CHANDIGARH, PUNJAB — Akal Federation Chief Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami, a steadfast Panthic figure and lifelong advocate for Sikh rights and a dedicated community sewadar, passed away on January 9th at a private hospital Chandigarh. His passing has sent a wave of sorrow across Panthic circles in Punjab and the global Sikh diaspora.
Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami was closely associated with Gur Asra Trust in Sector 55, Palsora, Chandigarh where he cared for and educated numerous children, including the children of Shaheeds during the earlier decades. He was widely respected for his uncompromising stand on Panth, principles, and justice. Throughout his life, he remained deeply committed to Sikh causes, especially during the darkest and most testing times for the Panth in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Supporters remember him as a man of courage, and unshakable resolve.
Challenged KP Gill’s Surrender Drama
One of the most defining moments of Bhai Sahib’s life came in 1994, when Punjab Police arranged a press conference in Chandigarh to project his so-called “surrender.” In a moment that has since become etched in Panthic memory, Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami refused to bow to pressure, and instead of reading a prepared statement, he boldly spoke the truth by openly challenging then Punjab Police chief KP Gill.
Standing before the media and senior officials, Bhai Sahib declared that he and his family had been kept in illegal detention and subjected to coercion. Rejecting the narrative imposed upon him, he raised Panthic slogans and exposed the repression faced by Sikh families during that era. “ਸੱਚ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਫ਼ਰਜ਼ ਹੈ (It is my duty to speak the truth.)” he reportedly stated, even as police forcibly removed him from the stage. For many Sikhs, that moment symbolized a rare and fearless public stand against state oppression at a time when silence was enforced through fear.
Human rights groups later cited Bhai Dhami’s case while raising concerns about illegal detentions, custodial abuse, and intimidation during counter-insurgency operations in Punjab. Within the Panth, his stand is remembered not merely as an act of defiance, but as an example of Chardi Kalaa in the face of tyranny.
Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami’s struggle was not his alone — his family endured grievous suffering alongside him. According to historical records, his wife was tortured and even lost her unborn child after authorities attempted to force a false confession. Later pressure on his wife, a former schoolteacher, reportedly led to severe harassment and a nervous breakdown under state intimidation tactics. Their six-year-old son was also caught in this campaign of coercion and fear, illustrating the profound sacrifices borne by his loved ones in pursuit of truth and justice for the Panth.
Bhai Sahib endured multiple imprisonments and had the honor of working closely with Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. On 26 January 1984, Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami, along with prominent Panthic figures including Jathedar Bhai Jagjit Singh Nihang Khudda, Shaheed Bhai Swaran Singh Nihang Khudda, Shaheed Bhai Gurmeet Singh Khudda, Bhai Manjit Singh Bolewal, and Bhai Pritam Singh Jahura, issued the Khalistan Constitution from the parkarma (ramparts) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib under the banner of Akal Federation.
In the years that followed, Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami remained connected to Panthic causes while keeping a low public profile. Those close to him say he never sought fame or recognition. “Bhai Sahib lived quietly, but his stand spoke loudly,” said one Panthic activist. Another remarked, “He showed the Panth what it means to refuse jhooth, even when the cost is high.”
Following news of his passing, tributes poured in from Sikh organizations and community members, many describing him as a Gursikh who never compromised. “This is a major loss to the Panth,” read one statement. “Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami will be remembered among those who stood firm when the Panth was under siege.”
Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami’s Antim Sankar was performed at cremation grounds in sector 55 of Chandigarh and was honored by various Panthic organizations and personalities during the services.
