Lohgarh - Khalsa Rajdhani, Lohgarh fort - Lohgarh Trust - S. Daljeet Singh Bajwa (the kiss of deception read online .TXT) 📗

Rupar), Shah-Ud-Din (Bakhshi Sarhind), chief of Patti and several others whose complete names don’t appear in records.

Muslim Jehadis of Lahore etc

Pir Mohammed Taqi, Musa Begh, Shah Inayatulla, Mohammed Jaman Ranghar and Mulla Mir Mohammed.

Other Maulvais:

Maulvi Virdi Begh Lahore, Shah Mohammed Qazi Buria etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epilogue

 

 

 

Banda Singh’s Impact on Mughal Empire

There is no doubt the Mughals had captured Sadhura and Lohgarh, and, had demolished them. They had also killed Banda Singh Bahadur and thousands of the Sikhs. But, with this had also started the destruction of the mighty Mughal Empire. Just in a period of six years, Banda Singh had destroyed the Mughal Empire. The royal treasury had got drained. More than fifty thousand Mughal soldiers had been killed; many of them were prominent generals. Banda Singh had finished the awe of the Mughal ruler. The area of Jammu to Delhi and up to Saharanpur on the eastern side of Yamuna river had been devastated. Even after the execution of Banda Singh (1716) and up to 1760, though the Sikhs were not in power, most of the Mughal wealth, power and attention remained centered on the expedition against the Sikhs, which shook the foundations of the ‘mighty’ Mughal Empire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Places Associated with Banda Singh Bahadur & His Companions

 

 

Rajauri:

Most sources agree that Banda Singh Bahadur was born as Lachhman Dev, at Rajauri (Punchh) in Kashmir. This is the first place associated with Banda Singh. Here, a memorial should be established in his memory.

Bisrampur:

James Brown, in his work ‘Tracts’ mentions that Banda Singh was born in Bisrampur village (Jalandhar district). No other source agrees with him and it might just be a hearsay. Anyhow, Master Mota Singh of Patara (a village nearby) had established a shrine to commemorate Banda Singh’s memory.

Nanded:

Here, Banda Singh had spent several years, and, he got initiation into the Sikh faith and blessings from Guru Gobind Singh. A shrine has come up at the site of his erstwhile dera.

Khanda/Sehri (Kharkhauda):

Banda Singh had made his first headquarters here in the jungle in between these two villages. He spent several weeks here to form and organise an army and to make military preparations before launching his war for freedom of Sikh Homeland. A tower commemorating Banda Singh should be established at that site.

 

 

Samana:

It was the first town freed by the Sikhs on the 26th of November 1709. But, so far no memorial has been established to commemorate this greatest event of history of the Sikh Homeland. This was the first victory against the foreign rule. A museum, depicting the history of the battle and the city, should be established here.

Lohgarh:

This was the first capital of independent Punjab. This village is on the border of Haryana and Himanchal Pradesh. Some Sikhs have established a small shrine here but this is not enough, rather this is a great injustice to Banda Singh as well as the history of the Punjab, Haryana and Himanchal Pradesh. It is pleasing to note that the Haryana government has decided to construct a grand memorial at Lohgarh. A grand museum depicting Banda Singh’s achievements should be set up. Besides a ‘light and sound’ programme, depicting the battles of 1710, 1712 and 1713, should also be set up.

Sadhaura:

Here, hundreds of Sikhs sacrificed their lives. A park, a fine memorial, in the form of a tall tower, should be established near the ruins of the Fort.

Chappar Chiri:

This place is as important as Waterloo. Here, the Sikhs wrote the grand chapter of history with their blood. Thousands of Sikhs laid their lives here. A grand museum with at least a 50 feet high statue of Banda Singh, like the one of General Nelson in Trafalgar Square, London, should be set up here. A ‘light and sound’ programme can also be set up.

Sarhind (now Fatehgarh Sahib):

It was here that the the history of world’s first egalitarian declaration was made on the 27th of May 1710. A grand museum and statues of

 

 

 

 

 

Places Associated with Banda Singh Bahadur & His Companions     u  231

 

Banda Singh and Baj Singh (the first Governor of Sarhind), and a big- long replica of steel of the martyrs should be established here.

