Saka Sirhind... Story of Undying Faith & Spirit

26th December commemorates the Shaheedi divas (martyrdom day) of the younger Sahibzaadey (princes of Guru Gobind Singh jee), Baba Zoravar Singh (aged 9) and Baba Fateh Singh (aged 7), and the elderly mother of Guru Jee, Mata Gujjar Kaur Jee. In tribute to their shaheedi, a brief summary of the events leading up to their shaheedi and the great souls that risked their lives in doing their seva (service) is below. Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Pyaare. 

 

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF SAKA SIRHIND AND THE SUPREME SACRIFICE OF THE YOUNG SAHIBZAADEY

Evacuation of Sri Anandpur Sahib

On the night of 5-6 December 1704, Guru Gobind Singh jee and all the Sikhs had to evacuate the Fort of Anandpur Sahib after the Mughals and Hindu hill kings made false oaths stating that they would not attack the Sikhs. During the evacuation Mata Gujri Kaur jee, who had been caring for the younger two Sahibzaadey (princes), escorted them to the River Sirsa. While crossing the River Sarsa on a mule, in the darkness of the night and rush, Mata Gujjar Kaur jee and the two younger Sahibzaadey were separated from Guru Gobind Singh jee and the rest of the family.

Crossing River Sirsa

After crossing the River Sirsa, Mata Gujjar Kaur jee and youngest Sahibzaadey spent a night in the hut of Bhai Kumma jee Maashki (boatman), known also as Kareema Mallaah. He used to be a Hindu and was known by the name Karma Jheevar. He was forcibly converted to Islam, but still practised Hindu religious rites. Mata jee's mule had carried some important articles and ornaments. The Sikh accompanying them got separated from them due to floods and bad weather during darkness of night. Mata Gujjar Kaur jee stayed in his hut for two days. A Brahmin lady by the name of Bibi Lakshmi jee looked after them serving food and shelter.

 

 

Meeting Gangu

During this time Gangu Brahmin met them. Gangu used to be devotee of the Guru's House for 16 years. According to Principal Satbir Singh he was called "Gangu Rasoeeyaa" because he had a bad temper and was always irritated. A rasoyee (kitchen) is always hot when food is cooked. Since Gangu was always in bad mood, some started calling him Gangu Rasoee i.e. Gangu the kitchen. From this some historians misinterpreted that he was a Rasoeeyaa (cook) in the Guru's House. Gangu escorted Mata jee and the Sahibzaadey to his own house in the village of Kheri, now known as Saheri, near Morinda in present day Ropardistrict. While unsaddling the horse he saw that there was some gold coins in the saddlebag of Mata Gujri Kaur Ji. This tempted him to treachery and turning his back to Guru Sahib. He not only stole the saddlebag during the night, but also planned to betray the fugitives to the government in hope of a reward.

 Arrest & Detention

On the morning of 7th December 1704, the day of the fateful battle of Chamkaur Sahib, Baba Zorawar Singh jee, along with Baba Fateh Singh jee and their grandmother, were taken into custody by Jani Khan and Mani Khan Ranghar, the police official of Morinda. They were despatched on the following day to Sirhind where they were detained and kept in in the Cold Tower (Thandda Burj) of the Fort. Mata jee and the Sahibzaadey stayed in the top of the Cold Tower, where there were no four walls to guard them from the winter cold and chill of December. The young children had no extra clothes or blankets to protect them from the winter chill, other than the warmth of listening to Gurbaani and the huddling around their beloved grandmother.

Meeting Bhai Moti Raam jee

One of Wazir Khan's kitchen staff was a Hindu man called Bhai Moti Raam 'Mehra' who was from Jheevar (waterman) family. His family had respect and devotion for Guru jee. Many Sikh travellers on their way to Anandpur Sahib used to take rest in his small hut. The Daroga (police chief) asked Bhai Moti Raam jee to serve food the prisoners. Bhai Moti Raam jee paid his respects to Mata jee and the Sahibzaadey and explained he had brought them food. Mata jee refused to eat the food. He fell at his feet and explained who he was. Mata jee calmly explained that she would not eat the food from the kitchen of evil people. The Daroga was informed and instead food was brought from the house of Sucha Nand (the Hindu courtier who hated Guru jee). Mata jee refused the food again. The Nawab became angry and gave orders that no one should co-operate with these prisoners and anyone helping them from now would be severely punished. Bhai Moti Raam jee discussed with his family that he would risk his life to ensure that Guru jee's elderly mother and children do not hungry.

