24th March
1664 Guru Har Krishan Ji visited Aurangzeb’s court. This is the time Guru Sahib visited Aurangzeb’s court, when Ram Rai emphatically declared that the decision of his father in selecting his younger brother as his sucessor to the pontificate of Guru Nanak was based on cogent reasons, and that he was now under the command of the new Guru.
1847 The British being aware of the Sikh’s emotional and sentimental attachment to Golden Temple and other shrines, issued special instructions to the British subjects to be careful in maintaining the sanctity of the shrines.
1922 Meeting at Rajowal by Kishan Singh Gargaj group to devise ways and means of reforming the toadies
1945 Master Tara Singh denounces the Acharyae Formula.
25th March 1830 Baba Ratta Ji Nirankari was born.
1921 13th Sikh Education Confernce was held in Hoshiarpur that and lasted until Mar. 27. This conference saw the rise of miltant Akalis who advocated non-cooperation with the British government and were deeply inspired by Master Mota Singh. They met sperately and created disturbances in the conference as well as worked on a sperate program. They were equally patriotic believing in the militant traditions of the Nihangs.
1921 The militant Akalis hatched a conspiracy to murder the officials respobsinle for the Nanakana carnage. 1972 Mohan Singh Tur became President of Akali Party. 1981 The SGPC unanimously passed the resolution “Sikhs are a Nation.” With the passing of such a resolution by the Sikh Parliament and with the ratification of this resolution by the Jathedar of the Akal Takht on April 21, 1981, the issue stood finally decided by the whole of the Sikh nation. On May 11, 1981, the Akali Party also passed a resolution to that effect.
1986 Surjit S. Barnala himself ordered firing at the Sikhs who were observing holy festival at Anandpur Sahib, killing several Sikhs.
26th March
1644 Gur Gadhi Diwas, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji (1644).
1746 The forces of Yahiha Khan and Lakhapat Rai seized and set fire to the Kahnuwaan forest. 7,000 Singh were martyred here while another 3,000 were taken to Lahore and martyred there.
1746 Matta Sunder kaur Ji sent a mace of Kalgidhar to honor Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
1748 Raja Amar Singh of Patiala was born. He was a thorough gentleman.
1923 Amar Singh, granthi of Kot Fatuhi, is arrested
27th March
1843 Raja Suchet Singh murdered. Raja Suchet Singh was brother of Raja Dhiyan Singh Dogra and Gulab Singh Jammu. He was a popular propenent of Sikh Raj. Sher-e-Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, personally bestowed the honor Raja on Suchet Singh.
1923 Hazara Singh Sirbrah of Behbalpur is murdered.
1924 The 4th shahihi jatha of 500 valiant Akali satyagrahies, led by Sardar Puran Singh Bahowal, marched from Anandpur Sahib to Gangsar, Jaito.
28th March
1552 Gur Gadhi Diwas, Sri Guru Amar Das Sahib.
1620 Guru Hargobind Ji had to marry Nanaki despite his refusal. This was an unfortunate upshot of the jubilation in Sikh community caused by Guru Sahib’s release from seven years of incarceration. Within a few months two brides were pledged to him by their parents. Under the customs prevalent at that time, on Guru Hargobind’s refusal, those girls would have remained unmarried throughout their life. So he had to marry Nanaki on March 28, 1620, and Mehrai also called Marwahi on July 10, 1620. The first incident occurred too close to his release. Taken aback at the second incident, he announced that no one should pledge his daughter to him in future.
1965 SGPC resolves at its general meeting to establish Punjabi Suba.
29th March
1552 Second Patshahi, Guru Angad Dev Ji departed this planet from Khadur Sahib. He served as Guru for 12 years and none months. Today is the actual date of joti jot, though its is observed on a different date by Guru Khalsa Panth.
1552 Third Patshahi, Guru Amar Das Ji ascended to Guruship of Sikhsism. Amardas was influenced to Sikhims by Bibi Amro, daughter of Guru Angad Dev Ji. She was married to Amardas’s nephew. Bibi Amro was a very pious woman. She would get up early in the morning, take a bath and start reciting the hymns of Guru Nanak. One day Amardasheard Bibi Amro sing Guru Nanak’s Jap Ji and pauris of Asa-di-var. He was touched by the divinity and peity of the hymns. He learnt those gymns from her and started reciting them every morning.
1699 Baisakhi day, Guru Gobind created the Khalsa order at Anandpur Sahib. Earlier Hukamnamahs were sent to Sikhs all over Hindustan and beyond to vist Anandpur. The people were asked to visit with their hair unshorn. The hill chiefs, who, according to one account, were taken into confidence about Guru’s program, were present in strength. He Abolished the corrupt and debased institution of ‘masands’. Created a small regular army and fortified Anandpurs with a ring of smaller fortresses around it.
1748 The Sikhs assembled at Amritsar on Baisakhi day and by a gurmatta, decided to form Dal Khalsa by reorganization of over 60 arms jathas, bands, into eleven associatios (misls) under the overall command of’ Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Nawab Kapur Singh because of his age sought retirement from active overall leadership.
1922 Akali Dal renamed as “Shiromani Akali Dal”.
1940 The Khalsa National Party at its meeting in Lahore, under Sunder Singh Majithia, saw danger in the division of India into Hindu and Muslim independent states, and said that the Sikhs would not tolerate for a single day the unadultrated communal rule of any community. As a logical sequence, it asked for restoration of Sikh sovereignty of Punjab, which was held in trust by the British during the minority reign of Maharaja Dalip Singh.
1981 SGPC adopted the motion “Sikhs are a Nation”. When the Presdient Gurcharan Singh Tohra, was asked the question that the SGPC was turning political, he answered “On October 10, 1946, Ishar Singh Mahjaiol, had moved in the house a resolution for the creation of a Sikh State. The resolution was seconded by Sardar Swaran Singh. The “Sikhs Are a Nation” proposal was part of S. Ganga Singh Dhillon’s speech at 54th All India Sikh Educational Conference that took place on March 13, 14, and 15, 1981. In his presidential address, S. Ganga Singh Dhillon wrote: “SIKHS ARE A NATION We all are born equal, with a human right to preserve our religious and cultural heritage, improve our economic inheritance and freedom to mould our destiny.
30th March
1664 Patshahi Eighth, Guru Harkrishan Ji, left this planet for heavenly abode from Delhi. He was eight years of age, when he took over on himself the sufferings and sins of the people of Delhi. As a result, he left for heavenly abode. Today is the actual date of joti joot, though it is observed differently by Guru Khalsa Panth.
1682 Janam Din Baba Deep Singh Ji. Known as Deepaa in his childhood, he was born on 14 Magh Sunmat 1737 to mother Mata Jeeonee and father Bhai Bhagtoo at Paahoowind, Amritsar. He is remembered as one of the most revered martyrs of Sikh history.
1846 Anglo-Sikh war was fought at village Aliwal, Tehsil Jagraon. The Sikhs suffered severe losses due to internal dissensions.
1921 Gurudwara Sudhar Dal was named Akali Dal and Sarmukh Singh Jhabal was elected its first President. This body was to serve as a central body controlling and directing various Akali Jathas that had mushroomed from mid-1920.
1923 The Kar-Sewa of Amritsar Sarowar was initaited. All participant Sikh sangats gathered at Gurdwara Sri Putali Sahib to do their ardas before proceeding for kar-sewa at Sri Harmandie Sahib.
1983 Akali members of Parliament and Assembly resigned in support of Sikh’s righteous demands.
28th January
1520: Guru Baba Nanak Dev in the course of his udasis (travels) arrived at Mecca, the Centre of Islam, accompanied with his GurSikh Bhai Mardana. Here he convinced the Hajies and other dignitories that God is omnipresent. His abode is not confined to Mecca alone. He preached the Message of Universal love and brotherhood.
1757: Baba Aalla Singh and Sardar Chadhat Singh together attacked the forces of Abdali and rescued the Hindu women that were being forcibly taken from their residence. The Sikh forces safely returned each women to her rightful home.
29th January
The Babbar Akali conspiracy case, Supplementary I, was brought before the committing magistrate.
1925 14th Shahidi Jatha of 500 valiant Akali Satyagrahies, led by Saradar Darshan Singh Pheruman courted arrest upon reaching Gangsar, Jaito.
