Page 33 - PSLgurmatbook62020

Lesson 12: Vadda Ghallughara

In 1757, the army of Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked Amritsar and
destroyed Harimandar Sahib and fort Ram Rauni. This is when Baba

Deep Singh Ji fought with the Abdali soldiers, killed many and
attained martyrdom at Harimandar Sahib.

In 1761, Ahmad Shah Abdali was going back to Afghanistan along

with camel loads of gold and about 2000 abducted Hindu girls in

1761. But Sikhs attacked his caravan and rescued the girls just like
they had done with Nadir Shah’s caravan. This made Abdali mad.

When he left India, there were no strong leaders left behind. Sikhs

conquered small villages near Amritsar and Jalandhar. They also

conquered Lahore.

The Sikhs were now in power. They passed a resolution to capture

and punish those who had helped Ahmad Shah Abdali. One such

helper of Abdali was Aqil Das of Jandiala, a village between
Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

Aqil Das wrote to Ahmad Shah Abdali and asked him to help fight

with the Sikhs. In 1762, Abdali was already on his way back to India
for his sixth conquest.

Sikhs expected Abdali to return to India and continue fighting him,

but they wanted to bring their own families to safety before
fighting with him. About 30,000 Sikhs were gathered in Kupp

Rahirha (near Maler Kotla) with their families and all their

belongings. But Ahmad Shah Abdali’s forces reached the village of
Kupp very quickly by the morning of February 5. The Sikhs were

surprised. Immediately they held a council. They decided to die

fighting. Of course, they could have saved themselves by
surrendering and giving up their faith, but the thought never

crossed their minds.

Sikh History and Gurmat Sikhia Book 6 2020 Edition Page 31