home) at village Ghumman Ke to watch a drama. Even though he had sent an advanced notice to police, no police personnel came all night. Jagga torned all the ledgers of that village's Bania and Shahukars and freeholded the poors from heavy loans.

A woman from village Lakhu ke was his dharam Bhen (baptised sister) who used to serve them food. Jagga gave her countless gold coins. Samelike once Jagga saw an old man with no warm clothes selling carrots in extreme cold,when asked, that oldman had no son or daughter. He gave him plenty of gold.

In those days police would sleep in locked police stations,from the fear of Jagga. Police feared Jagga would decoit them their riffles and other amunition. Inspector Asgar Ali made the two entrances of the station for his protection.

Jagga's fellow Banta Singh had argued with his Chachi on many occassions. Banta's Chachi was involved in adultry (extra marital relations) with a Vairagi of her own village Thamman Ke Wala. He tried to straighten them many times but all his tries were in of no use. One cold night Chachi was sitting and was warming herself in front of fire when Jagga and Banta aproached her. They again tried to conciliate her from her bad deeds but she told them in a cold manner to do whatever they want to do, she won't change.They shoot her on the spot and went to her lover Bawa Vairagi's home. They challanged him to come out of the house but he didn't come out but locked from the inside. Jagga and Banta called him to come out many times but he didn't and finally they climbed and bursted the roof. From the Paarh(hole),they threw fire in as an idea to make them come out but all the family of about ten people burnt to death instead. Jagga fell in deep sorrow for Vairagi's family's death.


Jagge maariyan Thamman ke kurhiyan
Jagge nu paap laggeya.


Jagga knew that dacoits don't live long lives.He engaged his daughter to his fellow Kehar Singh Kawan's younger brother Makhan Singh's son Avaar Singh. He made all the arrangements and sent all gold and dowry even before the marriage.

From a few miles away from Jagga's village avillage named Sidhupur's one dacoit Malangi had fame. Malangi and his fellow Harnam Singh were killed in an encouter about two years ago. Malangi was son of Muslim fakirs' family and Harnam Singh was from a poor farmer family. They both were friends like brothers who ate and did whatever together. In those days, in that area one common tandoor's for the whole village was a normal custom. One day Malangi's younger sister and younger brother were making Rotis at that tandoor. At the same time Jaildar's workers also came there to make Roti. They ordered Malangi's brother and sister to stop making Roti any more and instead told them to make Jaildar's Roti first. When Malangi's sister refused to do so, Jaildar workers slapped her and tried to tear her hair(gutt patt ditti). During this time Malangi's brother called Malangi and Harnam Singh. A fierce fight started,Malangi and Harnama got injured and Malangi's brother and Jaildar's one worker died. When Malangi and his father,Harnam Singh were in jail,one night Jaildar's mates attacked Malangi's home and raped Malangi's sister. His mother went insane hitting walls repeatedly. When this news came to them, Malangi's father died with shock. Malangi and Harnama once torn the wall of the jail and escaped and becamre fugitives. After coming out of the jail,the first thing what they did was killing all the members of Jaildar's family (sparing women). Jaildar's one of the son's avoided his ill will while he was gone to visit some relatives. After that Malangi and Harnam Singh became dacoits. First they started to straighten the Shahukars who were like blood sucking beast of the poor. Then they started to attack govt favouring Safedposh like people. In those days one idiom became famous.


Dinay raaj farangi da
raatin raaj Malangi da.


An award was declared by the govt. who helps to capture these two dacoits,Malangi and Harnam Singh.One night Malangi and his mate were staying at one of aquiantance's dera.That dera guy served them Rotis made of bhang but lied them as being made of methi.For the gread of the reward,he informed police.While Malangi and Harnam Singh were intoxicated,police raide the dera and both Malangi and harnama died in the encounter.

