L - Gurmat Veechar

Musalmans of Punjab. We have discussed them at length in
respect of how they had joined the Hindus including the Sikhs
to weld all the Punjabis into one nation much before the idea
of a nation-state could be conceived of or projected in India.
What was their contemporary role in the battle? Under the
normal communal reflex, the Muslims should have gained much
by ditching the Khalsa Darbar. But that's what we think after
the 'two nation' theory divided India.
However, the fact remains that while the Sikh commanders,
particularly Tej Singh, the Commander-in-Chief, and Lal Singh,
the personal adviser of the Maharani, both had sold their
conscience to the British, not one Muslim of any standing backed
out of the battle. And mind you! they occupied a very crucial
position on the battlefield. They had almost the entire artillery
under them. They were perhaps the best gunners on this side
of the Suez. Besides, they were so trustworthy that, during the
war, Rani Jindan had handed over Lahore to the care of the
Muslim forces only. Can anyone imagine such a thing happening
today? Anyway, in this context, it would be appropriate to
reproduce stanza 60 which is as under:
Mahmud Ali marched out from his Majha country,
Taking awesome artillery pieces out of the City.
The brigade of Sultan Mahmud also came out
With invincible Imam Shahi guns in tow.
Elahi Baksh brought out his guns after polishing them.
And showing them worshipful burning incense sticks.
o Shah Mohammed! In such a way did the guns shine
As ifthese were the flashes oflightning, out to dispel darkness.
It looks as if Shah Mohammed had sufficiently intimate
knowledge of how battles are fought. It is also said that he was
related to Sultan Mahmood, one of the artillery commanders
named by him above. But apart from that, there is no gainsaying
the fact that he was a wide awake man who could analyse the
diplomatic language and almost instinctively understand the
importance of the various goings on. Moreover, his sources of
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