Haqiqat Rai

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Haqiqat Rai was born at Sialkot (1724 CE) to Durga and Bhag Mal, Khatris of the Puri subcaste. It was common then for boys to study Persian under Maulvis (Muslim scholars). Haqiqat Rai was the only Khatri in a class where his other classmates were Muslims. One day, a boy in order to tease Haqiqat Rai, ridiculed Durga Mata, the Hindu mother goddess. Haqiqat Rai responded by ridiculing Mohammed. The Muslim boys tortured him and he returned home crying.

The Muslim boys complained to the maulvi about Haqiqat Rai 'blaspheming' the Prophet, which enraged the maulvi. He had Haqiqat Rai arrested and sent to Amir Beg, the administrator of Sialkot who asked him to embrace Islam as punishment for 'blasphemy'. Haqiqat Rai refused conversion. Haqiqat Rai was then sent to Zakaria Khan, the Governor of Lahore. When Haqiqat Rai did not agree to convert even under further torture, he was executed by the orders of the Governor in January, 1735 A.D. at the tender age of 12.

The day of his execution used to marked by a 'mela' (fair) on Vasant Panchami day in Lahore, around his 'samadh' (Baway di marrhi), prior to India's partition. It appears his 'samadh' was wrecked during riots in Lahore that followed the destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

One of the objections to celebration of Vasant Panchami (called Basant in Lahore) by Muslim scholars is because it coincides with the memorial day for Haqiqat Rai.

There is a memorial to Haqiqat Rai at Batala at the spot that marks the samadhi of Sati Lakshmi, the wife of young boy Haqiqat Rai.