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Banda Singh Bahadur

Dr Mandeep Singh Azad and Dr Manmeet Motan,300 years of Martyrdom "Daily Excelsior" 12/6/2016

Banda Singh Bahadur

Before reading about Banda Singh Bahadur, just ask yourself that have you ever heard before this name. After reading him, think that whose fault is this that you are unaware about the name of the Man whose greatness is much bigger than Napoleon of France, Hannibal first Caesar of Rome, Alfred of England and any other European conqueror. How big would be that father whose sons liver is put in his mouth during torture and he remains their sitting in peace and only taking god’s name .Such a great man cannot be a normal human being he surely might be some pure divine soul.

Baba Banda Singh bahadur famous sikh general was such a great warrior. The executioner tried everything to break Baba Ji but nothing broke him. Banda Singh was given a short sword and ordered to kill his own son Ajai Singh. As he sat unperturbed, the cxecutioner moved forward and plunged his sword into the little child cutting the body into two. Then pieces of flesh were cut from the body and thrown in Banda’s face. His liver was removed and thrust into Banda Singh’s mouth. The father sat through all this without any signs of emotion. His powers of endurance were to be tested still further.

The executioner then stepped forward and thrust the point of his dagger into Banda’s right eye, pulling out the eyeball. He then pulled out the other eyeball. Banda sat through all this as still as a rock. His face gave no twitch of pain.”The cruel devil then took his sword and slashed off Banda’s left foot, then both his arms. But Banda’s features were still calm as if he was at peace with his Creator. Finally they tore off his flesh with red-hot pincers, and there being nothing else left in their book of tortures, they cut his body up into a hundred pieces, and were satisfied. (These details of the torture are given in full, by the following writers: Mohammed Harisi, Khafi Khan, Thornton, Elphinstone, Daneshwar and others).

Banda’s original name was Lachhman Dev. He was born in October-November 1670, Rajouri (J&K) four years after the birth of Guru Gobind singh. He was a Rajput cultivator. By the time he was just turned 20, his astonishing mind was set on its task. He had a reputation of being a great hunter. Once he hunted a pregnant deer. The dying animal gave birth to two kids who died in front of his eyes. Lachhman was shocked to the core of his heart and thus became a sadhu. He became a disciple of many but none could provide him peace of mind. Later, he inclined to tantric sadhus and acquired some riddhis and siddhis (miracle powers). Thus, he became quite popular among simpletons, near the area around his ashram on the bank of river Godavari. Though, none benefitted from his powers, he used them to humiliate religious leaders and other saints who ever happened to visit his ashram. Whenever, any such saint visited, he would overturn the cot using his powers. Guru Gobind Singh after leaving Punjab travelled towards South India along with some Sikhs, visited Lachhman Das’s ashram and sat on his cot in his absence. Accepting defeat, Lachhman Das Bairagi fell at the feet of Guru Gobind Singh and sought forgiveness and said, “O, Guru Ji, I am your Banda. Show me the right path.”

Guru Gobind Singh taught him the basic principles of Sikhsim and baptised him. Lachhman was given the name ‘Banda Singh’. He transformed from a proud bairagi to a humble and brave Sikh of Guru. Banda Singh is known to have abolished or halted the Zamindari system in the time he was active and gave the farmers proprietorship of their own land. It seems that all classes of government officers were addicted to extortion and corruption and the whole system of regulatory and order was subverted. Guru sent Banda Singh on a mission to Punjab to punish the guilty and cruel rulers of the time. He was also provided with five brave Sikhs as advisors and necessary weapons. Banda Singh was soon joined by thousands of Sikhs in his crusade against the wicked rulers. Within a short span of time, Sikhs under Banda Singh’s leadership put an end to life of many tyrant rulers, including Nawab Wazir Khan, the main culprit behind death of younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji . Banda Singh captured large part of Punjab and established Sikh rule there. He also minted coins in the name of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh. In the meantime, Faruksiyar became Delhi’s emperor. Angered by defeat at the hands of Banda Singh and Sikh forces, he sent a large force from Delhi and mobilized from elsewhere in Punjab to defeat and capture Banda Singh.

