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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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1760 to 1849 AD
In 1769 Nadar Shah son of Ahmad Shah Abdaali, attacked India and imprisoned hundreds of Hindu women. The Sikhs same way attacked his army, saved the women and sent them to their homes under protection.The Sikhs were getting strong in Punjab and knowing that they cannot be safe until the King at Delhi is weakened, they took their struggle to Delhi. In 1770 AD the Sikhs attacked Delhi. Again in 1786, under the command of Bhai Baghel Singh attacked Delhi, hoisted the Sikh flag at Red Fort of Delhi, constructed their most beloved historical Gurudwaras of Delhi.
Thus, we see after 1715 AD for more than half a century the Sikhs lived in the most dreaded and horrible times. In spite of this they became powerful. Since about 1760 AD Punjab was practically under the control of Sikh Misals starting from Saharanpur to Attak and from Sind to Shivalik hills. They organised themselves in 12 groups each called a 'Misal'. Each Misal was identified under the name of their founder.General public even among Muslims was not against Sikhs. Jabat Khan Ruhela S/O Nazib-Ul-Daula of Delhi was so impressed by listening Kirtan (The Sikh Prayers) at Golden Temple, Amritsar that in Sep. 1777 he embraced Sikh religion.
In 1783 when Sardar Bhaghel Singh conquered Delhi second time. The Mugal King Shah Aalam Second negotiated with Sikhs accepting certain conditions put forward by Sardar Bhaghel Singh.
Encouraged by the attack of Sikhs in Delhi and knowing about the weak king Shah Aalam, in 1785 Marhattas attacked Delhi under the command of Ambaaji and defeated Shah Aalam.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born in Nov. 1780. Under the guidance of his father and mother-in-law he conceived the idea of a 'Khalsa Raj' (The Sikh Empire). He succeeded in convincing most of the Sikh Misals to join him in this mission. The other few Misels were annexed in the Sikh Empire with the least bloodshed. He conquered Lahore in 1799 AD. In April 1801, he was coroneted Maharaja of Punjab in the Shahi fort of Lahore. In 1819 he conquered Kashmir and Afganistan.
The Misals ruling areas from Sutluj towards East were not disturbed by the Maharaja but in fact, were helped to rule amicably among themselves. Maharaja Patiala, Nabha, Jind were the worth mentioning Sikh rulers. The British allowed them to rule, but under the British Crown.
In June 1838 the British had an accord with the Maharaja. River Satluj was the boarder to be honored by both. In fact it was a successful attempt by the British to be free of fear from the Maharaja. The Maharaja ruled from river Satluj in Punjab to Daraa Khebar in the West and from Laddakhand Tibat in the North to Sind in the South including Jammu and Kashmir, the present Pakistan and Afganistan until June 1839 when he expired.
The rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the most comfortable period for his people. He was kind to his people. There was no death sentence. His justice was impartial, quick and just. He was simple but shrewd. He donated amply to the religious places of all the religions even beyond his kingdom. Like Banda Singh Bahadur his currency was in the name of Guru Nanak Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji. His foreign minister was a Muslim. Finance minister was with a Hindu. His Prime minister was a Dogra Sikh ( Rajputs of Kashmir converted to Sikhs). Of course, his Generals were Sikhs. He liked healthy criticism. He offered to take back wrong and unfriendly orders, which went against the betterment of his people. There were about 72 foreigners from countries like Italy, France, German, Britain, Russia, Spain, Portugal and America in his services. He had foreigners even as defense consultants.
With all this he had weaknesses. He over believed Dogra Sikhs; used peasant Sikhs as soldiers, commanders for the sake of defense, but heeded no advice of theirs; had lots of wives; had heavy drinks. The Sikhs gave him full co-operation and fought vigorously for the Sikh Raj but it did not remain a Sikh Raj or Khalsa Raj. He attempted to establish his family rule but failed miserably by believing on the Dogra Sikhs.
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. The British perfidiously attacked the Sikh State after planting Sikh palace intrigue, by bribing these powerful Hindu based Dogra clan, the so called sikhs of the Maharaja Darbar. The Sikh Raj, which was established after big struggles and sacrifices for about a whole century crumbled like a house of wax within 10 years of his death. The whole dynasty of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was finished one by one.
From December 1845 to February 1846 five Anglo Sikh wars took place in the fields of Mudaki near Ferozpur, Feru Shehar, Baddowaal, Aaliwal and Sabhrawan. Because of the betrayal of Dogra sikh leaders like Raja Gulab Singh, Teja Singh and Laal Singh, the Sikhs lost to the British. In the war field itself they disappeared from the Sikh forces and joined the British forces. Instead of mortar for cannons, they supplied mustered seeds to the army.
In 1849 another Anglo-Sikh war took place. The Sikhs fought under the command of Sardar Chatar Singh, Sher Singh Ataari and Bhai Maharaj Singh. On the other side the British had Hindu and Muslim army of all the conquered states of India. The Sikhs fought very fiercely and the British army had such a heavy loss that the victorious British army was in gloom and the whole of British Parliament in England was deeply distressed. On the other hand the defeated Sikhs were joyous for having inflicted heavy loss to the enemy and were ready to fight again. In fact in all wars the Sikhs brought the British and their Indian mercenaries to their knees.
In spite of the heavy loss, the British for having conquered the whole of India except Punjab were determined to annex it into their kingdom by hook or crook. They had reached deep inside Punjab. In Dec 1948 again two wars took place at Cheliawale and Sadullpur Gujranwala. The Sikhs lost and thus the British were in complete control of Punjab and the land of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
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