Riasi:

It was here that Banda Singh spent some time. His wife Sahib Kaur, his son and his grandchildren lived here for about a century. A shrine has been established here.

Gurdas Nangal:

Here, Banda Singh and the Sikhs remained under an eight months’ long siege; and, about two thousand Sikhs embraced martyrdom here. A grand museum and a tall statue of Banda Singh, and a light-and-sound programme should be set up here.

Lal Qila:

Banda Singh and more than seven hundred Sikh prisoners were interned here for several days. A tower/pillar commemorating this event should be set up here.

Salimgarh:

Banda Singh and his companions were interned here for several days. A pillar commemorating this event should be set up here.

Chandni Chowk:

More than seven hundred Sikh prisoners were executed here in March 1716. A pillar should be set up to commemorate the sacrifices of these martyrs.

Qutub Minar/Mehrauli:

It was here that Banda Singh Bahadur and his son were butchered by the Mughal regime on the 9th of June 1716. The Sikhs have set up a Gurdwara but a fine tower and a ‘light and sound’ programme should be set up here.

 

 

Dhota Tanda (Jammu):

Banda Singh Bahadur’s body was cremated here.

Amingarh, Kunjpura, Kapuri, Thaska, Buria (in Haryana), Saharanpur (in UP), Bilaspur (in Himanchal), Ghuram, Rupar, Rahon, Kalanaur, Batala (in Punjab), Raipur-Rasulpur and Baloh (in Kashmir) are the places where a large number of Sikhs sacrificed their lives. Suitable pillars commorating their sacrifices should be set up in these places.

There is a trend to establish a Gurdwara in the memory of an event and there are thousands and thousands of Gurdwaras all over the world. Instead suitable minars/towers, museums, statues, platforms and domes etc. should be set up so that future generations may know their history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banda  Singh  Bahadur :

A Poem by Rabinder Nath Tagore

 

 

In the prominent royal Mogul court of Delhi King’s sleep will break-up hundred times daily There was such a dreadful fright in his heart

In his consciousness painful sighs were brought What fire scorched his heart no one knows

All of a sudden he was jumping in fiery blows

It appeared like red hot sky from the Delhi court King’s heart shaking, seeking Godly support

Rivers of blood were flowing on the five rivers’ land Sikhs were facing persecutions for some ideal ground Smeared in blood, they were saying thanks in gratitude Patiently, regardless of comforts, they were in solitude They crossed their way with the Moguls might

With faithful heart they remembered God in sight Maiden decorated with mark of blood, their foreheads What sort of people are Sikhs, with such eagerness They move like moth, looking at burning all around Without delay they line up ready to fight duty bound They play jokes with death, and like lions they roar Wherever they stare and rebuke, enemy is no more Brave warriors jumped in fray with hand to hand attack They quickly hawk assaulting caught the deadly foe Like flying hawk assaulting a deadly poisonous snake Squeezing them in their claws from tip to toe Innumerable was the enemy army, Sikhs were very few

 

 

They were surrounded in chains and were put in queue Clothes soaked in blood, bodies full of wounds and bruises Intestines fall in tummy but they had faith and confidence The enemy was battered by the dashing Banda Singh sage Moguls fought back and tied him like brave lion in cage

Surrounded him from all the sides and imprisoned the hero’s chum Then they moved towards Delhi, on the beat of kettle-drum

The Mogul army departed towards the Capital of Delhi city They moved like hurricane, without stopping or any pity Seven hundred Sikhs were imprisoned and curled-up in chains

It was a disgusting sight, an extraordinary incident, full of pains On every pointed spear, the head of Sikh was hanging

Streams of blood dripping, the sight will give a panging Sikh prisoners shackled in chains, shouted this voice of cry

