The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.150

v4.c20.150

The most important feat of arms of this reign was the extermination of Banda. This Gurū had built a large fort near Sadhaurā since his last defeat and from it dominated the neighbourhood. 'Abdus-Samad Khān (the new governor of Lahore) laid siege to this fort. The Sikh garrison offered a brave and obstinate defence, making almost daily sorties; but the lines of investment being completed, their provisions were exhausted and one night they escaped from it to Lohgarh, where Banda himself was residing. 'Abdus-Samad Khān immediately pushed on to that fort; a panic seized the Gurū and his men and they evacuated Lohgarh without firing a shot (October, 1713). Soon afterwards Banda issued from his refuge in the hills and began to ravage the north Punjab plains again, plundering the parganas of Rūpar, Kalānaur and Batālā. Their atrocities drove the population into wholesale flight from the raided country. But a strong combination of imperial officers forced the Gurū to fall back from Kot Mīrzā Jān to Gurdāspur (44 miles north-east of Amritsar). Here he was invested by a large Mughul force under 'Abdus-Samad Khān (April, 1715). After almost daily fighting with the garrison, the Mughul soldiers raised a high earthen wall with a trench behind it all round Gurdāspur, so as to enclose the fort completely on all sides. Next, a stockade was constructed nearer the walls with a deep and wide ditch at its foot, so as to prevent the escape of the garrison. The Sikhs fought most gallantly, inspiring the Mughul troops with a terror of their prowess; but all attempts to break through failed and the Mughuls captured some of the bastions and gates. After all their food had been exhausted and they had undergone unspeakable privations, the Sikhs surrendered unconditionally (17 December, 1715). The captive Gurū and his 740 followers were paraded through Delhi in a humiliating procession like that in which Shambhūjī had been conducted to Aurangzīb's camp, and then they were put to a cruel death at the police office of Delhi (15 March, 1716). The Sikhs showed wonderful patience and strength of mind, and welcomed death as a deliverance; not one of them accepted the offer of Islām to save his life. Banda himself and his little son of three years were brutally hacked to death on 19 June. After Gurū Govind's death, his widow Mātā Sundarī and his alleged adopted son Ajīt Singh had set up as the rival heads of the Sikh sect; only a few families followed either of them. On the death of the two their spiritual succession was claimed by Jāhī Singh the son of Ajīt (who lived at Muttra) and Sāhib Dei (or Kumārī Dūlā), the betrothed of Govind Singh, who lived at Delhi, each getting only a few followers.