| Honorific Prefix: | Shaheed, Bhai |
| Sangat Singh Bangeshwar | |
| Birth Date: | 1650 |
| Birth Place: | Katta Sabour, Nurpur Bedi, Ropar, Punjab |
| Death Date: | 1705 |
| Death Place: | Chamkaur, Punjab |
| Death Cause: | Death during the Second Battle of Chamkaur |
| Monuments: | Memorial in Fatehgarh Sahib Gurudwara Shaheed Burj |
Bhai Sangat Singh Bangeshwar (also called Bhai Sant Singh) was a Sikh warrior, general and martyr in the Battle of Chamkaur.[1]
He was the main reason for the Khalsa Panth to receive Gurudom in Chamkaur, 6th December 1704.[2] He was one out of the 42 first Shahids of the Guru Khalsa Panth.[3] It was the congregation's wish that Guru Gobind Singh left Chamkaur Sahib and he did so with respect, and seeing their devotion, and understanding it as the final test for the position of 'Guru' he conferred upon the Khalsa, his sons, the gift of Gurudom.
Sangat Singh was born in Punjab, in a Pashtun family in Kurrum, in present day Pakistan.[4] He was trained in Shastar Vidya, Gatka, horse-riding, warfare and martial arts and also studied languages, e.g - Punjabi, Bengali, Urdu, Sanskrit, Persian and Braj Bhasha.[5] Later, he was sent by his father to serve Guru Gobind Singh in the Khalsa, before Vaisakhi, 1699. He was apart of the early high-class of Sikh society who married across castes, hence he, a Pashtun, had Bhai Lakhi Shah and Bhai Mani Singh, a Lubana and Rajput, as a uncles and Bhai Baj Singh, a Khatri as a cousin- this inter-caste society did not last long and was replaced soon after the death of Banda Singh Bahadur.
Bhai Sangat Singh took part in battles of Bhangani, Bajrur, Nadaun, all four battles of Anandpur Sahib, Bansali, Nirmohgarh, Sarsa and Chamkaur.[6]
In the Second Battle of Chamkaur, Bhai Sangat Singh Bangesar along with all 41 other Khalsa Sikhs decided that the Guru should leave and they would die for the Guru to escape.Dhan Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji was requested to agree to the Sangat, and realized who the next Guru was going to be.[7] His son; the Guru Khalsa Panth, so hence he dressed Bhai Sangat Singh Bangesar, who bore a high degree of physical resemblance to Dhan Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji, in blue clothes, with his weapons and jewelry, along with 5 Paise and a coconut before bowing down to the Khalsa, all symbols of the passing of the title of Guru.[8] He has the attire, Kalgi and Dastar of the Guru hence the Mughals were tricked into believing who the Guru was in Chamkaur.[9] [10] Guru Gobind Singh and two others went into the battle and fought, killing many of the soldiers, and managed to escape to a nearby Haveli.[11] Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh became Shaheeds in the battle, and Sahibzada Jorawar Singh managed to break through the Mughal hordes.[12] All the others including Bhai Mokham Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh and Bhai Isar Singh achieved martyrdom.[13] Bhai Sangat Singh Bangesar and Bhai Deva Singh only two Sikhs got left at the fort and after Guru's exit and they went on war front to Mughal army and fought against them and achieved martyrdom.[14]
Bhai Sangat Singh Khalsa College, Banga, Punjab was named after him.[15]
The Martyrdom of Bhai Sangat Singh has become a state-level function in Punjab.[16]
Jazzy B and Sukshinder Shinda sang about him in the song titled "Bhai Sangat Singh Ji" in 2009.
His descendants are very diverse and include Sardar Sahib Sujan Singh of Hadali, Sant Prem Singh Murarewale, Sardar Bahadur Mehtab Singh, Sardar Bahadur Sir Sobha Singh, Governor Ujjal Singh, Padma Shri Khushwant Singh, Brigadier Gurbaksh Singh and MP Daljit Singh.[17] [18] [19]