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The Sikhs had come to
be looked upon as liberators and champions
of the weak and the oppressed. They
were known to be ever ready to come
to the rescue of their helpless, downtrodden
countrymen. They regarded such action
to be their bounden duty as followers
of Guru Nanak , Guru Gobind Singh. Their
religion taught them to be friends of
men and foes of all tyrants. Whenever,
therefore, they heard that some oppressed
people needed help against their oppressors,
they acted at once. They rushed to their
rescue. They shunned no danger, no hardships,
no sacrifice. They tarried not to weigh
the chances of success or failure. They
cared not for their own lives. They
ever considered it a privilege to die
in attempting such noble rescue-campaigns.
They ever remembered what their religion
taught them: 'Only he should be considered
to be worthy and brave, who fights for
the poor and the weak; who is cut down
to pieces, but never flies from the
battle-field.' A few examples of such
adventures are given here.
In 1738, Nadir Shah of Persia invaded
India. He went through the Punjab, massacring
its people mercilessly and laying waste
the country-side. He plundered Delhi.
He sacked the city and massacred in
cold blood over a lakh of its inhabitants
men, women, and children. With elephants,
camels, horses, and mules loaded with
plunder, he started on his return journey.
He also captured thousands of men, women
and children. He was carrying them off
as slaves. The Sikhs had then been forced
to leave their homes and pass their
days in hills, forests and the sandy
deserts of Rajputana. They heard of
the fate of their country's sons and
daughters being driven away as Nadir
Shah's captives. Their ire was aroused.
They decided to release the captives.
They rushed out of their hide-outs.
Organizing themselves in small bands,
they fell upon the rear of his army.
They carried away much of his booty.
They also released their country's sons
and daughters from Nadir Shah's slavery,
and sent them safely to their homes.
The dreaded Persian was astonished at
the daring exhibited by the Sikhs. He
called a halt at Lahore. He questioned
Zakariya Khan , Governor of Lahore,
about them. 'Whence,' demanded the imperious
Nadir, 'come those long haired barbarians
who dare to molest me ? Who are these
mischief-makers ?' Zakariya Khan replied,
'They are a group of fakirs who visit
their Guru's tank twice a year, and,
after bathing in it, disappear.' 'Where
do they live ? Destroy them and their
homes, or they will destroy you.' 'Their
homes are the saddles on their horses,'
nvas the reply. 'Take care,' said Nadir,
'the day is not distant when these rebels
will take possession of your country.'
This remark of the Persian invader cut
the Governor to the quick. He resolved
to launch an all-out campaign against
the Sikhs. But they felt no regrets
at this. They had long become accustomed
to the persecution campaigns of the
fanatic foreign rulers. They felt sure
that, one day, their persecutors would
disappear from their dear Punjab.
When returning home after his fifth
invasion, Ahmed Shah Abdali was taking
about 2200 Hindu women and girls as
captives. They were to be sold into
slavery in Afghanistan. On the way they
were to be used by the Afghan soldiers
to satisfy their lust. The Sikhs heard
of this. At that time, they were, about
to eat a meal. They abandoned their
meal. How could they eat or drink when
their countrywomen, their sisters, were
in such a plight . Not caring for their
lives, they rushed to do their duty
as the Guru's saint soldiers. They fell
upon the Afghans near Goindwal. The
captive women and young girls were all
released. Then they were all conducted
to their respective homes in comfort
and safety.
Once upon a time, Jassa Singh Ramgharia
was informed that the Muhammedan official
of Hissar was mercilessly persecuting
the Hindus under him. He attacked the
honour of their women. He had forcibly
carried away two Brahmin girls. He had
converted them to Islam. Jassa Singh
was deeply distressed at the news. He
vowed vengeance against the fanatic
tyrant. He rushed to Hissar with a strong
force. He fell upon the Muhammedan oppressor.
He punished him. He rescued the two
Brahmin girls and restored them to their
parents.
