Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Celebrating the Tri-Centenary of the Raj 1710 - 2010

Room 1215, New Scotland Yard Broadway, London, SW1H 0BG T. 020 7230 0141 F. 020 7230 0140 [email protected] Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Celebrating the Tri-Centenary of the Khalsa Raj 1710 - 2010

BABA BANDA SINGH BAHADUR (1670 – 1716). Shri The Mughal Government issued a warrant (author Bahadur Shah 10 December established the Republic Order of the Khalsa on 30th March 1699. The 1710), “to kill the worshippers of Nanak”. Eventually, after an 8-month siege in Khalsa was created primarily as an instrument of Akal-Purkh to affect a just, the Gurdas-Nangal garrison, due to extreme poverty and privation, the Mughal moral, ethical and virtuous sovereign rule. The recognise no human armies captured Banda Singh and 740 Singh’s. 700 cartloads of decapitated successor to Guru Gobind Singh, and speak of Guru Granth and Guru Panth Sikh heads were loaded onto horse-carts another 2,000 Sikh heads were as a condominium, it is the sovereignty that emancipates from the Guru struck upon pikes. On 9th June 1716, Banda Singh was given a choice Granth Sahib that empowers the Khalsa. In September 1708 Guru Gobind between Islam and death. Upon Banda Singh refusing to be converted to Singh, having completed the above condominium and mission of Islam his 4-year-old son was hacked to pieces before his eyes. Banda Singh’s - selected a Commander-in-Chief of the Khalsa to guide them to this Raj. eyes were then pulled out, his hands and feet chopped off. His flesh was torn At , resided an ascetic practising powerful occult incantations - Madho with red-hot pincers and finally his body was cut up limb by limb. The legacy Das . All saints were petrified of him and his miraculous powers. Guru of Banda Singh has lead him to be hailed as one of the greatest ever Sikhs, Gobind Singh deliberately went to his monastery; the Bariagi’s powers were his sacrifice to the Guru has no parallel. He established the Khalsa Republic tested and for the first time failed against the Guru. After a brief discourse, as instructed by Guru Gobind Singh. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur paved the the Bairagi fell to the Guru’s feet, and pronounced himself to be the Guru’s way for successive Khalsa Raj’s. banda. Guru Gobind Singh administered him into the Order of the Khalsa, Gurmat Parchar Trust will be celebrating the Tri-Centenary rise and re-named him Banda Singh, gave him 5 of his own arrows, and instructions establishment of the Khalsa Raj, from the Victory of Sirhind - May 1710. The to establish the Khalsa Raj. Banda Singh was also afforded the elite Binod achievements of the Khalsa lead by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur have sprung Singh, Kahan Singh, Baj Singh, Daya Singh and Ram Singh. Banda Singh and from the teachings of the Ji, and illustrated the directional his contingent left immediately for the - to eliminate the tyrannical future of Sikhs. The book “Life of Banda Singh Bahadur” by Dr. Ganda Singh Mughal Government. printed in 1935 will be re-published for this 2010 event. Anyone wishing to On 26th November 1709, Banda Singh conquered Samana, and the participate in this project should contact Gurmat Parchar Trust. surrounding territories including Kapuri and Sadhaura. However, the test came in Sirhind with the might of the lead by the ruler Governor . Sirhind was the strategical command and nerve-centre of the Mughals. After fierce prolonged fighting, and with the Khalsa forces massively outnumbered, on the 12 May 1710 Baj Singh executed Wazir Khan. Two days later, after sustained ferocious battles the Khalsa defeated the Mughal Empire and captured Sirhind. The Khalsa Empire was established. • Despite the Khalsa being a minority, Banda Singh was the first Sikh to establish the foundations and set the precedent of the Khalsa Raj, which is irreversible. • He struck new coins with the seal - “The kettle to feed [the poor], the sword to defend, and the resultant sovereignty received from Nanak Guru, - Gobind Singh”. • He was the ruler of territories between the and the . • Banda Singh was the only Sikh ever to be selected as Commander-in-Chief by Guru Gobind Singh, under the leadership of Guru Granth Sahib. • He shattered the foundations of the imperial and mighty Mughal Empire. • He destroyed the feudal system (zamindari), which has even today enabled propriety rights for the lowest, and empowered the poorest to liberate themselves in Punjab. • Within a few years he obtained justice for the 2 Sahibzadhe and Mata Gujari. After cremating the Sahibzadhe he commissioned memorial ’s to be erected in Sirhind to their ever-lasting sacrifices.