All India Sikh Youth Federation

During the communal riots and mass migrations at the time of India's partition, the AISSF helped organize relief and rehabilitation camps for Hindu and Sikh refugees arriving in India from Pakistan. In independent India, the AISSF became closely linked as the youth arm of the Akali Dal. The federation would expand its organization across India and become one of the nation's leading student political organizations. It would also help build support and lead the Sikh political demand for the establishment of a Sikh-majority state within the Indian union. As the agitation reached its peak in the mid-1960s, the federation helped organize student marches and rallies to increase pressure on the Indian government.

Shaheed Bhai Jagjit Singh Gill Jeevan as a Sikh Student Federation

When Bhai Sahib started studying at this college, there were only 2 student unions in Phagwara, Punjab Student Union (PSU) and the was the Student Federation of India (SFI) which was a comrade union. Bhai Sahib was not part of any of the two, his friends tried to make him a member of the Punjab Student Union, but that did not work. Bhai Sahib passed the first year exams with great results and when Bhai Sahib came back for the second year, he witnessed many students following the colors of the Khalsa. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, who was the leader of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Damdami Taksal influence had a positive effect on the Sikh youth of Punjab. Bhai Sahib was anxious to listen to the views of Sant Ji, Bhai Sahib borrowed cassettes of Sant Ji’s speeches from a friend and upon hearing Sant Ji’s speeches, Bhai Sahib felt proud to be a Sikh and realized the slavery Sikhs were going through. These days Bhai Amrik Singh, leader of All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF) alias Sikh Student Federation told his members to create Sikh Student Federation units in every college and university of Punjab.

Bhai Satpal Singh Dhillon who was the general secretary of Kapurthala’s Sikh Student Federation and Master Harinder Singh Kahlo who was the vice president tried to create a solid foundation for the Sikh Student Federation in Phagwara, Bhai Sahib was one of the first people to help along with Bhai Sher Singh Pandori, Bhai Paramjit Singh Gandasa, Bhai Jarnail Singh and Bhai Ajit Singh. In Ramgharia Arts College the comrades had a strong and did not like the AISSF taking territory. Bhai Sahib and fellow Singhs of AISSF had many fights with the members of comrade student units. Once the Sikh Student Federation unit was established in Ramgharia Arts College of Phagwara, it was the turn of Polytechnic College. Here Bhai Sahib signed up many students to Sikh Student Federation. Slowly units of the Sikh Student Federation were established in every college of Phagwara and were getting stronger daily. The comrades tried to argue with the Singhs but Singhs like Bhai Sahib would slap the comrades and make them go away, but the cowardly comrades will go to the police and lie about Singhs carrying pistols. Once a fierce fight took place amongst the Singh and comrades, but the DSP Mukhtiar Singh arrested 17 Singhs of the Sikh Student Federation. When Bhai Amrik Singh was given this news via telephone, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale rang the local police station and the 17 Singhs were instantly released. Soon a five-member committee was also established which would lead the AISSF in Phagwara, one of the main Singhs from the five members was Bhai Sher Singh Pandori. Bhai Sahib and Bhai Kulwinder Singh Bhola had also joined Sikh Student Federation. Bhai Sahib and Bhai Kulwinder Singh Bhola were close friends and usually went to Panthic programs together. Bhai Sahib fully supported the Dharam Yudh Morcha and the AISSF conferences, even after being arrested many times.

All India Sikh Student Federation was growing day by day, but the Indian government did not like this as they saw the AISSF as a formulation of another government. In the end, the Hindu government of India labeled AISSF as unlawful. The Sikhs protested against this injustice of the Indian government and burnt 37 train stations of Punjab. Partabpura train station of Jalandhar district was burnt by Bhai Satpal Singh Dhillon and group while Bhai Sahib and fellow Singhs burnt the Behram train station. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale was being looked at as the panthic leader by the whole Sikh nation, but the Akalis did not like this. To lessen the power of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, the Akalis had Bhai Surinder Singh Sodhi killed, Bhai Surinder Singh Sodhi was the right-hand man of Sant Ji. The Akalis also requested Indira Gandhi to attack Sri Harimandir Sahib in June 1984. The shaheed of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, General Subeg Singh, and many more Singhs at Sri Darbar Sahib made the Sikh nation declare the need for Khalistan and the Khadku Singhs started the armed struggle to kill the people responsible for the killing of innocent Sikhs.

