In the land of five rivers, where courage has always flowed as freely as the water in its fields, the name Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana shines as a symbol of bravery, honor, and uncompromising resistance. His story is not just a tale of one man’s fight—it is the living heartbeat of Punjab’s struggle for justice.
While mainstream Indian history may have brushed his name aside, among Sikhs, especially in Punjab and the diaspora, Jatana remains a true hero. He stood up at a time when silence was safer and chose martyrdom over submission.
A Son of the Soil: Early Life and Upbringing
Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana was born in village Jatana Kalan, in Punjab's Ropar (now Rupnagar) district. He hailed from a farming family, raised amidst the natural beauty and hardship of rural life. From an early age, he exhibited qualities of leadership and fearlessness. His upbringing was steeped in Sikh values—Seva (selfless service), justice, and resistance against tyranny.
The 1980s in Punjab were marked by extreme tension. Following the 1984 attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and the massacre of Sikhs across India, many young Sikhs were left disillusioned with the state and political system. What they witnessed wasn't just physical destruction—it was spiritual and emotional annihilation. Bhai Jatana was among those youth whose hearts burned with rage and sadness.
Rise of the Kharku Spirit
As the Indian state cracked down on Sikh activists, labeling many as extremists, an armed resistance emerged known as the Kharku movement. This wasn't born out of hate, but out of a desperate need to defend Sikh identity and resist genocide.
Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana was drawn into this movement—not as a terrorist, but as a protector of his people. He wasn’t driven by personal gain or politics, but by a deep sense of responsibility to uphold Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s legacy of standing against injustice.
Punjab’s Lifeline: The SYL Canal Controversy
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal became the center of Punjab’s political and economic struggle. The canal was being built to transfer Punjab’s river water to Haryana and other states, without Punjab’s consent or fair share.
For a state where agriculture was the mainstay and water was life, this was nothing short of theft. Protests erupted across the region. Politicians gave speeches. Farmers raised slogans. But it was Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana who took the boldest step.
The Defining Moment: SYL Engineers Eliminated
On 23 July 1990, Bhai Jatana and his fellow Singhs reached the SYL Canal project office near Mataur, Mohali. In an act of fierce defiance, they eliminated two senior engineers—Er. M.L. Sikri (Chief Engineer) and Er. A.S. Aulakh (Superintending Engineer)—who were overseeing the canal's construction.
This wasn’t a senseless act of violence. It was a political warning—a line in the sand. It told the Indian establishment: “You will not steal Punjab’s water without consequence.”
The operation shook the administration to its core. Construction halted. Panic spread. Even decades later, the SYL Canal remains unfinished—a silent monument to Bhai Jatana’s daring resistance.
State Retaliation and Ultimate Sacrifice
After the SYL incident, Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana became one of the most wanted men in Punjab. The police and intelligence agencies launched a full-scale hunt. Villages were raided. Locals were tortured for information. The state was desperate to capture or kill him.
But Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana was not one to hide. On 9 August 1991, security forces finally tracked him down near Ropar. He fought till his last breath and achieved Shaheedi (martyrdom) on the battlefield, not in chains.
His body was denied proper Antim Sanskar (last rites), and soon after, the state unleashed even more cruelty—his family members were targeted and killed in cold blood. Homes were burned, memories erased, and his village turned into a warzone. But they could not destroy the spirit he left behind.
Why Bhai Jatana Still Matters
Today, Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana is more than just a name. He’s a movement. A legacy. A lesson. Every time the SYL Canal dispute resurfaces, his image returns—fearless, determined, and unwilling to bow.
His story reminds Punjabis that their rights over river waters, culture, language, and identity are non-negotiable. He proved that one man, with faith and fire in his heart, could shake an entire system.
Among Sikhs worldwide, his martyrdom is honored in kirtan samagams, books, documentaries, and art. Even youth born long after his Shaheedi recognize his role in shaping Punjab’s modern political consciousness.
Misunderstood in History, Honored by the People
The Indian mainstream media and textbooks often omit names like Bhai Jatana’s or distort their actions. He, like many Kharku Singhs, has been labeled a criminal. But among the people of Punjab, the truth speaks louder than propaganda.
He was no criminal—he was a warrior molded by pain, injustice, and love for his Panth. His mission wasn’t revenge. It was protection. Protection of Punjab’s rivers. Protection of Sikh dignity. Protection of future generations.
Conclusion: A Flame That Still Burns
More than three decades have passed since Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana gave his life, but his voice still echoes in Punjab’s fields and people’s hearts. His life teaches us that freedom is never handed to the oppressed—it must be taken with courage.
We must continue to tell his story—not as a glorification of violence, but as a testament to resistance against injustice. As long as Punjab breathes, and as long as the SYL Canal remains dry, the name of Bhai Jatana will remain alive.
He was not a man who feared death. He was a man who embraced it, so that others could live freely.