1928 All Party Sikh Conference held at Amritsar.
1970 Indira Ghandhi announced the so-called award on Chandigarh. It was to be given to Punjab in exchange for 114 villages to Haryana. It was like buying a white elephant to save the life of Fateh Singh. Though Fateh Singh would not have died even otherwise; a coward, as he was.
1976 Articles of Organization for the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood were promilgated.
1986 The the Panthic Committee, appointed by Sarbat Khalsa on Jan. 26, 1986, announced the Declaration of Independence, from Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar.
1989 The US Congress condemns India for its prosecution of the Sikhs. The Congressmen expressed their sympathies for the Sikh national cause and condemned Indian Nazism.
30th January
1850: Bhai Maharaj Singh was deported to Calcutta from Jalandhar.
1855: Baba Dayal Singh Nirankari passed away.
1892 Lal Singh, a Bar Student charged with an offence, insisted to give his evidence on oath by saying: I am a Sikh. I have a religion. When he was examined on solemn affirmation and not oath, the matter went up in appeal. It was held by Justice Hawkins that it was wrong to let Lal Singh make a solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath. Wills, Charles, Lawrence, and Wright JJ all concurred.
31st January
1630 Seventh Patshash, Guru Har Rai Ji came to this planet. He was born at Kirtapur in the house of Baba Gurditta, eldest son of Guru Hargobind, and Mata Nihal Kaur. He was the second grandson of Guru hargobind, the first being Baba Dhir Mal. Today is the actual date of birth, although it is observed on a different date by Guru Khalsa Panth (Please NOTE the contention on the actual date. Some have suggested Jan. 16, 1630.)
1922 The management of Gurudwara Guru Ka Bagh was handed over to the Sikhs after a long agitation.
1927 Saint Attar Singh passed away.
1st February
1998 The British Army announced a revolutionary dress code, which is aimed to allow it Sikh members wear their traditional dresses. The Sikhs will be able to carry a miniature version of the kirpan in their wallets. They would also be permitted to wear army-issue special design knee-length underpants.
2nd February
1534 Bibi Bhani Ji, was born at Basarkae.
1807 Maharaja Ranjit Singh attacked Kasur, as Quitbuddin had sided against him in the battle of Bhasin. Qutbuddin was caught while fleeing. However, he was pardoned with a jagir at Mamdot. Kasur was annexed to Lahore Darbar. Pasrur town was also annexed.
1958 Sikhs held a Protest March in Delhi against numerous acts of the sacrilege of their Gurdwaras by the Hindus.
1706 Guru Gobind Singh Sahib reached Talwandi, where he set camp, outside the village, is the location of Gurduara Damdamaa Sahib. Dam damaa means breathing place. That is take a breather after the many battles he had been through.
1841 After Gulab Singh left Lahore, Sher Singh occupied the fort. Dhian Singh became the Wazir. The Sandalwalia Sardars, hostile to the ruling group, started entering into intrigues.
1926 The British Government announced the judgement in Babbar Akali case. As a result, 5 Babbar Akalis were ordered to the hanged, 11 were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 38 were imprisoned four years. Approximately 90 religious, high spirited, daring fighters formed the Babbar Akali group. They had promised freedom to the masses and vigorously fought the British, especially in the Duaba and Malwa regions.
1986 Sentences handed in the case of Indian Airline hijacking.
21st January
1831 The King of England sent valuable gifts to Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a gesture of friendship. The gifts were really meant to be a bate of friendship! The British had encroched into his territory and came all the way to the other side of river Satluj and finally attacked the Sikh kingdom as soon as he breatherd his last, after buying all the Dogras. What followed afterwards is a history!
1846 Budhowal battle was fought and won by the Sikh troops against the East India Company. Sikhs defeated Harry Smith at Budhowal and captured his baggage. Sikhs also attacked and burned down large part of Ludhiana cantonement. HArry Smith fought a minor skirmish with Ranjodh Singh at Atwal.
22nd January
1848 Mool Raj, Governor of Multan, revolted against the British but was defeated.
MOOL RAJ: During Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign, Mool Raj was an efficient and loyal Governor of Multan, He was the son of Diwan Sawanmal Chaupadhae and appointed Governor by the Lahore darbar. During his reign, two British officers were killed by the Lahore forces. As a result, the British Resident of Lahore, John Lawrence, wanted to dismiss Mool Raj. On account of his loyalty to the kingdom of Ranjit Singh, he revolted against the British East India Company who were forcibly annexing Ranjit Singh’s Punjab. He put up a brave defense of the fort of Multan but was defeated on this day. The British arrested and imprisoned him in Calcutta jail, where he died in 1850.
1849 Multan fell to the British.
1986 The additional session judge announced his judgement in the case of Indira Gandhi’s murder. Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh were to be hanged. The sentence was carried out on Jan. 6, 1989. Indira Gandhi was gunned down at her resident on Oct. 31, 1984.’ as a retribution for her role in operation Bluestar, during which the Indian Army attacked and desecrated Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar.
23rd January
1923 Dhanna Singh Behbalpur joins the Babbar Akali Jatha.
1923 Second attempt to kill Arjan Singh Patwari of Haripur also ends in a fiasco. He was alledged to be responsible for Master Mota Singh’s arrest.
1948 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar suggested the Sikhs to struggle for a Punjabi speaking state.
1960 Sirdar Tirath Singh accepted shahadat in Delhi, in connection with the Punjabi Subha morcha.
24th January
1849 Chatter Singh joined with Sher Singh against the British while the British forces spared from Multan battle joined their forces.
1923 Pragpur is raided to arrest Kishan Singh Garhgaj.
1928 Raghbir Singh RajaSasi formed the Central Sikh Association.
1943 Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha passed away at Kadia-Kunal.
Among the 12 Sikh misls, Nabha reign represented the major branch of Phullkiyan misl. The Nabha family began with Gurdit Singh, the eldest son of Chaudhary Tilok Singh, who in turn was the eldest son of Baba Phull. As a result, Nabha is also known as Chaudhary da Garh (house of Chaudhary).
1960 129 members of the SGPC and over 100,000 GurSikhs took a vow to lay lives for Punjabi Suba.
1993 Kesri Nishan hoisted at The Hague.
25th January
1921 Morcha of Taran Taran marked the beginning of Gurudwara Reform Movement. Hazara Singh became the first martyr of the movement.
1922 Karam Singh of Daulatpur arranged diwan at Nawansehar.
1936 The Nankana Sahib Committee established the Guru Nanak Prachar Trust.
26th January
1720 Nadir Shah attacked, ransacked, and looted Delhi.
Pandits and Brahmins suffered extensively under Aurangzeb, Bahadhur Shah, Forkhshayer, Nadar Abdali, etc. and Guru’s Sikhs rescued their daughters, sacrificed their own lifes for saving their Dharam. Then these decepers used to honor the Sikhs as “saintly rulers.”
1921 Sikhs assume control of Sri Darbar Sahib, Taran Taran.
1950 Republic day of India. But the Sikh Nation’s aspirations remain unfulfilled.
1986 The Sarbat Khalsa, gathered together at Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar resolved to establish a sovereign State, Khalistan and elected a Panthic Committee to co-ordinate the movement for national independence.
1986 Work was initiated to dismantle Akal Takht constructed under government’s forcible “Kar Sewa” after Bluestar Operation. This work was carried out by Baba Santa Singh, who was excummunicated from the Panth for his cooperation.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, renowned as the Lion of the Punjab or Sher-e-Punjab was born on November 13, 1780, in Gujranwala, (now in Pakistan). The great ruler and great warrior was the founder of the Sikh kingdom of Punjab. He was the first Indian in a millennium to turn the tide of invasion back into the homelands of India’s traditional conquerors, the Pashtuns (Afghans). His holdings stretched from the Khyber Pass in the northwest to the Sutlej River in the east, and from Kashmir, the Indian subcontinent’s northernmost area, southward to the Thar (Great Indian) Desert. Punjab state is the only state which has defeated Afghanistan. He founded the Sikh kingdom and led it from 1801 to 1839. It is widely acknowledged that an attack of smallpox deprived him of his left eye in childhood. As a boy, he was sent to Bhagu Singh’s Dharamshala at Gujranwala to learn Gurumukhi, but he was more interested in warfare. He was pretty matchless in that art.
