The Last Aspect of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s Struggle According to Gurumukhi Sources

Kaur, Ravinder

Assistant Professor, Department of History, Guru Nanak Girls College, Yamuna Nagar

Abstract

The research paper deals with the last aspects of Banda Singh Bahadur’s struggle according to Gurumukhi Sources. The Gurumukhi Sources analyzed are written by Ratan Singh Bhangu, Giani Gian Singh and Kesar Singh Chibber. All the writings provide a different and contrasting about the last Battle of Banda Singh Bahadur’s battle i.e. Battle of Gurdas Nangal. The last phase of Banda Singh Bahadur’s struggle begins from the time of Emperor Farooqshiar. At this time Banda Singh Bahadur was under attack by the Mughal generals from all side. This paper deals with the analysis of prominent Gurmukhi writings on this last struggle of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

Keywords: Battle, Mughals, Sikhism, Gurdas Nangal.

Impact Statement

We find in the original Gurmukhi writings to shed light on the last aspect of Banda Singh Bahadur’s struggle is not a one-size-fits-all matter. Each text gives different information than the other. Second, even this discrepant information is unreliable. Many things are imaginary and hearsay. There is no logic in anything. Kesar Singh Chibber alone is giving some logical and concrete information. Its text is very concise. Ratan Singh Bhangu have written in detail. The more detailed they are, the more imaginative and biased they are. It seems that Ratan Singh Bhangu are writing against the man. Because there is a lot of contradiction in their writing. Ratan Singh Bhangu proves the man to be an incompetent leader. Bhangu writes the whole story in such a way that it has no historical significance. Gian Singh has certainly described the last aspect of Banda Singh’s struggle in a somewhat logical manner and has given some historical color to his writing. But its years are wrong. In the end it can be said that there is utter despair in the original Gurmukhi writings about the last aspect of Banda Singh Bahadur’s struggle.

About Author

Dr. Ravinder Kaur an assistant professor in the department of History at Guru Nanak Girls College, Yamunanagar. My Academic qualifications are B.A (History Hons), M.A (History), B.Ed. and Ph.D. in Persian and Gurmukhi Sources on Banda Singh Bahadur-A Historical Analysis. I have also done PG Diploma in yoga therapy from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra. My four Research papers publish in peer-reviewed E-Journal & International Journals.

References

1. Abel, E. Life of Banda Singh.

2. BBC history of Sikhism (2003) the Khalsa. Sikh world history. BBC religion & Ethics. Retrieved April 4, 2008.

3. Gandhi, S. (2007). History of Sikh gurus retold (pp. 653–691). Atlantic Publishers. ISBN 978-81-269-0858-5.

4. Irvine, W. (2012). Later Mughals. Harvard Press. ISBN 9781290917766.

5. Lafont, J.-M. (May 16, 2002). Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Lord of the five rivers (French sources of Indian history sources) (pp. 23–29). ISBN 0- 19-566111-7. Oxford University Press.

6. McLeod, H. (1999). Sikhs and Muslims in the Punjab. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 22(s1) sup001, 155–165. https://doi.org/10.1080/00856408708723379

7. V. D. Mahajan. (1970). Muslim rule in India p. 223. S. Chand.

8. Singh, G. (1967). Banda Singh Bahadur, his achievements and the place of his execution. Panjab Past and Present, 22(I).

9. Singh, G., & Bahadur, Baba Banda S. (1970). Sarhind historical research society, 9, Sirhmd.

10. Singh, G. Banda Singh Bahadur, (1975) his achievements and the place of his execution. Panjab Past and Present, 22(II).

11. Singh, P. (2005). Understanding the martyrdom of dhan dhan sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Journal of Punjab Studies, 12(1), 29–62.

12. Singh, P., & Fenech, L. (2014). The Oxford handbook of Sikh studies (pp. 236–238). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.

13. Verma, S. (2023). Exploring the intersections of community and Cross-Cultural psychology: Enhancing well-being and understanding diversity. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 02(4), 419–424. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7648

14. Singh, P. (2000). The Sikhs. Knopf p. 14. ISBN 0-375-40728-6.

15. Singh, P. (2006). The history of Sikh gurus. Lotus Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-81-8382- 075-2.

16. Singh, Prof. K. (January 1, 2003). Life story of Guru Nanak. Hemkunt Press. Retrieved November 26, 2010 p. 90. ISBN 978-81-7010-162-8.

17. Seva, S. (Ed.). (1961). Shahid Bilas: Bhai Mani Singh Giani G. Singh (Ed.). Ludhiana, India.

18. Kumar, A. (2023a). Promoting youth involvement in environmental sustainability for a sustainable Future. Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 01(03), 261–278. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9012

19. Singh, G., & Bahadur, Baba Banda S. (1970). Sarhind historical research society, 9, Sirhmd.

20. Singh, G. Banda Singh Bahadur, (1975) his achievements and the place of his execution. Panjab Past and Present, 22(II).

21. Singh, P. (2005). Understanding the martyrdom of dhan dhan sri Guru ArjanDev Ji. Journal of Punjab Studies, 12(1), 29–62.

22. Singh, P., & Fenech, L. (2014). The Oxford hand book of Sikh Studies (pp. 236–238). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.

23. Singh, P. (2000). The Sikhs. Knopf p. 14. ISBN 0-375-40728-6.

24. Singh, P. (2006). The history of Sikh gurus. Lotus Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-81-8382- 075-2.

25. Singh, Prof. K. (January 1, 2003). Life story of Guru Nanak. [Hem kunt Press]. Retrieved November 26, 2010 p. 90. ISBN 978-81-7010-162-8.

26. Seva, S. (Ed.). (1961). Shahid Bilas: Bhai Mani Singh Giani G. Singh (Ed.). Ludhiana, India.