MOTĀ SIṄGH, BHĀĪ (1902-1921), one of the Nankānā Sāhib martyrs, was the son of Bhāī Harī Siṅgh and Māī Ṭhākarī, Rāmdāsīā Sikhs, weavers by profession, originally of Bassī village in Hoshiārpur district, who had migrated for better living to Chakk No. 18 Bahoṛū in Sheikhūpurā district (now in Pakistan). Motā Siṅgh was born on 15 Poh 1959 Bk/28 December 1902 in his mother's village Thāndhevālā in Fīrozpur district. As he grew up, he learnt enough Gurmukhī to be able to read the Sikh granth fluently. He took the Khālsā pāhul and inspired his parents to have the Gurū Granth Sāhib in their own home where members of the Khālsā Barādarī (an association of Sikhs belonging to the so-called lower castes) began to assemble to listen to gurbāṇī recited and explained by him. He was drawn into the Gurdwārā Reform movement and had himself registered as an Akālī volunteer. On 19 February 1921, he was all dressed up and ready to go to bring home his bride when the call was received for the liberation of Gurdwārā Janam Asthān. He joined the Dhārovālī group in the same dress and fell a martyr the following morning in the reckless shooting in the compound of the Gurdwārā Janam Asthān.