Criticism of Banda Singh Bahadur: Difference between revisions

The article is based on Historical facts from several recognised Sikh sources.

Banda Singh Bahadur, is recognised by most Sikhs as a well respect and eminent personality in Sikh history. However, what is less known is the fact that after 1751, he turned into a rebel and acted contrary to the orders given to him by Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 at Nanded. This fact is supported by most historical books of Sikh history. The main article on Banda Singh Bahadur shows the step that he took as revenge for the Martyrdom of the young sahibzadas from subedar of Sirhind but there is another side to his personality which is not told about him.

Although he was already a fake bairagi, was not following Bairag Panth and made a dera, Guru Gobind Singh converted him and sent him along with five Khalsa Singhs to Punjab in about September 1708. However, he indulge in unnecessary occupying of places, kept his Gaddi, changes salutation and fixed many rules against Khalsa rites. Due to these practises, the Singhs loyal to Guru Gobind Singh kept their distance from Banda Singh Bahadur and Bandai Sikhs. These Singhs were named Tatt Khalsa.

Gurbilas Patshahi 10 - Koer Singh(1751)

Gurbilas Patshahi 10, Koer Singh (ਗ੝ਰਬਿਲਾਸ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹੀ ੧੦, ਕੋਇਰ ਸਿੰਘ (੧੭੫੧ )), is the first recorded Sikh history which mentions many of the facts of the Guru's life in a detailed way. The author also mentions about Banda Singh Bahadur breaking his oath given to Guru Gobind Singh. Following are quotes from Gurbilas about Banda Singh Bahadur:

• ਤਬ ਬੰਦਾ ਗ੝ਰ ਆਈਸ ਪਾਝ || ਪਾਛੇ ਕਰੇ ਯ੝ਧ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਝ ||...
  
• ਕਛ੝ਕ ਮਾਨ ਭਇਓ ਤਾਂ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀਂ || ਰਹਿਤ ਭੰਗ ਕਛ੝ ਕਰੀ ਤਹਾਂ ਹੀ ||...
  
• ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ਤੇ ਗ੝ਰ ਨਾ ਸਹਾਈ || ਤਾ ਕਰ ਗਾਇਓ ਸ੝ਰਗ ਕੋ ਧਾਈ |... ^{translation needed}
  

Mahima Parkash(1776)

Mahima Parkash was written by Sarup Das Bhalla in 1776, which mentioned whole incident of Gurdas Nangal, where Banda Bahadur made comments against Guru's wishes. Baba Binod Singh spoke against him and a clash happened inside fort. Baba Binod Singh and other left the fort and Banda Bahadur surrendered later on. He even confessed at Delhi that "ਕਿਸੀ ਕੀ ਕਿਆ ਮਕਦੂਰ ਥਾ ਜੋ ਮ੝ਝ ਕੋ ਮਾਰਤਾ | ਪਰ ਸਤਗ੝ਰ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੇ ਭੰਗ ਹ੝ਈ ਹੈ |". Mata Sundri, who was already in Delhi fetched out Baba Kahn Singh from the prisoner group.

Shahid Bilas Bhai Mani Singh(Late 18th Century)

In a composition by Kavi Seva Singh, he mentioned a discourse between Guru Gobind Singh and Bhai Mani Singh. In this section are includes lines against Banda Singh Bahadur which reiterate the fact that he [Banda Singh] is not 11th Guru but the holy Granth was 11th Guru of Sikhs.

ਅਮਰ ਸਿੰਘੀਝ ਆਖਦੇ ਦਸਮ ਗ੝ਰੂ ਜੀ ਆਪ | ਬੰਦੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੋ ਗਿਆਰਵਾਂ ਗ੝ਰੂ ਗਝ ਸੀ ਥਾਪ ||
ਅਕਾਲ ਪ੝ਰਖਿਆਂ ਇਓਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਸ੝ਰੀ ਸਤਗ੝ਰ ਫ੝ਰਮਾਨ | ਗ੝ਰੰਥ ਪੰਥ ਗ੝ਰ ਮਨੀ ਤਾ ਰੇ ਸਕਲ ਕ੝ਲਾਂ ||

Sir John Malcolm(1812)

Sir John Malcolm

Sir John Malcolm(ਸਰ ਜੋਨ ਮਾਲਕੋਮ (੧੮੧੨)), a english historian mentioned about Banda Bahadur that:

he was a heretic; who intoxicated with victory, endeavoured to change the religious institutions and laws of Guru Gobind. He changed salutations to fateh dharam fateh durshun. Banda made many confirm to his orders.

Panth Parkash

Kahn Singh Nabha, Mahankosh

Kahn Singh Nabha

The Great Scholar of Sikhs states in his Mahankosh that :

.....ਪ੝ਰਭ੝ਤਾ ਵਧ ਜਾਂ ਪਰ ਬੰਦਾ ਬਹਾਦ੝ਰ ਨੂੰ ਕ੝ਝ ਗਰਬ ਹੋਇਆ, ਆਪਣੀ ਗ੝ਰੂਤਾ ਕੀ ਅਭਿਲਾਖਾ ਜਾਗ ਗਈ | ਜਿਸ ਪਰ ਉਸ ਕੇ ਕਈ ਨਿਯਮ ਗ੝ਰਮਤਿ ਵਿਰ੝ਧ ਪ੝ਰਚਾਰ ਕਰਨੇ ਚਾਹੇ ਜਿਸ ਤੋਂ ਪੰਥ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਦੇ ਦੋ ਦਲ ਬਣ ਗਝ.....

Twarikh Guru Khalsa

Giani Gian Singh mentioned in detail in Twarikh Guru Khalsa that he tried to establish himself as a Guru in later stages.

ਗ੝ਰੂ ਕੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਤਾਂ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਹੀ ਬੰਦੇ ਤੋਂ ਜ੝ਦਾ ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹ੝ੰਦੇ ਸਨ , ਕਿਓਂਕਿ ਓਹ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਤੇ ਗ੝ਰੂ ਅਸਥਾਨਾ ਵਿਚ ਗਦੇਲਾ ਵਿਚ ਕੇ ਬੈਠ ਕਰ ਚੋਰ ਸਫਾ ਕਰਾਉਂਦਾ ਤੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨੀ ਫ਼ਤਹਿ ਬ੝ਲਾਉਂਦਾ ਸੀ |

Banda Singh Bahadur, Giani Kartar Singh

In 1914, Bhai Kartar Singh also wrote a book in which he openly mentioned that Mata Sundri clear instructed the Sikhs not to follow Banda Singh Bahadur but to follow Granth as Guru. It is also mentioned that Banda Singh Bahadur got angry after hearing about this letter from Mata Sundri.

Bharat Mat Darpan, 1926

By Pandit Ganesha Singh Nirmala, he wrote that:

‘They initiate through ‘Charna Amrit’, keep ‘Janju’ (Hindu caste string signifying Brahmin lineage), wear white clothes, black or green clothes they never wear, they wear breaches coming below knee. On meeting they say, ‘Darshan Ji Ka Khalsa Darshan Ji Ki Fateh’. At the end of their name they either have title of Singh or Das.’

Historian Karam Singh

Buddha Dal - Nihung Jathebandi

Questions By Bandai Khalsa