TWO YOUNGER PRINCES AND HOLY MOTHER GUJRI RECEIVE MARTYRDOM

S Dalip Singh

At the time the Guru crossed Sirsa River, his family members parted company with him. The Sikhs escorting the Guru's Mother, Mata Gujri and his two younger sons, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, were either killed while fighting the enemy or drowned in the flooded river. The Guru's cook, Ganga Ram, a Brahmin, could only save life and crossed the stream with the Holy Mother and two younger princes. Ganga Ram took the Guru's Mother and two Princes, to his village Kheri, situated near Morinda, a rail head on Ropar -Sirhind rail-road. It is 11 miles north east of Sirhind.Ganga Ram also heard the Nawab of Sirhind's proclamation about the reward for causing arrest of the Guru and the members of his family. This caused conflict in his mind -apprehension of his being detected in harbouring the Guru's family members in his house and the lure of the reward,if he could cause their arrest or to remain faithful at all costs. He was finally overcome by the greed and brought to his house the Ranghar officials of Morinda. The Guru's aged Mother and the Two Younger Princes were thus taken into custody by the police. They were first detained at Morinda and then despatched to Sirhind. Wazir Khan, the Nawab of Sirhind, by this time had returned to Sirhind from Chamkaur. The Princes with their grandmother were kept in custody in a tower of the fort at Sirhind. It was then December 9, 1705. The weather was extremely cold and the captives were without any warm clothes. Baba Fateh Singh was then 7 years of age. And Baba Zorawar Singh was nine years of age. The Princes were produced in the Court on December 9,1705 and were told to get converted to Islamic Faith. Wazir Khan threatened the Princes with dire consequences as they refused to accept Islam. Wazir Khan then promised to provide them with most luxurious life, if they accepted the proposal.This had no effect on the Princes. They disdainfully rejected the offer of rich rewards. On this Wazir Khan was greatly agitated. He was already too much upset about his repeated failures in the battles fought against the Guru at Anandpur and Chamkaur. He was actually blind with rage. When he saw his defeat from the lion-hearted child Princes, the enraged Nawab ordered their execution. Nawab Sher Mohamad Khan of Malerkotla, who had participated in the battle at Chamkaur against the Guru had accompanied Wazir Khan on his way back to Malerkotla and was at that time in Sirhind. Sher Mohamad Khan had seen the Princes being threatened to abjure their faith in favour of Islam. He made a strong protest against the cold-blooded murder of the in-Docent boys and entreated Wazir Khan to refrain from performing this inhuman act. Sucha Nand, Wazir Khan’s minister, who was also present there, in order to prove his faithfulness and win the master’s favour acted over-jealously. He advised immediate execution of the Princes, as he considered that it was wise to nip the evil in the bud. It was the memorable day of December 12, 1705, when the Princes were ordered to be bricked alive. While the children were being bricked alive, they were repeatedly asked to reconsider their decision and to accept Islam to save their lives. The Fearless Princes met their fate happened that abruptly the wall thus constructed, fell down and the Princes also dropped down unconscious. On their regaining the consciousness, they were again asked to accept Islam. On their refusal to be converted, their throats were cut by the executioner's knife at the behest of Wazir Khan. The Guru's aged Mother, who was imprisoned in the Tower of the Fort, on hearing the sad news of the murder of her grand-children, meditated on God and breath, prison. Tiloka and Raffia, sons of Baba Phool of Mehraj were also at Sirhind in connection with the payment of the land revenue in the treasury. They obtained the bodies of martyrs and cremated them. Tiloka and Raffia collected the bodies if the Holy Mother Gujri, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh and kept them at their place of residence during the night.This place is called 'Viman Garh'. On the following day they cremated the bodies and the place is called ,'Joti Sarup'.Tiloka and Raffia went to Talwandi Sabo ki,when the Guru reached there. Both of them received the Baptism of the Double-Edged Sword and were named Tilok Singh and Ram Singh. Mehraj is situated four miles north west of rail-head Rampura Phool. Mehraj town was founded in 1627 A.D in deference to the wishes of Guru Hargobind, the 6th Guru,by Chowdhari Mehraj. The town derived its name from its founder Dr.Gopal Singh in his book "A History of the sikh People", page 306, foot note, has reproduced the funniest story from the book written by Mohamad Latif.The part of the story is: "Wazir Khan told him (Hindu Minister ,who was insisting to kill all of them) that he would on no account violate the rules of his religion, which prescribed that a son must not suffer for the wrongs done by his father, and that every one was responsible for his actions. One day, as the two sons of the guru were sitting in the governor's durbar, he was much pleased with their graceful appearance and seemingly good looks, and said to them with kindness: "Boys! what would you do if we were to give you your liberty ?" The boys answered, "We would collect our Sikhs, supply them with implements of war, fight with you and put you to death." The governor said: "If you were defeated in the fight, what would you do then?" The boys replied: "We would collect our armies again and either kill you or be killed." The governor was enraged at this intrepid and naughty reply, and ordered Kuljas to remove the boys from his presence and to dispatch them at his home. The boys were accordingly put to death by Kuljas ." How the simple issue of the hill rajas religious conflict with the Guru, supported by the Mughals, has been turned into a vicious political issue that the Guru was after grabbing power from Mughals ! And people like Dr. Gopal Singh shamelessly support their views that the Guru was after power! ! Absurdity of such scholarship cannot go farther! ! ! The Guru never made even the retaliatory attack on anyone. Having been utterly disappointed to arrest or do away with Guru Gobind Singh despite all round efforts, Wazir Khan felt very much slighted and thus resorted to the heinous murder of the Guru's innocent sons. It is true that man is mortal; every one who has taken birth is bound to die one day. But Wazir Khan, who committed the inhuman crime of cold blooded murder of innocent and helpless sons of the Guru, will ever be cursed by humanity for the unpardonable evil deed. Now the Guru was with Rai Kalha at Siloani village. Rai Kalha, a Muslim nobleman, after having come to know of the whole story of the Guru, requested him that if he could be of any service to him. The Guru had heard of the proclamation made by Wazir Khan of exhorting the people to cause his arrest and also the members of his family. The Guru then told Rai Kalha to send a messenger to Sirhind to enquire whether or not any member of his family bad been arrested. Rai Kalha then sent one of his men, called Mahi, to Srihind on the said mission. On Rai Kalha's request, the Guru to stay with him, who served him in all possible manner Sirhind is only about 25 miles from Siloani. Mahi went to Sirhind in the morning and came back the news on the very day, December 13, 1705. He related to the Guru the fate meted out to the Princes and the Guru's Mother at Srihind on December 12, 1705. As Mahi was relating the sad account of the story, Rai Kalha, the three Sikhs and others shed copious tears, whereas the Guru listened to the messanger with perfect composure and equanimity. Next day, on December 14, the Guru took leave of Rai Kalha, who presented to the former with horses of good breed and arms. The Guru in turn, admired Rai Kalha for the services rendered to him and the affection shown. He bestowed on Rai Kalha his own Sword as a token of remembrance.