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As farmer’s protests in Punjab spiral into an insidious ploy to destabilize India, one hears cries for Khalistan, a separatist fire fanned by Pakistan. Have such people forgotten how brutally their ancestors like Banda Bahadur were tortured & murdered by the Muslims?
As farmer’s protests in Punjab spiral into an insidious ploy to destabilize India, one hears cries for Khalistan, a separatist fire fanned by Pakistan. Have such people forgotten how brutally their ancestors like Banda Bahadur were tortured & murdered by the Muslims?
2/n
Every detail of Banda's life of torture is found in accounts by writers such as Khafi Khan, Mohammed Harisi, Thornton, Elphinstone, Daneshwar etc. Born Lachhman Singh in a Kashmiri Rajput family, he was initiated as a Sikh & renamed Banda Bahadur by Guru Gobind Singh himself.
Every detail of Banda's life of torture is found in accounts by writers such as Khafi Khan, Mohammed Harisi, Thornton, Elphinstone, Daneshwar etc. Born Lachhman Singh in a Kashmiri Rajput family, he was initiated as a Sikh & renamed Banda Bahadur by Guru Gobind Singh himself.
3/n
Banda threw himself into uniting Sikhs to resist the Mughals. By 1710, he had seized control of territory from Sutlej to Yamuna and abolished the Zamindari system to give land control back to farmers. In 1715, the Mughals captured him after an 8 month long battle.
Banda threw himself into uniting Sikhs to resist the Mughals. By 1710, he had seized control of territory from Sutlej to Yamuna and abolished the Zamindari system to give land control back to farmers. In 1715, the Mughals captured him after an 8 month long battle.
4/n
In 1716 AD, Zakaria Khan, the son of the Muslim Governor of Lahore chopped the heads of 1000s of Sikhs, loading them on carts to carry them as a GIFT to the Muslim emperor of Delhi. The "gift" consisted of 700 CARTLOADS carrying the beheaded heads of Sikhs.
In 1716 AD, Zakaria Khan, the son of the Muslim Governor of Lahore chopped the heads of 1000s of Sikhs, loading them on carts to carry them as a GIFT to the Muslim emperor of Delhi. The "gift" consisted of 700 CARTLOADS carrying the beheaded heads of Sikhs.
5/n
Along with that were 1000s of prisoners in chains including Banda Bahadur. As the procession of death reached Delhi, Farukhshiyar ordered his Minister Mohammed Amin Khan to prepare a fitting celebration in reception of the gift. It was the 29th of February, 1716
Along with that were 1000s of prisoners in chains including Banda Bahadur. As the procession of death reached Delhi, Farukhshiyar ordered his Minister Mohammed Amin Khan to prepare a fitting celebration in reception of the gift. It was the 29th of February, 1716
6/n
The Muslims of Delhi lined the streets in full force in anticipatory delight of the fabulous show that was going to unfold. The crowd cheered as 2,000 soldiers walked each holding a Sikh warrior's head impaled on his gaily decorated upright spear.
The Muslims of Delhi lined the streets in full force in anticipatory delight of the fabulous show that was going to unfold. The crowd cheered as 2,000 soldiers walked each holding a Sikh warrior's head impaled on his gaily decorated upright spear.
7/n
The heads were stuffed with straw, and stuck on Bamboo spears, their long hair streaming in the wind like a veil, and along with them to show that every living thing in Gurdaspur had been killed by the Muslims, a symbolic dead cat on a pole.
The heads were stuffed with straw, and stuck on Bamboo spears, their long hair streaming in the wind like a veil, and along with them to show that every living thing in Gurdaspur had been killed by the Muslims, a symbolic dead cat on a pole.
8/n
Following was Banda bruised and bleeding in an iron cage on an elephant. He was decked out of mockery with a gold-laced red turban and a crimson robe of brocade draped on his tattered body. The heavy robe of brocade was decorated with pomegranates.
Following was Banda bruised and bleeding in an iron cage on an elephant. He was decked out of mockery with a gold-laced red turban and a crimson robe of brocade draped on his tattered body. The heavy robe of brocade was decorated with pomegranates.
