Sikh Concepts and Teachings - Sikh culture and Heritage

Question / Answers

(211) Question:-	What was the situation after the formation of Khalsa and how did it affect the relations between the Guru and the hill rulers?
Answer:-	After the formation of the Khalsa, the jealousy of the hill rulers increased all the more. Such a development seemed to them as alarming. Thus, all the hill rulers approached the Raja of Bilaspur, in whose territory Anandpur was situated, with a view to get Anandpur Sahib vacated from the Guru. It was considered necessary to weaken the position of the Guru as Anandpur had become a hilly citadel. For this purpose, they tried to attack the Guru, but their repeated expeditions proved abortive. They at last approached the Mughal emperor at Delhi for help and in pursuance thereof the Governor of Lahore and the Fauzdar of Sirhind came to their help. The Generals like Dina Begh and Pande Khan led the expeditions but in vain. Pande Khan had a direct confrontation With the Guru, but was badly wounded by an arrow shot by the Guru. After the defeat of these two Generals, the hill rulers decided to launch a combined attack at Anandpur. They required the Guru to either accept the suzerianty of the hill rulers or vacate Anandpur Sahib. When Guru Ji refused to accept any of the conditions, a siege was laid to Anandpur. Even this did notprove very useful as the Sikhs managed to go out in small groups and arrange their provisions. The hill rulers then sent a drunken elephant to batter down the gate of Lohgarh fort. As the elephant reached near the gate, Bachitar Singh, a devotee of the Guru was sent to face the elephant. The Gurbilas Patshahi 10 records that Bachitar Singh. seated on his horseback made such a powerful thrust with his spear at the forehead of the animal that the injured elephant ran back creating havoc in the besieger's ranks. This incident took place on Ist September 1700.
(212) Question:-	What was the next step taken by the hill kings after having failed to have a victory over the Guru?
Answer:-	When the hill rulers could not succeed in their struggle against the Guru, they thought of another plan to get Anandpur vacated. The Guru was approached with a request that if he vacates Anandpur for some days, it will satisfy the hill rulers and the peace will prevail. Guru Ji did not want the deterioration in relations with the rulers and as such agreed to shift to some nearby place. He left Anandpur and settled himself at Narmohi, which was about 2 miles away from Anandpur. However, the hill rulers did not stick to their word and launched a sudden attack on the Guru. The Guru again made them lick the dust with his skill in the archery. There is a Gurdwara at this place, known as Nirmohgarh Sahib (4 km. south of Kiratpur).
(213) Question:-	Describe the second skirmish at Nirmohi between the hill rulers and the Guru in October 1700?
Answer:-	The hill rulers once again attacked the Guru with the help and under the command of the Nawab of Sirhind, but in vain. Another peace agreement was offered to the Guru, who was requested to go to Basali which will lead to a peaceful settlement between the warring factions. The Guru once again trusted the hill rulers and proceeded to Basali. Basali is a place 20 kms. south-west of Kiratpur. However, he had not yet reached Basali when Ajmer Chand Son of Bhim Chand treacherously attacked the Guru. The Guru defeated his forces. A Gurdwara is there at this place also. After that the Guru came back to Anandpur.
(214) Question:-	Describe the significant events after the Guru's come back to Anandpur?
Answer:-	After the Guru had left Anandpur, the forces of the hill rulers did not pay proper attention to the town and as such. its condition deteriorated. When Guru Ji came back, he had to get extensive repairs made in respect of many buildings including residential places and forts. The green belt of the town had also been destroyed in his absence. The Guru paid adequate attention to this aspect also. The efforts of the Guru brought hack the city once again to its earlier form and the same became worthy of inhabitation. The hill rulers could not dare to involve themselves in further confrontation at least for some time. Thus, they started sending messengers as a gesture of friendship and for the purpose of keeping the best of the relations with the Guru. Although the time of peace was not very long, Guru Ji utilised it for the propagation of the teachings of the Masters. The congregation was held twice a day and the People were exhorted to do Naam Simran. Raja Ajmer Chand had sent his message to the Guru for inviting him to Rewalsar, where a big fair had been organised and number of dignitaries were invited thereto. Guru Ji along with his some of his soldiers visited Rewalsar, where other hill rulers had also come. The site of the meeting between the Guru Ji and the hill rulers is presently the site of a Gurdwara at that place. After Rewalsar Guru Ji visited Mandi, which is a district town in H.P, and during that period was the capital of a Princely State of that name. Raja Sidh Sain, ruler of this place welcomed the Guru. At present, a Gurdwara is situated at that place, where the Guru had camped outside the city. The are number of relics belonging to the Guru in this Gurudwara. These include a cot used by the Guru and his Rabab. It was during this period of peace that while coming back from Kurukshetra, when Guru Ji was bringing some new horses that he was again attacked by some hill rulers with a view to deprive him of his precious possessions including horses. 'those who attacked Were supported by two Mughal Generals namely, Gen. Said Beg and Alif Khan. Said Beg was so much impressed by the bravery of the Sikhs that he surrendered himself to be a disciple of the Guru. Alif Khan also could not fight against the brave Sikhs and as such retreated back to Delhi.
