Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

Celebrating the Tri-Centenary of the Khalsa Raj 1710 - 2010

Room 1215, New Scotland Yard Broadway, London, SW1H 0BG

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Sikh.Association@met.police.uk

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

BABA BANDA SINGH BAHADUR (1670 – 1716). Shri Guru Gobind Singh established the Republic Order of the Khalsa on 30th March 1699. The Khalsa was created primarily as an instrument of Akal-Purkh to affect a just, moral, ethical and virtuous sovereign rule. The Sikhs recognise no human successor to Guru Gobind Singh, and speak of Guru Granth and Guru Panth as a condominium, it is the sovereignty that emancipates from the Guru Granth Sahib that empowers the Khalsa. In September 1708 Guru Gobind Singh, having completed the above condominium and mission of Guru Nanak - selected a Commander-in-Chief of the Khalsa to guide them to this Raj.

At Nanded, resided an ascetic practising powerful occult incantations - Madho Das Bairagi. All saints were petrified of him and his miraculous powers. Guru Gobind Singh deliberately went to his monastery; the Bariagi’s powers were tested and for the first time failed against the Guru. After a brief discourse, the Bairagi fell to the Guru’s feet, and pronounced himself to be the Guru’s banda. Guru Gobind Singh administered him into the Order of the Khalsa, re-named him Banda Singh, gave him 5 of his own arrows, and instructions to establish the Khalsa Raj. Banda Singh was also afforded the elite Binod Singh, Kahan Singh, Baj Singh, Daya Singh and Ram Singh. Banda Singh and his contingent left immediately for the Punjab - to eliminate the tyrannical Mughal Government.

On 26th November 1709, Banda Singh conquered Samana, and the surrounding territories including Kapuri and Sadhaura. However, the test came in Sirhind with the might of the Mughal Empire lead by the ruler Governor Wazir Khan. 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 Yamuna and the Sutlej.• 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 Gurdwara’s to be erected in Sirhind to their ever-lasting sacrifices.

The Mughal Government issued a warrant (author Bahadur Shah 10 December 1710), “to kill the worshippers of Nanak”. Eventually, after an 8-month siege in the Gurdas-Nangal garrison, due to extreme poverty and privation, the Mughal armies captured Banda Singh and 740 Singh’s. 700 cartloads of decapitated Sikh heads were loaded onto horse-carts another 2,000 Sikh heads were struck upon pikes. On 9th June 1716, Banda Singh was given a choice between Islam and death. Upon Banda Singh refusing to be converted to Islam his 4-year-old son was hacked to pieces before his eyes. Banda Singh’s eyes were then pulled out, his hands and feet chopped off. His flesh was torn with red-hot pincers and finally his body was cut up limb by limb. The legacy of Banda Singh has lead him to be hailed as one of the greatest ever Sikhs, his sacrifice to the Guru has no parallel. He established the Khalsa Republic as instructed by Guru Gobind Singh. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur paved the way for successive Khalsa Raj’s.

Gurmat Parchar Trust will be celebrating the Tri-Centenary rise and establishment of the Khalsa Raj, from the Victory of Sirhind - May 1710. The achievements of the Khalsa lead by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur have sprung from the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and illustrated the directional future of Sikhs. The book “Life of Banda Singh Bahadur” by Dr. Ganda Singh printed in 1935 will be re-published for this 2010 event. Anyone wishing to participate in this project should contact Gurmat Parchar Trust.