Bhai Ghanaiyya – An inspiration for Nurse Edith Cavell who was punished with death for tending wounded soldiers during WW-I

In Aug, 1914 a Sikh Regiment was sent to Belgium to fight for the Britishers against the Germans. The Sikhs carried the Guru Granth Sahib with all order and respect and such was their reputation for being pious and brave soldiers that the British Commander ordered all cooperation and respect to be extended to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.

On reaching Belgrade, the Sikhs setup Sri Guru Granth Sahib in a beautiful large Tent within a residential area and all of them used to pay their obeisance at the Gurdwara. Naik Surat Singh was given the Sewa of being the Granthi. Unfortunately, the Naik got seriously injured during an attack on the Gurdwara by the Germans.

Naik Surat Singh woke up to realize that he was in a Hospital amongst German and British Soldiers and was being nursed by a smiling 50 yr old Nurse, Edith Covell. Edith told him that the Doctors had removed 3 bullets and he should be well soon. Nurse Edith Covell extended love and immense dedication to nurse British, German and Indian soldiers equally without any distinction. Naik Surat Singh was impressed and asked her as to how she tended each one of them without any bias?

She replied with a smile “I see injured Britishers, Germans and Indians as only Injured HUMANS”. But what the Nurse shared next, brought tears to the eyes of Surat Singh. She said “During our training in Nursing, we were taught about Bhai Ghannaiyya and his supreme service. He is widely respected as an icon of Service to Humanity in European Nursing Curriculum”.

Edith Louisa Cavell, 49 was a British and was a recognized pioneer of modern nursing in Belgium. She was executed by a German Firing Squad on 12 Oct 1915.

She is remembered for tending to and saving the lives of soldiers from both sides without any bias. She was arrested, subsequently court-martialled, found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was executed. Her execution received worldwide condemnation and extensive press coverage.

She is well known for her statement that “patriotism is not enough”. She was quoted as saying, “I can’t stop while there are lives to be saved.” 12 October is appointed for her commemoration in the Anglican Church, although this is not a saint’s feast day in the traditional sense.

Source: Edith Cavell in Sikh History by Sampuran Singh