This is the first of a two-part series on the life and contribution of Baba Banda Singh Bahadar. We discuss here his role in the victory of Sirhind. The second part will talk about his struggle against abolition of the  Zamindari system and his supreme martyrdom.

Baba Banda Singh Bahadar is an unique personality in history. He is a perfect idol of devotion and sacrifice. His valour and stern initiation liberated the peasants from the bondage of feudalism. His supreme martyrdom with 740 of his associate Sikhs in Delhi was incomparable in the annals of history

The episode of martyrdom of Banda Singh and other Sikhs are milestones in Sikh history -an outstanding testimony to the highest working spirit of Sikhs and witness of the spiritual magical power of ‘Amrit’.  They certify that the choice of Banda Singh as a General by Guru Gobind Singh was the best and eternal. Banda Singh Bahadar was a man of vision. In a short span of just eight years, he materialized the dream of Guru Sahib, of establishing an independent Sikh State in 1711. Banda Singh particularly laid down the foundation of Khalsa Raj and made Lohgarh as its capital. There are innumerable facts to be discussed but I will only throw light on three important events of his life, i.e. victory of Sirhind, struggle for the oppressive Zamindari system (feudalism) and his supreme martyrdom.

Banda Singh Bahadar was the most valuable and appropriate choice of Guru Gobind Singh. Born in a Rajput family at Rajouri, Jammu, he spend the initial years of his life in search of eternal peace. In his search he changed many spiritual masters, out of whom one of them changed his name as Madhodas Bairagi from Lachmandas. He travelled from Jammu to Maharashtra, armed with the spiritual and magical powers he learnt a lot but yet couldn’t acquire eternal peace.

“It is clearly visible that Guru Sahib showed a high level of intellect and farsightedness in choosing Banda Singh as the Sikh nation’s Panthak leader. Dr. Ganda Singh, a prominent Sikh historian says that ‘It was a miracle to change an useless passive vagabond by the power of Amrit to a true Sikh and the greatest commander of martial Sikh race in a few days’.”

In 1708 Guru Gobind Singh visited Nanded and met Madhodas. It was a mystic meeting, in a few seconds he was transformed. Madhodas Bairagi renunciated  bairag -solitude and partook Amrit and became a true Sikh of Guru by the name of Gurbakhsh Singh but very popularly called as Banda Singh in history, the title ‘Bahadar’ (the brave one) was conferred by Guru Sahib himself on him. From Nanded itself Guru Sahib sent Banda Singh on the mission of Punjab and gave him five arrows, a Nishaan Sahib, five of his beloved Sikhs and a Nagaara. On the way towards Delhi in Rajasthan, Banda Singh received the unfortunate news of Guru Sahib’s demise, it was an heart-breaking moment but he bowed down his head in submission to the Lord’s will and decided to realize Guru Sahib’s dreams. He made the fulfillment of Guru Sahib’s wish, as the mission of his life and proceeded on to the Punjab.

It was the time of political turbulence in the sub-continent, though at the centre Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah was in rule but original power was decentralized. Rajputs, Marathas, Pathans on the North-West frontiers were trying to set themselves as the supreme authority.

Wazir Khan, the Governor of Sirhind had an important position in Punjab. He had personal enmity with Guru Gobind Singh, though Guru Sahib never established any kingdom. His field was socio-religious reformation and struggle against tyranny. But Wazir Khan -the tyrant that he was, raged a battle against Guru Sahib and the Sikhs. In 1704 he laid siege around the fort of Anandpur, the contemporary centre of Sikh activities and the place of origin of Khalsa. The siege continued for long and Guru Sahib had to abandon Anandpur with his family and associates. His two elder sons laid down their lives fighting in the battlefield of Chamkaur Sahib. Guru Sahib’s mother Mata Gujar Kaur (nearly 70 years) and two of his minor sons (aged 5 and 7 years) were put to death by Wazir Khan. These two brave children were brutally tortured and bricked alive. Guru Sahib was peaceful and maintained extreme calmness.

“It is clearly visible that Guru Sahib showed a high level of intellect and farsightedness in choosing Banda Singh as the Sikh nation’s Panthak leader. Dr. Ganda Singh, a prominent Sikh historian says that ‘It was a miracle to change an useless passive vagabond by the power of Amrit to a true Sikh and the greatest commander of martial Sikh race in a few days’.”

