Shaheed Bibi Harsarn Kaur

Sikh women are always known to have responded to the call of their duty. They have
not allowed hardships and dangers to stand in the way of the performance of their
moral obligations. Bibi Harsarn Kaur was one of these women who faced the odds to
fulfill her obligations.
Guru Gobind Singh's two elder sons together with many other Sikhs, were martyred
while fighting the foes at the battle of Chamkaur Sahib. Under pressure of
supplications of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh was obliged to leave the place under
cover of darkness. The enemy too, taking advantage of the lull and darkness, rested in
the surrounding area where they had besieged the Sikhs.
After leaving Chamkaur Sahib, Guru Ji reached the village where Bibi Harsarn Kaur
lived. When he met her, she at once recognised the Guru. She bowed to Guru Ji and
asked about the Sahib Jadey. She had been a nursing sister to them. Guru Ji told her
about their martydom. She hurried to Chamkaur Sahib and stole on cat's paw to the
battle scene and recognised the martyred Sikhs.
She collected all the wood she could and piled them high. She placed the bodies of the
Sahib Jadey and the Sikhs on the pile and set it afire. The big conflagration woke the
enemy with consternation. All their expectations of getting prizes and honours were
dashed to the ground. Now there was nothing left to show their identities of their
victims.
In the light of the fire, they were amazed to espy a female figure with a javelin in
hand near the pile. They approached her and demanded to know who she was and
whence she came. But nothing could make her speak. They became furious and threw
Bibi Harsarn, javelin and all in the fire. Thus she too obtained martyrdom on 23rd
Dec 1704.