15^th August 1984, when the Indian government was getting ready to celebrate their independence day, the Singhs of Sikh Student Federation held a meeting in the village of Dalewal. The Singhs decided to burn down government schools to express their pain. On the night of 14-15^th August 1984, Sikh Student Federation burnt down 17 government schools in Nakodar, Phillaur, Gorayian, Phagwara, and Noormehl area. After this action, many Sikh youths started burning schools regularly in the Punjab area. A comrade, Professor Rup Lal was a teacher in the college of Phagwara, instead of teaching students, he would spit venom against the Sikhs. One day Bhai Sahib and Bhai Kulwinder Singh Bhola shot Professor Rup Lal at the Ludhiana train station and made the professor permanently disabled, for talking against the Sikhs. Bhai Sahib was also one of the Singhs that punished the black cat, Sukhwinder Singh who had killed Bhai Satpal Singh Dhillon at Nakodar Chownk. In March 1985, the Punjab police arrested Bhai Kulwinder Singh Bhola and later arrested Bhai Sahib from his village in Rajasthan. Both Singhs were brutally tortured, Bhai Kulwinder Singh Bhola was charged with the robbery of the Marak Bank and many fake cases, while Bhai Sahib was charged with the killing of many black cats. After 8 months the bail of both Singhs was accepted. Soon as Bhai Sahib came out they started re-establishing Sikh Student Federation. Bhai Sahib was made the president of Phagwara’s Sikh Student Federation unit.

Shaheed Dr.Gurnam Singh Buttar Jeevan in the Federation

Panthic committee made his appointment, his work was so much appreciated all over Punjab, he was such a humble person who led the guerrilla movement, traveling on his bicycle. Shaheed Dr. Gurnam Singh Buttar of Sikh Students Federation was one of many brave Sikhs who gave up their well-paid Government jobs in protest of Operation Bluestar and the atrocities being carried out on Sikhs all over India.

On 23 December, at the Shaheedi Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib, where Akali leaders Parkash Badal, Tohra, Chandumanjra were present and Sangat not even interested in their speeches. Dr. Gurnam Singh and fellow Singhs took over the Akali’s stage and presented the resolution of Khalistan to the Sangat. Dr. Gurnam Singh addressed the Sangat and explained why there was now the need for the creation of a Sikh homeland, Khalistan. Upon hearing Dr. Gurnam Singh's speech, the entire Sikh Sangat raised their hands in support of this resolution. Total of 12 resolutions passed on that day. This was the first and last time in the history of the Sikh movement where Akalis raised their hands in front of Sangat in favor of all resolutions because they were pressured by Doctor G. S. Buttar. In April 1987, at a conference held at Sri Darbar Sahib, Dr. Gurnam Singh publicly resigned from his post of junior medical officer at Qadian Civil Hospital. Resigning from his government job, Dr. Gurnam Singh stated that the Khalsa is now my government, and the creation of Khalistan is my occupation, and my retirement will come in the form of Shaheedi.

This is just the significant role that the Sikh Student Federation took action. They have always outspoken the Panth voice through colleges and universities to make sure Sikhs are still under Indian Occupation. Sikhs today are still facing Indian State Terrorism. India still hasn't completed the mission of the 2022 Hindutva Government. They are proceeding fast and we must be ready to face another war. We must aware of Sikhs and move on to save Punjab from Crisis. The Sikh Student Federations expanded all over India the Sikhs today are still waiting for Sikhs Student to uprise. After Operation Blue Star in June 1984, the organization temporarily removed the words "All India" from its name, and was known as Sikh Students Federation (SSF) for some time.