Battle of Amritsar: Difference between revisions

After Jahangir died in 1627 and his successor Shah Jahan was hostile to the Sikhs. The ill-wishers renewed their conspiracies and incited him too against Guru Ji. Otherwise also Shahjehan was insecure about the increasing influence and power of Sikhs. He sent a force of 7000 troops under General Sukhlis Khan(or Mukhlis Khan) to teach the Sikhs a lesson. Amritsar was plundered but when the Moghul commander was killed the Moghul forces retreated, this was the battle of Amritsar (1628). Sikhs trapped a falcon belonging to Shahjehan and a conflict with imperial bandits ensued. On the 22 day of Jeth month in Bikrami 1685, Sikhs won this battle. After winning it, Guru Ji married off Bibi Viro.

The conflict between Guru Sahib and the Mughal forces were fought in April 1634. It started with the lifting of a royal hawk of the imperial army of Shah Jahan by the Sikhs, who incidentally were also hunting in the same territory aroud Gumtala Village near Amritsar. This led to a small violent conflict between the two parties. Guru Hargobind Sahib was not directly involved in his clash.

This incident enraged the emperor, Shah Jahan. He deputed Mukhils Khan with, 7,000 soldiers "to teach the lesson" to Guru Hargobind Sahib. The mini fortress of Lohgarh was attacked. The Sikhs though small in number, gave a stiff resistance. Guru Sahib and the whole family had to hurriedly move to Chabal, to solemnize the marriage of Bibi Veero Ji (the daughter of Guru Hargobind Sahib). The attackers had an upper hand over the Sikhs on the first day of the battle. They looted and plundered all the property and holy residence of Guru Sahib. On the next morning the Sikhs, after consolidating their position, retaliated and made a vigorous attack on the sleeping Mughal forces. Mukhlis Khan, the commander and most of his leading lieutenants were killed. Guru Sahib also suffered a heavy loss of life and property. This was the first armed clash between the Mughals and the Sikhs.