When his father died in 1790, the young Ranjit Singh was only ten years old. When most boys that age would be busy playing, Ranjit Singh found himself in the centre of the political scenario and became the heir to his father’s legacy.
The court historian Sohan Lal Suri in Umdat ut- Tawarikh describes an event about the courage of Ranjit Singh as a young boy of 13 years. Once Ranjit Singh got separated from his companions and reached the outskirts of Ladewali, which then was under the rule of Nawab Hashmat khan Chatha. The Nawab, who opposed the Sukerchakia MISL, was out for a hunt. Seeing the young boy alone, he attacked him. In the confrontation, Ranjit Singh not only single-handedly managed to ward off the attack but chopped the Nawab’s head off. The Chatthas never opposed him ever again In 1795 at the age of 15, Maharaja Ranjit Singh married Mehtab Kaur, the daughter of Rani Sada Kaur, the widow of the chief of the Kanhiyas misl, Sardar Gurbaksh Singh. Rani Sada Kaur handled Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s administrative affairs for many years.
It’s important to know that during the period from about 1750 to about 1810, Afghan invaders had been attacking India. Several times. Ahmad Shah Durrani, who WAS ruling Afghanistan, had shot India nine times.
In 1796 Shah Zaman-grandson of Ahmad Shah Abdali entered Punjab – no ruler in Punjab was in a position to oppose him or his 30,000 troops and heavy artillery. Maharaja Ranjit Singh realized the need for joint resistance and approached several Sikh chiefs who accepted his leadership. The collective army under the supervision of Maharaja Ranjit Singh forced Shah Zaman to return to Afghanistan. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s fame as a courageous leader spread.
When Shah Zaman left Lahore, three Sardars of the Bhangi Misl re-occupied it. The Prominent citizens of Lahore were aware of the weaknesses of their Bhangi rulers. They invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh to take over Lahore. Maharaja Ranjit Singh planned the attack with his mother-in-law Sada Kaur. The Two jointly moved towards Lahore with their armies. And without much resistance, the city was wrested away from the Bhangi Sardars.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rise to power as the leader of the Sikhs was evident by 1801, and he was invested with the title “Maharaja”. The inauguration was conducted by Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, a spiritual patriarch of the Sikhs, on Baisakhi day, establishing him as the leader of the Sikhs. However, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, in his modesty, refused to wear any emblems of royalty. Even the government seal made no personal reference to him. It was of “Sarkar Khalsa Ji” (of the people). His government, too, was known as ‘Sarkar-i-Khalsa’. He is reported to have preferred the simple title of”Singh Sahib” ” to any grandiose soubriquets. The coins issued by him bore the name of Shri Guru Nanak Ji. He remained faithful to the guidelines of the last Guru. He was indeed the leader of the Khalsa as opposed to becoming an autocratic ruler. In 1802, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was again requested by the citizens to save the city of Amritsar– the most sacred city of the Sikhs from the Bhangi Sardars. Once again, Maharaja Ranjit Singh took the Fort of the Bhangies and named itGobindgarh Fort -after the name of the tenth Sikh Guru –Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
He also captured the Zamzama Cannon, an enormous cannon of Asia at the time. After winning the Gobindgarh Fort, Maharaja Ranjit Singh went to Harmandir Sahib for darshan as a thanksgiving. He vowed to cover the temple with gold, turning the revered Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara into the “Golden Temple.”
After Winning the Amritsar and Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh turned his ambitions in other directions.
The British soon became vary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s growing power. On 1 January 1806, Maharaja Ranjit Singh signed a treaty with the East India Company. The Company agreed that it would not even attempt to cross the Sutlej River into the Sikh territory. Maharaja Ranjit Singh agreed that his Sikh forces would not expand south of the Sutlej River.
However, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was busy expanding west and northwards.
By 1807, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s forces attacked Misl of Kasur and, after a month of fierce fighting, defeated the Afghan chief Qutb-ud-Din- allowing Maharaja Ranjit Singh to expand his empire towards Afghanistan.
In December 1809, the aid Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra asked for his help, and after defeating the Ghurka forces, Maharaja Ranjit Singh acquired Kangra. In 1810, he annexed Multan after a long siege.
However, as history turned, infighting broke into the family of the Durranis, with brothers killing, blinding and overthrowing each other in 1812; one of the brothers was Shah Shuja. He was dethroned by another stepbrother and was trying to flee Kabul with his entourage when the British captured him and sent him to Kashmir to his brother, where he was imprisoned!
His wife, Wafa Begum, then came to Maharaja Ranjit Singh to ask for help. Thus, the “Afghan royal family- the very same people who had been invading and looting Punjab for years, arrived at Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s doorstep pleading for help” in getting the release of Shah Shuja from the clutches of the British. Maharaja Ranjit Singh obliged, and it was then that he acquired the Koh-i-Noor – In exchange for helping Shah Shuja get back the throne of Afghanistan.
In 1819, he successfully annexed Srinagar and Kashmir by defeating the Afghan Sunni Muslim rulers. His rule thus now spread to the Jhelum valley in the north beyond the foothills of the Himalayas.
By 1820 he had consolidated his rule over the whole of Punjab between the Sutlej and Indus rivers.
Early in his career, he observed how the British troops had defeated Indian forces that were superior in numbers with their discipline and training. Their well-drilled infantry and artillery were very impressive. But Maharaja Ranjit Singh did not trust the British. Instead, he used the French and Italian generals to modernize his army- many of these Generals had served under Napoleon. Accordingly, he restructured and trained his army.
It is important to note that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a considerable secularist. His armies were composed of Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus. Even his commanders, as well as his ministers, were from different religious communities. The Maharaja never forced Sikhism on his subjects. This was in sharp contrast with the ethnic and religious cleansing of past Muslim rulers – Afghani or Mughal. His modernized artillery and infantry army fought very well in campaigns in the North-West. Maharaja Ranjit Singh spent the following years fighting the Afghans, driving them out of western Punjab. In 1823 a treaty brought the province of Peshawar under his rule. This was the first time that non-Muslims ruled Pashtuns. From a historical perspective, this event was a landmark event. “For more than a thousand years’ invaders had come down from the Khyber Pass and ruled eastern lands. Maharaja Ranjit Singh reversed this trend.”
But by 1834, Mohammed Azim Khan again attempted an attack on Peshawar with an army of 25,000 composed of Khattak and Yasufzai tribe members. The Maharaja defeated the forces.
In 1837, the Battle of Jamrud became the last confrontation between the Sikhs led by him and the Afghans led by Dost Muhammad Khan. His victory over a succession of Afghan warlords culminated in a victory march past Kabul in 1838. Shortly afterwards, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was taken ill, and he died at Lahore in June 1839—almost exactly 40 years after he had entered the city as a conqueror. In a little more than six years after his death, the Sikh state he had created collapsed because of the internal strife prodded by the British. However, this great Maharaja is well known and respected as the creator of Punjab.
His foreign minister best highlights the respect shown by those who worked for the Maharaja: a Muslim named Fakir Azizuddin, who, when meeting with the British Governor-General George Eden, had enquired as to which of the Maharajah’s eyes was missing. Said Fakir Azzizudin. “The Maharajah is like the sun, and the sun has only one eye. The splendour and luminosity of his single eye are so much that I have never dared to look at his other eye. “
“The Spirit of Charhdi-kala is all about rising to the occasion, whenever standing up and speaking out becomes quintessential, whether for one’s own rights or to protect another who is being subjugated, oppressed, tormented and annihilated. It also refers to wielding the sword, as the last resort, after all avenues have been explored and exhausted. It is optimism to the extent of intoxication with the Divine thought of “I (the soul) am fearless as my Parent (The Almighty Majesty) and so I must not buckle down”. Now, in such a state-of-mind, the very thought of being outnumbered 1 to 125,000 enemy-ranks, does not occur at all, and so the mind becomes absolutely fearless and invincible, just indomitable. It is not about winning or losing the battle, per se but it is only about being on the right side, ethically.”
