Contribution of Banda Bahadur in Haryana's History

Banda Singh Bahadur became the leader of Sikh army in 1708 and he was sent to Punjab to fight against Mughal Empire. Though the Sikh army under Banda Singh was nota regular army yet they were highly devoted as well as motivated to root out Mughals’ tyrannous reign. The main aim of Banda was to punish Wazir Khan and conquer Sirhind. Banda Bahadur began the Sikh war of Independence against Mughal authority to fulfil the desire of his Guru Gobind Singh. According to Khafi Khan the number of Sikhs had risen to thirty to forty thousands. He had to fight against Mughals in the present Haryana before he could achieve his ultimate aim. Banda Bahadur, on his expedition, assembled his followers and marched towards present Haryana. He had to fight against Mughals in Narnaul, Hissar, Tohana, Sonepat, Kaithal, Samana, Sadhaura and Lohgarh before achieving his objective.

Contribution of Banda Bahadur in Current day Haryana :

Narnaul:

The Satnamis who were mostly agriculturists and a peaceful sect believing in the unity of God. They were popularly known for their honesty, industrious nature and formed a brotherhood calling themselves Satnamis as Satnam means the good name ofgood work as well as they were against the idol worship. After Aurangzeb's death (1707), the position changed extreme and rigorously. The weak and inefficient successors of Aurangzeb who sat on the Mughal throne, who failed to check the forces of chaos and confusion that were let loose at that time.As a result, the people became disorderly all around and refused to pay revenue. Their abodes which werenothing short of fortresses surrounded by mud walls could only be reduced by artillery and huge force which the local authority could not always gather. Banda Bahadur saw the complete destruction of the Satnami sect with his own eyes, which had risen in revolt against the Mughals when arrived at Narnaul in 1709. His blood boiled on learning that entire sect of Satnamis had been completely wiped out of their existence and Banda successfully suppressed here some dacoits and robbers.

Hissar:

He was well received by Hindus and Sikhs as a leader of the nationalist movement and deputy of Guru Gobind singh. Liberal offerings were made to him in the cause of the country and dharam (religion and virtue) which he distributed among poor and needy.

Tohana:

Here Banda issued letters to Malwa Sikhs to join him in his crusade against Wazir Khan of Sarhind.Never perhaps in the history of Punjab did the circumstances of the time offered so fair a field to the ambition of a leader, conscious of great talents, and called to the command of a warlike people, only too eager to support him in any enterprise he might undertake. Banda directed his attention to the east towards Delhi. He wanted to leave Mata Sahib devi in Delhi and plunder the Government officials of the fertile area of Haryana. From Kharkhauda about 50 kms north-west of Delhi, Mata Sahib devi was sent to Delhi under proper escort, to join Mata Sundari, who was acting as head of the Khalsa. She might have resented Banda's ignoring her for not having visited her at the capital before starting on his crusade.

Sonepat:

At Sonepat, 50 Kms North of Delhi, early in November 1709 Banda commanded about 500 followers. He attacked government treasury plundered it and distributed it among his retinue. This was his second success against the government and it considerably raised his prestige. By slow marches he advanced towards Sarhind.

Kaithal:

Near Kaithal, about 100 kms further North, Banda seized a Government treasury which was its way from the northern districts to Delhi. He kept nothing out of it for himself and gave it away to his rank and file.

Samana:

Samana, 50 kms farther North was the native place of Jalal-ud-did Jallad, the professional executioner, who had beheaded Guru Tegh Bahadur, while his son had beheaded two younger sons of Guru Gobind singh. Ali Hussain who by false promises had lured Guru Gobind singh to evacuate Anandpur also belonged to Samana. It was an accursed place in the eyes of Sikhs. The entire peasantry of the neighborhood was now up in arms, and Banda's following had risen to several thousands. Banda fell upon the town on November 26, 1709. The inhabitants were massacred in cold blood and town thoroughly squeezed. Samana was the district town and had nine Parganahs attached to it. It was placed under the charge of Fateh Singh. Samana was the first territorial conquest and the first administrative unit of Banda.
Then Kunjpura, Ghuram, and Thaska inhabited by Muslim Ranghars notirious for rape and rapine were destroyed. People who were born out of Muslim father and Hindu mother were called Ranghars. Damla was the village of Pathans who had deserted Guru Gobind singh ji in the battle of Bhangani, It was ravaged. Shahbad Markanda also fell to Banda.

