Battle of Hargobindpur

Gurdwara Damdama Sahib Where Guru Sahib took rest after Battle

The Battle of Hargobindpur was, the first battle in which Guru Hargobind and his Sikh Risaldari, fought the forces of Abdullah Khan the Mughal govenor (Subedar) of Jalandhar. This historic war happened in September 1629. The battle was fought near the village Ruhela where Guru Hargobind and his warriors defeated a Mughal force and their Turkish chieftains and Abdullah Khan. After the victory the town was called Sri Hargobindpur.

Reason for the Conflict

Village Establishment
The village was established near Ruhela, on bank of Beas river by Guru Arjan Dev and named it Gobindpur, but after martydom of Guru Arjun Dev, the whole area which was under Diwan Chandu Lal, Jahangir took whole land from Chandu Shah,incl this area, the area then converted to ruins(Veerana). Guru Hargobind didn't went there for long time

Bhagwan Das Ghirarh
Bhagwan Das Ghirarh, a Khatri, was a local landlord and rich person. He give tortures the public. Bhagwan Das was a relative of Chandu Shah (who was involved in the horrific tortures that lead to the Martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev).

Guru Hargobind Visit
During the rainy season, Guru Hargobind ji left Kartarpur and camped at Gobindpur, on the second Thursday of Sawan. He decided to build a town, on an open space available on the bank of the river, whose brick was kept by his father .

Death of Bhagvan Das
When Guru Hargobind Ji was setting up a camp in the vicinity, Bhagvan Das objected and challenged Guru Hargobind and asked him to vacate the site. Bhagwan Das contemplated his right of ownership on the land and with the help of some hired ruffians forcibly tried to dislodge the sikhs, who were engaged in developing the new township.

He used undignified words for the Guru. Sikhs got angry after listning this, and they were going to attack bhagwan das, but guru sahib ordered them to stop, but when Bhagwan das again spoke undignified words, sikhs got angry again and in the ensuing small clash with Sikhs, most hired ruffians were killed with their Chaudry (chief) Bhagwan Das.

Ratan Chand approached Abdulah Khan
After this incident, people told his son about death of his father. Ratan Chand, the son of Bhagwan Das Ghirhar went to Jalandhar, to meet with his relative Karam Chand, the son of Chandu Shah. Together they went to Ali Beg (Abdullah Khan), the subedar of Jalandhar and complained about Guru Hargobind. They played on the fears of Abdulla Khan, the subedar of Jalandhar, telling him that the Guru was constructing a fort at Sri Hargobindpur to raise an army to seek revenge on the Moghuls for the death of his father. Guru Hargobind had been advised by his father to raise and train a force to defend against against attacks on the Sikhs, but the young Guru had no intentions of building a fort or attacking anyone, his forces were strictly to be used in defense, but such were the fears (and doubless the guilt of the Moghuls concerning the death of the Saintly Guru Arjan) that Abdulla Khan dispatched ten thousand soldiers to help the plotters expel Guru sahib and the community of Sikhs.

Abdullah Khan's plan

Abdullah Khan first sent 4000 soldiers to Hargobindpur and ordered the local chieftains Bairam Khan, Muhomad Khan, Balwand KHan, Imam Baksh, Nabi Baksh, Chirag Din, Akbar Khan and Sher Muhommad to ready their forces they were to be his main pawns in his plan. He then divided these forces, sending them to eight different locations around the Sikhs.

Guru Hargobind gave command of his army to Bhai Jattu and selected one jathedar (leader) for each jatha (group). Bhai Kalyana, Those selected to lead the jaths were Bhai Piraga, Bhai Mathra Bhat (son of Baba Bhikha), Bhai Jagan Nath, Bhai Jagna, Bhai Saktu, Bhai Jati Mall, Bhai Paras Ram, Bhai Malooka. The Guru kept the jatha of Bhai Bidhi Chand in reserve so that they could add support wherever it was needed.

Battle

All Historians had written, The warriors of Guru flares out like peacock and emnemies hide themselves like coward snakes.

