9th June
1716
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and select Sikhs were tortured to death under orders of Badshah Farukhsiyar.
Baba Banda SIngh Bahadur was offered life on embracing Islam. After his refusal, his son was murdered before his eyes. The child’s heart was thrust into Banada Singh’s mouth. Then his right eye was pulled out followed by the pulling out of his left eye. Then his left foot was chopped off, next to fo were his arms. Then his flesh was cust off bit by bit. His brain was struck with a hammer. So was Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, along with his infant son and a few select followers, was mercilessly tortured to death in Delhi by the order of Emporer Farukh Siyar (successor to Bahadhur Shah). The remaining Sikhs were beheaded on June 10, 1716.
Earlier in march, over 700 Sikhs, arbitrarily rounded up from villages enroute to Lahore, were killed. None of them reneged their faith and courted martyrdom smilingly. After Banda Singh Bahadhur’s execution, Farukh Siyar ordered the annihilation of the Sikhs from Panjab. The Governors of Lahore, Sarhind and Jammu vied with each other in exterminating Sikhs from their areas. Rupees 20/- was fixed as prize money for every Sikh head. Sikhs hid themselves in jungles, hills and deserts.
[Banda Singh Bahadhur set up a fully sovereign Sikh State with its own coinage as the symbol of its sovereignty. Although it lasted for a very brief period of a few years, it gave the Sikhs a goal to be achieved and they strove for the same with great devotion against extreme odds and the strength of a mighty empire with great resources of men and material. The struggle lasted for half a century and an endurable Sikh sovereignty was once again established over Panjab in 1765.]<
==> BANDA SINGH BAHADHUR: born on KatakSudhi 13 sunmat 1727 to Rajput father Ramdev who was a resident of the Rajori village in Jammu. He was named Lashman Dev by his parents. Since childhood, he exhibited extremely fondness for sanskrit literature and hunting. However, he plunged into deep remorse after killing a pregnant deer. As a result he discarded all his hunting tools and became a disciple of Vaesnav JankiPrasad. He shed all his material wealth, started onto the seekers path for enlightenment, and adopted the new name, Madho Dass.
Wondering in search of enlightenment, when he traveled towards south India and reached the banks of Godawari, he fell in love with this beautiful new place. He established his Ashram and started living here. In sunmat 1765, when Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached Nandaedh, he was extremely impressed and influenced by Guru’s preaching. He offered himself as “Satguru Da Banda” (Satguru’s person). Guru Gobind Singh Ji introduced him to Amrit and changed his name to Gurbakash Singh. However, he remained popularly known in our Panth as “Banda”.
To eradicate the prevalent injustices, Guru Gobind Singh sent Banda accompanied by the following five GurSikhs to Punjab:
- Baba Binod Singh
- Baba Kanh Singh
- Baba Bajh Singh
- Baba Bijae Singh
- Baba Ram Singh
Banda went to Punjab in sunmat 1765 accompanied with a Hukamnama from Guru Gobind Singh addressed to all the GurSikh. In this Hukamnama, Guru Gobind Singh asked GurSikhs to help Banda in his efforts. Before departure, Banda received three arrows from Guru Gobind Singh and the following instructions:
- Remain celibate (“Jatt rakhana”)
- Live, operate, and act under the dictates of Khalsa (“Khalsae dae Anusari hokae rahna”)
- Never consider yourself to be Guru (“Aap nu Guru na manenna”)
- Eat only after serving others (“Vartakae Shakana”)
- Help the orphas, poor, unprotected, helpless, destitute, or disolate. (“Anatha di sahiata karni”)
Upon reaching Punjab, Gurbakash Singh strictly followed Guru Sahib’s instructions and successfully punish all who had previously mistreated the Khalsa Panth. On the 1st Hadh sunmat 1767, after conquering Sirhind, Wajir Khan was punished and eventually killed for the mistreatment of Sahibzadas.
However, Gurbakash Singh became popular among the Khalsa Panth, his self-godliness started awakening. As a result he started adopting and engaging in practices that were against Gurmat. In sunmat 1771, Banda Bahdhur expressed desires to establish his own Gadhi in Sri Harmindar Sahib and sought his self-worhsip. He started a new slogan of “Sachae Sahib ki Fateh” in contrast to the traditional “Vaaheguru Jee Kee Fateh”. This resulted in a severe split among Khalsa Panth. Those following the principles as laid by Guru Gobind Singh came to known as “TattKhalsa” while the followers of Gurbakash Singh were known as “BandaiKhalsa”. Today there are very few Bandai Sikhs. They do not believe in any other holy scriptures other than Sri Guru Granth Sahib. All their practice are according to Gurmat principles.
Eventually, Banda Bahadhur was cornered by the pursuing enemy forces at “Gurdaspur de Gadhi”. It is also popularly known as Bhai Duni Chand di Hawaeli. After months of sustained attacks from AbdalSamadKhan and others with a force of over 20,000, Banda Bahadhur was arrested along with his companions and taken to Delhi. He accepted Shahadat on Chaet Sudhi 1st sunmat 1773.
-Ref. Mahan Kosh
1946
Punjab board established.
1946
Sikhs rejected Cabinet Mission proposals.
1949
Hindu members of the Punjab University opposed Punjabi as a medium of instruction.