A Sikh Day Parade in New York. (File photo)
There are various hues of the Spirit of Optimism ( ‘Charrhdi-kala’) which were inculcated in the Sikhs, right from the time of Guru Nanak Rai Sahib Ji (1469-1539)-the Divine Preceptor of ONENESS of humanity. It continued to be instilled amongst the Sikhs, during the lifetime of his nine successor Gurus.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Divine-Leader on the Spiritual Throne of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji, says: “When I empower sparrows to fight the hawks, when I transform the weak and the meek into fearless lions, when I make the castigated ones feel exalted, when I enable one Sikh face an army of one hundred and twenty-five thousand; and so I am recognized as Gobind Singh”. He says,“in egotism, one is assailed by fear, he passes his life totally troubled by fear.”
Innumerable hues and connotations of Optimism
There are various colors and shades of the Spirit of ‘Charrhdi-kala’, whether it is sacrificing oneself on the battlefront or maintaining peace on the home front, inside the nation or within the local community; be it attaining success in a diplomatic breakthrough like the re-opening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor between India & Pakistan after over seven decades of the bloodshed and partition that accompanied India’s independence from the yoke of the British colonial, imperial monarchic occupation of India; or serving food, medications, vaccines, ventilators and oxygen concentrators during Corona pandemic; saving people during natural calamities as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes; or achieving resounding success which the farming-community of Punjab led from the front to unite nationwide workers and farmers to force the Indian establishment to revoke ‘the 3 Black farming Laws’; or successfully enhancing awareness about Sikhs, in the wake of rising hate-crimes in the post-9/ 11 scenario when many Sikhs were murdered and many more suffered near-fatal injuries, as a retaliatory measure whereby the mistaken-identity syndrome was rampant. The Spirit of Charrhdi-kala is all about rising to the occasion, whenever standing up and speaking out becomes quintessential, whether for one’s own rights or to protect another who is being subjugated, oppressed, tormented and annihilated. It also refers to wielding the sword, as the last resort, after all avenues have been explored and exhausted. It is optimism to the extent of intoxication with the Divine thought of “I (the soul) am fearless as my Parent (The Almighty Majesty) and so I must not buckle down”. Now, in such a state-of-mind, the very thought of being outnumbered 1 to 125,000 enemy-ranks, does not occur at all, and so the mind becomes absolutely fearless and invincible, just indomitable. It is not about winning or losing the battle, per se but it is only about being on the right side, ethically.
Sree Guru Nanak Sahib Ji says : “There is One Light of Our Creator pervading in the entire Creation and in all Creatures”.
Guru Nanak Ji was the pioneer, enunciating the cause of Inter-Religious Peace and Harmony. His tenets emphasize upon truthful living, humility, liberty, equality, justice, compassion, honest earning, serving the needy selflessly and protecting the weak and the meek. All this, he said would be tantamount to a Divine Life and real, true, actual worship and attainment of God and fulfillment of the purpose of human-birth. Guru Nanak was on a Divine Mission. He was a Spiritual Maestro, a Renaissance-Man, a Crusader for Interreligious Amity, an extraordinary social-reformist much ahead his era and yet he utters the absolute TRUTH that “he is, what he is, ONLY because of the Gracious Mercy of The Almighty and he is nothing without GOD”. In other words, Divine Guru is teaching humanity to embrace humility, by refraining from self aggrandizement.
The Golden Chain: The foundation of Sikhism was laid by Guru Nanak who infused his own consciousness into a disciple, then became Guru, subsequently passing the light on to the next, and so on. The word “Guru” is derived from the root words “Gu”, which means darkness or ignorance, and “Ru”, which means light or knowledge The Guru is the experience of Truth (God).
For over a thousand years, India was invaded by a small bunch of horse-riders, from Mongolia,Persia,Afghanistan, and other regions. Taimur, Ghazni, Ghori, Nadir Shah, Abdali, Durrani, Babar, Sher Shah Suri are only a few of those invaders, who plundered Hindu Temples, looted gold, took women and children as slaves, killed all and sundry who crossed their path.
And then, in 1469, appeared a man on earth, the likes of whom are seen, once in a millennium. God sent GURU NANAK, The Divine Preceptor of ONENESS of humanity and the epitome of humility to HEAL humanity. He was blessed by The Creator, to win the hearts of all, and to bring about massive transformation, wherever he went. The Divine Preceptor traversed various continents, 27000 miles in 25 years of his 70-year sojourn on this planet, fostering Goodwill amongst races, cultures, religions.
Two of the ten Gurus had to take up arms, to protect the masses from the extreme persecution and tyranny of the ruling elite. The sixth Guru Hargobind Sahibji and the tenth Guru Gobind Singhji, with their disciples were the Saint Warriors. The fifth Guru Arjan Sahibji and the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahibji embraced martyrdom, for refusing to follow the diktat of the barbaric regime. Such events forced the sixth and tenth Gurus to raise a martial force, the army named The Khalsa.
Guru Arjan Sahib and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib attained martyrdom for the cause of Freedom of Religion and Interfaith acceptance and harmonious coexistence. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, tenth Spiritual Master, sacrificed his entire family including four sons, all under 18, fighting the tyrannical regimes, bent upon annihilating the Freedom of Religion, Culture and Traditions. During these five centuries, hundreds of thousands of Sikhs have performed the supreme sacrifice of life, for the protection of their motherland.
They have been in the forefront against marauding invaders and the oppressive British regime. The maximum number of those exiled from India or those executed by the British, after fake trials, were Sikhs.
Illustrious Martyrs include Bhagat Singh, who instilled courage in the masses by kissing the gallows, as a reward for serving the cause of India’s freedom. Udham Singh avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre perpetrated by the British, after twenty-one years, and was also hanged.Kartar Singh Sarabha was the leading figure who played a predominant role, in the propagation of Ghadar Movement. He tried to dismantle the military structure established by the British who were fanning communal disharmony in the country.
Amongst the heroic Sikh soldiers Air Marshall Arjan Singh of the Indian Air Force and Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora are the shining stars. Hardit Singh Malik was an expert pilot of various jets in the World War theatre. Known as The Flying Sikh of Biggin Hill, Hardit Singh Malik was the first Indian pilot of the First World War and would go on to become a distinguished diplomat and Indian Ambassador to France. Sikh regiments and battalions have served the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces, worldwide, whether in war-torn countries or civil-wars, and in regions ravaged by natural calamities as famines, floods, droughts or earthquakes.
Fighting in the World Wars, as part of the British Indian Army, the highest number of “exceptional gallantry” Awards from the British Empire were bestowed upon the Sikhs. The epic saga of twenty-one Sikhs attaining martyrdom facing ten thousand Tribal Afghans is unparalleled in world history.
The role of the Sikhs in the Liberation of France is well recognized.Today, the Sikhs reside in several countries and have made a mark for themselves, in various spheres of endeavor. The Sikhs, whether in India or while living as law-abiding citizens and contributing significantly to the economic growth of their adopted nations of abode, have maintained strong connections with their land of origin. The foreign exchange remittances to India, from the Sikhs are enormousand contribute to rejuvenating the Indian economy.
Whether the armed forces or politics. science and technology, business or various professions, the arts or sports, Sikhs have excelled un-proportionately, in correlation to their very negligible percentage of the world populace.
Revered Saint Bhagat Puran Singhji, personally, served the residents in a leprosy-home which he established. Being an epitome of humility and selfless service, he refused to be nominated for the Nobel Prize.
There are several Sikh parliamentarians in various countries. Gurbax Singh Malhi, elected to the Canadian Parliament in 1992, created history, when laws had to be amended, to accommodate a turban- wearing member to sit in the Parliament.
In the scenario of the post 9/ 11 tragedy, several Sikhs were murdered and bore the brunt of hate crimes, due to the mistaken-identity syndrome, but succeeded through relentless endeavors, to enhance awareness about the Sikhs. During the current global pandemic, the Divine Guru’s teachings of compassionate sharing, came to the fore, when millions of people were served with edibles, medicines, clothing, shelter and all essential services.
During the unprecedented lockdown, several governments officially requested the Sikhs to prepare food in Gurdwaras, to be served to individuals, as well as to be sent to hospitals and other institutions for the old and the infirm, orphans, and economically weaker sections.