 
 

The price of giving milk

Bhai Moti Raam jee milked his cow he had at home and filled a bowl and brought it to drink for Mata jee and the Sahibzaadey. Knowing that their would be high security around the Thandaa Burj he took whatever silver coins were available in his house in to his pocket to pay the guards. He assured Mata jee that as a sincere devotee of Guru jee he had brought the milk from his own home and from his own income. Mata jee and the Sahibzaadey happily drank the milk and thanked him for his seva (selfless service). This seva continued for number of days. Mata ji was so delighted, that she showered blessings on him. After the Sahibzaadey were martyred, another worker called Pamma found out about Bhai Moti Raam jee's seva and reported it to Divaan Such Nand. Bhai Sahib was brought before Nawaab Wazir Khan and he was asked if he had served milk to Mata jee and the Sahibzaady. With high spirits, fearlessness and sincerity he replied, "I have nothing to hide. Yes! I have served milk to them. I have done no crime in feeding hungry people." Bhai Moti Raam jee and his whole family (elderly mother, wife -Bibi Bholee jee, and baby son) were given the punishment of being crushed in in Kohlu (a wooden mill used to extract oil from seeds). (Note: this was time after the Sahibzaadey attained shaheedi).

 

Presented in Court 

 On 9th December 1704, Baba Zorawar Singh jee and Baba Fateh Singh jee were produced before the faujdaar, Nawaab Wazir Khan, who had just returned from Chamkaur Sahib with his feudal ally, Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan of Malerkotla. Wazir Khan tried to lure the Sahibzaadey to embrace Islam with promises of riches and honours, but they spurned the suggestion. He then threatened them with death, but they remained undaunted. Death sentence was finally pronounced. Upon Sher Muhammad Khan's intercession for the innocent children to be spared their lives, they were given some more time to ponder over the suggestion to convert. 

 

 

Punished with Death  

Baba Zorawar Singh jee and his brother spent another two days of the severe winter in their old grandmother's lap in the Cold Tower. Still adamant to live and die for the Sikh faith and to never turn their back to Guru Sahib, on 11th December 1704 a 'fatwa', religious edict, was issued for the Sahibzaadey to be bricked and sealed alive in a wall. According to Gur Bilaas Bhai Mani Singh, one of the oldest written records, Baba Zorawar Singh jee and Baba Fateh Singh jee were bricked alive, tortured by having their ligaments cut where it came in the way of the wall, and then suffocated in the sealed wall. The aged Mata Gujjar Kaur jee who had all along been kept in the Cold Tower, only a little distance away, breathed her last while joined in the Simran (remembrance) of Waheguru, as the news reached her ears.

  
Sacrifice and Seva of Divaan Todar Mal jee

Seth Todar Mal jee, a wealthy merchant of Sirhind, risked his life by seeking permission for performing the cremation of the three dead bodies of the great shaheeds (martrys) the following day. With Mata Gujjar Kaur jee and the Sahibzaadey (aged 7 and 9) shaheed (martyred) the despicable Mughal authorities refused their funeral rites on government land, it was decreed that there funeral rites could only be performed on land bought from Chaudhari Atta. Not only this, but the land could only be bought by laying gold coins (ashrifs) on the required area, vertically. Bhai Todar Mall jee did not shun his responsibility and laid down the required coins and made arrangements for the cremations and paid the heavy sum of 78,000 gold coins. His wife gave all her jewellery and ornaments to be sold for the cause. Maybe he had to also beg and borrow to raise the total amount, who knows, but the fact remains this was truly a noble deed. Bhai Todar Mal jee and his wife forsaked everything for his love of Guru jee, which is the reason why Sikhs hold Divaan Todar Mal jee in such high esteem. Bhai Todar Mal jee with the help of Bhai Moti Raam jee collected fire wood and cremated the three bodies.

Conquering of Sirhind and delivering justice

In 1710, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur jee conquered Sirhind and searched punished those responsible for committing atrocities. The murderers of the Sahibzaadey and Bhai Moti Raam jee's family were punished. Sucha Nand was beaten, had a bull's ring put in his nose and made to beg from house to house from the people he had robbed over so many years. He was later killed. Nawaab Wazir Khan was killed and his body was tied to a donkey and dragged across all of the Sirhind. Baba jee also searched for loyal people who tried to help Guru jee and done seva of Mata jee and the Sahibzaade. Bhai Kareem (the boatman), who later took Amrit and became Bhai Karam Singh jee, and Bibi Lakshmi jee (from a Brahmin family) were honoured by the Khalsa and given thanks.

In Loving Memory: Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib

The site of the fateful happenings, since named Fatehgarh Sahib, close to the old town of Sirhind, is now marked by four Sikh Gurdwara Sahibs. A Jorr-Mela, large religious fair, is held there from 25th to 28th December every year to honour the memory of these great martyrs.