THE RED CROSS

Bhai Kanahiya Ji was a resident of village Sodhara, district Gujranwala. He came to Anandpur Sahib for the first time to have an audience with Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He was delighted by the audience. To feel that bliss all the time he stayed on in the Guru's institution. He was entrusted the service of fetching water for the community kitchen.
Before the start of the battle of Bhagnani,Guru Gobind Rai bestowed upon him the duty of serving water to the needy in the battlefield. On the 15th April 1687, the hill states, rajas, weaning away four hundred Pathans, attacked the Sikhs. In the battlefield whosoever was thirsty came to Bhai Kanahiya. He served them water.Hindus, Muslims ,Sikhs and Pathans were given a drink of water by him. Thus refreshed, they again took to fighting.
When the Sikhs saw Bhai Kanahiya Ji serving water to the enemy, they were annoyed The Sikhs thought ''If Bhai Kanahiya does not serve water to the enemy they would surely die of thirst''. The Sikhs went to the Guru and complained about it. After narrating the whole story they beseeched that Bhai Kanahiya be preventing from serving the water to the enemy.
The Guru called Bhai Kanahiya and asked him,''Brother, is it true that you are serving water to the enemy soldiers that are thirsty and wounded by the Sikhs, thus refreshing them to fight again and again?''
Bhai Kanahiya replied, O, True Lord. I do not see any enemy. I behold you everywhere.Whom should I serve water and to whom should I not? I serve water to all those who are in need and comes to me. You, yourself have bestowed the service of giving water to those in need.

The Guru was very pleased to hear the answer of Bhai Kanahiya. Giving him balm and bandages, the Guru said to him,''Bhai Kanahiya, from now onwards, besides serving water, you should also bandage the wounded. Take some other sikhs with you and raise the team. You will be the leader of this band.''
Bhai Kanahiya did as directed. He set up a band of the sikhs. He himself became the head of the band. This was the beginning of the first'Red Cross Service'. Afterwards, the bands looking after the needy and wounded began identifying themselves as 'Sewa Panthi.'