(215) Question:-	Describe briefly the incidents leading to the siege of Anandpur by the combined imperial and hill rulers' forces.
Answer:-	When the hill rulers failed in their attempts to subjugate the Guru, they approached Emperor Aurangzeb and instigated him against the Guru. The emperor was engaged in warfare in Deccan. He, therefore, instructed the Governor of Lahore and Founder of Sirhind to render necessary help and assistance to the hill rulers as to launch a combined attack on the Guru. The combined forces surrounded Anandpur from all sides to prevent the entry of any provision inside the city. As the siege was protracted, there was a considerable reduction in rations. However, the Sikhs did not lose heart even when they had to go without food or eat leaves of the trees for appeasing their hunger. It went on considerably long and this made the soldiers exhaused on both the sides. It was at this time that the hill rulers thought of a plan to induce the Guru again to leave Anandpur. The Guru had already tested the hill rulers several times and was convinced that they did not have sincere intentions. Even when they promised that the Guru and his soldiers would be allowed to leave the city without any disturbance and that they could carry their properties with them. The Guru was not inclined to accept. It is said that some of the Sikhs wanted that Anandpur should be left with a view to bringing the end of hostilities and for that purpose they approached Guru's mother and convinced her. Guru's mother also agreed that as the Hindu rulers had sworn on their scriptures and religious symbols and the Mohammedans took oath on the Quran, they should be believed. The Guru with a view to how the real intentions of the enemies agreed to evacuate Anandpur on the condition that the enemy should first allow the removal of the property for which purpose pack-bullocks along with sacks be supplied. The enemy forces immediately acted and sent the sacks to be filled in with the properties. When the sacks on the bullocks were sent outside the city, the hill rulers fell tempted and seized the same. However, when the sacks were opened, the enemies discovered the guru's stratagem and painfully realized the fact that the sacks were filled with the sweepings of the Anandpur marketplace. The Guru, thus, exposed the evil intentions of the enemies. The next message came from the emperor himself. The emperor had sworn on the Quran not to cause any harm to the Guru and his men in case the Guru left the place. The Sikhs again pleaded with the Guru's mother and also with the Guru that it was better to prevent further loss of life and property and accept the condition of leaving Anandpur for the restoration of peace. The Guru explained to the Sikhs that the enemy could not be trusted, but, if the majority of the Sikhs desired, the Guru did not want to lose them in the prolonged warfare. The enemy side strengthened their position by bringing more evidence to the Guru's camp that they were really sincere in having peace and for that Purpose they were ready to swear on any religious symbol or deity. When the Guru found that most of the people including his mother wanted that there should be peace and the other side should be trusted, he decided to leave Anandpur along with his family and followers. Some of the small groups of the Sikhs preceded him in leaving Anandpur and moving towards Kiratpur. It was that night of 5th and 6th December 1705 that the Guru left Anandpur along with his family members. Before leaving he had ensured to appoint certain persons who could stay back at Anandpur for managing the affairs of the important places.
(216) Question:-	Was the peace really restored after the Guru left Anandpur?
Answer:-	The hill rulers were not honest in their intentions. Raja Ajmer Chand and Subedar Wazir Khan decided to follow the Guru. The Guru passed through Kiratpur, Nirmohi, and proceeded towards Ropar. It was around this place that the hill rulers again attacked the rearguard which was moving under Ajit Singh. Ude Singh, a very brave soldier in the Sikh Army and a confidant of the Guru provided support and engaged the army in fighting against him. The army surrounded him and killed him after a tough fight as was given by the brave soldier, who sacrificed his life with a view to relieve Ajit Singh. Another brave soldier of the Guru's army, Jeewan Singh, was also killed in a skirmish with the combined forces. The Guru waited for the news at Ropar. There was difficulty in crossing the Sarsa river as it was heavily flooded. A number of Sikhs who had spent a considerable time without any food and water and were feeling weak and exhausted during this period of severe cold, could not cross the river and were drowned in attempting to do so. Some of them preferred to die while fighting. The confusion that prevailed for some time separated even the Guru from his family members.
(217) Question:-	Name the sons of the Guru. Give information regarding the date and place of their birth. Who were the family members who were separated from the Guru at the time of crossing the river Sarsa?
Answer:-	Guru had four sons. The first son, Ajit Singh, was born to Mata Sundari on 26th January 1687 at Paonta Sahib. The other three sons were born to Mata Jeeto Ji. They were Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, Sahibzada Joravar Singh, and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, who were born on 14th March 1691, 17th November 1696, and 25th February 1699 respectively. when the separation took place, the younger sons of the Guru along with their grand-mother Mata Gujari Ji were separated. The wives of the Guru were sent to Delhi along with Bhai Mani Singh. The Guru along with his some of his soldiers were left near Ropar as to meet the enemy forces which were continuously pursuing them. Guru left some of his men at Ropar to arrest the progress of the enemy and himself along with some chosen Sikhs marched towards Chamkaur.
(218) Question:-	What events followed after the Guru's arrival at Chamkaur?