O! Our true saviour preserve thy honour, don’t let panth shy Spectators gathered in the heart of Delhi’s Chandni Chowk This caravan of Sikhs was quite out of strength and in shock Outside they were dull and defeated, inside enjoying thrill Greeting loudly the victory of Guru and obedient to His will The onlookers revealed an extraordinary and peculiar tale The prisoners started argument as nobody wanted to fail Everybody wanted to be first in their turn to meet the fate All wanted to meet the Beloved, Gobind through life’s gate The wheel of death started, the murderers were on assault An applause was echoed, whenever the sword was at fault The Sikhs were being butchered, going forward for sacrifice It was game of seven days for seven hundred heroes nice Chief Banda Singh was in the clutches of destiny or fate Next they brought forward to kill his little son ever so great The Kazi passed on to Banda Singh the killer sword grand

He ordered him to cut his son’s head as it was royal command Sons are symbols of worldliness for formality in social affairs If someone rebukes them one feels like to pull his hairs

What sort of test in life, to kill one’s own son, was shaping

 

 

 

 

 

Banda Singh Bahadur     u  235

 

The thing one can’t even imagine, the same was happening Banda first picked his son and loved and caressed him

Then he tried to explain the role and character of Sikhism; Prince Fateh and Jujhar Singh were also children like you Now in the test time and what they achieved you can also do Greeting the victory loudly, the little son was revitalized

If life goes, the custom of Sikhism is, let it be sacrificed For holder of righteousness definite victory will be at last His love won’t be wasted; he meets the Beloved very fast

The Kazi became angry as he could not bear the splendour The executioner attacked the child and he started to flutter Even then this strange trick of destiny could not succeed Plump intestines jumping softly, the earth was red indeed It is written in the history that Banda remained unmoved In his mouth soft plump heart of slayed child was forced

In this hard probation Banda remained unshaken, steady The history will cry when going through its own study

It was such a dreadful scene that onlookers could not spy Snatching with pincers first they took out his both eyes Iron bars were made red hot to burn his body limbs ready The Sikh greeted the victory loudly and soul left the body

The Sky echoed with kettle-drum beat, banner flying like kite Once a hero takes a battlefield, he is eager to show his might A true warrior is one, who fights for sake of humble and meek

He might be cut into the pieces, but to leave battlefield will never seek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List of 52 Bastions of Lohgarh

 

 

 

 

S.

No

Disrtict

Tehsil

Village

Remarks Regarding availability of structure.

1

YamunaNagar

Sadhaura

Ladharpur

available

2

YamunaNagar

Sadhaura

Sarawan

available

3

YamunaNagar

Bilaspur

Chhchhrauli

Azizpur

available

4

YamunaNagar

Leda Khas

available

5

YamunaNagar

Jagadhri

Mehalawali

Non available

6

YamunaNagar

Sadhura

Fatehgarh Tumbi

Non available

7

YamunaNagar

Bilaspur

Sandhaya

available

8

YamunaNagar

Bilaspur

Machhrauli

Non available

9

YamunaNagar

Chhchhrauli

Chhchhrauli

Non available

10

YamunaNagar

Jagadhri

Garhi Banjara

Non available

11

YamunaNagar

Jagadhri

Karwan

Non available

12

YamunaNagar

Chhchhrauli

Dayalgarh

Non available

13

YamunaNagar

Radaur

Radaur

Non available

14

YamunaNagar

Radaur

Hartan

Non available

15

YamunaNagar

Radaur

Jatlana

Non available

16

YamunaNagar

Mustafabad

Kulchandu

Non available

17

YamunaNagar

Mustafabad

Saran

Non available

18

YamunaNagar

Chhchhrauli

Yakubpur

Non available

19

Ambala

Barara

Barara

Non available

20

Ambala

Barara

Ugla

Non available

21

Ambala

Barara

Adoya

Non available

22

Ambala

Barara

Thambar

Non available

23

Ambala

Barara

Nahara dera

Non available

24

Ambala

Barara

Tandwal

Non available

25

Ambala

Barara

Dhin

available

 

 

 

 

 

List of 52 Bastions of Lohgarh     u  237

 

 

S.

No

Disrtict

Tehsil

Village

Remarks