Battle against Tyranny: Past and Present

"If you desire to play this game of love with Me (The Supreme One),

then step onto My path with your head in hand.

When you place your feet on this Path,

Give me your head, and do not pay any attention to public opinion."

                                                                                   ~Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Page 1412)

Which Path is The Supreme Creator pointing out here, is the question that pops up into each and every one's mind; whenever they hear this Hukam (command). 

The one liner answer to it is; "THE PATH OF DEDICATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS".

When your heart experiences Me (The Supreme)  through my creation,

When your love for Me is beyond any worldly relation,

But you do recognize yours and other's freedom to religion and protect that;

When you fight for Truth, The Humanity, against Tyranny.

The moment you let go of Your Individuality and recognize you are part of One,

that is when there is no You and Me are One, My Child,

That is when you are ready to walk off that Path saying,

"Nothing is mine within myself. Whatever there is, it's yours, O Lord."

Thinking about this type of unique love that boosts you to be A SAINT AND A SOLDIER. Because a Soldier who isn't a saint who doesn't contemplate over the Name of God will unfortunately, fail to understand his Creation and will be a tyrant. And, Same goes the other hand a Saint who is scared to lift up the sword against the cruelty, the inhumane tyrannts. You can't be the form of One, you are either lacking any one aspect.

A Saint - Soldier (Sant - Sipaahi) is a Sikh that aims to become both spiritually and martially skilled, as per the teachings of the 6th Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji.Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji is credited with the initial militarization of the Sikhs, and the term represents an ideological shift brought on by the execution of his father and predecessor, Guru Arjan Dev Ji by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, for his refusal to convert to Islam and alter Sikh scripture. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru, solidified the concept of a Sant Sipahi with the founding of the Khalsa. The militarization of Sikhs was further enhanced by the development of Shastar Vidya, the Sikh martial art. But the foundation was laid at the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (First Sikh Guru) itself, when he called out Babbar (Mughal Emperor) as Jabbar (cruel ruler), that enlightens the bravery of a Sikh ti stand up against wrong rather than just wishing someone to come and save you.

"A Sant Sipahi is meant to embrace Sikh religious and spiritual philosophy, while being prepared to use necessary violence to defend the rights of the innocent. A Sant Sipahi is not permitted to use their martial skills in pursuit of material gain or personal glory."

There were many Sant -  Sipaahi who sacrificed their lives for the love of their Guru and righteousness. One of them is BHAI SUBHEG SINGH and BHAI SHAHBAAZ SINGH (father-son) whose Martyr's Day is observed on 25th March. 

SHAHEEDI OF BHAI SUBHEG SINGH, BHAI SHAHBAAZ SINGH:

Bhai Subheg Singh (d. 1745), an eighteenth century martyr of the Sikh faith, was born to Rai Bhaga of the village of Jambar in Lahore district of Punjab. He was a zamindar of his village of Jambar. He learnt Arabic and Persian as a young man and later gained access to the Mughals officials as a government contractor. When in 1733, the Mughal authority decided at the instance of Zakariya Khan, the Governor of Lahore, to lift the quarantine enforced upon the Sikhs and make an offer of a grant to them, Subheg Singh was entrusted with the duty of negotiating with them.

He met the assembly of the Khalsa at Akal Takht, Amritsar (Political centre of the sikhs) as the Lahore government's Vakil, a title which became a permanent adjunct of his name. For having associated himself with the government, Subeg Singh had to expiate before he was allowed to join the assembly. He communicated on behalf of the Mughal governor the offer of a jagir and nawabship which Sikhs turned down in the first instance. But Subeg Singh pleaded hard and was eventually able to bring them round to accepting the offer.

Towards the close of Zakariya Khan's regime, Subheg Singh was appointed kotwal, or police inspector, of the city of Lahore. He was by faith a staunch Sikh and had deep sympathy with his brothers in faith. On several occasions, he had had the honour of heads of Sikhs cremated with due ceremony and had monuments set up for them. Yahiya Khan, who succeeded his father, Zakariya Khan, as the governor of Lahore, turned hostile to Subheg Singh and willingly entertained complaints against him.

"We have heard your complains that you are ill- behaving with muslims,

You are fired from your position and will be taken to the prison." said Yahiya Khan

"As you wish." said Subheg Singh calmly.

Thus, Subheg Singh was put in prison.

Around that time itself, when a kazi of a madrassa (Muslim school) came to Yahiya Khan telling him that son of Bhai Subheg Singh; Bhai Shahbaaz Singh who was his student was the most intelligent child, with an eye-catching physique, moreover; being a sikh he was proficient in Farsi and other physical tasks as well. He expressed his wish that such an young man who is perfect in numerous ways should be converted to Islam, also, kazi wanted to marry his daughter off to Shahbaaz Singh ,after he becomes an muslim. The reigning Subedar was very happy listening to that as he was one of those darkened souls who wished to cut the tree of Sikhi. But they forgot the more you try to cut us, more will we grow. Subedar asked Kazi to go back and talk to Shahbaaz Singh and convert him to deen (Islam).

"Leave sikhi? Really, kazi,

You thought was my love for My Guru is so fragile,

I can happily die, But if someone say I can abandon my True Guru,

consider that a lie.

You Practice your religion which is perfect for you.

But, for me my Sikhi is Perfect, My Guru is one.

I don't accept your deen."

Shahbaaz Singh Replied listening to kaazi's Proposal.

Kazi, full of rage went back to Subedar and said that Shahbaaz Singh has disrespected our Prophet; which was a fabricated lie. As, Shahbaaz Singh was just against forceful conversion. To this, Subheg Singh and Shahbaaz Singh (father-son) were called to the Court.

