“I will tell you, whenever men become so corrupt and wicked as to relinquish the path of equity and to abandon themselves to all kinds of

excesses, then the Providence never fails to raise up a scourge like me to chastise a race so depraved; When

the tyrants oppress their subjects to the limit, then God sends men like

me on this earth to mete out his

punishment to them."

~ Banda Singh Bahadur ~

Born in October 1670 in Kashmir and named Lachman Dev. At the age of 15 years while hunting, they shot a deer tearing the belly and saw twin unborn off springs writhing in pain and dying in front of him.

Upset to see what he had done, he changed his name to Madho Daas and spent many years in meditation, during this time he developed spiritual powers and took delight in practicing tricks on his visitors to his monastery.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji visited Madho Daas monastery in September 1708. Madho Daas tried to practice his tricks of magic on the Guru but failed miserably and concluded that he at last had found his master. He fell at the Guru's feet and said, ‘‘I am your Banda (slave). I shall carry out your orders whatever they be.’’

Guru Ji baptised (gave Amrit to) Madho Daas to became part of the Khalsa. Madho Daas was renamed to Gurbakhash Singh but remained famous with the name of Banda Singh Bahadur.

 The Guru instructed him in the principles of his faith and learnt about the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh's four sons. On learning all this, he was filled with righteous indignation and said to the Guru, 'O true King, permit me to go to the Punjab and punish those who committed such cruel deeds.' 

Guru Gobind Singh Ji appointed Banda Singh Bahadur with orders to:

1. Put a stop to the cruelty of Punjab rulers.2. Punish the guilty and cruel rulers.3. To fight for human rights, uplift and strengthen the poor, the low and

slave like people.

It was first time in the Sikh history that Sikhs were attackers and offensive but their aim was same as earlier of fighting for justice and against oppression.

Once Banda Singh Bahadur Ji reached Punjab they sent Guru's message to the Sikhs all over Kashmir, Punjab and Afghanistan.

Memories of unlimited sacrifices of Gurus, their families, Sikhs and their sufferings at the hands of oppressors were fresh in the Sikh masses. Listening to the call of Banda Singh at the behest of Guru, Sikhs started joining Banda Singh.

After some time the strength of 40,000 warriors was at his command.

Banda Singh Bahadur attacked towns of Muslim oppression which were the towns of Rai Kot, Saharanpur, Jalalabad, Ludhiana, Jalhandur, Hoshiarpur, Batala, Kalanaur, and Pathankot. Most of Punjab was under the control of the Khalsa.

After taking Sadhaura, Bandha Singh chose the fort of Mukhlispur as capital of the emerging Sikh state. Bandha restored the crumbling fort, renamed it Lohgarh and planted the Khalsa flag upon it. To give Lohgarh added authority an official seal and coins were minted to celebrate Sikh rule.

The seals and coins were dedicated to Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Persian inscription read :

Degh O Tegh O Fateh O Nasrat-I-bedirang

Yaft az Nanak Guru Gobind Singh.

The inscription praised the cauldron (representing Sikh commitment to feed the poor) and the sword (the symbol of power) and unqualified patronage as attributes bequeathed by Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Banda Singh Bahadur with the Khalsa at Fort of Mukhlisgarh. They renamed to Lohgarh Fort and made it the 1st Sikh capital.

Achieved on 10th May 1710.

Banda Singh and his forces were at the fort of Lohgarh in December 1710 and the Mugal forces surrounded the fort and cut off all supplies. In one pitch dark night, Banda Singh and his men forced their way through the Mughal army and moved towards Jammu.

Banda Singh collected his forces and again conquered Batala, Kalanaour, Sarhind, Muzaffar Nagar and other areas in 1712 and ruled till 1715.

Even in war, Banda Singh Bahadur had instructed not to harm any Mosque, Madrassa and Makbras (Graves). Irrespective of their religion, the old, women and children were protected from any harm.

It was for the first time that Banda Singh broke the belief of Mugals that they could not be conquered by any one. He established a democratic rule.

The poor and down trodden got a sense of living with dignity. He protected the poor and low, did not harm those who surrendered.

Banda Singh Bahadur with the Sikh army (Khalsa) ready to battle at

Gurdas Nangal (Punjab) against the Mughal army.

Took place during 1715.

In April 1715, Farakh Seyer the King of Hindustan, ordered that Banda Singh either be killed or arrested. Banda Singh and his forces were at Gurdas Nangal where they occupied a kachhi Garhi (a dilapidated four walled area). The Mughal forces surrounded it for 8 months and they had cut off all the supplies from outside.

Day by day conditions worsened in the Garhi. No food was left, grass, leaves of plants and trees were boiled and eaten. Even balk of trees was eaten. One cannot imagine the misery they faced.

Number of Banda Singh's men fell ill and had bad stomach. After surrounding for 8 months, the Mughal army charged towards the fort. Even at this stage the Sikhs offered heavy resistance.

The Nawab was surprised at the lack of wealth Banda Singh had and the great determination with which they were fighting. Very few gold coins and weapons were found with them.

Banda Singh with about 800 Sikhs was captured in December 1715.

700 were beheaded in front of Delhi Gate publically in March 1716. In June 1716, 26 Sikhs were beheaded in the presence of Banda Singh, hoping that he may still ask for mercy. Now it was the turn of Banda Singh.

They was asked to accept Islam or face death. They accepted death.

The local chieftains were ordered to behead the Sikhs wherever found and present their heads to the Nawab, thus thousands upon thousands of Sikhs were murdered for a procession in Delhi in February 1716

The procession consisted of:1. Banda Singh on an elephant in an iron cage in the fore-front.2. 760 prisoners in chains on camels.3. About 700 Mugal soldiers on horses with heads of Sikhs on their spears.4. About 700 cart loads with heads of Sikhs. 5. A dead cat on a spear indicating not even a trace of a Sikh is left.

Among the captured Sikhs not even a single Sikh was sad, disappointed or ready to ask for mercy. Accepting it as the Will of God they were happily singing Gurbani.

SUMMARYBanda Singh Bahadur ruled only for 6 to 7 years. This broke the yoke of 700 years rule of the invading forces from the Arab countries. The Mughal myth of power was broken by him. The sacrifices of Banda Singh and his men did not discourage the Sikhs but prepared them for the worst future fights.

Execution of Banda Singh BahadarBanda Singh's 4 years old son was seated on his lap. A dagger was given to Banda Singh and ordered to cut his own son. He refused. The executioner pierced the chest of his son, took out the vibrating heart and tried to push into the mouth of Banda Singh, where they refused furiously.

After this his flesh was notched out with pliers, hot sharp rods were inserted into his flesh. His eyes were notched out, hands and feet were chopped off. They finally attained Shaheedi when thier head was chopped off. This took place on 9th June 1716.

Passing through very difficult times for the next 40 years, the Sikhs ruled at Lahore under the leadership of Nawab Kapoor Singh and then by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia in 1756. Later on they ruled all over Punjab in the form of 12 Sikh Misls (groups).

This ultimately led to establish Khalsa Raj in 1799 AD.