Wherever the Sikhs reside, they assimilate extraordinarily well, in the mainstream life of any nation, culturally, politically, socially, economically, lending a spiritual and ethically sublime touch to all that they are involved in or are called upon to do.Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji says “Acknowledge Entire Humanity as One Race”
Myriad connotations of Freedom
Freedom cannot be awarded and attained by mere rhetoric of sloganeering or by guarantees in written constitutions of nations.
Besides political freedom, each and every human has the natural right to their aspirations and expressions. Only then would everyone be empowered to enjoy the bliss of a healthy and productive lifestyle, whose components are emotional, mental, psychological health. Freedom to practice the religion, faith, belief, tradition, custom, rituals of their liking is equally paramount.
Freedom of thought and expression is the natural birthright of all. The practices of amnesty and of diplomatic immunity are really very abhorrent, as these undermine the very premise and concept of human rights.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji was the multi-dimensional Prophet, the Beacon-of-Light, who strictly proclaimed an injunction upon his followers thus: “I am an insignificant slave of the Primordial-Being. Those who worship me as GOD shall have to endure hell”.
Guru Gobind Singh ji was born on December22, 1666 at Takht Shri Patna Sahib in Bihar. He was anointed Guruwhen he was merely 9by his predecessor and father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, when the latter marched towards Delhi to voluntarily court arrest, in support of the Kashmiri Pundits who were being forced by the Mughal emperor, to give up their religion or to face death. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was, then, martyred by being beheaded, after witnessing the torturous martyrdom of his three disciples, Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dayal Das Ji. This was a turning point in Indian history, which led to another historic event. On the day of Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji formalized the martial institution of ‘The Order of The Khalsa’, the valiant force, making it mandatory for all Sikhs to wear a turban and to retain unshorn hair and beard.
Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa on the day of Vaisakhi at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.
The creation of the Martial Force, ‘The Order of the Khalsa’ on the day of Vaisakhi in 1699 proved to be a harbinger in the history of Hindustan (India). In a dramatic fashion, Guru Gobind Singh Ji tested the fearlessness of his followers by asking for their head as offering to their Guru. After an eerie silence, five Sikhs came forward and they were anointed as the Five Chosen Devoted Disciples (5 Piaare of the Guru),
Such was this Spirit instilled in the Sikhs that all four sons (all under the age of 18) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, also attained martyrdom, just like adult warriors. Two older ones martyred in the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib were Sahibzaada Ajit Singh Ji (17) and Sahibzaada Jujhar Singh Ji (14). The two younger sons, bricked alive at Sirhind, were Sahibzaada Zorawar Singh Ji (9) and Sahibzaada Fateh Singh Ji (6-year lad).
In our contemporary world, the Khalsa-panth (Pathway) or ‘The Way of Life’ is what The Guru gave to the Sikh community, which constitutes a large part of the global diaspora where several Sikhs are the influencers, being in positions of authority, as Parliamentarians and officials in government, in U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore amongst other nations. In numbers, Sikhism is the 5th largest religion in the world, with some 28 million adherents.
The Sacred Utterances of the Tenth-Divine-Sovereign includethe poetic Zafar-Nama (The Epistle of Victory) as a voluminous letter to the tyrant Aurangzeb, who felt such immense remorse upon reading it, that he died,soon thereafter. This communication clearly said that the Mughal Emperor did not behave as behoves a Sovereign ruler.
The Guru wrote: “The Lord is One and His Word is True. The Victory is of the Lord. Aurangzeb, you’ve been pretending to be a devout and pious Muslim, whilst in reality, you are a liar who committed a blasphemous act by swearing on the Oath of Holy Quran, which oath was falsified by your treacherous and devious actions like attacking my forces, who were promised safe passage, if we vacated the Fort of Anandpur Sahib. Furthermore, you ought to be castigated for the execution of my two minor sons, who were bricked alive in Sirhind”.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahibji authored the ‘Resplendent-Drama’ or Play (Bachitar or Vichitra Naatak) a poetic-autobiography about the time on the Hemkunt range of mountains, where he was immersed in meditation, merged in Communion with The Divine. Thence, he was Commanded by The Almighty Majesty to assume the human-frame, in the form of the 10th Embodiment on The Spiritual Throne of The Divine Preceptor, Guru Nanak Sahibji, in order to thwart the nefarious designs of tyrannical forces. Bachitar-Natak is part of the ‘Dasam Granth’, the Sacred Texts written by the 10th Guru. One stanza reads thus: “I have come into this mortal-world for this purpose. The Supreme Lord has sent me for the propagation of Righteousness, everywhere, and to seize and destroy the sinful and the wicked. I have taken birth for this purpose, let all holy men understand this. I have come to disseminate Divine Religion. I am committed towards the protection of saints; and for annihilating all the tyrants”.
Shri Daulat Rai Ji, a prominent figure in the Arya-Samaj sect of Hinduism, wrote a book ‘Sahib-E-Kamaal’ Guru Gobind Singh, the Spiritual-Master par excellence. It is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh’s life, his noble thought and his mission so that the populace at large could have a just view of the Guru’s greatness.”
Mai Bhaago, the brave lady-soldier inspired the 40 deserters to return to the Guru and fight alongside of him against the Mughal forces, at the battle of Muktsar Sahib, he was rejoined by his 40 Sikhs, who had earlier deserted him. They were inspired by a brave lady Mai Bhaago Ji to return to the battlefield. Travelling through Gwalior, The Guru was headed towards The Deccan area, at the invitation of Aurangzeb who wanted to apologize. The Guru was forgiving and went ahead, considering that the Mughal Emperor was almost double his age. En-route, The Guru got news that Aurangzeb had died.
The Living Guru Sree Guru Granth Sahib at a Gurdwara in France
Finally, Guru Gobind Singh Ji decided to terminate human-Guruship and so he passed on the mantle to The Scripture, at Nanded, where Gurdwara Takht Hazoor Sahib attracts devotees and pilgrims, from all over the world. Now, The Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib was anointed as the Eternal-Guru in 1708, when Guru Gobind Singh Ji realized his mission was accomplished and it was time to shed the mortal-frame. As a mark of humility, he did not include his Sacred Verses in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, as he opined, he was not evolved up to the level of 6 Gurus and 35 Hindu & Sufi Muslim Saints, whose compositions are enshrined therein.
Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchal Nagar Sahib, Nanded, India was the final resting place of Guru Gobind Singh who left for heavenly abode on October 7, 1708.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a Visionary, Saint, Scholar, Poet, Philosopher, Warrior, Connoisseur & Patron of artistes and skilled warrior. He sacrificed his parents, spouse and 4 minor sons, at the altar of upholding human dignity and Freedom of Faith/Religion & Right to Expression.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji mastered many languages including Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi, Braj, Gurmukhi and Persian. He also learned martial arts to become adept in combat. In his 42-year sojourn on this planet, he authored several poetic compositions like ‘Akaal-Ustat’ (Pristine-Praise of the Timeless One). The Great Guru accomplished all of this while remaining mindful of his Divine Assignment of steadfastly being the Defender of Human Rights of the populace. Hence, he did not shirk his duty, when he was pulled into fighting 16 battles against the overpowering might of the Mughal Emperor of India, who was equipped with a massive army and large arsenals. Although he braved several acts of betrayal, treachery, deception, jealousy from various quarters, yet his utmost trust in ONENESS of humanity brought him loyalty from both sides, all of the Divine-conscious and conscientious Muslims and Hindus, when they sacrificed their life, fighting against tyrannical oppressive forces of darkness.
The five virtues recognized in Sikhism are Sat (Truth), Santokh (Contentment), Daya (Compassion), Nimrata (Humility) and Pyaar (Love). For the Sikhs, the final goal of life is to reunite or merge with God (Mukti). The Sikh Gurus taught that to achieve this goal it was important to work hard at developing positive human qualities which lead the soul closer to God. The Gurus taught that all human beings have the qualities they need to reunite with God but they must train their minds to make the most of these qualities. In order to reach the final goal of life, Sikhs believe that they must constantly develop their love for God by developing compassion for all God’s creation. The mind of someone who is gurmukh (literally, ‘Guru facing’), is constantly focused on God at all times; while the mind of Manmukh (literally, ‘mind facing’ or “mind centered”) is full of desire, attractions, doubts, greed, etc and he or she will be full of sorrow and pain.
