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Photo by Solarider
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is situated in the heart of New Delhi's famous Connaught Place. It is located on the eastern side of the intersection of Ashok Road and Baba Kharag Singh Marg. Originally this place was the bungalow (haveli) of Mirza Raja Jai Singh, hence the name Bangla Sahib. It's original name was Jaisinghpura Palace. A Rajput, Mirza Raja Jai Singh, was one of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's most important military leaders and a trusted member of his Darbar (Court).
After the passing away of Guru Har Rai the seventh Sikh Guru, Ram Rai who was the eldest son of the seventh Master and his masands instigated Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to issue a decree summoning Guru Harkrishan to his court. Ram Rai was elder brother of Guru Harkrishan. Guru Harkrishan decided to go to Delhi since he felt that the "sangat", his followers had been misguided and he saw an opportunity in this to clear their misunderstandings. Meanwhile Sikhs of Delhi approached Mirza Raja Jai Singh, a strong devotee of Sikh Gurus to prevent any harm coming to Guru Harkrishan either by Aurangzeb or by the masands of Ram Rai.
When Ram Rai learned that Guru Harkrishan had accepted the summons to appear before Aurangzeb at his court at Delhi, he started rejoicing since Guru Harkrishan had taken a vow not to appear before Aurangzeb. So if Guru Harkrishan came to Delhi and refused to meet Aurangzeb then definitely he would be arrested and suffer humiliation. Now Ram Rai felt that this act of Guru Harkrishan will surely lower his prestige among his followers and would pave the way for Ram Rai to declare himself as the true successor of Guru Har Rai. .....More
