The Mughal army, seizing an opportunity, launched an attack on Banda Bahadur, led by the Lahore Governor
Three hundred years ago, on June 9, 1716, a tragic event occurred. Captured in December 1715, Banda Bahadur had been enduring relentless torture for over five months. During this time, he witnessed the beheading of thousands of his men, their severed heads displayed on spears and paraded through the streets
Earlier, he had been placed in a cage and paraded through Delhi like an animal by the Mughal Emperor Farukh Siyar. His young son, only five years old, was shackled and held in his lap. Meanwhile, the Mughal Emperor sat opposite him, calmly directing the executioner on how to proceed with the next act of cruelty, which was to be the death of his own child at the hands of the emperor.
Looking at his life
Banda Bahadur lived a remarkable life. Originally an ascetic named Madho Das—who had been known as Lachhman Dev before adopting asceticism—he was given a sword and five arrows by the tenth Sikh Guru. He was tasked with uniting the Sikhs and freeing Punjab from Mughal oppression.
He assembled an impressive army of over 50,000 people, including Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims. This diverse force defeated the Mughal army across North India, liberating a significant portion of Punjab and the region between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, which is now part of Uttar Pradesh. Banda Bahadur also defeated the Nawab of Sirhind, who had cruelly killed the children of Guru Gobind Singh by bricking them alive. This victory avenged the children's deaths.
For about seven years, Banda Bahadur ruled the area, issuing coins in the names of Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Nanak. He introduced several reforms to help the poor, including ending the Zamindari system and redistributing land to farmers. Known for his just rule, he eventually fortified his position in the hills, left his ascetic life behind, married, and had children. During this time, the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah was alarmed. The Sikhs were on the verge of Delhi, signaling the first time a power had seriously challenged Mughal dominance in North India.
Banda Singh Bahadur was making significant progress and rising to prominence as a leader. However, historical accounts of his life can become unclear and confusing. Banda Singh Bahadur started as a Yogi ascetic, but he took up arms to avenge the deaths of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons. His army consisted of several groups, including the Nihangs, who were traditional Sikh warriors. This army also included members from the Taruna Dal and Buddha Dal, as well as the Tat Khalsa and Khalsa. While they were followers of the Sikh Gurus, they did not always strictly adhere to the Sikh code, which they later referred to as the Bandai Khalsa.
An Uprising
In India, a part of Guru Gobind Singh’s own followers began to express dissatisfaction with his opulent lifestyle. The Tatt Khalsa, a group of orthodox Sikhs, launched a campaign against him, accusing him of straying from the teachings of the Gurus
At that time, Guru Gobind Singh’s widow, Mata Sundari Ji, was living in Delhi. Influenced either by Banda Bahadur’s critics or by intrigue from the Mughal emperor, she was led to believe that Banda was looting the Punjab countryside. She sent him a ‘Hukamnama,’ or order, instructing him to stop his raids and settle down with his assigned lands. This order was accompanied by a letter from the Mughal emperor. It is unclear if the Hukamnama was genuine, but it marked the start of a significant and tragic split within Sikhism.
Banda Bahadur dismissed the king’s offer and responded to Mata Sundari Ji with disdain. He argued that submitting to the Turks, who had devastated her family, was not wise. He believed that they would deceive and weaken the Sikhs rather than provide them with property. Banda refused to follow the instructions of Guru Gobind Singh’s widow, which deeply offended the Tatt Khalsa, who viewed Mata Sundari Ji as their leader in Guru Gobind Singh’s absence.
Mata Sundari Ji is said to have issued another Hukamnama, commanding the Sikhs to distance themselves from Banda Bahadur for his disobedience and disrespect. No copies of this Hukamnama have been found, so its authenticity remains uncertain. However, this order significantly impacted Banda Bahadur’s position, leading to a decline in support from the Khalsa, who began abandoning his forces.
The attack
The Mughal army, seizing an opportunity, launched an attack on Banda Bahadur, led by the Lahore Governor. Banda had taken refuge in a fort near Gurdas Pur, called Kacchi Garhi, surrounded by thousands of Mughal soldiers. The siege dragged on for days and then months. As the situation worsened in the fort, supplies ran out. The defenders had to eat whatever they could find, including grass, leaves, and even the bark of trees. They were completely isolated from the outside world. During the eight-month siege, Banda’s support weakened when the prominent Akalis, led by Akali Nihang Baba Binod Singh and his son, Akali Nihang Baba Kahn Singh, deserted him. They reportedly left in protest over Banda's perceived abandonment of Sikh ideals.
Seeing his own Sikhs leave, Banda’s resolve to fight seemed to crumble. Although he still had a few thousand men with him, they were surrounded by a massive Mughal army. Unlike previous battles, there was no dramatic last stand. When the Mughal forces finally breached the fort, many Sikhs were killed, and around 750 were captured, including Banda Bahadur and his family. Some accounts say Banda fought fiercely, killing 50 to 60 Mughal soldiers before his capture, while others claim he was disheartened and did not fight, something no Sikh warrior had previously considered.
The captured Sikhs were paraded through Delhi in a gruesome procession, alongside 2,000 Sikh heads displayed on spears and 700 cartloads of heads used to instill fear. The Mughal caravan, which transported Banda from Lahore to Delhi, had killed many Sikhs along the way. In Delhi, the prisoners were forced to choose between converting to Islam or facing death. Banda was forced to watch as hundreds of Sikhs were executed, their heads displayed on spears and rolled through the streets as a chilling warning to the population.
None of the Bandai Khalsas abandoned their faith or bent their will. Despite facing death, they continued to chant the Sikh Jaikara, showing their unwavering commitment.
Meanwhile, the Tatt Khalsa, who had abandoned Banda Bahadur after Mata Sundari’s hukumnama, watched from the sidelines with regret and sorrow. They are said to have mourned their decision and, in some cases, even offered themselves for sacrifice to join their former comrades. However, by that point, Banda's glory had faded. His rule was shattered, and he was now a prisoner of the emperor.
After being imprisoned for five months, the day of Banda Bahadur’s execution arrived. Before his death, he was forced to stab his own six-year-old son, who was sitting on his lap. The renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore poignantly captured these tragic moments in his poem "Bandi Bir."
In mere teen was the boy,
With hands tied thrown as a toy
Into the lap of Banda and without a word
He drew him close to his heart.
For a while he put his hand on his head,
Just once kissed his turban red.
He then draws his dagger,
Whispers in the child’s ear –
“Wahe Guru- fear not my son”
A virile in the boy’s face did burn –
In his juvenile voice the court did ring
“Wahe Guru” as he did sing.
With his left hand Banda held the boy,
With right struck the dagger in his ploy,
“Wahe Guru”, was all he did implore
As he took to the floor.
*Based on an article published on kulveersamra.wordpress.com on 2nd August 2016