Vishavjit Singh

Sikhs are a relatively young community with a faith that has been besieged with repeated violence at the hands of various rulers who have controlled parts of the land known as the Indian sub-continent. There are numerous days and events in Sikh history worthy of being commemorated on a yearly basis to remind the new generation of the sacrifices of their ancestors.

One such event occurred 343 years ago on February 5th, 1762 known as the Vada Ghallughara (the great holocaust). Thousands of Sikhs, estimates ranging from eleven to thirteen thousand, mostly women and children died at the hands of the forces led by the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali. Vada Ghallughara is perhaps the most extensive and violent singular attack in Sikh history.

This day like years past will come and go while many young Sikhs will not get the opportunity to learn about the tragedy because as a community we have not yet learnt the way to remember and honor events that have shaped us for centuries.

Knowing the facts is one aspect of the learning process whereas dedicating a day every year will inspire the community and instill in them the courage and spirit of our forefathers and mothers.

Although the ultimate inspiration and realization has to come from actions in the present moment, be it our own actions or that of others, nonetheless the need for marking important dates and celebrating them annually is still paramount.

Today Sikhs find themselves treading through difficult and challenging times with varied threats to our way of life from within the community and outside. An important cause for such state of affairs is the result of distancing the Sikh consciousness from the Sikh path. Herein lies the conflict.

Conflicts of such nature are not inherently negative and can also serve as a catalyst for change. In these circumstances our collective history might serve as a guiding light.

History is not a magic bullet. It provides us with reassurance of our ability to successfully overcome the toughest of challenges. Many of the challenges we face today are similar to challenges faced by our ancestors in the past. Some of these challenges are spiritual, some social and some are political in nature.

Let us acquaint ourselves with our past. Commemorating the Vada Ghallughara is a good start. Despite its violent blow, Sikhs forged ahead to flourish as a religious community prepared all the more to face the future with a new resolve. By attempting to understand the spirit that enabled thousands of children, women and men to face death without relinquishing their faith we will become stronger.

Let February 5, 2003 be the beginning of this re-connection with our past as we forge into the future.

A Brief History

In the 18th century Mughal authorities continued with the persecution of Sikhs who were relatively few in number. Farukh Siyar gave Abdus Samad Khan authority to hunt down Sikhs in Punjab and Hindus were ordered to cut their hair short and shave so as not to resemble a Sikh, to avoid death.

Official orders were sent to arrest anybody who helped a Sikh and those that would give information about the community would be suitably rewarded. Sikh land was confiscated and families arrested and killed. Many Sikh men fled to the jungles and formed small groups – Robin Hood style bands - and thus became founders of the Sikh misls (confederacies) that would later control Punjab for almost 50 years.

On March 9, 1739 Nadir Shah entered Delhi victorious. In the beginning of May he left with a few thousand captive girls (both Hindu and Muslim) and young boys many to be sold as slaves. Bands of Sikh men under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia who had just turned 21, attacked the retreating forces freeing the slaves and returning women to their families.

A conversation between Nadir Shah and Zakaria Khan who had accompanied him to Akhnoor is worth mentioning. On being asked who were Sikhs, Zakaria Khan replied that they were a band of poor sadhus (hermits) without clothing and riches.

“Then why don’t you burn their houses to punish them?”

Zakaria Khan replied, “Their only homes are the saddles of their horses. They can last long periods without food and rest. They are known to sleep on horseback. We have put awards on their heads, but their numbers keep increasing. They are never despondent, but are always singing the songs of their Pirs (Gurus).”

With a sigh Nadir Shah admitted that in that case, one day, Sikhs would rule the land.

Till his death in July 1745, Zakaria Khan mercilessly persecuted Sikhs. In 1746 Yahya Khan became the Governor of Lahore and ordered his minister Lakhpat Rai to drive Sikhs out of the areas around Lahore. With the consent of Yahya Khan, Lakhpat Rai ordered a massacre of Sikhs. The use of the word Granth Sahib was forbidden and the word gur (raw sugar) was to be replaced by rori since the former reminded people of their Guru. Sikh Scriptures were seized and committed to flames.

Lakhpat Rai was able to force Sikhs to retreat north. As the Lahore forces pounded on the retreating men about 10,000 lives were lost. This is known as the Smaller Holocaust of 1746.

In the words of professor N.K. Sinha:

Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia

The most glorious chapter of Sikh history, and one of the most glorious chapters of Indian history was about to begin.

This is the time of Ahmad Shah Abdali's sixth invasion.

Abdali set out from Kandahar in Afghanistan and reached Lahore on February 3, 1762. He asked Zain Khan of Sirhind to attack Sikhs who were 40,000 in number with 10,000 women and children.

Zain Khan was joined by Bikhan Khan of Malerkotla. Zain Khan had 20,000 troops with artillery and Abdali joined him on February 5, 1762 with additional forces of 30,000 horsemen with artillery and superior rifles.

Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Charhat Singh Sukerchakia ordered their men to form a human wall around women and children and to continue moving toward Barnala. They were successful in this maneuver but only after a large number of women and children got killed. By nightfall Charhat Singh Sukerchakia had reached Barnala and the human shield his men had formed saved many lives.

This action left over 20,000 Sikhs dead and is known as Great Holocaust. Many among the dead were women and children. Charat Singh, Hari Singh Bhangi and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia led the Sikh forces. Jassa Singh sustained sixty four wounds on his body and Charat Singh rode to exhaustion five of his horses one after another.

Ahmad Shah had succeeded in breaking through the ring and glutted his spite by carrying out a full scale butchery. His orders were for everyone in Indian dress to be killed at sight. The soldiers of Malerkotala and Sirhind were to wear green leaves on their heads to distinguish themselves from Sikhs. Near the village of Kup, in the vicinity of Malerkotla, about 20,000 Sikhs lay on that ghastly field at the end of a single day's action (February 5, 1762).

When the survivors of of the Great Holocaust assembled in the evening for their prayers a Sikh got up and said:

"No harm done, Khalsa ji! The Panth has emerged purer from the trial; the alloy has been eliminated."

In February 1762 Abdali reached Amritsar with cartloads of Sikh heads for display to the population. He placed gunpowder under the foundations of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and blew it up and filled the tank with rubble and debris.

By October 1762 Sikhs had regrouped and were back in Amritsar. There were 30,000 Sikh soldiers. Abdali came to know about the development and and sent his forces under Jahan Khan on the evening of October 16th. The next day was Divali. A fierce battle ensued. Jahan Khan fled the battlefield. Thousands lay dead. Pathan soldiers who were captured by Sikhs were made to remove the debris from the holy tank that had been filled by Abdali.

This battle was fought near Pipli Sahib gurdwara.

Soon Abdali left Lahore. The Dal Khalsa met at Amritsar and reorganized itself into two groups. The Senior Dal headed by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, comprised the following Misls: Misl Ahluwalia, Misl Singhpuria, Misl Dalewallia, Misl Karoria, Misl Nishanwali, and Misl Shaheedi

The Junior Dal was headed by Hari Singh Bhangi and it comprised of Misl Bhangis, Misl Ramgharias, Misl Kanhayas, Misl Sukerchakias, and Misl Nakai.

The senior Dal was to fight the enemy. The junior Dal was to protect Amritsar and the Gurdwaras.

REFERENCES

Historical account from: Tharam Singh, Sikh Struggle After Banda, Sikhism: Its Philosophy and History, Institute of Sikh Studies publication and material published on allaboutsikhs.com


Photo Credit

Sikh Cartoons at SikhToons.com