9/n
Behind him were 1000s of Sikh prisoners strapped in pairs to camels' backs without saddles. Their faces colored black by soot & pointed sheepskin caps dangling their heads in mockery. Each of them had one hand pinned to his neck, between two pieces of wood.
Behind him were 1000s of Sikh prisoners strapped in pairs to camels' backs without saddles. Their faces colored black by soot & pointed sheepskin caps dangling their heads in mockery. Each of them had one hand pinned to his neck, between two pieces of wood.
10/n
The rear flank followed with Mohammed Amin Khan, his son Kamar-ud-Din Khan, and his son-in-law Zakaria Khan. Even then the Sikhs faced the pain and humiliation with heads held erect and proud. Not a single Sikh's face showed the slightest sign of agony or defeat.
The rear flank followed with Mohammed Amin Khan, his son Kamar-ud-Din Khan, and his son-in-law Zakaria Khan. Even then the Sikhs faced the pain and humiliation with heads held erect and proud. Not a single Sikh's face showed the slightest sign of agony or defeat.
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In the words of Islamic historian Mohammed Harisi, author of the Ibratnama, who saw the spectacle with his own eyes, "The crowds were pressing forward to get a better view. The road to the palace, was lined with troops and filled with exultant crowds, who jostled forward
In the words of Islamic historian Mohammed Harisi, author of the Ibratnama, who saw the spectacle with his own eyes, "The crowds were pressing forward to get a better view. The road to the palace, was lined with troops and filled with exultant crowds, who jostled forward
12/n
"They wanted a chance to mock the Sikhs. They spat on the prisoners laughing at their grotesque appearance. They shook their heads and poked and prodded the Sikhs as they passed. "Thu! Thu! infidel dog worshippers your day has come. "
"They wanted a chance to mock the Sikhs. They spat on the prisoners laughing at their grotesque appearance. They shook their heads and poked and prodded the Sikhs as they passed. "Thu! Thu! infidel dog worshippers your day has come. "
13/n
It took an entire week to behead all the Sikh prisoners. The corpses were loaded on wagons & taken out of town to the vultures. Their severed heads were hung up on trees and on stakes near the town square as celebratory symbols decorated with ribbons and bright banners.
It took an entire week to behead all the Sikh prisoners. The corpses were loaded on wagons & taken out of town to the vultures. Their severed heads were hung up on trees and on stakes near the town square as celebratory symbols decorated with ribbons and bright banners.
14/n
For 5 months Banda & his followers were tortured to reveal where they had hidden the treasures which funded the Sikh resistance. Not one of them uttered a word of betrayal. It was on 9th June, 1716, that Banda's cage was again hoisted on top of an elephant
For 5 months Banda & his followers were tortured to reveal where they had hidden the treasures which funded the Sikh resistance. Not one of them uttered a word of betrayal. It was on 9th June, 1716, that Banda's cage was again hoisted on top of an elephant
15/n
He was dressed in mock attire of an emperor, with a red pointed turban on his head. His 4 year old son Ajay Singh was on his lap. Twenty Sardars marched behind the elephant as the procession passed through the streets of Delhi, and headed for the Kutub-ud-din mausoleum.
He was dressed in mock attire of an emperor, with a red pointed turban on his head. His 4 year old son Ajay Singh was on his lap. Twenty Sardars marched behind the elephant as the procession passed through the streets of Delhi, and headed for the Kutub-ud-din mausoleum.
16/n
On reaching that graveyard, the captives were again offered a final ultimatum: conversion to Islam or death. None of them hesitated even a second to choose Death. Each one was subjected to indescribable tortures before being executed. Their heads were then impaled on spears
On reaching that graveyard, the captives were again offered a final ultimatum: conversion to Islam or death. None of them hesitated even a second to choose Death. Each one was subjected to indescribable tortures before being executed. Their heads were then impaled on spears
17/n
The heads were arranged in a circle around Banda who was now squatting on the ground. As thousands of spectators watched, his 4 year old little son Ajay was put on his lap and he a sword was thrust into his hands as he was ordered to kill his child. Banda calmly refused.
