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Lesson 9: Shaheedi of Banda Singh Bahadur

Banda Singh Bahadur is among the few great generals of the world.

In a short period of eight years (1708 to 1716), he subdued and

crushed his Mughal enemies under his feet. He shook the foundation
of the seven centuries old mighty Mughal Empire and paved the way

for the establishment of the Sikh Raj of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in
1799. Banda Singh established his rule and carried out reforms to

help common people. He allotted land to those who worked in the
fields. He established the city of Lohgarh as his capital.

From his childhood, he was fond of riding and archery. He was fond

of sword and arrow. He was a man of valor and bravery. In the

battle field, he was one of the most daring, sometimes ruthless
warriors.

He gathered a huge army around him within a few months in his

crusade against Wazir Khan, the murderer of younger Sahibzadas.
He gathered as army of thirty to forty thousand. He conquered

Samana in 1709, punished the oppressors and tyrants. His name
struck terror in the heart of lawless people.

Mughal commanders were afraid of a face to face encounter with

Banda. But orders from the Emperor to capture Banda dead or alive

kept the Mughal officers busy. In March 1715, the Mughal army
drove Banda and the Sikh forces into the village of Gurdas Nangal,

and laid siege to the village. After eight months on December 7,

1715 the Mughals broke into fort and captured Banda Singh and his
companions.

He was put into an iron cage and more than 700 Sikhs were chained

and walked behind him. They were brought to Delhi. The captives
were put in the Delhi fort and pressured to convert to Islam. Life

was promised to anyone who would renounce their Sikh faith, but
none of them would give in.

Sikh History and Gurmat Sikhia Book 6 2020 Edition Page 22