Today in Sikh History :8th June

8th June

The battle for succession to the Delhi throne was fought among Aurangzeb’s sons, Tara Azam and Bahadur Shah. This battle was fought at Jajau Quila (Agra) in which Guru Gobind Singh Ji helped Bahadur Shah. Tara Azam lost his life in battle, with one of Guru Gobind Singh’s arrow that was given by Guru Sahib to one Isa Khan. Bahadur Shah presented Guru Gobind Singh with a sword, which belonged to Ali (?son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad) at his coronation, which Guru Sahib attended in Agra. This sword is currently at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib.

When the Moghul prince Bahadhur Shah had approached the Guru for help, he promised to accept all decisions of the Guru with regard to the Sikh-land. It included the surrender of those tyrants who had perpetrated atrocities on the Sikhs in particular, and the common folks in general. After Bahadhur Shah’s victory, the Guru sent him a list of the ten criminals including:-

	Wazir Khan (sirhind)
	Sucha Nand (sirhind)
	Gangu Brahmin (kheri)
	Jani (Morinda)
	Mani (Morinda)
	Shamas Khan (Bajwara)
	Mukarram Khan (Jullundur)
	Dilawar Khan (Lahore) etc.

The discussions between the Guru and the new emperor continued for some time but when Guru smeeled that the Moghul King was using delaying tactics, the Guru decided to end the proceedings. In September, the Guru reached Nander. He spent most of his period near the Godavari river, It was here the two touts of the Moghul governeor of Sarhind attacked the Guru while he was asleep. The Guru was saved from mortal injury, but his military activities worsened his wounds and he left for the heavenly abode. Before departing, he bequeathed the command of the Sikh army to his general, Banda Bahadhur Singh. In Sept. 1708, Banda Bahadhur left for the Sikh-zone (the land of Khalistan) to release it from the usurpers.

==> BAHADHUR SHAH: second son of Aurangzeb, born at Burhanpur on October 4, 1643. He was initially named Muyajam and Shah Alam. He assumed the Delhi throne in 1707 and subsequently changed his name to Bahadhur Shah. He spent most of time fighting in southern part of India against the Bijapur and Goalkunda dynasties. Upon learning about the rising Sikh power and death of WajirKhan, Sirhind Governor, he attempted to return back to Punjab. However, he was unsuccessful in establishing any form of peace in the country and subsequently died on Feb. 18, 1712.

– Ref. Mahan Kosh (pp. 827)

==> AURANGZEB: was the third son of Shahjahan. He was born to Arajbandh Bhano on Nov. 3, 1618 at Dohad, district Panch Mahan, near Bombay.

In 1658, Aurangzeb arrested his father, Shahjahan, imprisoned him in Agra fort, and assumed the Delhi throne on July 21. He accused his elder brother, DaraShikoh, of disobeying Islamic law and had him murdered in 1659, in Delhi fort, for punishment Earlier Aurangzeb convinced his younger brother, Murad, that he was uninterested in assuming power and simply wanted to take care of his brother, Kafir DaraShikoh, who had disobeyed Islamic Law. Aurangzeb sought his brother’s help in his mission and promised to grant him the Delhi throne and leave for Mecca. However, Namurad Murad, came under Aurangzeb’s influence and became an instrument to teach a lesson to DaraShikoh, at Fatehbad di Sarah, near Agra.

Upon wining the battle against his brother, DaraShikoh, Aurangzeb arrested Murad after getting him under the influence of alcohol and kept him imprisoned at Gawalior. Within the following three years, Murad was falsely implicated in the murder of Syad and murdered for punishment.

Through successive arrests and murders of his own family members, Aurangzeb earned the honor of "Alamgir". He was an orthodox muslim ruler of Suni sect. He was very hard working but a clever politician. He enjoyed very simple eating tastes and refrained from alcohol or any other form of drugs. His personal expenses were restricted to bare necessities. In his spare time, Aurangzeb used to sew Islamic style caps and reproduced hand-written copies of Kuran, Islamic holy book. He was not open-minded in terms of other religions and did not hesitate from giving his own interpretations to Islam. His ego earned his the title of "Mauhiudin".

Under Aurangzeb, all hindu institutions, religious places of worship, scholarly institutions of Kasi, were closed. Famous temples at Banaras and other places were destroyed to be replaced with Mosques. Aurangzeb reestablished and reinstituted all restrictive orders and taxed that were abolished by Akbar. As a result, all Rajputs, who were ministers under Akbar’s rule, became Aurangzeb’s arch enemy.

Aurangzeb was against Rag knowledge, as music is considered against Islamic traditions. As a result, all musicians and dancers were fired under his rule. Once, all Delhi musicians (Ragis) were openly expressing their anguish while following a cremation procession. Aurangzeb enquired about their anguish. In response, he receive the answer that "Rag has died under his rule, and that they are going burry Rag". Upon hearing this, Aurangzeb suggested that they should burry it so deep under the earth that it may never resurface ever again.

The atrocities under Aurangzeb’s rule, earned him many enemies. Shivaji became his enemy and the Marahthas took to toppling his rule. The martyrdom of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur sowed the seeds of enemity among the Sikhs. His children were left to suffer the consequences of his actions. Guru Gobind Singh wrote and sent his Jafarnama to Aurangzeb, which is full of good advice.

Sensing his death, Aurangzeb did reach self-realization and was repentful of his actions. He wrote to his sons "escaping from the Afghans, I did not bring anything for myself in this world. I have made numerous mistakes. I am unsure what punishment I will receive for my sins. This is my biggest worry".

Aurangzeb died after a rule of 50 yrs at the age of 90 yrs and 17 days, at AhmadNagar in South India, on Feb. 21, 1707. He was buried at Dolatbad. He had five sons (Sultan Muhamad, Bahadhur Shah, Ajam Shah, Muhamad Akbar, Kam Bakash) and four daughters (Jaebunisa, Jintunisa, Badrunisa, Mihrunisa)

-Ref. Mahan Kosh (pp. 110)

A secret meeting of the Akali Dal was held in a remote Sikh pilgrim centre, "Guru-Ka-Lahore", in Shivalik Hills. Those who took part in this conclave were Gurcharan Singh Tauhra, Prakash Singh badal, Sukhjinder Singh, Atma Singh, Jiwan Singh Umranangal, and Rajinder Singh. There was a strong opinion expressed at the meeting in favour of Khalistan, i.e., an independent sovereign state for the Sikhs. After a protracted and exciting debate, a common meeting ground was struck to adjust the differing viewpoints. A Dharam Yidh Morcha or struggle for enforcing the religious rights of the Sikhs became henceforth the Sikh political motto.

Sant Harchand Singh served an ultimatum on the Union Government that if demands of the Sikhs were not accepted by Aug. 31, 1981, they would float an all-out morcha or agitation.

Giani Zail Singh, then President of India, visited Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. His visit was to celebrate Indian Amry’s successful assault on Sikh holy shrine. However, GurSikhs were still defending Darbar Sahib and President’s body guard was hit by bullet coming from the Ramghadhia Bunga.