Oneday Jagga decided to go to Sidhupur with his companions. He wanted to know about the condition of Malangi's blind helpless mother who was just passing her days in deep sorrow and who was almost mentally retarted. Jagga also wanted to meet those bloody informers of Malangi. Jagga went to meet her and felt sad after seeing her bad condition. He decided to spend that noon in Malangi's house. He asked his fellow, Lallu Nai to arrange the food. Lallu Nai's village Lakhu Ke was very near from Sidhupur. Lallu Nai called his five brothers in guise to meet him and told them to bring food and sharab with them. Jagga decided to have a few drinks before the meal. Jagga and Banta started drinking while Sohan Teli had to go to meet a friend in the neibouring village and Lallu Nai had to do watching with his brothers. So they didn't drink.

For sometime they enjoyed drinking and talking. Malangi's mother's was in such a happy atmosphere first time in two years. That day Malangi's mother was feeling like Malangi is back in Jagga's disguise. Jagga told the old woman that O mother, Malangi's soul might not be in rest till his revenge is not taken. Today is the day to take care of his complaints. All ate meal happily together, Sohan Teli went to meet his friends. Lallu Nai and his brothers went out for their watchman job with their riffles. Intoxicated with alcohol, both jagga and Banta slept that hot afternoon on a Manja under the Boharh tree in the yard. Suddenly, Lallu Nai and his brothers started to shoot the sleeping and intoxicated Jagga and Banta repeatedly. Sohan Teli came back after hearing the shooting. He was also shot dead from behind by one of Lallu Nai's brother when he started attacking Lallu.


Jagga vaddeya bohrh di chhanve
naun man ret bhij gaee
Purna,
Naiyan ne vadd chhaddeya
Jagga soorma.


With the news of Jagga's death the whole area was under shock and sorrow.Nobody believed Jagga Soorma's death.

As a reward Lallu Nai got ten murabas of land and a Ghorhi from the govt. He was imprisoned later in some other case where he was beaten to death by some prisioners.

Jagga lived for only 29 years of his age. And moreover all his adventures and dacoities happened in a short span of only 3 months.

The kind of anakh Jagga left to lead us is well said by Sultan Bahu,


Je sir ditteyan hakk hasal hovay
Bahu,us mauton kya darna hu.
 
Jagga Jammeya,fazar di baangay
Laudhay vele khed da firay.

Jagga jammeya te milan vadhaiyan
vadda hoke dakay marda.

Jagge mareya Lyllpur daka
taran kharhak gayian.


Jagga was born in 1901 or 1902 in village Burj Singh Wala,teh. Chunnian,distt. Kasur. Jagga's father Makhan Singh passed away when Jagga was only a small child. He grew up under the care of his Chacha Roop Singh and mother Bhagaan.

Makhan Singh and Bhagaan had six children before Jagga was born but nobody of them survived. At last Makhan Singh went to the nearby village Sodhiwala to meet and pay tribute to a saint Sodhi Inder Singh. Sodhi Inder Singh told them to buy a Bakkra (male goat) before the birth and told that it should be touched by the newly born. The Sage Inder Singh also told them to not to name the child with initials of J.

But when the child was born, an uncle of the child insited on naming the child Jagat Singh which was against the directions of the saint. In a few days Bakkra fell ill and died. So in the course 12 Bakkras died and were buried in the backyard. Finally young child survived by the great saint's blessings.

Jagga owned 10 muraba(250 acres of land) so he was not asked to do anything by his chacha and mother. He was grown up as a pampered child. Once he cut a lot of sugar cane from his one uncle and distributed those to his friends. For that, he was given a hard beating by his uncle. Jagga went at night and broke all the Tinds of his uncle's khuh and threw into the well. When this uncle told his shirika to go to the police and report against Jagga, the relatives asked him, "who told you to name him Jagga?" So he realized his mistake.

In village Burj Singh Wala, most families were Muslim Telis but only 17 or 18 families of Sidhu Jatts. Both communities used to live in harmony. When Jagga was in his teen age, he started to go wrestle at akhara (Open Wrestling Ring) with his friend Sohan Teli. Sohan Teli maitained his friendship with Jagga till the last breath of Jagga. Because of Jagga's fondness of wrestling, this is said in a folk song.


