SANTĀ SIṄGH, BHĀĪ (1884-1921), one of the martyrs of Nankāṇā Sāhib, came of a poor barber family of Fatehgaṛh Sukkarchakkīāṅ, a village near Amritsar. His father Bhāī Mohrā however had become through thrift and hard work a small shopkeeper and money-lender. Santā Siṅgh learnt Gurmukhī from the village granthī, Bhāī Ṭek Siṅgh, and could read the Holy Book fluently. He was initiated a Siṅgh at the age of 17. He commanded respect for his upright conduct, religious devotion and tuneful recital of the heroic deeds of Sikh martyrs. As the movement for Gurdwārā Reform got under way, he joined the Akālī ranks. On 19 February 1921, he fell in with Bhāī Lachhmaṇ Siṅgh Dhārovālī's squad and met with a violent death on 20 February 1921 singing holy hymns with other Sikhs.