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CONNECTING THE DOTS IN SIKH HISTORY
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The anecdote about the young Brahmin Yodhan who was executed
on the judgement of the Ulema, in 1499, for his advocacy of sameness
of religions - “Religion of the Musalman is true and so also is that of the
Hindus” - may have so troubled Nanak that, on emerging from the
river after three missing days, he uttered the revelatory words “Na ko
Hindu, na ko Musalman”. This incident is the first of the connecting
‘dots’.
The author refutes the version of a few notable events in the life
of Guru Gobind Singh as given by some historians.
He challenges the prevailing view reporting the despatch of a
squad of soldiers by Guru ji to help Bahadur Shah in his campaign for
succession. According to the writer the 200-300 strong Sikh cavalry
would have made no difference to Bahadur Shah as he “deployed
152,000 horsemen and 178,000 foot soldiers” at the battleground of
Jajau. He further questions, though unjustifiably, if ever there was an
intermediary. He is referred to Dr Gopal Singh’s chapter on Guru
Gobind Singh, in particular the footnote that asserts, “This intermediary
is said to have been Bhai Nand Lal (who was at one time) employed as
Mir Munshi with Prince Muazzam”.
Guru Gobind Singh’s complaints against (a) Wazir Khan for the
brutal killing of his infant sons, and (b) Imperial armies “joining (the
hill Rajahs) without any justification” in forcing him to vacate the fort
at Anandpur, fell on deaf ears of the emperor. Because Bahadur Shah
was beholden to Wazir Khan for the latter’s help during the war of
succession and a donation of 8 lakhs rupees to the imperial treasury.
As reward Wazir Khan’s status was elevated, affording him
“exempt(ion) from any conditions and obligations to the state”.
Sada Kaur lived a colourful history. On the death of Kanahiya
misl chieftain Jai Singh, she inherited the bulk of the misl. She continued
to maintain her own army even during her relationship as a mother-inlaw
to Ranjit Singh. She led her forces, in 1799, alongside that of
Ranjit Singh to capture Lahore, then a remnant of the Bhangian misl
headed by Sardar Chet Singh.
Her power and influence on Ranjit Singh vacillated inversely to
her daughter giving an heir. She flirted with the idea of an alliance
with the British to unseat Ranjit Singh. She is described as “the most
remarkable woman in the history of Punjab”; instead, some will point