Answer:-	When the Guru came to know that the imperial forces consisting of about ten thousand soldiers and the forces of hill rulers along with that of Suba Wazir Khan were marching towards them from two sides, the Guru decided to fight with them at Chamkaur only. He, therefore, directed his soldiers to take their position and be ready for the encounter. The encounter that took place on 7th December 1705 was, in fact, an unequal battle. There were hardly 40 Sikhs who were pitched against a strong army of more than ten thousands. The Guru used a double-storeyed house with a high compound wall around it and only one entrance in the north, as fortress. The combined forces surrounded this Garhi (fortress). The Sikhs, although, very small in number, did not lose heart and came out in small batches for a hand-to-hand fight with the enemy. The battle went on throughout the day in which all the Sikhs fought vigorously and obtained martyrdom after killing a large number of soldiers of the enemy forces. Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh aged 18 and 14 years respectively were also among those who fought heroically before becoming martyr. When the Guru was left with only 5 Sikhs in the fortress, it was decided by the Sikhs that the Guru should escape so that he could rally his followers again for continuing the struggle against the forces of tyranny and oppression. One of the Sikhs, who was to remain behind was Sangat Singh. As he resembled the Guru in feature and physical stature, he put on the Guru's attire and along with his other companion, Sant Singh, kept the enemy busy in fighting till late at night. The Guru and the other three Sikhs namely, Daya Singh) Dharam Singh and MannSingh were able to escape when there was pitched darkness and the enemy soldiers had slept because of fatigue. At this historic site now stands a Gurdwara called Garhi Sahib. Towards the west of this Gurdwara, there is another shrine called Gurdwara Quatal Garh Sahib (Shaheed Ganj). It is at this site where the hand to hand fights took place on 7th December 1705. It is in commemoration of all those martyrs who fought bravely and laid down their lives for a noble cause. Apart from the two Sahibzadas, the three of the original five piaaras (five beloveds) namely Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mahkam Singh, and Bhai Sahib Singh had also become martyrs.
(219) Question:-	Why and how did Guru Gobind Singh leave the Garhi of Chamkor?
Answer:-	As mentioned above, the decision was taken by the five Sikhs who were left with the Guru in the fortress. When the Guru had formed the Khalsa, a tradition was started by him that whatever decision is taken by the five Sikhs, the same will have to be obeyed by everyone including the Guru. It was because of this reason only that the Guru had agreed to leave Anandpur. Further, the decision taken by the five Sikhs at Chamkor was fully justified. It is always the strategy in a battle that the soldiers should fight for their leader so that the leader may take decisions to continue the struggle. In any battle, if the leader dies fighting or gives in, the battle is decided against him. The Guru's forces were never defeated. They fought till the last man available and always allowed the Guru to escape and plan further. As the Guru had a very small number of soldiers, everyone had to fight single-handedly with a large number of persons on the Other side. The Guru provided the necessary inspiration and planned the battles in such a manner that the other side could never score a decisive victory. That the Guru was a very brave soldier is proved by various battles in which he himself fought including hand-to-hand fights. He was also an able administrator and a General who could lead even a small group of his soldiers either to victory or to martyrdom without defeat. it may be mentioned here that when the Guru and the three Sikhs left the Garhi, as per their plan each one of them proceeded in a different direction agreeing to meet later at a fixed place. Since the Guru did not want to leave unannounced, he clapped and shouted to indicate that he was leaving. Similar action was taken by the three Sikhs and as the shouts came from different directions, the enemy forces were baffled. They were still in confusion. when the Guru and the three Sikhs went out of their reach. The site where the Guru had clapped is now the site of a Gurdwara called Taari Sahib.
(220) Question:-	Describe the martyrdom of Sahibzadas in the battle of Chamkor.
Answer:-	The elder sons of Guru Ji namely, Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh were the brave sons of a brave father. Although they had shown their bravery on earlier occasions also, the exemplary courage shown by them at Chamkor is a rare example of bravery in the entire history of mankind. It was on that day of 7th December, 1705 when the unequal battle commenced with the sun rise. There were only 40 Sikhs, whereas there were a million on the other side including forces of Malerkotla, Sirhind and the local Rangars and Gujars. When the Garrhi was besieged, and the ammunition and arrows were exhaused, it was planned that the Sikhs will come out in the batches of five each to engage the encircling host with sword and spear. Both the Sahibzadas had fought in their respective batches. The valour displayed by them has been versified by Muslim poet Allahyar Khan Jogi. His Urdu poem entitled, "Shahidan-i-wafa" had bcecome very popular in the early decades of the 20th century- There is another popular poem in Punjabi written by the famous Punjabi lyricist Nand Lal Noorpuri. This poem was sung by the two sisters, Surinder Kaur and Parkash Kaur and had also become very popular. The wording of this lyric was :- ਚੁਮ ਚੁਮ ਰਖੋ ਨੀ ਕਲਗੀ ਜੁਝਾਰ ਦੀ l Chum chum rakho ni ih kalgi Jhujar di. Kiss time and again the plume of Jujhar.