‘The Spirit of Optimism and Oneness’ transcends race and religion. Amongst the faithful devotees of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, several notable loyal Hindus and Muslims are respected by all Sikhs. All these noble ones have gained immortality and have become a part of Sikh history.
Bhai Nand Lal Ji (c. 1633-1713) was an eminent poet laureate in the Guru’s Darbaar. He fled from Aurangzeb’s persecution.
Hakim Allah Yaar Khan Jogi, an unbiased Muslim poet/writer wrote two poems almost a century ago, one on Chamkaur, under the title Ganj-a-Shaheedan and the other on Sirhind, entitled Shaheedan -a-Wafa, in homage to the 4 minor sons of The Guru.
Pir Bhikan Shah saw the Divine Light emanating from the birthplace of The Guru and started bowing in Islamic Prayer, towards the East instead of towards Mecca in the West. He visited the newly born Guru, tested him by presenting two bowls (representing Muslims & Hindus). The Guru placed his hands on both. The Pir further said that he was immensely impressed and pleased with this act of the Holy child. The Pir, his disciples and servants then returned to his home and remained a steadfast supporter of the Guru for his entire life.
Pir Buddhu Shah was a Muslim-Divine whose real name was Badr ud Din, who was an admirer and ally of Guru Gobind Singh. He brought many hundreds of his followers and his family members to assist the Guru’s force. However, the Mughals executed him, after the battle, for supporting the Guru.
Diwan Todar Mal Ji was a wealthy Hindu merchant of Sirhind,performed the cremation of the three martyrs: the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Gujri aged 9, Fateh Singh aged 6 and their grandmother, Mata Gujari Ji. The two children were bricked alive, for refusing to renounce their faith. Their grandmother at the news of the sudden and despicable execution of the innocent youngsters. This wealthy merchant had to cover the required ground for cremation with an estimated7,800 gold coins.
Baba Moti Ram Mehra Ji served edibles and milk to the two little Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji. He did not conceal his act and boldly told the Nawab that it was his pious duty to serve edibles to the imprisoned innocent children and their grandmother. Hence, Baba Moti Ram Mehra, along with his family, were sentenced to death by being squeezed in a Kohlu (oil press).The Guru blessed the brother-duo,
Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan with a ‘Hukamnama’: a letter of commendation stating that both of them were the “Sons of Guru Gobind Singh”.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed Nawab Sher Khan, Ruler of Malerkotla, for vociferously protesting against the inhuman act of bricking-alive two minor sons of The Guru. Muslim-dominated Malerkotla is the only Muslim majority city in Punjab with 68.5% residents being Muslim and the rest being Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists. Not a single one was harmed here, during the riots erupted during the partition of India.
The Guru was an empathetic humanist to the core, a brave commanding general as well as a soldier, leading from the front. The Divine Guru Gobind Singh Ji gifted his disciples, a practical ‘Way of Life’, after sacrificing his entire family for Human-Rights. His unflinching resolve to stand up and to fight for Equality, Justice, Liberty, Peace and Harmonious Co-Existence which are as relevant, today, as they were over three centuries ago.
“For this purpose was I born, let all virtuous people understand. I was born to advance righteousness, to emancipate the good, and to destroy all evil-doers root and branch.” —Guru Gobind Singh.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, who served water and administered first-aid to wounded soldiers of both warring sides. This supreme selfless service became the precursor to the founding of The International Committee of Red Cross. Bhai Joga Singh stood up, in the midst of ‘Anand-Kaaraj’ (his wedding ceremony) when Guru Gobind Singh Ji tested his loyalty and devotion, by sending his followers. to inform Joga Singh that the Guru required his presence soon.
Before the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was severed in Delhi, his disciples who were martyred included the two brothers Bhai Mati Das, who was sawed alive and Bhai Sati Das Ji, who was wrapped in cotton and burnt alive. Another follower, Bhai Dayal Das Ji was boiled alive in a cauldron.
The epoch-making epic battle of Fort Saragarhi witnessed 21 young Sikhs face the onslaught of the ferocious Pathan tribals in 1897. They did not surrender. Some of them were so young that they didn’t have a beard and moustache.
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (16 October, 1670 – 9 June, 1716) aka Lachhman Dev alias Madho Dass Bairagi, originally from the Jammu region, is revered as one of greatest Sikh warriors as well as one of the most hallowed martyrs of the Khalsa Army.The Khalsa were engaged in a prolonged fight against the cruel Mughals, who were practising their tyranny and terrorism. His confrontation with the Mughal administration in Northern India, though brief, was strong and vigorous enough to shake the foundations of this evil empire.The agrarian uprising that he led in the Punjab was the underpinning on which the Dal Khalsa, the Sikh Misls and Maharaja Ranjit Singh built the edifice which finally culminated with Ranjit Singh capturing Lahore in 1799 and establishing the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab. This resulted in the end of a dark period in the history of India.
The valiant one Nawab Kapur Singh. When Zakariya Khan, who became the governor of Lahore in 1726, adopted rigorous measures against the Sikhs, Nawab Kapur Singh organized a band of warriors, who, with a view to paralyzing the administration and obtaining food for their companions forced to seek shelter in remote hills and forests, attacked government treasuries and caravans moving from one place to another. Such was the effect of these depredations that the Delhi government, in 1733, at the instance of Zakariya Khan, decided to lift the quarantine forced upon the Sikhs and made an offer of a grant to them. Subeg Singh, a Sikh resident of Jambar, near Lahore, who was a police-inspector of the city under Mughal authority, was entrusted with the task of negotiating peace with the Khalsa.
General Hari Singh Uppal ‘Nalwa’conquered regions as far away in Afghanistan. He was held in immense awe by the ferocious Afghan Pathaan tribals, whom he vanquished but ruled with equality and respect.
The Conquest of Delhi was effected in 1783 by Generals Baba Baghel Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, when they captured Shah Alam, the Emperor of India, and hoisted theKhalsa Insignia called the ‘Nishaan-Sahib’, atop the Red Fort in Delhi. The famed Peacock Throne of Mughal Dynasty was uprooted from theconcrete ground and was tied with iron chains, to be pulled by elephants and taken to Punjab. It is placed as a Souvenir or trophy, in the Ramgarhia Museum.
Sardar Sham Singh Attari (Circa 1785-1846), a Sikh general in the Sikh army of Lahore Darbar, belonged to a Jatt family of Sidhu Clan. was the only son of Sardar Nihal Singh Attari (d. 1817), and grandson of Sardar Gaur Singh Attari (d. 1763), The first in line to Convert to Sikhism in the early days of Sikh political ascendancy and joined the Jatha or band of Sardar Gurbakhsh Singh of Roranvala. He soon established his, protection over an area around Attari, a village he had founded some 16 miles west from the holy city of Amritsar. His son, Nihal Singh Attari, was known for his martial prowess and for his personal loyalty to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Nihal Singh’s son, Sham Singh Attari, entered the service of the Maharaja in 1817 and, in 1818, took part in the military campaigns of Peshawar, Attock and Multan. He also fought in Kashmir in 1819. He led Sikh forces against Sayyid Ahmad of Bareilly who had during the years 1826-31 carried on in the trans-Indus region a relentless crusade against the Sikhs. Sayyid Ahmad was overcome and killed on 6 May 1831, along with his chief lieutenant, Muhammad Ismail.
Emperor (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh, the 19th century ruler of the Sikh Empire in India,was voted as the best administrator in world history. He overcame competition from around the world, to be named the “Greatest Leader of All Time” in a poll conducted by ‘BBC World Histories Magazine’. He was instrumental for the Unification of Sikh Martial Groups (Misals) into a strong Confederation. The title of Divine Kingship can well be used while discussing Sikh Emperor Ranjit Singh, who stands out amongst the Greatest rulers, who treated their subjects with fair play, equality, justice, respect and benevolence. Wisdom, bravery, strategy and tolerance for all religions were his hallmarks. He donated tones of gold to Hindu, Muslim and Christian shrines just as to Sikh Gurdwaras. His ministers, advisors, generals and functionaries hailed from all religions, and some were of other races from other nations. In the first half of the 18th century, state terrorism against the Sikhs was on the steady increase and was intensified by Mir Mannu. In 1748, the Mughals appointed Mir Mannu as Governor (Subedar) of Lahore and also as a Nawab of Multan (1748-1753).
