My family and our times: 11/01/2013

( I have searched this article written by Rajiv Kumsr over the internet and found lots of good information. Please overlook many grammatical and spell mistake though)

A very few Indians know about General Baghel Singh (1730-1802). General Baghel Singh paid the Islamic Fundamentliests in their own coin and made them construct Gurdwaras by demolishing 8 Mosques in Delhi in 1783. and paved the way for self-assertion of India after slavery of Nine Centueries under Islam. At the formation of the Dal Khalsa in March 1748, Krora Singh, a Virk Jat of village Barki in the district of Lahore, was the head of the misl(sikh fighting group). About twenty years ago Karora Singh had been forcibly converted to Islam by Zakriya Khan’s officials. He again took pahul (Amrit) from Darbara Singh and reverted to Sikhism. Since then he became a determined foe of the Mughal government.

Krora Singh generally confined his activities to the track lying south of the Kangra hills. In an emergency he could seek shelter in the hills. In 1759 after the death of Adina Beg Khan and by killing his Diwan Bishambar Mal, he seized Hoshiarpur , Hariana, Sam Chaurasi (84 Villages), all the four Basis, Shamsabad, Banbeli, Bahadupur and the Talwan Territory.

Krora Singh was killed in the battle of Taraori in 1761 against the Nawab of Kunjpura. Krora Singh had no son, he adopted his own personal servant Baghel Singh who succeeded to the headship of the misl. Baghel Singh Dhaliwal belonged to the village Chabhal, 21 kms from Amritsar. He grew into the most powerful Sikh Leader in the Cis-Satluj region. He dominated the Sikh politics in this area in last quarter of the eighteenth century. Baghel Singh had seen the rotten condition of the Mughal Empire. His aim was to establish Sikh rule over the MUGHAL Empire under the nominal sovereignty of Emperor Shah Alam II. The Emperor was inclined to appoint him Regent of the Empire. Had he accepted this position, the Sikh rule would have extended upto the Ganga as far south as Mughal Sarai, Bundelkhand, Rajasthan and Sind. He was endowed with the abilty and capacity to play a major role in building up the political power of Sikhs over the whole of northern India. As he had risen from extream poverty and penury, and from the position of a domestic servant, the Sikhs would not have supported him against Jassa Singh Ahluwalia in such an ambitious scheme. It was with the this idea that he persuaded the Sikhs to enter the Red Fort and seated Jassa Singh Ahluwalia on the throne. Baghel Singh remained in charge of capital for the sole purpose of building Seven Gurdwaras. In February 1783 Budha Dal with about 60, 000 fighters under the Leadership of Jassa SINGH Ahluwalia and Baghel Singh. Sikh army won whole north India starting from Bulandshar, Khurja, Aligarh, Hathras, Tundla, Sikohabad a clear 241 kms from Delhi.

From Farrukhaad the Sikhs rushed backward. They arrived Delhi on 8 March 1783.The enormous booty acquired during this expedition was sent to their homes under the custody of 10000 men. Just at this time Jassa Singh Ramgarhia arrived at Delhi from Hisar at the head of 10,000 troops. He had been driven out of the Punjab by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and others. After devasting the wall city and its suburbs, the Sikh on 12 March,1783 turned to the Red Fort to seize the property of the refugees who had taken shelter there.They stopped before Diwan-e-Am. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia’s force of 20,000 desired to place their leader on the Throne. By this time Jassa Singh Ramgarhia arrived on the scene. He demanded immediate withraw of the Ahluwalia chief from Diwan-e-Am. Both sides drew out their swords. Ahluwalia at once got down the throne and ordered his men to vacate the fort. All retired to their respective camps.

The same day Begam Samru reached Delhi. She had friendly relations with Baghel Singh who had saved her during a Sikh incursion of Merath district. The Emperor gave her full authority to settle terms with the Sikh in order to save the city from firther misery and misfortune. She called on Baghel Singh in his camp at Tis Hazari. Jassa Singh Alhuwalia had declined to represent the Budha Dal. This authority was assigned to Baghel Singh by the both the Jassa Singhs. The following terms were settled between her and Baghel Singh, and were approved by the Emperor:

1. The Dal Khalsa should retire from Delhi immediately.

2. Baghel Singh would stay in the capital with his own 4.000 troops.

3. He would be responsible for maintaining law and order in the city.

4. He would establishe his camp in Sabzi Nandu ( old site).

5. The Sikhs would not misbehave in any way during their stay in the capital.

6. Baghel Singh would charge six anna in the rupee (37.5%) of all the octroi duties in Delhi to meet the expenses for preserving peace.

