Noel King of the University of California, who has done a lot of research on Sikh gurus, while mentioning this incident, has written that the killing of Guru Tegh Bahadur was the first martyrdom in the world to protect human rights.
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Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had four sons. Two of them were from completely different poles. elder son Dara Shikoh was liberal towards other religions, on the other hand Aurangzeb Totally hardcore. on the orders of Aurangzeb Guru Tegh Bahadur Was martyred at Chandni Chowk in Delhi, who was the ninth Guru of the Sikhs. That date was 11 November 1675. No one could even raise a voice against the Mughal rule.
The dead body of Guru Tegh Bahadur was lying there soaked in blood. The Mughalia army armed with swords was stationed. There was silence. Only then a 95-year-old man enters, carrying a convoy of bullock carts. Thousands of people in hundreds of bullock carts and Sikh fighters among those thousands. Suddenly, cotton balls started flying in the air. The attention of the Mughal army was diverted. And here that old man blew the dead body of Guru Tegh Bahadur with full respect.
Carrying the dead body of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 95-year-old man got lost in the convoy. they were old Baba Lakhi Shah Banjarawhom people know by the name Lakha Banjara.
That day at Chandni Chowk…
Many stories of Aurangzeb’s cruelty are common. He was a staunch Muslim ruler. He wanted to convert Hindus and other religious people to Islam. In 1675, fed up with the tyranny of the Mughals, 500 Kashmiri Pandits led by Pandit Kripa Ram reached Anandpur Sahib to seek help from Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Tegh said – Send this message to Aurangzeb that if Guru Tegh Bahadur accepts Islam, then all those people will also become Muslims along with him. That is what was done.
Noel King of California University has done a lot of research on Sikh gurus. Mentioning this incident, he has written that the killing of Guru Tegh Bahadur was the first martyrdom in the world to protect human rights. Every person has freedom of thought and conscience under human rights. He also has the freedom to choose his religion. Anyway, back to the incident of that day.
Aurangzeb arrested Guru Tegh Bahadur along with his disciples and tortured him for 5 days. The Guru kept refusing to accept Islam. Aurangzeb handed over the disciples to the fire alive in front of him. The Guru remained firm even then. On November 11, 1675, the Qazi read the fatwa and the executioner beheaded Guru Tegh Bahadur with a sword.
The Guru did not even utter a sigh and sacrificed himself to protect the religion. Sheeshganj Gurudwara at Chandni Chowk is named after him. The dead body of the Guru was lying there. No one had the courage to even come close. You have read above that Baba Lakhi Shah Banjara entered such a fearful environment and then what he did.
Baba had established 4 villages in Delhi
In the name of Baba Lakhi Shah, Banjara came from the word ‘Vanjara’. It means merchant. Lakhi Shah was also a businessman. Also civil contractor and transporter. And above all, he was a social worker. Baba and his family had established four villages in Delhi. Malcha, Narela, Barakhamba and Raisina too. The same Raisina, where the President’s residence is today.
Born on July 4, 1580, famous 18th century poet Nazir Akbarabadi wrote ‘Banjaranama’ for Lakha Banjara. Many songs have been written about him. The people of Delhi gave Lakha the title of Shah and he was called Baba Lakhi ‘Shah’.
The name is associated with many cities of the country
It is said that Lakha Banjara had four Tandas. Tanda means the whole village on the move. About four lakh people were involved in these tandas, while lakhs of bulls were also accompanied. There was also a large armed force for security. In Madhya Pradesh, 70 km away from Sagar, there is still a village of Banjaras named Tanda on Bina Khimalasa road.
Where Lakha Banjara, who is said to be the biggest trader of Central Asia, passed through, he used to get wells, stepwells and inns constructed for his convenience. Many buildings built by him are examples. In 1639, the Red Fort was being constructed in Delhi, then Lakhi Shah was one of the main contractors.
The luxurious gardens built in Delhi, Lucknow, Saharanpur, Dehradun, Darbhanga and Lakhisarai built in Bihar… all these were built by him. There is also a lake in Sagar named after him – Lakha Banjara Lake. Lakhi Shah Banjara died on June 7, 1680.
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