On The First Day of battle, Bhai Jattu directly Challenges Muhommad Khan. Muhomad khan killed Bhai Jattu's Horse with his first Arrow. Bhai Jattu Shot a bullet, and simultaneously Muhomad Khan left an arrow & both killed.

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Abdullah Khan now gave command to Bairam Khan and on opposite side it was Bhai Mathura Kaman, at the place of Bhai Jattu. Bhai Mathura ji first fall down Bairam Khan's horse and the jumped on him, the body of bairam khan was fully covered with sanjoh(Warrior ron Dress) so he was thinking that he was strong. Bhai Mathura ji took KAtar(Sword) from his Scabbard and hit on his face and Bairam Khan Died.

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Balvand Khan was send, with one troop of Ali baksh. Both Dasta stampede in sikh Army, but Bhai Kalyana shot bullet towards Balvand Khan and he was killed. When Ali Baksh Saw this he attacked on Bhai Kalyana. Bhai Kalyana left many arrows and he finished his arrows, then he started fighting with sword, but he was surrounded from all over, and it was difficult to come out. He got martydom fighting.

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Then Ali Baksh Moved Toward Guru Hargobind, watching this Bhai Nanu moved forward and stopped ali baksh, Ali Baksh Tried to Shot Bhai Nanu but before that Bhai Nanu Shot an arrow and killed Ali Baksh.

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After Ali baksh Imam baksh moved forward, Bhai Nanu ji Cut his arm but he attacked on Bhai Nanu ji with other arm and killed bhai Nanu.

After Bhai Nanu, Sikh Army begans to go down but Bhai Bidhi Chand's took situation under control. Bhai Kishna & Bhai Paraga moved forward and clashed with Imam Baksh.

In Evening both Armies went to their Tikanas.

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On Second day of Battle, in morning, Guru Sahib mentioned about the bravery of Bhai Nanu and promote the army to fight with brave. Bhai Paraga, Bhai Jagna, Bhai Saktu, Bhai Pirana and Bhai Bholan take command of different Jathas(Groups). Bhai Bidhi Chand took the command of Defensive Jatha. Abdullah khan also controlled his command. Sikhs attacked braverly and furiously and enemies were surprised watching all this. Abdullah khan was thinking that these sikhs are just Barbers, Chibas and Baroots but they turned out warriors.

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Abdulah Khan Send his Eldest son Nabi Bakhsh in battlefield and also said Karam Chand to stop Bhai Bidhi Chand. Karam Chand hit an arrow towards Bhai Bidhi CHand and that arrow strucked in bhai bidhi chand's body, bhai bidhi chand took out the arrow and hit it back o Karam Chand, Karamchand escaped but his horse fell down. When he fell from his horse, Bhai bidhi chand put Kamand around him and started dragging him and threw him before Guru Hargobind and asked for killing him. Guru Sahib denied as he was without weapon.

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Karam Chand ran back to Abdullah Khan and told him that there are few sikhs with Gurus. Abdullah Khan Planned for a strong attack and nabi baksh attacked sikh soldeirs. Bhai Paras Ram's Jatha stopped Nabi Baksh but he was injured by an arrow of Nabi Baksh, Bhai Saktu supported injured Bhai Paras Ram and took his Sword and hit Nabi Baksh. His hit was so strong that he killed in moment. Watching this Mughal army attacked on Bhai Saktu n Bhai Paras Ram and they were martyered.

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Abdullah Khan was very much mourned with death of son. His second Son Karim Baksh moved forward to attack Guru Sahib but Bidhi Chand stopped him. Karim Baksh started hitting bidhi chand with his sword. some of his hits went waste but one hit was so powerful that Bidhi Chand's Sword broke into two. Bhai Bidhi Chand took the sword of one of sikh and attacked Karim Baksh and killed him. Karam Chand and Ratan Chand ran away when they saw Karim Baksh Counting his last breathes.

