Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji was born in 1690 in Amritsar. She was a really smart, kind and beautiful child. Although she was born in Amritsar, when she was only 5 years old, her and her parents moved to Anandpur Sahib and settled there permanently. Here they did a lot of Seva at the Gurdwara. At Anandpur Sahib, Bibi Ji would spend most of her time with the Sahibzaade. They would play together, eat together and do Paat together. Bibi Ji and the Sahibzaade had a lot of love for each other. Mata Sundri Ji really liked Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji. Bibi Ji showed a lot of respect to Mata Ji and Guru Ji. For this reason, Mata Sundri Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji treated Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji like their own daughter. Bibi Ji learned how to read and write Gurmukhi with the Sahibzaade. She also went on to train as a warrior as she learned how to fight with a sword, shield and spear.

On Vaisakhi 1699, Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji and her father received Amrit. Bibi Ji became part of the Khalsa. Every day, she would get up at Amrit Vela, do her Nitnem, tie her dumalla and go to the Gurdwara to do Seva of the Sangat. When Bibi Ji got a little older, she would get her friends together and they would learn how to fight. Bibi Ji and her Jatha of Kaurs (Group of girls) also learned how to ride a horse. Bibi Ji’s Jatha of Kaurs were so well-trained in warfare, they became famous in the area. They set an example for other girls by showing that it is not only the Singhs that should learn how to defend themselves and others, the Kaurs should too.

When the Mughals and Hill Raja soldiers attacked Anandpur Sahib Fort, in 1704, Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji and her Jatha of Kaurs went into the battlefield to fight. The Mughals and Hill Raja soldiers would attack the Jatha of Kaurs as they saw them as an easy target, however, they were very wrong as the brave Kaurs struck the soldiers like lightening. The heads of the soldiers would drop to the ground wherever Bibi Ji’s Jatha was fighting. After losing many soldiers, Aurangzeb and the Hill Rajas decided to surround Anandpur Sahib Fort, instead of fighting the brave Singhs and Kaurs. When Guru Ji and the Sikhs were attacked from behind, after leaving Anandpur Sahib Fort, the Jatha of Kaurs played a major role in protecting the Sangat and getting them to the Sirsa River safely. Whilst Bhai Uday Singh, Bhai Jeevan Singh and a few other Sikhs fought the Mughals and Hill Raja soldiers, the Sangat crossed the Sirsa River. Unfortunately, Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji was separated from the Sangat whilst crossing the river. She was taken downstream by the fast-flowing water. Luckily, Bibi Ji was able to get out of the river alive. She then met 5 other Singhs that had been separated from the Sangat too. The Singhs sat Bibi Ji down and told her that there was a battle at Chamkaur Sahib and that the Vadde Sahibzaade had been Shaheed. Bibi Ji couldn’t believe what she was hearing as the Sahibzaade were her best friends. She had grown up with them since she was 5 and now they were gone. However, Bibi Ji did not cry, and asked about the Shote Sahibzaade. The Singhs told her that the Shote Sahibzaade had been arrested and were at Sirhind. Bibi Ji then told the Singhs “If that’s the case then we should go to Sirhind”. The 5 Singhs, along with Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji, set off to Sirhind. Unfortunately, on the way to Sirhind, Bibi Ji and the 5 Singhs were attacked by a large group of Mughals. Bibi Ji and the Singhs fought fearlessly and, eventually, the Mughals got scared and ran away. 2 Singhs were Shaheed in the battle and Bibi Ji was injured. Bibi Ji then came to know that the Shote Sahibzaade had also been Shaheed so she decided to go find Guru Ji. On the way, Bibi Ji and the Singhs were attacked by the Chief of Malerkotla and his army of Mughals. The 3 Singhs fought the hundreds of Mughals like lions and obtained Shaheedi. During the battle, Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji was injured again and arrested by the Mughals. Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji was really famous as she was the leader of a group of woman warriors. For this reason, the Chief had already heard a lot about Bibi Ji. Although Bibi Ji was only 14, she was really beautiful and for this reason the Chief decided that he wanted to convert Bibi Ji to Islam and then marry her. The Chief told Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji to convert to Islam so she could marry him. Bibi Ji refused straight away and said “Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I’m scared of you. I have received the same Amrit as those brave Singhs that were Shaheed at Chamkaur Sahib. You’ll never be able to convert me”. After hearing this, the Chief locked Bibi Ji in a prison cell. Bibi Ji sat in the cell and did Paat for many hours. She then realised that the Mughal Chief was going to forcefully convert her and then marry her. To protect the honour of Guru Ji and die a Sikh, she decided to take her own life. The next day, the Chief called for a Kazi (Muslim Priest) and was going to forcefully convert Bibi Ji. The Mughals went to the cell to get Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji but Bibi Ji had already left this world as she had stabbed herself with a dagger. Bibi Ji was only 14 at the time of her Shaheedi. After hearing about this, the Chief got really angry. He ordered the Mughals to throw her in a grave. Bibi Ji was buried in Malerkotla.

A few years later, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was put in charge of the Khalsa army by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Baba Ji was told the story of the young Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji. After hearing the story, tears poured down Baba Ji’s eyes. Baba Ji was amazed at how much love Bibi Ji had for Sikhi. When Baba Ji set out on their mission towards Sirhind, they travelled to many villages and would kill the rulers of those villages who treated the people unfairly. In 1710, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur reached Malerkotla. The Chief had already ran away as he knew that Baba Ji was coming. As soon as Baba Ji reached the village, he ordered Bibi Anoop Kaur Ji’s body to be taken out of the grave and said “Bibi Ji’s body should not be allowed to rot in a grave”. Bibi Ji’s body was then cremated in accordance with the Sikh Rehat Maryada.

When you show love towards Guru Ji, Guru Ji shows love towards you. Always try to get closer to Guru Ji by taking steps towards Guru Ji. You can do this by: - Learning Gurmukhi Learning to read Gurbani fluently through Santhiya Learning Kirtan Learning Shastar Vidya Doing more Paat Doing more Seva Receiving Amrit Waking up at Amrit Vela (3am – 6am) Tying a Dumalla to school and everywhere you go Wearing the Panj Kakaar “A Sikh who walks one step towards the Guru, the Guru takes millions of steps towards that Sikh to receive them” ~ Bhai Gurdas Ji Vaaran. By receiving Amrit, you become fearless as Guru Ji is always supporting you. Boys and Girls are equal in Sikhi. Both should learn Shastar Vidya. Both should tie a Dumalla. When something bad happens, for example someone you know dies, you should try not to cry. Instead, do some Simran or a Sukhmani Sahib and an Ardas to Vaheguru. Never give up your religion, even if it means you have to take your own life for it. We should learn about all the Sikhs that have been Shaheed in the past as their stories is what will spark the fire of love for Vaheguru within us. Everyone deserves a proper funeral according to the rites of their own religion Muslims and Christians deserve to be buried Hindus and Sikhs deserve to be cremated If someone chooses their body to be disposed of in other ways e.g. given for medical research or thrown in a river, then this is what should be done