Jagge Jatt da jahngiya patt da
killay uttay tangeya reha.


Jagga married Inder Kaur of village Talwandi. They had only a girl child, Gaabbo who is living now at village Vanwala near Lambi in Mukatsar distt. She is believed to be in her 80s now.

During the English rule, all the people of guts and independant nature were watched carefully by the British. Govt's first units of Informers were Patwari, Nambardar,Thanedar and Safedposh. Jagga was of a medium height, wheatish color, sharp features, strong body, trimmed beard and double ringed kunddian muchhan. One day Jagga went to Patwari to get the numbers (farad) of his land. Jagga paid no respect to the Parwari and paid no bribe. Patwari refused to give him the Farad. Jagga gave him the worst beating of his life that he had to give him farad and apologize as well.

In one of the folk songs we hear,


Kachay pulaan te larhaiyan hoiyan
Chhaviyan de ghund murh gaye.


This Kacha Pul was located between Jagga's village Buraj and his in law's village Talwandi. Beharhwala's Nakai used to live at their Bhua's village in Talwandi. These Nakai had some relation with Maharja Ranjit Singh's in-laws and were very notorius for their evils. Nobody could cross the bridge without their permission. One day,when Jagga was going to cross the bridge, one of the Nakai hit his horse with bamboo club (daang) thus horse and Jagga both fell. Though Jagga was alone, Nakais were 5-6 brothers. They had a fierce fight and finally Jagge ne vahni paa lae (gave them a tough beating). Later those Nakais fled the area and settled in Lahore.

Jagga's fame in the area resulted in attracting the ire of the Jaildar of Kal Mokal. Jaildar considered Jagga's braveness to be a challange. He stucked Jagga in a false case and convicted him for 4 years in the jail. When Jagga got released and came back to Buraj, in those days in vill. Bhai Feru a theft incident happened. The inspector of the area was a person named Asgar Ali who was a friend of Jaildar. Both Jaildar and inspector found this theft incident to be another chance to harass Jagga. They called Jagga to apear at the police station but Jagga declined to go. The leading and friendly people of Jagga persuaded him to appear at Police station. Their names were Kehar singh and Mehal Singh of Kawaan village and Dulla Singh of Jajjal village. This Dulla Singh made Jagga his Dharam da Puttar. (In later days this Dulla Singh and his family killed 8 people and were hanged to death).

Jagga agreed to go to the police with them but on the way he disagreed to go as he thought the haughty nature of inspector Asgar Ali. He said his fellows clearly, "If this inspector said something insulting, that will be hard to swallow for me. That's why I'm not going back." From that day Jagga went underground and became a Dacoit. First he snatched a riffle from a police sapoy then another from Atma Singh of Acharke village.

The first decoity by Jagga was at village Ghumiari at some goldsmith's house. Ghumiari vilage is located at the border of Kasur and Lohore distts. Jagga's other companions were Jhanda Singh Nirmal Ke and Thakur Singh Mandeyali. They robbed all the gold from them and lit fire to Vahis(ledgers) which were the loan records of the poor mass. They shared the gold at Jhanda Singh's khuh which was almost 1/2 ser(4 pounds?) for everyone in the group. After that Jagga made his own group. His new members were Banta Singh,his childhood friend Sohna Teli,Lalu Nai (he was Kaana from one eye), Bholu and Bawa. Lalu Nai was an expert in cooking, when all used to sleep at night Lalu Nai was guarding them with riffle.

While Jagga made many decoities but his most famous decoities are of Sayadpur and Layllpur. Jagga's one nephew, Thakur Singh was the reader of D.S.P. That D.S.P. asked Thakur Singh for the help in capturing Jagga. When Thakur Singh went to Jagga with some offer, Jagga asked him to fulfil his long desire to make an encounter with D.S.P. Thakur Singh felt to be sandwitched in two troubles, Jagga and D.S.P., so he decided to be neutral.

