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Pandit Kirpa Singh Dutt (d. 1705) was the son of Bhai Aru Ram, a Sarasvat Brahmin of Matan, 65 Km east of Srinagar, in Kashmir. Aru Ram had met Guru Har Rai and sought his blessing at the time of the latter's visit to Kashmir in 1660.
A group of Kashmiri brahmins came to Guru Tegh Bahadar at Anandpur sahib in May 1675 to seek the Guru's protection against atrocities of Aurungzeb. Kirpa Ram led this group of Kashmiri Pandits (educated scholars) driven to dire straits by the State persecution of non-Muslims.
They had faced stiff taxes, atrocities, cruelty and repression under the Mughal governor of Kashmir. Honour of their daughters was being lost and they were losing their religion to the fanatic zeal and proselytization activities of Islamic crusaders.
Iftikhar Khan, governor of Kashmir (1671-1675) was a harsh man and was making forcible conversion to Islam of all non-Muslims. The Kashmiri Brahmins asked the Guru for a solution. Guru replied "Such activities can only be stopped by the sacrifice of a great person".
Just then 8 years old son of Guru Tegh Bahadar, Gobind Rai (later named Gobind Singh) walked into the meeting to find his father lost deep in thoughts. .....More
