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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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Time period at Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib
Coming back to history, number of times Aurangzeb sent his Generals, to confront Guru Gobind Singh but failed. At last in the winter of 1704 AD Aurangzeb ordered to attack Anandpur Sahib with about 10 lakh combined forces of Delhi, Punjab, Kashmir, Afganistan, the Pahari Rajas and other states. It is a long history. The Guru had only about 20,000 sikhs with him. The Muslim army dared not to attack the fort of Anandpur Sahib and surrounded it for 6 months. Inside the fort, for the Sikhs conditions went very bad. Nothing to eat or drink. Even the bark and leaves of trees have been boiled and eaten. The water ponds had vanished.
The Muslim generals on the oath of Holy Quraan and Pahari Rajas on the oaths of Bhagwat Gita and holy cow requested Guru Gobind Singh to at least, for time sake, for one time, leave Anandpur Sahib. Though the Guru did not believe them but on the request of Sikhs inside the fort, acting in a democratic way, decided to vacate the fort. While leaving the fort at the pitch dark of night, forgetting all about the oaths the enemy attacked the Sikhs. River Sarsa running near Anandpur Sahib, was also in spate. The hungry and weak army of the Sikhs was to cross the river or face the sea of Muslim and ungrateful Hindu army. It was a tragic scene of devastation. The Guru was separated from the Sikhs as well as from his family. The whole Sikh army was scattered in the dark and ran to safety in any direction they found. Facing all these unfavorable conditions, Sikhs were to make unaccountable sacrifices. Unaccounted number of lives, almost whole of the costly, important items and writings of literature were lost and washed away in the floods.
The Guru along with forty of his followers, took shelter in an unsound small fort called 'Kachhi Garhi of Chamkour'. This Gharhi was also surrounded by the 10 lakh soldiers of the enemy. Out of the 40 Singhs, the Guru divided them each in groups of five. He sent them one after the other through out the day to go out of the fort and fight in the field with the Mugal army. Even the two elder sons of the Guru- Baba Ajit Singh - 20 years and Baba Jujhar Singh - 17 years sacrificed themselves. The Great Guru had decorated them himself and sent them to the field to sacrifice their lives. Each Singh went inside the war field, like a hungry loin runs in groups of cattle, fought to the last of his breath and sacrificed himself.
A situation had arisen that proved the truthfulness of the Guru's writing:
"Call me Gobind Singh, only, when my each Sikh will fight with more than one and a quarter lakh of enemy."
This went on, till in the evening only 7 Singhs were left with the Guru. A very difficult and strange situation had developed, the Guru was determined to fight and sacrifice himself like so many of his beloved Singhs and dear two sons, but the 7 Singhs wanted that the Guru should get himself out of this situation. At last it was the teaching of the Guru that came to the rescue of these Singhs in this hard situation. In the evening when war was stopped, five Singhs in the form of Khalsa, told the Guru "You have accepted yourself that Khalsa is your own Guru, so we as Khalsa order you to leave this Garhi immediately at night for safety. They explained if you are safe, you are capable and can again raise an army of Singhs to fight this oppression." With folded hands Guru Gobind Singh accepted the order of Khalsa.
In the pitch dark at night, the Guru along with 3 Singhs left the fort announcing that Guru is leaving, dare and catch if any body can. Without knowing, how many Singhs are with him and in which direction he is going, in hurry and in their folly, the Muslim army fought among themselves in the dark and the Guru had gone out safely.
The Guru with a sword in hand was alone in forests, without food, horse, kalgi, falcon, arrows, bow but still in high spirits. He always felt the presence of God in him. He was moving towards South of Punjab and the Mugal army was in his search. On the way, when slowly and secretly news of his whereabouts reached, the Sikhs started joining him. His Muslim devotees were also at his service. In about 2 to 3 months he reached Damdamaa Sahib near Bathinda in South Punjab at a distance of about 650 kilo meters away from Anandpur Sahib. At present the route taken by Guru Gobind Singh from Anandpur Sahib to Dam Damaa Sahib is called Guru Gobind Singh Marg. (see www.gurugobindsinghmarg.com )
While leaving Anandpur Sahib, the younger 2 sons, 7 and 9 years of age, of the Guru and their grand mother were separated and fell into the hands of the Mugals. They were bricked alive by the Governor of Sarhind, Wazir Khan. While listening the martyrdom of the young brave sons, at Dina Kangar, on the way to Dam Damaa Sahib, the Guru decided that such a cruel rule must be put to end and guilty punished.
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