Sikhs were offered a choice : “conversion or death.
In order to pacify Hindus, Mir Mannu appointed a Khatri Hindu of Lahore named Kaura Mall as his diwan or minister. He then ordered 30,000+ army of mughals at Lahore to finish the Sikhs. The mughal army swept the countryside and killed many of the Sikhs they found. By now, the faith of the common people in Sikhi and the strength of the Khalsa had increased tremendously. Despite Mannu’s extreme torture and reign of terror, nothing could deter the Sikhs. A Panjabi folk song of that period goes like this in English:
The motto/slogan of the Sikhs was: “We are the plants and Mannu is a sickle; The more he cuts us, the more we grow.
This is the time when the army of Mir Mannu was going from house to house searching for Sikhs. Many of the Sikhs took shelter in jungles but some Sikhs who were living with their families in the cities and could not just leave right away or join any jathas. They were captured by the army and all were being sent to Lahore. Most of the prisoners were Sikh women and children.Many of the old women were killed on the way because they were weak and could not walk for a long time. All of the Singhni’s and their children were put in Lahore jail.At that time Sikh population was very negligible. A decade earlier, a governor had decided to kill all Sikhs. At that point people thought that all Sikhs were finished, but Bhai Gharjha Singh and Bhai Bota Singh came out of hiding and fought with Mughals, just to show them that Sikhs were far from finished.
Everyday Muslims would come and taunt them by saying “where is your Khalsa now? They can’t even come to rescue you. All of them have been killed by the army. So it is better for you to accept Islam and live a rich happy life.” Singhnis never ever thought of leaving Sikhi. The sacrifice of the Khalsa women that was so great that it became a part of the daily prayer. They kept reciting “Waheguru, Hail the Guru”.
Sikh Women in Mir Mannu’s Death Camps
Mir Mannu started deploying terror tactics. First of all, he ordered that all Sikh women be imprisoned. Every woman was given forty pounds of grain to grind daily. A very heavy stone was placed on the chest of those who could not grind. They were given just a bowl of water and a quarter of a piece of bread to eat in a single day. The tyrants then started killing the innocent children by throwing them up in the air and landing them on sharp spears. One soldier would throw a child up in the air and another soldier would spear the child before the child hit the ground. The dead bodies of these children were cut into pieces and the ladies were garlanded with those pieces. Pieces of flesh of the children were thrust into the mouths of their mothers.But the faith of Sikh women was unshakable.
Such is the invincible spirit of optimism of the Sikhs.
(The author is a thinker and a scholar on Sikhism. He can be reached at asa1ny@yahoo.com)
1936 The temples of Kerala are open to all Hindus.
1946 Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, founder of Banaras Hindu University and honored with Bharat Ratna, died in Uttar Pradesh.
1927 Mahatma Gandhi made his first and last visit to Ceylon.
2009 To promote tourism in India, the ‘Incredible India’ campaign of the Central Government was awarded the World Travel Award.
13 NOVEMBER
1780 Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab was born in Gujranwala, Pakistan.
2009 In Jharkhand, Naxalites have killed seven people including outgoing MLA Ramchandra Singh.
1892 Storyteller, prose writer Rai Krishnadas was born.
14 NOVEMBER
1681 East India Company announced to become a separate princely state of Bengal.
1889 India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was born. Children’s Day is celebrated on the occasion of his birthday.
2006 The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan agreed to create an anti-terrorism mechanism in New Delhi.
1955 Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was inaugurated.
1958 Children’s Day was officially announced on the occasion of the birthday of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
2009 15 coaches of the Mandore Superfast Express derailed near the Banskho gate in Jaipur, killing 6 passengers.
15 NOVEMBER
1949 Mahatma Gandhi’s assassins Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte were hanged on this day.
1982 Acharya Vinayak Narhari Bhave alias Vinoba Bhave died on this day.
1986 The country’s female tennis player Sania Mirza was born.
1777 Confederation article adopted by Continental Congress.
1830 Social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy left for England.
1989 Former veteran Indian player Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut against Pakistan. He played the last Test on 14 November 2013 against the West Indies.
2000 Jharkhand became the 28th state of India.
1875 India-born freedom fighter fighter Birsa Munda, a tribal leader, was born.
16 NOVEMBER
1846 Akbar Ilahbadi, the famous poet of Urdu, was born.
1973 Batminton player Pullela Gopichand was born.
1996 Mother Teresa received honorary US citizenship
1995 Vasudev Pandey Trinidad and Tobago of Indian origin became the Prime Minister.
1931 Indian cricket umpire R. Ramchandra Rao was born.
2007 The severe cyclonic storm ‘Cedar’ from the Bay of Bengal caused severe devastation in the country of Bangladesh.
1930 Mihir Sen, the famous long distance swimmer of India, was born.
17 NOVEMBER
1931 Among the freedom fighters and Punjabi writer Lala Lajpat Rai were martyred.
2012 From the sketch of the cartoon, the founder of Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray, who made his strong identity in the field of politics, died.
1525 For the purpose of conquering India, Babur entered here for the fifth time through Sindh.
1966 Rita Faria of India won the title of Miss World. She was the first Asian woman to become Miss World.
2009 T. S. Thakur was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.
2006 The US Senate approved the Indo-US nuclear treaty.
18 NOVEMBER
1727 Maharaja Jai Singh II founded the city of Jaipur. The architect of the city was Vidyadhar Chakraborty of Bengal.
1772 Peshwa Madhavrao I died and his younger brother Narayan Rao succeeded him.
1901 The famous Indian film director V. Shantaram was born.
1948 500 people drowned after the steamer ‘Narayani’ crashed near Patna, the capital of Bihar.
1972 The tiger was chosen as the national animal.
1993 The first meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit took place in Seattle.
2017 Manushi Chillar of India won the title of Miss World.
1910 One of the famous revolutionaries of India, Batukeshwar Dutt was born
After recently reading the news item onhow the government of Afghanistan collapsed to Taliban onslaught with complete melt down of its defense forces, we are all in state of disbelief. Then followed the news of vandalization of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Statue in Lahore rekindling the gruesome scenes witnessed by manyat the partition of the country in August 1947. Incidentally, this is not the first time, but the third time the statue has been vandalized since its installation in 2019.The gory act of vandalization and that of overrunning of a country separated by few hundreds of miles geographically are two unrelated events on the surface, yet the underlying cause is common. The genesis of both these incidents is direct result of indoctrinationthat everything we associate with is right and superior,while other person, legacy or his ideas are not equal but inferior.
The fall of Ghani government and Taliban gaining control over the country is creating a very fluid situation.The significant section of society there wants to move out of the mess they find themselves in since 1979, the time of Soviet invasion. At that time about 1 million Afghans lost their lives. But then after that the last forty years have been a time of turmoil on and off there. Then after the Soviet exit we saw the USA entry there. Now 20 years later USA is departing. The departing circumstancesare grave and have been dubbed as “Saigon Moment”. As this is stark reminder of helicopter airlift of USA while the Vietcong had overrun the capital of South Vietnam. While talking about the comparison reminds of another acronym coined to describe Afghanistan as “Graveyard of kingdoms” for the invaders. The historical track records go back to the time of invasion by Alexander the great, in 330 BC. This is a long-checkered history, where even the British could not tame the region almost a century before. The present ground realities bring out thefollowing major challenges now:
Restoration of order and a semblance of peace so that thenormal life as usual can resume.
Safeguarding of the rights, status of women, minorities and others who do not belong to the so-called “our” club.
How to protect and save the religious, spiritual, architectural, and intellectual assets of the minorities that will be left behind in Afghanistan,as well as safeguard those in Pakistan. The issue in Pakistan that the minority population is concentrated in pockets and heritage sites spread out providing opportunity for premier location land grab. So,the issue is how to save, protect, maintain, and preserve those historical relics. Although, PETPB has been managing and maintaining some historical minority shrines in Pakistanreasonably despite encroachments and efforts to erase them. Still overall the bigger problem remains, which has been exacerbated by the recent events in Afghanistan.
