Continued from- Sikh militarisation and birth of Akal Sena [Part-1]
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Sikh guru [b. 1 April 1621, d. 11 Nov 1675] was an expert swordsman ⚔️ skilled in horsemanship and archery. He had displayed tremendous valour fighting alongside his brother Guruditta ji during the battle of Kartarpur- 1635.
Persecution of Hindus and Sikhs reach new heights under Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
As the persecution of non-Muslims reached new heights, Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled extensively meeting victims of Islamic persecution. In 1675 he was approached by a group of persecuted Kashmiri pandits who were being tormented by Iftikhar Khan, the governor of Kashmir Subah (Mughal Empire). Iftikhar Khan, driven by his sick and perverted cult, undertook indiscriminate killings, needless temple destruction and the capture Hindu Kashmiri pandit girls in Kashmir.
Guru Tegh Bahadur was pained to hear of this, and decided to confront the situation. However, he was arrested enroute and later transferred to Delhi where he would meet his fate. Aurangzeb tormented him to perform miracles to prove that his faith is more powerful than Islam. When the Guru refused to oblige to the emperor's vanity, Aurangzeb ordered the torture and killing of 3 of his colleagues before the Guru's very own eyes.
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| Chandni chowk, Delhi - the place where Bhai Mati Das was sawn into half, Bhai Dayal Das was thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, and Bhai Sati Das was burned alive |
Thereafter, on 11 Nov 1675- Guru Tegh Bahadur was also beheaded at the site where Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib stands today at Chandi Chowk market square.
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| Entrance of Sisganj Sahib at Chandni Chowk, Delhi- It is at the site of this gurudwara that Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded |
Real men of God do not perform tricks like showmen
Guru Gobind Singh~ after the execution of his father and 9th Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.
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| Another Gurudwara by the same name- Sis Ganj Sahib at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab where the beheaded head of Guru Tegh Bahadur was brought by Bhai Jaitha to be cremated here |
The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur only hardened the resolve of Sikhs against Mughal rule and it's consequent persecution.
The call for Khalsa!
When all means prove futile to end The Tyrant and Tyranny, the only justifiable alternative is to raise the sword.
Guru Gobind Singh uttered the above words to a huge gathering at Akal Bunga Sahib, when the pious head of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur was being cremated in the opposite Sis Ganj Gurudwara at Anandpur Sahib, PUNJAB.
Thus the Akal Sena was absorbed into and in its place The Khalsa that previously restricted itself to a select few was extended on a larger scale in 13 April 1699.
Khalsa (meaning) 'to be free from' or 'liberated from'.
The 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh felt the need to infuse the spirit of a greater courage than before. And so he implemented reforms into the Akal Sena. The core objective of the Khalsa however remained the same as before; ie. protecting the freedom of conscience and faith of Sikhs and Sikhism. It was also the Khalsa's duty to protect the innocent from persecution.
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| Guru Gobind Singh ji's Panj Pyare ie. The first 5 Khalsa Sikh initiates. Late 19th ce painting, watercolour on paper. |
On Baisakhi day of 30 March 1699, at Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh asked for volunteers who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the purpose of the Khalsa. Out of the huge congregation, 5 men came forward and were selected to form the Khalsa Panth.
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| Selection and Initiation ceremony in Sikhism of the 1st Panj Pyare by Guru Gobind Singh (painting) |
Thus the Khalsa Panth or the Order of the Pure Ones was formed. They were then given the name of Singh. Guru Gobind Singh ji then expounded upon them the principle of the 5 Ks; kesh (unshorn/ uncut hair), kada (steel bracelet), kanga (comb), kachha (shorts/ breeches) and lastly kirpan (dagger).
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| The 1st Khalsa Panth of Guru Gobind Singh |
Due to reports of corruption within the intermediary masands (basically groups assigned the task of collecting funds for the cause of Sikhi); these were now concluded. In its place a more centralised reformed system was introduced that was under the direct supervision of the Khalsa.
800,000 additional Sikhs were initiated within a few days. The Khalsa fauj (as they were called) now donned an electric blue colored clothing.
