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Causes of Ultimate Fall of Banda Bahadar :
In spite of being a shrewd general and a competent strategist, Banda proved unsuccessful in his bid against the Mughal Government. In fact, his failure was due to the causes which were beyond his control :
1.Superior resources of the Mughal Empire :
Initially, Banda could defeat the local Mughal officials who had limited resources at their disposal to fight against him. But later, Banda had to face the mighty forces of the imperial government. After the death of Bahadur Shah, his successor Farukh Siyar determined to crush the Sikhs and sent a large Muslim against Banda.Though the Mughal power was on its decline, yet it had vast resources like mighty army, consisting of infantry, horsemen, elephants and artillery. Mughals had large financial resources to pay their soldiers.On the other hand, Banda had only a small ill-organised army. He had no adequate financial resources and had to depend upon loot and plunder.
2. Vigorous measures of Farukh Siyar against Banda :
Farukh Siyar was determined to exterminate the Sikhs completely.Farukh Siyar seems to have been a believer in the maxim, “slay and slay again.” The settlement with the Rajputs and left him free to strengthen the Central Government and the strengthening of the central government spread to the provinces.His precautionary measures and vigorous rule checked the power of Banda and put a permanent stop to his ambitions.
3.Shortage of Resources of Banda :
Banda was arrayed against the whole might of the Mughal Empire but his sources were very limited for the task.Banda and had no funds to enlist a substantial strength of paid soldiers and consequently had to depend upon men of whose bonafides were never above suspicion. 4.Opposition of the Hindu Chiefs : Banda could not secure the help of the Hindu Rajas and the Rajput chiefs of Shivalik Hills.Many of the ruling chiefs took active part in battles against Banda and allied with the Mughals.
5.Lack of discipline and defective organisations of the Sikhs :
Though Banda was able to mobilise a huge mass of people to fight against the Mughal government, yet mere numbers were not enough.They lacked discipline and were unorganised.They had no plan of action and were careless in their movements.Though Banda himself was an experienced general, he had not even one capable leader experienced in warfare and large number of dacaoits in his army were only interestsed in loot and plunder.
6. Banda’s defective war strategy :
As Banda had limited resources in men, weapons and war equipments, he should have avoided pitched battles with the enemy. A guirella method of warfare could have brought him success. It was a blunder on his part to come down to plains to fight, when his enemies were closing round him from all sides.
7.Rift among Sikhs :
The differences between the Bandai Khalsa and Tatwa Khalsa also weakened Banda’s power.Many faithful Sikhs left Banda’s army and one of their great leaders, Bhai Binod Singh, deserted Banda when he was reduced to straits in the fortress of Gurdas Nangal and he never received wholehearted support of the Sikhs after the capture of Sirhind.
8.No support of the upper classes to Bandaa’s cause :
Banda did not receive the support of all the classes of the Hindu Society in his campaigns and received only support from poor class, and their number are too less.At the first instant when Banda entered the Punjab the upper class extended to him with fervour and zeal all possible help in his first military actions but after fear of Mughals they remained aloof from Banda’s activities for the rest of his carrer.This makes Banda’s task more difficult.
9.Banda violated the instructions of Guru Gobind Singh :
Guru Gobind Singh had instructed Banda to look upon himself as the servant of Khalsa and not to take any important decision without the approval of the Khalsa.He was not to found any sect nor called himself Guru.At the first he followed Guru’s instructions but later he began to violate the Guru’s instructions and founded a new sect and that used to style himself Guru.He replaced common code of salutation given by Guru i.e “Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Fateh” by a new salutation “Fateh Dharam” or “Fateh Darshan.”These innovations by Banda disliked by the orthodox Sikhs who were called “Tatwa Khalsa” and this rift weaken Banda’s power and contributed to his fall.
10.Banda’s weak defensive position at Gurdas Nangal :
In 1716, Banda driven from place to place, reached Gurdas Nangal and occupied small fortress of Duni Chand.It was not a regular fort and had weak defensive arrangements.This small and temporary fortress was stormed by the enemy troops.Due to the shortage of food and army has to eat dead horses and asses, bark of trees etc and at last the patience of the Sikhs was exhausted and they surrendered.Banda and his companions were arrested and executed at Delhi in June 1716.
Conclusion :
Banda’s attempt was the first of its kind.He could not make a correct estimate of thr enemy’s power. Most of the causes of the failure of this intrepid general to establish an independent state were beyond his control.
By: Harman Sandhu ProfileResourcesReport error
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