Sikhs were surrounded by large number of Mughal forces in the fortress of Gurdas Nagal. They fought valiantly under Banda Singh’s command. They fought valiantly but due to depleting ration, they ultimately became too weak to fight with the enemies. Ultimately, the brave general Banda Singh Bahadur was arrested along with seven hundred Sikh soldiers and brought to Delhi, after eight months. Inside the fortress, Sikhs survived on leaves, trees, and even bark of trees.With the martyrdom of Banda, Khalsa leadership was taken up by new warriors like Baba Deep Singh, Nawab Kapur Singh, Chhajja Singh, Bhuma Singh, Hari Singh Dhillon, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Budh Singh, Naudh Singh and Charhat Singh Sukerchakia and others. Within ninety years, Mahraja Ranjit Singh had established Sikh kingdom.

No doubt, Banda Singh was immortalised forever in the history of Sikhs, he is also known and much celebrated in Bengal after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore wrote a poem titled ‘Bandi Bir’.

Banda Singh Bahadur ruled only for 6 to 7 years. This broke the yoke of 700 years rule of the invading forces from the Arab countries. Their myth of power was broken by him. The sacrifices of Banda Singh and his men did not discourage the Sikhs but prepared them for the worst future fights. Passing through very difficult times for the next 40 years, the Sikhs ruled at Lahore under the leadership of Nawab Kapoor Singh and then by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia in 1756. Later on they ruled all over Punjab in the form of 12 Sikh Misels (groups) under different names. This ultimately led to establish Khalsa Raj under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1799 AD. On the eve of 300 years martyrdom of Baba Banda Bahadur, a Shaheedi Yatra started on May 31, 2016 from Dera Baba Banda Bahadur Reasi and will reach Shahidiasthan Mehroli Delhi on June 9.Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s 10th successor Baba Jatinder Singh Sodhi will lead the Yatra.

A tribute to Banda Bahadur

Mehak Kaur Sodhi , A tribute to Banda Bahadur "Daily Excelsior" 7/8/2016

Rich tributes have been / are being paid to the legendary Sikh General Banda Singh Bahadur on his 300th martyrdom year. Various programmes and events have been held to highlight the contributions made by him not only for the Sikhs but for the cause of Social Justice. The Punjab and Haryana Governments participated whole heartedly in showcasing the life of Banda Singh Bahadur as also his contribution not only to the Sikhs but the society in general. Nagar Kirtans were also held in other places including his Birth state Jammu and Kashmir.

Accounts on the life of Banda Singh Bahadur have been written elaborately by renowned historians and writers. However, I have taken reference form the book “Historical Sikh Shrines of Jammu and Kashmir authored by Commodore Dalbir Singh Sodhi and would like to present some important aspects that clearly define the Magnanimous character of Banda Singh Bahadur. He was born on 27 Oct 1670 in the Rajouri district of Jammu province and was named Lachmen Dev. At the young age of 15 he left home to become an ascetic. This transformation happened as a result of him hunting a doe and seeing the mother and her aborted fawns writhing in pain and dying. Having spent considerable time with ascetic bairagi Janaki Prasad (who named him Madho Das) and later with Augarh Nath, he traveled to Nanded. In September 1708 , he met Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Nanded . Guru Gobind Singh baptised him with Amrit and gave him the name Banda Singh. Guru Ji tasked him to go to Punjab and fight against the atrocities being committed by the Mughals. As symbol of authority, the Guru gave him five arrows from his own quiver, a Nishan Sahib and a Nagara. The Guru also sent a council of Five Pyaras and twenty more Sikhs. Banda Singh’s strength lay in the Hukamnamas of Guru Gobind Singh to various Sikh Sangats asking them to extend support to Banda Singh. Armed with the blessings and Authority of Guru Gobind Singh Ji , he assembled a fighting force and led the struggle against the Mughal Empire. Banda Singh Bahadur led several successful military campaigns against the Mughals in Punjab and then proceeded to Samana. Samana was the home town of sayed Jalal-ud-din , who had executed Guru Teg Bahadur as also of Shahal Beg who had carried out the execution of the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh. On 26 Nov 1709, Banda Singh carried out a lightening assault on Samana and a fierce battle was fought. After concurring Samana, Banda Singh made Bhai Fateh Singh the commander of the town and stormed Ghuram, Thaska and Mustabad. On 22 May 1710, Banda Singh attacked Sirhind and killed Wazir Khan.

