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Was born in 1895, the son of Bhai Ratta and Mai Hukmi in the village
of Uddoke, in Gurdaspur district. He lost both of his parents while
yet a small child, and grew up in very adverse circumstances until,
around 1908, he attracted the notice of Jathedar Lachhman Singh
Dharovali during a religious divan for his melodious singing of
the Sikh holy songs. The Jathedar, who had lately lost his infant
son with no hope of another offspring, took the orphan under his
own care, brought him home and treated him as his own son. Young
Mangal Singh learnt reading and writing and helped his benefactor
with farming. In 1913, he received the rites of Khalsa initiation
at the Central Majha Khalsa Diwan. In 1915, he enlisted in the army
but was court-marshalled two years later because he would not obey
his commanding officer's order to part with his kirpan. He was sentenced
to one year's imprisonment and dismissed from service, but, in view
of an ongoing agitation among the Sikhs for freedom to wear or carry
kirpan, his sentence was reduced to six months which he spent in
Sialkot jail. On his release he was taken out by the sangat in a
procession to Gurdwara Babe di Ber in Sialkot where he was acclaimed
for his courageous stand in defence of his religious faith. The
Panch Khalsa Diwan Bhasaur honoured him with the title of Kirpan
Bahadur and a pension of Rs 7 per month.
Bhai Mangal Singh remained a faithful son to
his godfather, Jathedar Lachhman Singh. He helped him organize the
political conference at Dharovali on 1 to 3 October 1920 and participated
in the liberation of Gurdwara Khara Sauda at Chuharkana on 30 December
1920. He joined his column for the liberation of Gurdwara Janam
Asthan, at Nankana Sahib, never to come back alive.
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