ALT TODAY IN SIKH HISTORY October 27, 1969 Darshan Singh Pheruman Dies after Fasting for 74 Days

ALT On this day in 1969, Sardar Darshan Singh Pheruman passed after a 74-day fasting period. Darshan Singh Pheruman was an activist of the independence era and was initially associated with the Ghadar movement. He had faced multiple imprisonments by British authorities and was highly respected in the Panth. By 1969, Darshan Singh had become disenchanted with Panthic leaders like Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh Singh. He observed that these leaders would solemnly pledge in front of Guru Granth Sahib at Akal Takhat Sahib to fast unto death or even self-immolate but would eventually find excuses to abandon their vows. In response to this perceived disrespect, Darshan Singh decided to undertake a fast unto death.

ALT His goal was to showcase the strength and unwavering commitment of a Sikh's word to the Guru. In his own words, “The management of the Sikh Gurdwaras and the conduct of Sikh politics have fallen into the hands of hypocrites, styling themselves pious men and sants and those who did not wish the Panth well… The traitors of the Panth and the pious frauds, called sants, have successfully hatched an ugly conspiracy to eliminate every vestige of the wholesome influence of Sikh religion from Sikh politics with the purpose of making Sikh people… slaves of others… This grave sin can be washed away only through a genuine martyrdom… To achieve this end, I am going to lay down my life.”

ALT In August of 1969, Darshan Singh started his fast. The government jailed him, so he started his fast inside jail on 15 Aug., after which he was moved to a hospital in Amritsar. At the age of 84, he did not eat for 74 days. Throughout his fast, he remained reciting or listening to Gurbani, particularly Sukhmani Sahib. His determination remained steadfast, leading to his passing after the 74-day mark. The All India Sikh Students Federation commemorated him as the first martyr of the Sikh homeland.