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Abdullah Khan now thought that by attacking with one or two commanders it would be difficult to fight with sikhs. So he ordered his whole army to attack together. Abdullah khan was so disturbed with death of his sons that he fought with so power and junnoon and came before guru sahib. At that time Guru Sahib had a ""Lakhae Nagarachi(Weapon) and a Khachar full of arrows"" and two sikhs with him.

He blindly attacked on Guru Sahib, karam Chand and Ratan Chand also reached there to help him. They three started Arrow attack together, Guru had Iron sheild which he used very briliantly, but Horses were dieng due to arrow shower. karam Chand went near guru sahib and tried to attack guru sahib, guru ji hit him the sheild which he had with him and he fell uncouncious. then killed ratan chand with his sword attack. Abdullah khan tired of attacking again n again and guru sahib hit him sword(Khanda) and he fall on earth.

Karam chand got counciousness and attacked guru sahib again, guru ji throw his sheild and fight with sword, Karam Chand's Sword broke into two, karam Chand took another sword and fought again but that sword also broke into two, simultaneously guru's sword also broke. Guru sahib hadn't used the Sword of Peeri and had hand on hand fight and killed ratan chand.

Guru ji uttered Jaikara Jai hoyi Satguru Nanak Dev Ji Ki. The whole battle ground was in hands of guru.

Aftermath

Guru HarGobind Sahib rested after the battle and removed his waist Sash,(place present day Damdama). During Evening guru ji went somewhere alone. The whole congregation was feeling chinta where guru sahib went, and they were not able to found guru in dark, so a Sikh Chaudhary Shia from village send Mashaals(Fire on Wood top) and now they were able to see guru .

Results

• Both Ratan Chand and Karam Chand were killed along with Abdullah Khan, his two sons and five of his commanders.
• On the Guru sahib's side, 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 were martyred.

Guru Sahib made Grave's for Muslims and Drown the Corpse of sikhs in Beas. Abdullah Khan, his two sons and his 5 Senapatis had one grave. After this fight the Sikhi spread in whole doab. The courage of people came out and they became Sikhs and became member of gurus army. The people of Doaba region were thankful for the riddance of the tyranny of the evil minded Abdulah Khan.

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.

Reaction of the Mughal Emporer

At the time, Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, was at Agra. When he heard about the embarrasing defeat of the Moghuls at the hands of the smaler force of Sikhs he ordered his troops to destroy Sri Hargobindpur. But when his son Dara Shikoh and Wazir Khan narrated the true version of the whole story to the emperor, Shah Jahan said that Abdullah Khan had fought this war without any justification and, even worse, without his permission. He then ordered his men to take possession of the property of Abdullah khan. Wazir Khan also told Shah Jahan that Guru Hargobind had ordered his Sikhs to build a mosque in Hargobindpur, as the Muslims of the village were not able to afford one themselves. Shah Jahan was pleased to hear that.

Memorial

There is a historical Gurdwara called Gurdwara Damdama Sahib. At this place Guru HarGobind Sahib rested after the battle and removed his waist band. Four shrines commemorate Guru Hargobind's stay at Ruhela. He built a Ram Temple for Hindus, a Mausque called Guru ki Maseet for Muslims.

See Also

• Gurdwara Damdama Sahib
• Guru Ki Maseet
• Guru Har Gobind

References

• From History book of Sri Hargobindpur, Provided by (Lucky 16:13, 9 March 2009 (UTC)), which he got from Manager of Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, Sri Hargobindpur, during his personal Visit.
• Gur Parkash Suraj Granth

External Views

If you would visit this city, it feels like Guru Hargobind Ji is with you, there is a separate aura of the city, especially when you go to Damdama Sahib, Jaani Shah's place, Granthia di dharamshala, Guru ki maseet, Gurdwara manji sahib, you can feel what has happened. The air of the city speaks about the war of truth. The air of city speaks about the equality of all. THe air of city is full of Joy, courage, wisdom and valour. Salute to the Great Master Guru Hargobind.i(Lucky 18:34, 9 March 2009 (UTC))