Jagga used to tell police in advance whatever village he went. "Capture me there or don't vex the innocents" were his words. Once he went to his nanke (maternal grandparents home) at village Ghumman Ke to watch a drama. Even though he had sent an advanced notice to police, no police personnel came all night. Jagga torned all the ledgers of that village's Bania and Shahukars and freeholded the poors from heavy loans.

A woman from village Lakhu ke was his dharam Bhen (baptised sister) who used to serve them food. Jagga gave her countless gold coins. Samelike once Jagga saw an old man with no warm clothes selling carrots in extreme cold,when asked, that oldman had no son or daughter. He gave him plenty of gold.

In those days police would sleep in locked police stations,from the fear of Jagga. Police feared Jagga would decoit them their riffles and other amunition. Inspector Asgar Ali made the two entrances of the station for his protection.

Jagga's fellow Banta Singh had argued with his Chachi on many occassions. Banta's Chachi was involved in adultry (extra marital relations) with a Vairagi of her own village Thamman Ke Wala. He tried to straighten them many times but all his tries were in of no use. One cold night Chachi was sitting and was warming herself in front of fire when Jagga and Banta aproached her. They again tried to conciliate her from her bad deeds but she told them in a cold manner to do whatever they want to do, she won't change.They shoot her on the spot and went to her lover Bawa Vairagi's home. They challanged him to come out of the house but he didn't come out but locked from the inside. Jagga and Banta called him to come out many times but he didn't and finally they climbed and bursted the roof. From the Paarh(hole),they threw fire in as an idea to make them come out but all the family of about ten people burnt to death instead. Jagga fell in deep sorrow for Vairagi's family's death.


Jagge maariyan Thamman ke kurhiyan
Jagge nu paap laggeya.


Jagga knew that dacoits don't live long lives.He engaged his daughter to his fellow Kehar Singh Kawan's younger brother Makhan Singh's son Avaar Singh. He made all the arrangements and sent all gold and dowry even before the marriage.

From a few miles away from Jagga's village avillage named Sidhupur's one dacoit Malangi had fame. Malangi and his fellow Harnam Singh were killed in an encouter about two years ago. Malangi was son of Muslim fakirs' family and Harnam Singh was from a poor farmer family. They both were friends like brothers who ate and did whatever together. In those days, in that area one common tandoor's for the whole village was a normal custom. One day Malangi's younger sister and younger brother were making Rotis at that tandoor. At the same time Jaildar's workers also came there to make Roti. They ordered Malangi's brother and sister to stop making Roti any more and instead told them to make Jaildar's Roti first. When Malangi's sister refused to do so, Jaildar workers slapped her and tried to tear her hair(gutt patt ditti). During this time Malangi's brother called Malangi and Harnam Singh. A fierce fight started,Malangi and Harnama got injured and Malangi's brother and Jaildar's one worker died. When Malangi and his father,Harnam Singh were in jail,one night Jaildar's mates attacked Malangi's home and raped Malangi's sister. His mother went insane hitting walls repeatedly. When this news came to them, Malangi's father died with shock. Malangi and Harnama once torn the wall of the jail and escaped and becamre fugitives. After coming out of the jail,the first thing what they did was killing all the members of Jaildar's family (sparing women). Jaildar's one of the son's avoided his ill will while he was gone to visit some relatives. After that Malangi and Harnam Singh became dacoits. First they started to straighten the Shahukars who were like blood sucking beast of the poor. Then they started to attack govt favouring Safedposh like people. In those days one idiom became famous.


Dinay raaj farangi da
raatin raaj Malangi da.


An award was declared by the govt. who helps to capture these two dacoits,Malangi and Harnam Singh.One night Malangi and his mate were staying at one of aquiantance's dera.That dera guy served them Rotis made of bhang but lied them as being made of methi.For the gread of the reward,he informed police.While Malangi and Harnam Singh were intoxicated,police raide the dera and both Malangi and harnama died in the encounter.