The evacuation of remaining minority population along with their families, out of Afghanistan to safety and their resettlement has become a high priority. The insecurity being experienced by them is frightening. They need our help today. Already the vivid images of chaotic situation with citizens there trying to escape from the country are making shocking news.
This is not a complete or comprehensive list of priorities, but just a starting point to start thinking about them.
Freedom cannot be awarded and attained by mere rhetoric of sloganeering or by guarantees in written constitutions of nations.
By Amarjit Singh Anand
Besides political freedom, each and every human has the natural right to their aspirations and expressions. Only then would everyone be empowered to enjoy the bliss of a healthy and productive lifestyle, whose components are emotional, mental, psychological health. Freedom to practice the religion, faith, belief, tradition, custom, rituals of their liking is equally paramount.
Freedom of thought and expression is the natural birthright of all. The practices of amnesty and of diplomatic immunity are really very abhorrent, as these undermine the very premise and concept of human rights.
Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great and Sikh Emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh, stand out amongst the Greatest rulers, who treated their subjects with fair play, equality, justice, respect and benevolence. Wisdom was their hallmark.Nobel-laureate, Sir Rabindranath Tagore prayed: “Where the mind is without fear and the head held high; Where knowledge is free; … Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action; Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake”.
Freedom is important for all humans, as it is their birthright. If the person or group at the helm of affairs of a government so decides, then freedom could, easily, be denied under a monarchy, oligarchy, dictatorship, fiefdom, aristocracy, autocracy and dictatorial firms of governance. The dictum of ‘Live and let Live’ gets thrown to the winds. Domination and discrimination of all varieties becomes rampant, rather it is the order of the day, if I may put it, succinctly. Anarchy rules the roost, in such circumstances.
Freedom could even be denied under the best-known form of government, which is a democracy. However, verily this best form could be transformed into the worst, when a government, duly elected by the people, eventually, turns out to be worse than invading armies.
And, sometimes, the road to power itself could be murky and replete with manipulative mechanisms like rigged elections, in which scenario it is an easy passage or transition to the seat or throne, when all those in the corridors of power become subservient to forces of subversion and subjugation. The bureaucracy, of course, would naturally tend to toe the line, usually, with some rare exceptions, when a dissenting top bureaucrat would resign in protest or he may be subjected to a sudden and remote-region transfer-order or may, even, be penalized with a demotion, or his service may be terminated and he could, even, be jailed. Then, it can, easily be termed as a Democratic Militarized State. The scenario becomes really destructive, when the judiciary and media get aligned with the destructive and corrupt executive and legislature.
The title of Divine Kingship can well be used while discussing Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great and Sikh Emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh, both of whom stand out amongst the Greatest rulers, whotreated their subjects with fair play, equality, justice, respect and benevolence. Wisdom was their hallmark.
Tirthankar Mahavir, Buddha (who was Prince Siddhartha Gautam) Saint Kabir Sahib, Sheikh Farid Sahib all preached fairplay and freedom for all, thereby enabling them to actualize their creative and academic pursuits. Freedom of thought and expression is the natural birthright of all. The practices of amnesty and of diplomatic immunity are really very abhorrent, as these undermine the very premise and concept of human rights.
Besides political freedom, each and every human has the natural right to their aspirations and expressions. Only then would everyone be empowered to enjoy the bliss of a healthy and productive lifestyle, whose components are emotional, mental, psychological health. Freedom to practice the religion, faith, belief, tradition, custom, rituals of their liking is equally paramount.
Guru Nanak Ji, The Enlightened Preceptor traversed various continents, covering 27000 miles in 25 years of his 70-year sojourn on this planet, fostering Goodwill amongst divergent races, traditions, cultures, religions. He was the pioneer, enunciating the cause of Inter-Religious Peace and Harmony. His Tenets emphasize upon truthful living, humility, liberty, equality, justice, compassion, honest earning, serving the needy selflessly and protecting the weak and the meek. All this, he said would be tantamount to a Divine Life and real, true, actual worship and attainment of GOD and fulfillment of the purpose of human-birth. Guru Nanak was on a Divine Mission. He was a Spiritual Maestro, a Renaissance-Man, a Crusader for Interreligious Amity, an extraordinary social-reformist much ahead his era and yet he utters the absolute Truth that “he is, what he is, only because of the Gracious Mercy of The Almighty and he is nothing without GOD.” In other words, Divine Guru is teaching humanity to embrace humility,
Guru Nanak reformed several tyrannical rulers, vociferously advocated human rights and women’s rights, brought about social revolution, by speaking out against slavish mentality, superstitious beliefs, hollow ritualistic practices, religious bigotry and suppression of the downtrodden social and economic classes.
Two of the ten Gurus had to take up arms, to protect the masses from the extreme persecution and tyranny of the ruling elite. The sixth Guru Hargobind Sahibji and the tenth Guru Gobind Singhji, with their disciples were the Saint Warriors. The fifth Guru Arjan Sahibji and the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahibji embraced martyrdom, for refusing to follow the diktat of the barbaric regime. Such events forced the sixth and tenth Gurus to raise a martial force, the army named The Khalsa. Guru Nanak Sahibji enunciated the Divine Tenets thus: “Human interactions must be replete with *Divine-Love & Godly-Light*, Lifelong-Learning, Humanitarian-Service, Spirit-of-Sharing, Peace, Amity, Goodwill, Tolerance, Harmonious Coexistence, Acceptance and Understanding. He traveled far and wide, to have discussions with Saints professing divergent faiths and he collected their spiritual poetry to be included in The Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, much later, by his fifth embodiment, Guru Arjan Sahib Ji.
Similarly, the Divine teachings of Sree Ram Chandra, Sree Krishna, Moses, Jesus, Hazrat Mohammed, Gautam Buddha, Tirthankar Mahavir and all Prophets are for the entire humanity and not merely for those who say they are the followers of a particular Prophet. All Prophets were expansive in their Vision & Mission, and made concerted endeavors towards fostering Peace, Equality, Liberty, Justice, Compassion, by shunning all varieties of discrimination, domination, bigotry, tyranny, bias and prejudice.
Freedom cannot be awarded and attained by mere rhetoric of sloganeering or by guarantees in written constitutions of nations.
Real, true freedom shall be guaranteed, only when everyone adheres to the Divine Tenets taught by The Exalted Prophets. These teachings include refraining from self-aggrandizement about all intellect, talent, knowledge, education, comfort, luxury, power, authority, beauty, courage, alll of which we have received from GOD, as a GIFT. We must, always, be humble and remain ‘a learner for a lifetime’ and share this knowledge with all, earn honestly, serve selflessly, share compassionately, remember GOD and shun cruelty and domination. We must remember that nothing belongs to us, not even Life, which we have received on lease-basis. We must remember that death could be lurking round the corner, waiting to strike, the very next moment. By cultivating such thought, we would refrain from harming anyone.”
Imbibing such attributes would be real service to GOD, worshipping GOD, becoming GOD; not actually GOD, but feeling like GOD and feeling good about the journey. The soul must return to The Origin, in the pristine, sublime form, just as it was, when it attained this human Body-Temple. By living and loving thus, The Soul (Aatma) would enjoy eternal communion with ‘The Parent-Soul,’ GOD (Param-aatma). Living thus, is the Real, True Purpose of life. This is Mukti, Moksha, Nirvaan, Liberation, Salvation, Redemption, Emancipation. This is what can be termed as the Final, Absolute, Ultimate and True Destination, to arrive at which this Soul donned this human body-attire. Humans have the heart, with the emotion of empathy and compassion or hatred and violence, and the brain decides accordingly, asking the hands to take action and implement, execute the plan, either compassionate or evil-minded.
As Nobel-laureate, Sir Rabindranath Tagore prayed: “Where the mind is without fear and the head held high; Where knowledge is free; … Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action; Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake”.
(The author is a recipient of the Ambassador For Peace Award, from the Interreligious International Federation for World Peace, New York, Affiliated to United Nations Organization.He may be reached at Amar1Ujagar1Pritam@gmail.com)
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