Date: 20 Jan 2010
Vir Haqiqat Rai //////////// 12 years old Hindu Martyr//////////// 275th Martyrdom Day-20 Jan 2010/////////////// Haqiqat Rai was born at Sialkot in 1724 to Mata Durga Devi and Bhag Mal ji. ///////////// Haqiqat Rai was very sharp in studies as well as in his bravery. In those days of Muslim rule Hindus used to read Urdu and Persian from Muslim maulvis. Haqiqat Rai used to go to local school and was the only Hindu in a class while his other classmates were Muslims. ///////////// He used to pass with top marks and so was dear to everyone. ////////////// One day, some of his Muslim classmates who were jealous of his studies ridiculed Hindu goddess Devi Ma. //////////////// Haqiqat Rai first remained silent but after repeated abuses the brave boy dared his classmates and tried to stop them but as he was alone he was overpowered. They did not stop using abusive languages for Hindu Goddess and he responded finally by ridiculing Fatima, daughter of Prophet Muhammad. ////////////// The Muslim boys complained to the maulvis about Haqiqat Rai blaspheming the prophet and Islam, which enraged the maulvis. ///////////// Maulvis first punished Haqiqat Rai and then had him arrested by the local police. ///////////////// Haqiqat Rai was arrested and sent to Amir Beg, the administrator of Sialkot. Those were the days of Muslim rule, Hindus were frequently targeted by Muslims and they were having inferior status in society. There was no one to listen to this young Hindu boy./////////////// Amir who was known for his cruelty immediately ordered that the Hindu boy be killed. He did not even spare time to hear the pleas of Haqiqat Rai. //////////////// Haqiqat Rai's parents started weeping and begging to spare his life. //////////////// Amir said Haqiqat Rai had committed a sin and he could be pardoned only if he accepted Islam as punishment for blasphemy. Haqiqat Rai refused conversion to Islam. //////////////// Haqiqat Rai's parents tried to change his mind. They said, “If you accept Islam, your life will be saved.” ////////////// Brave boy Haqiqat accepted to die but refused to become Muslim. /////////////// He was then sent to Zakaria Khan, the Governor of Lahore. But Haqiqat Rai did not agree to convert even under further torture. /////////////// His 10 year old wife Laxmi Devi also arrived and pleaded for his life but no one under the Muslim rule listened to Hindus. ///////////// Haqiqat Rai was executed by the orders of the Governor on 20 January, 1735 at the tender age of 12. ///////////// The day of his execution used to be marked by a 'mela' (fair) on Vasant Panchami day in Sialkot, around his 'samadhi' (Baway di marrhi), before India's partition. ///////////// It appears that his 'samadhi' was wrecked during riots in Sialkot. /////////// The young boy died for his religion. Today he is an idol for us all what we can do is to observe but not give up Vedic dharma but propagate it throughout the world. ////////////// 000000000