Baba Deep Singh - Saheed Misal

The Saheed /Nihang Misal was founded by Baba Deep Singh (1682-1757), who accompanied Guru Gobind Singh from 1700-1706 and later fought alongside Banda Singh. A man of scholarly disposition with a thorough knowledge of Sikh scriptures, he helped Bhai Mani Singh prepare four copies of the Guru Granth Sahib. He attained martyrdom fighting to free Amritsar from the Afghan forces, and henceforth his jatha was called “Saheed or Nihang”

“They exercised a fierce scrutiny as censors in upholding strict compliance with the militant creed of the Singh’s, constituted themselves defenders of the faith against all innovations, took a prominent part in the councils in the planning and arranging of expeditions for averting national danger and in educating the people in the doctrines of the Sikh religion.”
General John J.H. Gordon in “The Sikhs” 1904

Saheed/Nihang Misal, Devender Singh, Oil on canvas, Kapany Collection