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Lesson 11: Bhai Sukha Singh & Bhai Mehtab Singh

India was attacked and ruled by Mughal kings for centuries. They
would come to India, kill many, take away gold, jewels and spices and

return to attack again. In 1739, Nadir Shah, the Shah of Persia

invaded India and plundered Delhi. On the way back to Persia, the
Sikhs decided to plunder the plunderer. They attacked the rear of

his army and took away a lot of his booty.

Nadir Shah was shocked. He stopped at Lahore where he asked

Zakaria Khan about the Sikhs. Zakaria replied, "They are a group of
fakirs who visit their Guru's tank at Amritsar twice a year. After

bathing they disappear."

"Where do they live?" asked Nadir Shah. "Their saddles are their
homes," replied the governor. "Oh, be careful! The day is not far off

when they will take possession of your country,” said Nadir Shah.

Zakaria Khan resolved to kill every Sikh. He offered rewards for
their capture and their heads. Thousands of Sikhs were killed every

day. Zakaria Khan also had the Darbar Sahib of Amritsar sealed off

from the Sikhs. A military commander Massa Ranghar was put in
charge of the Darbar Sahib. He turned the Harimandir Sahib into a

place of dancing and drinking and smoking. The odor and smoke of
tobacco, which Guru Gobind Singh had forbidden his Sikhs to use,

now filled the halls of the Sikhs' most Holy site. When Bhai Mehtab

Singh a Gursikh of Mirankot, near Amritsar, heard this alarming
news, he was angry. He took his sword and said, "I shall go and cut

off Massa's head with this sword!"

As he was ready to leave, another Sikh, Bhai Sukha Singh, offered
to go with him. Mounting their horses, they took off. When they

reached the sacred city Amritsar, they disguised themselves as

Muslims. They filled two bags with well-rounded pieces of rocks that

Sikh History and Gurmat Sikhia Book 6 2020 Edition Page 28