Oneday Jagga decided to go to Sidhupur with his companions. He wanted to know about the condition of Malangi's blind helpless mother who was just passing her days in deep sorrow and who was almost mentally retarted. Jagga also wanted to meet those bloody informers of Malangi. Jagga went to meet her and felt sad after seeing her bad condition. He decided to spend that noon in Malangi's house. He asked his fellow, Lallu Nai to arrange the food. Lallu Nai's village Lakhu Ke was very near from Sidhupur. Lallu Nai called his five brothers in guise to meet him and told them to bring food and sharab with them. Jagga decided to have a few drinks before the meal. Jagga and Banta started drinking while Sohan Teli had to go to meet a friend in the neibouring village and Lallu Nai had to do watching with his brothers. So they didn't drink.

For sometime they enjoyed drinking and talking. Malangi's mother's was in such a happy atmosphere first time in two years. That day Malangi's mother was feeling like Malangi is back in Jagga's disguise. Jagga told the old woman that O mother, Malangi's soul might not be in rest till his revenge is not taken. Today is the day to take care of his complaints. All ate meal happily together, Sohan Teli went to meet his friends. Lallu Nai and his brothers went out for their watchman job with their riffles. Intoxicated with alcohol, both jagga and Banta slept that hot afternoon on a Manja under the Boharh tree in the yard. Suddenly, Lallu Nai and his brothers started to shoot the sleeping and intoxicated Jagga and Banta repeatedly. Sohan Teli came back after hearing the shooting. He was also shot dead from behind by one of Lallu Nai's brother when he started attacking Lallu.


Jagga vaddeya bohrh di chhanve
naun man ret bhij gaee
Purna,
Naiyan ne vadd chhaddeya
Jagga soorma.


With the news of Jagga's death the whole area was under shock and sorrow.Nobody believed Jagga Soorma's death.

As a reward Lallu Nai got ten murabas of land and a Ghorhi from the govt. He was imprisoned later in some other case where he was beaten to death by some prisioners.

Jagga lived for only 29 years of his age. And moreover all his adventures and dacoities happened in a short span of only 3 months.

The kind of anakh Jagga left to lead us is well said by Sultan Bahu,


Je sir ditteyan hakk hasal hovay
Bahu,us mauton kya darna hu.
 

bhuchowala

Member
thanx for such a nice post. i heard about inder-bego kissa too. but not in detail.. do you know about that love story ??
 
<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">yeah 22 kakki bhukko pachi bhukko ........hehe.kidding...mere khyal ch tu samajh gaya hona ki main akna chaunda......main ih story suni hai islayi dass dinda..........ih kahani aa jatti vs hatti di

Inder ik baania hunda c ate ik jamuna nadi de kinare pind ch usdi hatti c....usdi dukaan utte bego na di kudi aoundi hundi c jedi badi sohni c........yeh kambakhat dil....llale da jatti utte dil aa gaya ate usnu dilon chaun lagga....jadon jatti usdi hatti utte aoundi taan oh sara kush bhul janda c.....ik din 22 ne jigra kar ke push hi l;ia ....bego usnu chaubndi nai c p[ar hamesha us naal hass khed ke gallan kardi c.....inder 22 ne jadon dubara ohi pushia ate akia ke oh usnu bot pyar karda hai ate uslai kush v kar sakda hai......fer bego kendi ke theek aa je tu mainu aina sachi pyar karda taan aavdi hatti nu agg la ke jamna nadi ch dub ja.......bego ne aa kush vase hi hase ch akia c inder nu taalan vaste, yani usne seriously nai akia c......ih aak ke oh chali gayi.....par inder lala usnu sache dil naal pyar kardsa c ate aavda pyar sacha sabit karan vaste usne aavdi hatti nu agg la ditti ate jamna ch dubb ke mar gaya....main ih story poore tareeke naal post karan di try karunga....dil darya samundro doonghe kaun dilan dian jaane.

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