The heads were arranged in a circle around Banda who was now squatting on the ground. As thousands of spectators watched, his 4 year old little son Ajay was put on his lap and he a sword was thrust into his hands as he was ordered to kill his child. Banda calmly refused.
18/n
The executioner moved forward and plunged his sword into the little Ajay slashing him into two. He pulled out the boy’s quivering heart & thrust it into Banda’s mouth, Pieces of flesh were cut from the child's body and thrown in Banda's face. Banda sat still as a stone.
The executioner moved forward and plunged his sword into the little Ajay slashing him into two. He pulled out the boy’s quivering heart & thrust it into Banda’s mouth, Pieces of flesh were cut from the child's body and thrown in Banda's face. Banda sat still as a stone.
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Mohammed Amin Khan then seized Banda by the hair and barked: "From your manner so far you appear to be a man of virtue, who believes in God, and in doing good deeds. You are also very intelligent. Can you tell me why you are having to suffer all this here ?"
Mohammed Amin Khan then seized Banda by the hair and barked: "From your manner so far you appear to be a man of virtue, who believes in God, and in doing good deeds. You are also very intelligent. Can you tell me why you are having to suffer all this here ?"
20/n
Banda's replied, "When tyrants oppress their subjects to the limit, then God sends men like me to punish them. But being human, we sometimes overstep the laws of justice, and for that we are made to pay whilst we are still here. God is not being unjust to me in any way."
Banda's replied, "When tyrants oppress their subjects to the limit, then God sends men like me to punish them. But being human, we sometimes overstep the laws of justice, and for that we are made to pay whilst we are still here. God is not being unjust to me in any way."
21/n
At this the infuriated Mohammed Khan gestured to the executioner to step forward. The executioner grabbed Banda Bahadur's head and thrust the tip of his dagger into Banda's right eye, twisting to gouge out the eyeball. The second eye met the same fate.
At this the infuriated Mohammed Khan gestured to the executioner to step forward. The executioner grabbed Banda Bahadur's head and thrust the tip of his dagger into Banda's right eye, twisting to gouge out the eyeball. The second eye met the same fate.
22/n
Yet Banda Bahadur sat motionless like a rock. His spirit had gone beyond pain. The Muslims cheered as the executioner slashed off Banda's left foot, then both of his arms. Then a pair of red-hot pincers were brought and chunks of Banda's flesh were torn off his frame.
Yet Banda Bahadur sat motionless like a rock. His spirit had gone beyond pain. The Muslims cheered as the executioner slashed off Banda's left foot, then both of his arms. Then a pair of red-hot pincers were brought and chunks of Banda's flesh were torn off his frame.
23/n
But Banda Bahadur did not budge. In the final moment before attaining Samadhi, the glorious warrior smiled in a final mocking gesture at his torturers. Trembling with fear they slashed his body mincing it into pieces as if afraid that even the flesh could fight back.
But Banda Bahadur did not budge. In the final moment before attaining Samadhi, the glorious warrior smiled in a final mocking gesture at his torturers. Trembling with fear they slashed his body mincing it into pieces as if afraid that even the flesh could fight back.
24/n
This is the legacy of Muslim treatment towards Sikhs. Everyday in Pakistan the same treatment is meted out as Sikh girls are abducted and forcibly converted. Is that the Khalistan that such misguided puppets of Pakistan want?
This is the legacy of Muslim treatment towards Sikhs. Everyday in Pakistan the same treatment is meted out as Sikh girls are abducted and forcibly converted. Is that the Khalistan that such misguided puppets of Pakistan want?
25/n
A true Sikh can never forget the last words of Banda Bahadur as he lay dying, “Sar jaave ta jaave mera, sikhi sidak na jaave”. Those who demand Khalistan & have become puppets of the same Islamists who tried to wipe out the Sikhs would do well to remember their own history.
A true Sikh can never forget the last words of Banda Bahadur as he lay dying, “Sar jaave ta jaave mera, sikhi sidak na jaave”. Those who demand Khalistan & have become puppets of the same Islamists who tried to wipe out the Sikhs would do well to remember their own history.
