Today in Sikh History : 30th April

30th April

Battle of Bhangani took place between Sri Guru Gobind Singh and and Hindu Rajas, Bhim Chand Kahluri, Fateh Shah Gadhwalia, Hari Chand Handuria, etc. Guru’s forces came out victorious. This was Guru Gobind Singh first battle in which Bibi Biro’s sons Sangho Shah and Jeetmal accepted shahdat. Raja Hari Chand and several rajputs were killed by Guru Gobind Singh. A detailed description of this battle is provided in the 8th Chapter of BachitarNatak. Also in this battle, Pir Budhu Shah’s sons and 700 of his followers fought along side Guru’s forces.

==> BUDHU SHAH: a Sadhora (district Ambala) resident muslim Pir (holy man). His real name was Sayed Shah Badrudin. He had enrolled 500 Pathans in service of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Patshah. The four chiefs of these Pathans were Kala Khan, Bhikan Khan, Nijabat Khan, and Hayat Khan. Only Kala Khan turned out to be trustworthy, who did not betray Guru Sahib’s trust. The remaining three chiefs simply abandoned Guru Sahib during the Bhangani battle and joined the enemy forces.

When Budhu Shah heard of the betrayal by his Pathan chiefs, he immediately came to join Guru Sahib forces with his four sons and 700 followers. Guru Sahib came victorious in this battle, but Budhu Shah lost his two sons and several followers. When the battle ended, Guru Sahib blessed Budhu Shah with his Dastar (turban) along with Kangha (comb) containing some combed hairs, and a small sword along with a Hukamnama. Subseuqntly, these items were bought by Nabhapati Barpur Singh and preserved in Gurudwara Siraepau.

Budhu Shah was subsequently killed by Asman Khan, Sardar of Sadhora, for committing the grave offense of helping Guru Gobind Singh. For this reason, Asman Khan was hanged when Bahadhur Shah conquered Sadhora in sunmat 1766.

-Ref. Mahan Kosh (pp. 882)

==> GURU GOBIND SINGH’s BATTLE OF BHANGANI: Guru Gobind Singh procured the land of Kiar Dun and built a fort on the banks of Jumuna called Paonta Fort. The battle of Bhangani was fought from this fort.

Bhim Chand, the Raja of Kehlur, whoseterritory lay adjacent to that of the Guru, wanted to oust him from Makhowal. Guru Sahib

Jamrodh battle took place. Akbar Khan, knowing the absence of Sikh troops, attacked Jamrod. Sikh troops were sent away from Jamrod and Peshawar for ceremonial duties. Hari Singh Nalwa sought immediate assistance from Lahore, but his request was not deliberately placed before Maharaja Ranjit Singh by Dhian Singh to make Hari Singh Nalwa’s position difficult. This battle saw heavy casualties on both sides. Sikhs repulsed the Afghans on but their leader Hari Singh Nalwa was seriously wounded and died on this day. Maharaja Ranjit Singh cried bitter tears, as loss of Hari Singh was too great. The Dogras became supreme as none other sardar could check-mate them. Maharaja Ranjit Singh never fully annexed the frontier but ruled them through Muslim chiefs.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh built several forts and garrisoned these with his troops and maintained moving columns to keep the tribals under subjection. These forts were at Nara, Daram, Maru, Salana, Machin and Sikham to protect Peshawar, Khairabad, Jahangira, Shahkadur, Attock, Mansehra, Haripur and Nawanshehr etc.

==> Sardar HARI SINGH NALWA was born to father, Sardar Gurdayal Singh Uppal and mother, Mata Dharam Kaur at Gujrawala in 1781. Besides being a valiant soldier, Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa also served as Governor of Kashmir, Hjara, and Peshawar. He joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s forces in his early youth and established himself to be one of the most popular Khalsa generals. Among the Sirhadhi Pathans, his name brought immediate fear and respect. He is part of their folklore to this day. He won numerous wars for the Khalsa Panth and died, on Vaisakh 19 sunmat 1894, in the battle near Sirhadhi Jamraud. A place is established within Jamraud fort in remembrance of PanthRattan Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa.

-Ref. Mahan Kosh (pp. 267)

==> NATURAL MIRACLE at DARBAR SAHIB: This incident is inscribed on on the front wall of Darshani Deodhi leading to Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. Its states.

Ik Oankar
Sri Harmandar Saheb ji vich Kudrati Chamatkar
(Natural Miracle at the Golden Temple)

It is being told to inform everyone that at 4:30 am on 30 April, 1877, a strange miracle (ajab khayl) occurred in the Harmandar Sahib Ji. Some 400 devotees were enjoying kirtan in Harmandar Sahib Ji when, suddenly, a flash of lightning was seen.

It came from a side door in the form of a big light, formed a ball-like shape right in front of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and exploded to diffuse immense light after which it went out through the southern door in one line or ray.

Although at the time of its explosion there was a terrifying and powerful noise, none of the devotees sitting inside or the buildings or any other object was harmed.

All the people describe this supernatural (alaukik) sight as Guru Ram Das Saheb Ji's miracle or play (kautak).

Inspite of the fact that the new Khalsitan Givernment had left the premises of Sri darbar Sahib, Rajiv Gandhi asked Barnala to attacjk the Darbar Sahib. This was to justify the 1984 attack, Operation Bluestar, on Sri darbar Sahib and the Sikh nation, as well as the killing of the Sikhs. In the Cabinet meetings, some Akalis told Barnala that since the Cabinet of Khalistan had left Sri darbar Sahib there could be no justification for any kind of an attack. But Barnala was helpless. He had no choice but to execute teh orders of his Delhi master. After all, his Chief Ministership solely rested on the mercy of Rajiv. So he ordere an attack, Black Thunder, on Sri Darbar Sahib. Several MLAs and Akali minsiter resigned in protest. And the attack turned out to be a hoax, as neither any Khalistani solidier, nor any weapons were recovered. It was simply an act of sacrilege, so that the Sikhs should understand that they were simply slaves at the mercy of the Indian regime.