7. Baghel Singh was allowed to build seven gurdwaras at the sacred places of the Sikhs.

8. The construction of gurdwaras was to be finished within a year at the most.

In consequence most of the Sikhs left Delhi. Only Baghel Singh , at the head of 4,000 horsemen stayed behind. They fixed their camp in Sabzi Mandi---Tis Hazari area. Baghel Singh took charge of octroi posts as well as the kotwali in Chandni Chauk. Five –eight of whole colleaction was daily deposited in the government treasury. Warren Hasting, the governor-general, record in a minute presented to his council:

" While I was at Lakhnow, they ( Sikhs ) carried their depredations to the very suburbs of Delhi, where two of their officers actually reside in a quarter called Subzi Mundee, which is chiefly occupied by shroffs and shopkeepers, for the double purpose of levying their rauky ( which is the name given to that purpose of lthat species of contribution) and of ptrotecting the inhabitants from the marauders of their own nations.”

The first Gurudwara was built at Teliwara in the memory of Mata Sundari and Mata Sahib Devi, wives of Guru Gobind Siangh.They had lived there for some time. The second Gurudwara was erected in Jaisinghpura where Guru Harkrishan had stayed. Four tombs were constructed on the bank of the Jammuna at the places of cremation of Guru lHarkrishan, Mata Sundari, Sata Sahib Devi and Ajit Singh, the adopted son of Mata Sundari. A Gurudawara was constructed there. There were two places connected with Guru Teg Bahadur. One was at the Kotwali where the Guru beheaded. The other was at Rikabghanj where his headless body was cremated by Lakhi Banjara. At both these places mosques had been built. In order to build gurudwaraa mosques had to be demolished. The Indian Muslims have been most sensitive with regards to their mosques. But their fanaticism had grown weaker before the supremacy of the Sikhs. Earlier a small body of Sikhs under Sahib Singh Khondah, a petty Sikh chief, visited Delhi. He was there on October 1, 1778.’This was the Dashra day and the Sikhs riding out went to the Guru’s bungalow near Rikabganj, and there demolished a mosque and ravaged the cultivated fields.” ( Delhi Diarist, anonymous, in Delhi Chronicle, 31) The darist further observed; Jiahad in the path of the Guru. On the departure of the Sikh, the Muslims erected a mosque again.

When Baghel Singh planned to pull down the mosque, the Muslims of the capital grew furious and thousands of them gathered ther to save the mosque. Baghel Singh asked the mob to send their representatives to discuss the matter with him. About one hundred Muslim Leaders met him. He gave them a fortnight to declare their final decision. Till then the construction was stopped. He sent his agents to the Cis-Satluj chiefs to be ready for an expedition.The details of which he would supply in a couple of days. He prepared a list of all the jagirs held by the Delhi Muslims in the Gnaga-Doab and in the region north of Delhi in the district of Rohtak and Karnal. He marked certain sardars for certain areas. They entered those villages and created a havoc. The leaders finding themselves in ruin waited on Baghel Singh individually and gave in writing that they had no objection to the demolition of the mosque at Rikabganj and lad the foundation of the Gurudwara before sunrise. The building soon raised.

At the Kotwali a huge Muslim mob gathered to protect the mosque from demolition. The situation was grave. Baghel Singh did not touch the mosque, and pulled down only a portion of the compound wall which obstructed the construction of the Gurudwara. On its completion, a Brahaman Sikh was appointed Granthi, and a jagir was assigned to it.

In the first war of independence in 1857, the Sikhs in general and Raja Sarup Singh of Jind in particular had rendered most valuale elp to the British Government.The government allowed Raja Sarup Singh to demolish this mosque and extend the gurudwara in its place. The sixth Gurudwara was constructed at Majnu Ka Tila where Guru Nanak Dev with Mardana, Guru Hargobind and RAM Rae son of Guru Har Rae had stayed. The seventh Grudwara was raised in Moti Bagh where Guru Gobind Singh had lived.

All these seven gurudawaras was constructed in eight months. The Emperor was pleased with his work He granted him(Baghel Singh) one –eight of the octroi duties of Delhi for life. Baghel Singh left Delhi in the beging of December, 1783. The contempory Khair-ud-din, sectary to a royal princes, call him Raja.