In 1708 Guru Gobind Singh travelled to Deccan with Bahadur Shah. Wazir Khan’s spy followed him till Nanded and stabbed Him fatally. After a few days, he left for his heavenly abode. Before leaving the world Guru Sahib bestowed spiritual Guruship to Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Panthak leadership to Baba Banda Singh.

It is clearly visible that Guru Sahib showed a high level of intellect and farsightedness in choosing Banda Singh as the Sikh nation’s Panthak leader. Dr. Ganda Singh, a prominent Sikh historian says that ‘It was a miracle to change an useless passive vagabond by the power of Amrit to a true Sikh and the greatest commander of martial Sikh race in a few days’. It was indeed a miracle which happened on the soil of Maharashtra, changing a non-violent bairagi to the most powerful commander and a devout martyr in history.  

Once dedicated to Guru Sahib, even the miseries, atrocities, brutalities and death were unable to move him from his path. Just a few days companionship with Guru Sahib transformed Banda Singh. As told by Guru Sahib, Banda Singh left Maharashtra for the mission in Punjab. Before the martyrdom of Sahibzadas too, there were intense sacrifices of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadar but Sikhs never retaliated, they bore everything peacefully. However nothing could be more brutal than the killing of innocent 5 and 7 year-olds. After the sacrifice of Sahibzadas -the younger sons of the tenth master -Guru Gobind Singh, in 1704, it was time to teach the tyrant a lesson.

Banda Singh readily accepted this and proceeded further. He raided many areas which were either ruled or owned by the Panthak defaulters and conquered them. He reached Punjab in 1709 and gave Guru Sahib’s ‘Hukamnamas’ to all Sikhs who were waiting for Guru Sahib’s next call for action.

It was a tough task for Banda Singh Bahadar, because during the time of the Gurus, they themselves visited the spiritual centers to unite the Sikhs. They had a common factor ‘GURU’ to join hands with each other. But now practically when Guru Sahib was not present in human form, this became a challenge.  

Being a visionary, Banda Singh Bahadar very readily studied the situation and succeeded in uniting Sikhs in the name of the Guru. He raised the martial spirit of Khalsa for a great single cause ‘The victory of Sirhind’. In medieval times Sirhind was the most prosperous and strategically important Mughal city on the Delhi-Lahore route. It’s prosperity, beauty and art was admired by the visitors. In Wazir Khan’s charge, the city reached the pinnacle of its glory.

However, from the day when young innocent Sahibzadas and Mata Gujar Kaur were executed, Sikhs named it as ‘Guru-maari Sirhind’ which means Sirhind is the slayer of Guru’s family. The entire Panth was stunned by Wazir Khan’s brutal act. Banda Singh made the Sirhind mission a common goal and succeeded in reuniting the scattered Khalsa and raised them as one unique martial race again.

Though from the times of the sixth master Guru Hargobind Sahib, Sikhs had started using war techniques, it was for the first time in Sikh history that before the war of Sirhind, Banda Singh divided the army into battalions and that too in a pure secular way without any discrimination. Each battalion was assigned with a special task. Sikhs were one-tenth of Qazir Khan’s army and far too low in arms and ammunition. With the blessings of Guru Sahib on their side, they were ready to fight till their last breath. In May 1710 A.D. the ultimate battle between Suba Sirhind Wazir Khan and Sikh troops led by Banda Singh took place.

It was totally an unequal war in all aspects but ultimately the supreme novel strategic techniques of Banda Singh and extreme will power of Khalsa triumphed. Wazir Khan was killed in the battle. The prosperous city of Sirhind was plundered and totally destroyed into ruins. However, under strict orders of Banda Singh, no religious place was harmed. Even today those medieval mosques and shrines are standing at their respective sites. After the landmark victory of Sirhind, Banda Singh defeated several other opponents too. He laid down the foundation of Khalsa Raj. He then concentrated on streamlining his administration and established Lohgarh as the first Sikh capital. To commemorate the victory of Sirhind he started a new calendar, minted coins of Sikh kingdom in the names of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh and published the first seal of the Sikh state in Guru Sahib’s name.