Battle of Hargobindpur

Gurdwara Damdama Sahib Where Guru Sahib took rest after Battle

Battle of Hargobindpur was, the first war of Guru Hargobind, fought between Guru Hargobind and Abdullah Khan (Subedar of Jalandhar) in 1621 (some chronicles state September 1629). A battle was fought near village Ruhela where Mughal army and Turk chieftains especially the ruler of Jallandar were defeated by Guru Hargobind and his warriors. Guru Har Gobind Ji renamed this village Ruhela as Sri Hargobindpur.

Reason of Conflict

The village was established on the ruins of Ruhela by Guru Arjan Dev in 1587 and named Sri Gobindpur, but it was appropriated by Bhagvan Das Gherar helped by Chandu's machinations. The site, where Guru Hargobind actually laid the foundation of new town, was situated in the tiny village of Ruhela, on the right bank of the river Beas. He liked the place so much that he decided to build a town, on an open space available on the bank of the river.

During the rainy season, Guru Hargobind ji left Kartarpur and camped at Sri Hargobindpur, on the second Thursday of Sawan. At that time, Bhagwan Das Ghirarh (a Khatri) had illegal possession over the land. Bhagwan Das was relative of Chandu Shah (mMurderer of Guru Arjun Dev).

When Guru Hargobind Ji was setting up a camp in the vicinity, Bhagvan Das, a rich Khatri of the Gherar clan, challenged Guru Hargobind and asked him to vacate the site. He used undignified words for the Guru. Bhagwan Das contemplated his right of ownership on the land and with the help of some hired ruffians forcibly tried to dislodge the worker, who were engaged in developing the new township. In the ensuing small clash with Sikhs, Bhagwan Das and his most hired ruffians were killed. The Chaudry (cheift) was killed in a squabble.

After this incident, Ratan Chand, son of Bhagwan Das Ghirhar went to Jalandhar, where his relative Karam Chand, who was son of Chandu Shah, resided. They together went to Ali Beg (Abdullah Khan), subedar of Jalandhar and complained about Guru Hargobind. It was misreported to Abdulla Khan, subedar of Jalandhar, that Guru was constructing a fort at Sri Hargobindpur. Abdulla Khan the faujdar of Jalandhar dispatched ten thousand soldiers to expel Guru sahib.

Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, took objection to this action of the Mughal ruler. This brought him in direct conflict with the Mughal army.

Preparation of Battle

Abdullah Khan first send troop of 4000 soldiers to Hargobindpur and he also conveyed local chieftains of area to ready their troops. Local faujdars like Bairam Khan, Muhomad Khan, Balwand KHan, Imam Baksh, Nabi Baksh, Chirag Din, Akbar Khan and Sher Muhommad were his main pawns in this plan. The whole troops were divided and sent to eight different locations.

Guru Hargobind gave command of his army to Bhai Jattu and selected one jathedar of each jatha (group). Bhai Kalyana, Bhai Piraga, Bhai Mathra Bhat (son of Baba Bhikha), Bhai Jagan Nath, Bhai Jagna, Bhai Saktu, Bhai Jati Mall, Bhai Paras Ram, Bhai Malooka were in-charge of the main jathas. The Guru kept the jatha of Bhai Bidhi Chand in a defensive role so that they can support fighting jatha whenever in need.

Battle

Results

The attack launched by this force, however, aborted and both Ratan Chand and Karam Chand were killed. Besides Rattan Chand and Karam Chand, the faujdar of Jalandhar, Abdullah Khan, his two sons and five commanders were killed.

On the Guru sahib side, the followed saint soldiers were sacrificed: Mathura Bhat Ji (son of Baba Bhikha Ji), Bhai Nanu Ji, Bhai Saktu Ji, Bhai Jattu Ji, Bhai Pirana Ji, Bhai Paras Ram Ji, Bhai Jagannath Ji and Bhai Kalyana Ji.

Reaction of Mughal Emporer

At the time, Shah Jahan the Mughal emperor was at Agra. When Shah Jahan heard about the news he ordered his troops to destroy Sri Hargobindpur. But when Dara Shikoh and Wazir Khan narrated the true version of the whole story to the emperor, then Shah Jahan said that Abdullah Khan fought a war without any reason and without his permission and he then ordered possession of the property of Abdullah khan. Wazir Khan also told Shah Jahan that Guru Hargobind made a mosque in Hargobindpur, Shah Jahan was pleased to hear that.

Memorial

There is a Gurdwara called Gurdwara Damdama Sahib.

Four shrines commemorate Guru Hargobind's stay at Ruhela. The local population was thankful for the riddance of the tyranny of the evil minded Chaudhry and Mughals. They helped the Guru in the construction work of the town which came to be called after the sixth Guru as Sri Hargobindpur.

References

• Translated by (Lucky 17:24, 7 March 2009 (UTC)), copied from History book from Sri Hargobindpur which he (Lucky 18:52, 7 March 2009 (UTC)) on his personal visit.