A new sect called Nanakpanthi Sikhs emerge
These reforms irked a certain number of Sikhs who rejected the new reforms and preferred to stick to their previous ways and kept out of the Initiation process. Nanakpanthi Sikhs therefore do not sport an untrimmed beard or turban as Amritdhari Sikhs do. As the word suggests, Nanakpanthis solely focus on the teachings of Guru Nanak (the 1st Sikh guru) plus they also visit hindu temples as their hindu ancestors did. Furthermore, Nanakpanthis are also subdivided into multiple groups.
Battles fought between Khalsa Sikhs and Mughals
One of the core duties of the Khalsa is the practice of warfare. Ordinary people from every walk of life who joined the Khalsa were trained and consequently became adept in the skill of swordsmanship, horsemanship and use of arms.
The extent of the Khalsa's popularity throughout Punjab made the neighbouring hindu hill rajas extremely worried, causing them to lean towards the Mughals. Seeing the threat, Guru Gobind Singh ji had already begun construction of 5 new fortifications in 1689 CE surrounding Kesgarh Sahib, namely; Anandgarh, Lohgarh, Holgarh, Fatehgarh and Taragarh.
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| Within Takht Kesgarh Sahib complex at Anandpur Sahib, PUNJAB |
Battle of Anandpur (1700 ce)
7000 Khalsa Sikhs, commanded by Guru Gobind Singh & Panj Pyare
V/z
70,000 Mughals + Nawab of Bahawalpur and rajas of Shivalik hills, commanded by Painde Khan and Deg Baig
As we can clearly see, once again the Sikhs were greatly outnumbered against the combined Mughal force. But the Mughals were no match for the Sikhs. Painde Khan was killed in a combat with Guru Gobind Singh. Deg Baig took command thereafter but he too got wounded in action, while the hill rajas fled from the battlefield.
The 1st siege of Anandpur Sahib (29 Aug to 3 Oct 1700 ce)
The hills rajas having formed an alliance (but without Mughals), returned with a huge army of 10,00,000 on 29 Aug 1700 to undertake a siege on Anandpur Sahib.
There were 4000 Khalsa Sikhs to defend the city. The Sikhs grouped into 500 & 100 men and took their positions. In the fierce battle that ensued, many Sikhs fell but they managed to hold on and continued fighting valiantly thereby reducing the enemy to half its strength. Raja Ghumand Chand of Kangra was badly wounded. In the face of defeat on day 01 itself, the rajas held council and drew a new plan of action. Raja Kesari Chand with a unit of 100,000 advanced against the Sikhs led by Ajit Singh and Udai Singh. Meanwhile Raja Jagatulla with another large unit began an attack on Holgarh, but he was shot in the head by Sahib Singh. The 1st day went in favor of the Sikhs raising their morale high, while the alliance of rajas once again held council contemplating whether to continue the battle or not.
In the end, they decided to continue. The Sikhs attacked with cannons and long rifles forcing the rajas to move back, but they decided to hold on and wait. Many soldiers died on both sides. The Sikhs lost Bhai Bhagwan Singh. The battle continued into Day 3. The Sikhs attacked with swords at night causing heavy damages to the raja alliance camp. Despite that the siege on Anandpur Sahib continued.
Another day, the rajas sent a drunk elephant to break open the gates of Lohgarh. The elephant was completely covered in an armor of steel except for the top of its head. Bhai Bachitter Singh hit it with a snake spear (nagni barcha) at the only exposed vulnerable spot. The wounded beast turned around in agony trampling its own army under its feet.
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| Bhai Bachitter Singh attacking an armored drunk elephant with a spear |
The month-long siege was a disastrous defeat for the rajas. They also lost raja Kesari Chand and Ghumand Chand who were killed by Sikhs- Udai Singh and Himmat Singh respectively.
An erroneous judgement by Sikhs despite victory at the 1st Siege of Anandpur Sahib
Despite being in an advantageous position, some Sikhs urged Guru Gobind Singh that they must leave Anandpur Sahib alone and move to another place. As it turns out; this was the main purpose for the siege of Anandpur. After much persuasion the Sikhs moved south of Anandpur to a small village named Nirmohgarh where they were defenceless without their forts.