On other occasion complaints were brought
to Hira Singh Nakaii against Shekh Shujah
of Pakpattan. The Hindus of that place
said that the Shekh and his men were
ill-treating the Hindus, dishonouring
their women, and slaughtering cows in
the lanes and streets. Hira Singh Nakaiyee's
anger was roused. He decided to punish
the cruel, fanatic Shekhs. He collected
his troops and attacked the Shekhs of
Pakpattan with a force of two thousand
men. Unluckily, he was mortally wounded
early in the engagement. He was about
to die When picked up by his companions,
he heaved a sigh and said, 'I am sorry
for my bad luck, my failure to rescue
my oppressed countrymen and countrywomen
from their oppressors. But I am glad
that I am dying while attempting to
do my duty. It was not my luck to succeed.
I have done what I could. May His Will
be done !'
He said this and his spirit flew to
the feet of the Father above. His followers
were disheartened. Four thousand Shekh
horsemen fell upon them. They were outnumbered
and over-powered. They fought heroically.
They aquitted themselves admirably well
as Guru Gobind Singh's lion-like warior-saints.
They felt no regrets. They were glad
that they were fighting for and going
to die in a noble cause. They were determined
to die with their faces towards the
enemy. A large number of them were killed.
All those heroes sacrificed their lives
cheerfully while fighting for the weak
and oppressed. They all became martyrs.
On one occasion, Ahmed Shah Abdali
or Durrani was returning from his invasion
of India. He was carrying away as a
prize a large number of Hindu,Musilm
and other women and girls. His soldiers
were using them as slaves. They were
to be sold as slaves on reaching Ahmed
Shah's country. News was brought to
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. He resolved to
rescue them. He started in pursuit of
the Shah. He made a night attack on
his camp. He succeeded in rescuing the
innocent creatures. He provided them
liberally with money and other necessities.
He sent them all, under proper escort,
to their respective homes. From that
day Jassa Singh Ahluwalia came to be
called Bandi Chhor or Liberator. This
act of bravery and patriotism endeared
him to all, Hindus and Muslims alike.
It increased his power and influence.
It also increased the prestige and popularity
of the Sikhs. They came to be regarded
as defenders of the weak and the oppressed.
At another occasion the Khalsa had
gathered at the Akal Takht, Amritsar,
on the occasion of Baisakhi in April
1763. Some Brahmins of Kasur came. They
complained bitterly against the Afghan
inhabitants of their city. They said,
'The Afghans are most fanatic and cruel
in their dealings with us Hindus. They
slaughter cows in the streets and lanes,
before the doors of our houses. They
throw cows' bones into our wells and
tanks. They do not allow us to perform
our rites and ceremonies. If the cow
of a Hindu becomes sick, the qazi goes
into that house. He kills the cow there.
He carries away the flesh and the skin.
The hoofs, blood, intestines, and other
waste parts are left there. The house-owners
have to clean their house with their
own hands. Yet if a Hindu does not give
timely information about his dying cow,
he is severely punished.' 'The Afghans
freely attack the honour of our womenfolk.
Nobody hears our complaints. They think
they have a divine right to treat and
use us as they like. The worst offender
is Usman Khan. He had forcibly carried
away the wife of one of us. He has converted
her to Islam. We know that our Khalsa
brethern are defenders of the oppressed.
We have come to you for help, Khalsa
ji, save us from those tyrants. Restore
this Brahmin's wife to him.'
In Kasur the Afghans had a large army.
They had as many as twelve forts. They
were very strong. Hence, most of the
Sikhs hesitated at first. They feared
that the Afghans might prove too strong
for them. They were in favour of sending
for more saint-warriors, and awaiting
their arrival. But Hari Singh Bhangi
said, 'Khalsa ji, the Guru created the
Panth for the sake of helping and protecting
the oppressed, for relieving the helpless
and the weak. So it does not become
the Khalsa Panth to send away disappointed
any one who comes and appeals for help.
We shall be failng in the duty assigned
to us by the Father of Panth. We must
help these helpless people. We must
relieve them. We must punish the wicked
evil-doers. I, for one, will go at once
with all my available friends. Others
may wait here as long as they think
wise and proper.'