Banda Singh then captured Sadhaura and chose the fort of Mukhlispur (built in the time of emperor Shah Jahan) as capital of the emerging Sikh state. Banda Singh restored the crumbling citadel and renamed it Lohgarh . He hoisted the flag of the Khalsa on its ramparts. In order to give Lohgarh added authority as the administrative capital of their territories, an official seal and coins were issued to celebrate the Sikh rule. Whereas, Mughal emperors issued Seals and coins under their names, Banda Singh on the other hand issued coins and his Seal in the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh.

Persian inscription on the coin issued by Banda Singh read

Sikkah Zad Bar Har Do Alam Tegh-i-Nanak Wahib Ast

Fateh Gobind Singh Shah -i- Shahan

Fazal-i-Sacha Sahib Ast

Coins struck for the two worlds with the sword of Nanak and the Victory granted by the grace of Gobing Singh, King of Kings and the true Emperor.

Words on the other side of the coin read

Zarb ba Aman-ud-Dahar

Masawarat Shahar Zinat-ut-Takth-i-Mubarikh Bahht

Struck in the heaven of refuge, the beautiful city, the ornament of the blessed throne.

The official Seal had inscription

Degh O Tegh O Fateh O Nusrat-i-Bedirang

Yaft Az Nanak Guru Gobind Singh

The inscription eulogised the kettle (representing Sikh commitment to feed the poor) The Sword (the symbol of power) , Victory and unqualified patronage as attributes bequeathed by Nanak to Guru Gobind.

The mughals after consolidation (with a huge army) carried out attack on Sadhaura. After a prolonged battle, Banda Singh eluded capture and went into the hills. Banda Singh stayed in the hills of Jammu at Riasi (from Oct 1713 to Feb 1715) on the banks of River Chenab consolidating his forces and waiting for a favourable opportunity to strike for the freedom of his people. Banda Singh Bahadur finally attained Martyrdom at Mehrauli on 9 June 1716.

Some of the landmark qualities and attributes that define the magnanimity, integrity, devotion and commitment of Banda Singh Bahadur are as follows:-

(a) Banda Singh Bahadur was personally chosen and baptised by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to fight against the atrocities being committed by the Mughals.

(b) He laid the foundation of the Sikh empire in the year 1710.

(c) Though he fought back against religious persecution of Hindus and Sikhs , he allowed Muslims to practice their faith fearlessly in the boundaries of Sikh nation.

(d) He raised the lowest of the low to the highest position in his government.

(e) He introduced greatest fiscal reforms by abolishing the Zamindari system of the Mughals that had reduced the cultivators to the position of slaves.

(f) He honoured the preaching of Guru Gobind Singh in that during one of his military campaigns he did not plunder the village Maler Kotla since its Ruler Sher Muhammed had advocated mercy for the children of Guru Gobind Singh at the time of their execution in Sirhind.

(g) He placed before the people practical demonstration of Supreme Sacrifice to uphold the cause of Social Justice.

The State of Jammu and Kashmir has the distinction of being a multifaceted secular state with a unique cultural blend. Jammu and Kashmir is not only the land of magnetism and picturesque beauty; it is the land of art, music, passion and courage as well. The State of Jammu and Kashmir is proud of some of the personalties who have proved their mettle in their respective fields and made history. I consider that one of such courageous and great Secular minded personality who has not been given the due recognition by the State is the great Sikh Icon Banda Singh Bahadur who has the distinction of being blessed by the Tenth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji . Whereas, The Governments of Punjab and Haryana have made memorials in the name of Banda Singh Bahadur, the Delhi Govt paid rich tributes to the Sikh general this year by naming the Barapullah flyover as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Setu. This is the high time that the State Government acknowledges the immense contribution of the Son of the soil Banda Singh Bahadur by constructing a memorial befitting the stature of S. Banda Singh Bahadur.