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| Few Khalsa weapons, and footwear belonging to Guru Gobind Singh ji's family |
The Battle of Nirmohgarh (1702)
The Sikhs may have thought moving out of Anandpur would bring peace to both sides. But little did they realise, it was just a ploy to get them out of their defences. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who had tasted defeat in the previous Battle of Anandpur, took advantage of the situation and sent Wazir Khan (Mughal governor of Punjab) and a coalition of hill rajas against the Sikhs.
At the banks of the river Sutlej at Nirmohgarh, a battle began. The Mughals and Hill Rajas attacked the Sikh camp from either side. Finding himself greatly outnumbered, Guru Gobind Singh and Khalsa Sikhs retreated as the enemy pursued them. But the next morning they were back to give the coalition a final battle; in which the Sikhs came out victorious once again.
Battle of Basoli (1702)
Later the same year, Khalsa Sikhs retreated across the Sutlej river to Basoli. The combined army of Mughals and Hill Rajas also pursued them, but once again tasted defeat at the hands of Sikhs and were forced to retreat farther eastward to Sirhind. Raja Ajmer Chand got into a diplomatic peace agreement with Guru Gobind Singh.
The Sikhs, thereafter marched onwards to Anandpur Sahib. En route at Chamkaur, Bhai Ajmer Chand noticed Mughal troops led by their general Sayyad Beg who were on their way from Lahore to Delhi. The Sikhs realising they were fewer in number in the event of any Mughal attack, lured Sayyad Beg (with money) to join them instead. As expected 10,000 Mughal and hill raja forces headed by Alif Khan fell upon the Sikhs. Sayyad Beg, finding this unwarranted attack rather unnecessary, fought on behalf of the Sikhs, thus forcing the Mughals once again to retreat.
Sayyad Beg accompanied Guru Gobind Singh ji and Khalsa Sikhs to Anandpur Sahib.
2nd Siege of Anandpur Sahib (1704)
Apparently the rajas of Shivalik hills were nothing more than vassals of the Mughals, and whom emperor Aurangzeb used to the best of his advantage. Backed by a troop of 22 hill rajas, Aurangzeb undertook a siege on Anandpur Sahib in May 1704. The Mughals camp was commanded by Aurangzeb himself alongwith Wazir Khan, governor of Punjab, Zabardast Khan, Dilwar Khan, hill rajas Ajmer Chand and Bhim Chand. Whereas Guru Gobind Singh ji took command of the Khalsa army alongwith other Sikh leaders.
The siege lasted 8 months from May until Dec 1705. Greatly outnumbered, the Khalsa Sikhs took refuge within the walls of Anandpur fort.
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| The façade of Anandpur fort (qila) at Anandpur Sahib |
When the Sikhs, cut off from the outside world faced starvation, Aurangzeb felt the time was right to make an offer. He promised the Sikhs safe passage if they agree to evacuate Anandpur Sahib. Faced with the odds of starvation, Guru Gobind Singh and Khalsa Sikhs agreed to the terms of the agreement.
But it was just another ploy to get them out of their defences. Approx 500 Sikhs alongwith Guru Gobind Singh's family vacated the fort. But no sooner they reached river Sarsa (26 kms south of Anandpur Sahib), a 200,000 strong Mughal force swooped down on them. Bhai Udai Singh and Bhai Jiwan Singh alongwith 50 Sikhs sadly lost the fight while attempting to ferry Guru's family across the river at Shahi Tibba. They were all martyred except for 1 man .
Guru Gobind Singh's young sons, Zorawar and Fateh Singh and his mother got separated and were captured by Wazir Khan at the spot where Gurudwara Parivar Vichora Sahib stands today. They were later buried alive because they refused to convert to Islam. They failed to capture Guru Gobind Singh, but he also lost his 2 elder sons; Ajit Singh and Jhujhar Singh who fought valiantly at Chamkaur. Many more Sikhs were martyred in the Battle at Chamkaur.
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