He stood up before Guru Granth Sahib,
offered prayers, and begged for the
Guru's and God's help for success in
the undertaking. He then got ready to
go. Charat Singh Sukarchakia then stood
up and expressed his readiness to accompany
Hari Singh Bhangi. The other leaders
of the Taruna Dal followed suit.
With shouts of Sat Sri Akal, the Taruna
Dal started towards Kasur. Sikhs in
thousands joined them in the way. It
was then the hot month of May. It was
also the period when Muslims had to
observe fasts. The Khalsa Dal reached
Kasur at about mid-day. They found the
city-gates open. They entered without
any resistance. Because of the intense
heat, the Afghans were resting and napping
in their cool underground rooms. Stationing
an adequate detachment to guard the
gates, the Khalsa Dal fell upon the
Afghans. All who resisted were put to
the sword. Women and children were left
unharmed and unmolested. Usman Khan,
with his five hundred men were killed.
The Brahmin's wife was restored to her
husband. An Afghan chief fell at Jhanda
Singh's feet. He begged for mercy. He
appealed to him in the name of Guru
Nanak-Guru Gobind Singh. He repented
for his misdeeds. He promised to reform
and behave like a good man. He begged
for mercy and pardon. He offered to
pay a large sum as the price of his
life.
The Sikh Sardar could easily have deprived
the Afghan of all his wealth and killed
him like hundreds of his cruel, wicked
townsmen. But he had repented for his
crimes and sins. He had promised to
avoid them and lead a blameless life.
Above all, he had appealed for pardon
in the name of Guru Nanak-Guru Gobind
Singh. No devout Sikh could ignore such
an appeal. It was not the Afghan's offer
of money but his appeal in the Guru's
name that prevailed with that brave,
devout follower of the Guru. He accepted
the Afghan's prayer and spared his life.
Many more Afghans repented and promised
to give up their cruel evil ways. They,
too, were spared; for the Sikhs were
ever averse to shedding blood unnecessarily,
and they were ever ready to forgive
the repentants.
The Sikhs then plundered the houses
of the tyrants. The looting lasted three
days. The Sikhs were amply rewarded
for their pains. The Hindus of the city
felt relieved. Their oppressors had
been punished and made to alter their
conduct towards the Sikhs. In the course
of his ninth invasion in 1767 Ahmed
Shah Durrani captured about thirty thousand
Hindu women and girls from Ambala and
its neighbourhood. He wanted to take
them to his country and sell them there
into slavery. Raja Amar Singh of Patiala,
son of Baba Ala Singh heard of this.
He paid two lakhs rupees to the Shah
and secured the release of the captives.
He then arranged to send them to their
homes.
When retuming after his ninth invasion
Ahmed Shah Durrani captured a large
number of Hindu women and giris from
Sialkot and its neighbourhood. Jassa
Singh Ahluwalia ,Charat Singh Shkuakrchakia
, and Baghel Singh Karorsinghia fell
upon him near the banks of Jhelum. All
captive women and girls were rescued.
They were then conducted to their homes
in comfort and safety.
In 1773 a Brahmin from Jalalabad came
to the Khalsa at the Akal Takht, Amritsar.
He complained that the Muhammedan official
of the city, Hasan Khan, had forcibly
taken away his married daughter from
her in-laws and converted her to Islam.
He prayed that his daughter be rescued
and restored to him. A strong Khalsa
force, under the command of Kaun Singh
Shahid, at once set off towards Jalalabad.
Crossing the Jamna, they fell upon the
city, killed Hasan Khan, and rescued
the Brahmin girl. Her in-laws, at first,
hesitated to accept her back. But when
the Sikhs got ready to draw their swofds,
they agreed to take her back. The Khalsa
army returned to Amritsar after having
performed this duty.
Thus it was that Sikhs acted as deliverers
of such of their countrymen as were
maltreated or caught by the oppressors.
Even Muslim victims of oppression unhesitatngly
took their complaints to the Khalsa.
They were all redressed without delay
or discrirnination. This conduct of
the Sikhs brought them great credit
in the eyes of the people. They began
to be regarded as bold and self-sacrificing
champions of the weak and down-trodden.
The Muslim peasantry of the Punjab began
to look upon them as brother Punjabis.
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