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Events / History pages which move your heart
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40 sikhs of Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought with 10 lac soldiers of the mughal army
When in need King Bahadar Shah, had fallen at the feet of Guru Gobind Singh, and now in Dec 1710, ordered that Sikhs, wherever seen, be killed.
'Chhota Ghalughara' (Small Holocaust) In 1746 about 20000 Sikhs (including women, children and the old) were killed. 30000 Sikhs killed in 1762 known as the 'Vadda Ghalughara' (Big Holocaust)
After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh leadership went into the wrong hands of Dogra Sikhs, who were traitors and had secretly joined the British rulers for their personal gains.
It is recorded in the official British records that whenever a sikh was taken to the execution room, he was given a chance to apologize, but they preferred dignified death than slavery.
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1738 to 1760 AD
It was a time of terror for the Sikhs. The Sikhs started hiding themselves in forests of Rajasthan and nearby areas. Prizes were paid for killing Sikhs. It was as if the Sikhs were not to die of natural deaths, and their blood was meant for sacrifices only. The Sikhs started fighting gorilla war but never killed innocent persons.
In June 1738 Bhai Mani Singh, the Head Granthi of Sri Darbar Sahib was executed by chopping off his bones piece by piece at the orders of Zakariya Khan, the Governor of Lahore.
The Muslim rulers believed that it is the Golden temple, which is a source of inspiration for the Sikhs, and they always had an ill eye towards Golden Temple. In 1741 AD a chieftain of village Patti, started sessions of dances and drinks inside the Golden Temple. He was beheaded there itself by 2 Singhs who had come there from the forests of Rajasthan disguised as village heads.
In July 1745, Zakariya Khan arrested Bhai Taaru Singh. His skull was removed by chisels as he had refused to partake his hair (Kesh). The Khan died because of failure of passing urine well before the departing of Bhai Taaru Singh ji. Baba Garja Singh and Mota Singh were going to Amritsar to pray at Golden Temple. They were moving at nights to avoid detection but were detected by the Mugals. They faced an army of 200 soldiers. They sacrificed themselves while fighting and killing about 40 soldiers.
Some ungrateful, high caste and power hungry Hindus were also against the Sikhs. In Oct 1745 an All Sikh Congregation "Sarbat Khalsa" was held at Akaal Takhat Sahib but Harbhagat Niranjinia of Jandiala was an informer and was hand in glove with the Nawab of Lahore. Another chieftain Lakhpat Rai started catching and killing Sikhs from villages under the orders of Governor of Lahore. In 1746 he killed about 20000 Sikhs (including women, children and the old) by encircling the forest of Kahnuwaan and putting it to fire. The Sikhs call it 'Chhota Ghalughara' (Small Holocaust). Same year Bhai Subeg Singh and Bhai Shahbaj Singh (father and Son) were executed. They were tied on big rotatable sprocket wheels. Ultimately Harbhagat Niranjinia and Lakhpat Rai were killed by the Sikhs in April 1748.
In 1753, Meer Manu, a chieftain of Patti, arrested Sikh women with milk fed children. Killed the children by throwing them up in air to be pierced by the tips of spears. The pieces of flesh were garlanded and put in the necks of their mothers. The cruel Meer Manu died the same year after a fall from his horse and having been dragged with a foot stuck in the foot rest (Rakab) of his horse.
In 1756 at the request of Mugal Maharani, Ahmad Shah Abdaali attacked India. After collecting his loots and tying thousands of young ladies from Mathura, Brindaban, Agra, Delhi and other cities was carrying them on carts to be sold at Kabul as slaves. To save the young women, the honour of India, the Sikhs under the command of Baba Deep Singh attacked Abdaali forces at night near the river Markanda in Haryana and succeeded in their mission. Passing throughout Punjab, Abdaali met with the same fate while crossing rivers. The honour of Indian women was saved by the Sikhs which Marhattas, Rajputs, Ruhelas could not.
In 1757 AD Abdali sent Temur Khan to destroy Golden Temple at the behest of Jahan Khan. The same year two Sikhs by name Dayal Singh and Lehna Singh killed Jahan Khan. In Oct. 1759 the leaders of Sikh Missals collectede at Akaal Bunga and decided to attack approaching Durani, son of Ahmad Shah Abdali at Lahore and forced him to run back for safety.
In 1760 AD, Ahmad Shah Abdali, again started destroying Golden Temple. Baba Deep Singh ji vowed to fight his forces and reach Golden Temple. He sacrificed himself along with thousands of Sikhs but freed Golden Temple.
The Rajputs and Marhattas who had lost miserably to the Mugals, never helped Sikhs and not ever sought their help. Their role was similar to that of the Pahari Rajas. Without any co-ordination with the Sikhs, in 1761 AD they engaged forces of Abdali at Panipat. Their ratio was in 10 to 1 with Abdali forces but lost with heavy losses just because of their astrologers had advised them to wait for the aspecious occasion to attack while during that period Abdali closed their supply of food and water. Thus they were never able to face Abdaali again. Abdaali was carrying thousands of Hindu women as slaves, the Sikh army not only attacked Abdali forces at the banks of rivers of Punjab at nights with gorilla technique and freed the women but also sent then safely to their homes.
In 1762 AD in the field of Kupprhairey, Abdali surrounded the families and children of Sikhs and killed about 30 thousand Sikhs. It is called big holocaust 'Vadda Ghalughara'. Even after such big losses, in 1763 AD when a Brahmin from Kasoor requested Sikhs that his newly wedded wife be saved from the clutches of the Nawaab of Kasoor. The Sikhs attacked the Nawaab and saved the lady.
In 1764 the Khalsa defeated the attack of Ruhela Muslims. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia reconstructed Golden Temple. In December 1764 Baba Gurbakhash Singh along with 30 Sikhs gave away their lives while protecting Golden Temple and Akaal Takhat Sahib.
In 1765 AD Ahmad Shah Abdaali offered Governorship to S. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Ahluwalia refused to accept. Again same year, Abdali started destroying Goldern temple with mortars and cannons. A flying brick hit at his nose. The bleeding nose could not be cured and that became the cause of his death.
Since 1747 AD to 1767 for 20 years, Abdaali had attacked India eight times. It were only the Sikhs in Punjab who gave him befitting replies, looted his loots and saved the honor of Indian women. He was wondering that when he attacks India, he does not find Sikhs anywhere, but when he goes back, they attack and loot him. Where do these Sikhs live? When his Indian friends told him that these Sikhs live in Jungles and sleep on horse backs he prophesized that days are not far when they will rule.
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