Sadhaura:

Usman Khan , the chief of Sadhaura 25 kms distant, had persecuted Sayyid Budhu Shah for helping Guru Gobind singh ji in the battle of Bhangani. The muslim population maltreated the local Hindus. On the approach of Banda the leading Muslims gathered in a big and strongly built mansion. They were all massacred. This building came to be known as Katal Garhi. Banda attacked the town and destroyed it.
The contemporary historian Khafi Khan wrote: "In two or three months time four to five thousands pony-riders, and seven to eight thousand warlike footmen joined him. Day by day their number increased, and abundant money and material by pillage fell into their hands. Numerous villages were laid waste and he appointed his own police officers (thanedars) and collectors of revenue (Tahsil-dar-e-mal)".

Lohgarh:

The ultimate aim of Banda was to punish Wazir Khan and conquer Sarhind. It required time to consolidate his material and territorial gains. He also wanted to study military resources of Sarhind. He was anxious to see what steps government will take against him. He therefore established his headquarters, in the beginning of February 1710, at Mukhlispur situated in lower Shiwalik hills south of Nahan, about 20 KM from Sadhaura. His fort stood on a hill top. Two kuhls or water channels flowed at its base and supplied water to it. This fort was repaired and put in a state of defense. All the money, gold and costly material acquired in these expeditions were deposited here. He struck coins and issued orders under his seal. The name of Mukhlispur was changed to Lohgarh, and it became the capital of first Sikh state.
Banda ruled over the region bounded on the north by Shiwalik hills, on the west by river Tangri, on the east by river Jamuna, and in the south by a line passing through Samana, Thanesar, Kaithal and Karnal. He abolished the Zamindari System of land prevailing under the Mughals and declared the actual cultivators as the owners of land. Thus he established the peasant proprietorship, and won approbation and support of the overwhelming majority of the population. Khafi Khan says that Banda "issued orders to imperial officers and agents and big jagirdars to submit and give up their business." So Guru Gobind singh's dream of political sovereignty was realized within a year of his death.
Banda's name struck terror into the hearts of lawless people, and thefts and dacoity became a thing of the past. "In all the paraganahs occupied by the Sikhs," writes Irvine, "The reversal of previous customs was striking and complete. A low scavenger or leather dresser, the lowest of the low in Indian estimation, had only to leave home and join the Guru, when in a short time he would return to his birthplace as its ruler with his order and his order of appointment in his hand. As soon as he set foot within the boundaries the wealthy and well-born went out to greet him and with joined palms awaited his orders. Not a soul could disobey an order, and men who had often risked themselves in battlefields, became so cowed down that they were afraid even to remonstrate.

Conclusion :

Thus we may conclude that the era of Banda Bahadu began with the victory of Sirhind battle in May 12, 1710. He ruled over the region, which was surrounded by Shiwalik hills in the north, on the west by river Tangri, in the east river Jamuna, and in the south bounded by a line passing through Samana, Thanesar, Kaithal and Karnal. He proclaimed that the actual owners of the land are the farmers and abolished the Zamindari System of land prevailing under the Mughals. Therefore, thus he established the farmer’s proprietorship, and won the overwhelming support of the
people. A renowned historian of medieval India, Khafi Khan states that Banda "issued orders to imperial officers and agents and big jagirdars to submit and give up their business." Thus, we observe that Guru Gobind Singh's dream of political sovereignty was fulfill within a year.

By: Harman Sandhu