"Subheg Singh, Accept Islam, 

Else you will be killed."

said Yahiya Khan

 

"Does Death doesn't come to those who have accepted Islam,

If Death is the Ultimate truth, 

What makes you think I''ll turn back towards my Guru.

I can accept death, But not leave my beloved." 

said Subheg Singh with strong belief in the One.

"Think once again, You will live like a king,

We will give you high status, luxurious lifestyle,

What more do you want?"

said Yahiya Khan

"Will this status be of any worth in after-life?

If not, Why to give away priceless love of Guru for something that is not lasting." 

said Subheg Singh.

Turned red in anger, he ordered his minister to hang them naked and torture them till they break up and give up. Neither did he knew, the souls of Gursikhs who live under the command of the Supreme, contemplate on his name would never leave their Guru even for a nano-second.

They again tried to separately manipulate both Singhs to accept Islam. But, little did they knew that, Death is never a barrier that would break them off their Guru.

When asked again, "Do you accept Islam?" by Yahiya Khan. 

They replied, "No" in high spirits. 

A Fatwa(An order issued by an Islamic religious Leader) was issued that promptly specifies

"DEATH OVER WHEELS, FOR TWO SINGHS".

Both Bhai Subheg Singh and Shahbaz Singh were tied on separate set of wheels opposite each other. The wheels were operated and the steel blades started ripping the flesh of two brave Sikhs of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Blood started flowing all over their bodies and wheels. The wheels were halted for a while and kazi told them, their lives could be spared if they changed their minds. But, he got a stunning negative reply from the two brave Singhs. Bhai Subheg Singh and Shahbaz Singh kept reciting the name of that Supreme Akaal Purakh (the timeless, infinite God) who was the source of their strength and laid down their lives in front of cruel rulers and wet eyes of some in the crowd of people who were watching the proceedings with dismay and disbelief.

The news of execution of these two peace loving Sikhs spread like wild fire throughout the city of Lahore and in the neighbouring jungles and sancturies of brave Sikhs. Bands of Sikh warriors came out of adjoining jungles and pounced upon the city of Lahore. They attacked the cruel ruling officials and putting them to death. They thus took revenge of execution of Bhai Subheg Singh, Shahbaaz Singh from the government officials.

Thus warriors Sikhs also proved that they would not allow the cruel rulers to have their way and that they would soon end the cruel rule and would take over the control of Punjab from tyrants.  

A general thought comes into our mind, that what is the point of reading these past events, what change can that make. But, the fact is Bhai Subheg Singh and Bhai Shahbaaz Singh was not only in 1700s, they still are present here. These pure souls saved the lives of numerous beings in the past; they can save ours souls from this world, from five vices (kaam (Lust), Krodh (wrath), Lobh (greed), moh(attachment) and ahankar(ego or excessive pride).

THE PRESENT SITUATION:

We often listen to these past martyrdom and think this is 21st century, and the time has changed. But, little do we accept the fact that no matter what era it is, the love of Sikh for his Guru is unchanging. Because, when one contemplate over the name of the Timeless One, we become a part of him.

In the past, in 1700's or the time before that, the Government of the time tried to destroy your Sikh through physical tortures, death penalties. But, today's Government is not only trying physical assaults to kill our Sikh leaders, brothers, sisters. But also, attacking you psychologically, mentally. They are using media blackouts, bots, paid media to change the truth to show you, me, Sikhs as terrorists. They are using fake facts, encounters to destroy every single person that speaks up for their rights, right of their lands and people.

Here, we emphasize on government in central or Punjab, no matter mughals or 1984's Congress or 2023's BJP, in India. This leads us to the fact that, sikhs never hate any other religion we really don't. But, we won't accept our youth being illegally detained, our sisters being raped and the culprits enjoying politicals powers. If in the past, it were mughals imposing their religion on others, today it's the government of the moment either for religion or votes playing with the lives of our Youth. We talk about freedom to religion and speech, But where it is. Tyrants show us as terrorists, separists; but what justice have they done to us; that they want us not to revolt. 

"Today, i remembered your Rule, O Maharaja Ranjit Singh,

Where you yourself made mosques and temples for minorities,

where there was freedom to speech, education and religion for everyone, 

reading the history and numerous past events,

I don't find any ruler as empathetic, courageous, righteous as you.

Even though, you were betrayed by your ministers who were imbued in greed,

But the World remembers you, and your Khalsa Raaj for there has never been a King like you."

Secondly, Each religion has their form of truth in them, Each have had avatars trying to preach the essence of living in the command of the One Supreme Lord. But, that doesn't justifies forceful conversions of the minorities or assaulting minorities just to prove they are the Majorities: The Supreme Ones. Like from, the martyrdom of Bhai Subheg Singh Ji and Bhai Shahbaaz Singh Ji, we can witness that it wasn't Islam that was preaching that. No, no religion can preach forceful conversions, or such kind of cruelty. It was a man imbued in ego, ignorance and hatred, who wanted to impose his idealogy on the minorities,  You practice your religion, let other do theirs. This is why the idealogy of Saint and Soldier is required, which emphasizes on the fact that you may need to give away your head to establish righteousness, you may have to pick up the sword. But for that to happen, you must have the seed of belief, God, in your hearts.

"We don't fear death, We only fear THE TIMELESS GOD.

So, the government may to frame us as terrorists, little do we care,

We accept to die as the revolutionaries,

 then, die as slaves, 

If this is what it takes to fight for your belief, your rights,

May these terrorists be born in each house,

May every person who stands up against injustice flourish."