Sohan Singh, ’Josh’, son of Lal Singh, Jat, of Chetanpura, P. S. Ajnala, District Amritsar. Has studied up to the Matriculation standard. Took a prominent part in the Akali movement and was given the sobriquet of 'Josh' (fiery) on account of his violent speeches at Akali Diwans. In 1921 he helped to foment anti-Government agitation among the Sikhs over the question of the possession of the keys of the Golden Temple, Amritsar, and in 1922 identified himself prominently with the agitation arising out of the Guru-ka-Bagh Morcha. Was the Secretary of the Akali Dal. Became a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee. Was arrested in October 1923 in the Akali Leaders Case. While still under trial he was elected a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Was released in September 1926 when the case against the Akali leaders was dropped. Developed communistic ideas and on Santokh Singh's (of village Dodher, district Amritsar) death took up the management of the "Kirti" paper with Bhag Singh Canadian (B-47). Sohan Singh was the chief organizer of the "Workers and Peasants Party" in the Punjab and was one of the moving spirits of the Communist party in the Punjab. Presided over the meetings of a Labor Conference organized by the Kirti group on the occasion of the sixth session of the Central Sikh League, at Hoshiarpur in October 1928 and delivered an address sympathizing with China’s struggle for freedom, and suggesting that in the event of a war with Russia, Indian Labor should withhold all help from Government. Took a leading part in the boycott of the Indian Statutory Commission. Throughout 1928 he spoke at several political diwans, urging the attainment of Swaraj by all possible means. He was the originator and chief organizer of the Workers' and Peasants' Conference held at Lyallpur on the occasion of the Punjab Provincial Political Conference in September 1928. Participated in the Conference of the Workers' and Peasants' Party held at Meerut in October 1928 at which Communism and Bolshevism were openly preached. Was twice elected President and Vice-President of the Amritsar branch of the Nau Jawan Bharat Sabha and the Congress Committee respectively, in 1928. Visited Calcutta on 18th December 1928 along with Bhag Singh Canadian (B-47), Karam Singh of Chima (K-20) and Feroze-ud-din-Mansur (F-5) with a view to study the labor situation in Jamshedpur, and while in Calcutta presided over the All-India Workers' and Peasants’ Party Conference held in the last week of December 1928, at which it was decided to form an All-India Kirti Party of which Sohan Singh was to be the representative from the Punjab. Presided over the second session of the Punjab Nau Jawan Bharat Sabha Conference held in the Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore from 22nd to 24th February 1929, and in his address advocated a mass revolution by the peasants and labourers, and warmly appreciated the "sacrifices and courage" of the Ghadr conspirators of 1914-15. Attended the 3rd Peasants' and Workers' Conference at Rohtak on 10th March 1920. Was arrested in connection with the Meerut Conspiracy Case in March 1929 and was convicted and sentenced to seven years' R. I. in January 1933. The sentence was reduced on appeal to one year's R. I. under Section 121-A, I. P. C. in August 1933.

Description : Age about 40 years; stout build; wheat complexion; straight pointed nose; brown eyes; protruding teeth.