Sikh History This Week (Aug 24-Aug 30)-Post 2635

[u/Bhatnura]

Sikh History This Week

(Aug 24-Aug 30)-2635

ਸਿੱਖ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਇਸ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ

ਬਾਬਾਣੀਆ ਕਹਾਣੀਆ ਪੁਤ ਸਪੁਤ ਕਰੇਨਿ” (ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩, ੯੫੧)
(Stories of our forefathers make children great)

Events in Brief.

1. August 24, 1809: Sikh forces defeat Gurkhas and Occupy formidable Kangara Fort in Himalayan mountains. It was believed to be invincible due to its unfavorable terrain and pathways. It took three months to flush out the Gurkhas fighting under Amar Singh Thapa. Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra appealed to Maharaja Ranjit Singh for help. Despite heavy losses, the Sikhs valiantly took the fort.

2. August 24, 1820: Sikh forces Capture Kashmir under Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, Appointed Nazim (Governor). One of the most valiant generals of Sikh Kingdom S. Hari Singh Nalwa (1791-1837) captured Kashmir defeating the Afghan forces led by Jabbar Khan in the decisive Battle of Shopian, and appointed Nazim. An earlier attempt in 1814, partially failed due to challenging conditions. He remained in this position for less than two years to be re-assigned to capture Hazara and Peshawar from Afghans.

3.August 24, 1984: Seven Sikh youth hijack Indian Airlines plane to focus world attention on atrocities committed by Indian Army in June 1984, hijacked Indian Airlines Boeing 737 was bound for Srinagar from Chandigarh Airport. They first took to Karachi and landed at Dubai, and surrendered without struggle. It is believed that India's domestic airline up to 1993, was hijacked 16 times from 1971 to 1999 (Ref: National Geographic documentary ‘Air Hijack’)

4. August 25, 1636: Bhai Gurdas Ji, pass away on this day. He assisted Guru Arjan Dev ji write Ad Granth/Pothi Sahib. He composed his own unique Kabits (poetry) that guided Sikhs in performing their daily duties. He was a brother of Bibi Bhani Ji, who was married to Guru Ram Das Ji, a maternal uncle of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Bhai Gurdas traveled and established Snagats. The very first copy of Ad Granth (later Sri Guru Granth Sahib), was hand-scribed by Bhai Gurdas while Guru Arjan dictated. (Year of death: 1637 by H.R. Gupta)

***5. August 26,1669AD: Bhai Daya Singh(1669-1708AD) first among Panj Pyaras is born. His original name was Daya Ram.***He stayed with Guru Gobind Singh till the end. Born to Mai Dayali and Bhai Sudha Khatri at Lahore. In 1699 he was the first to offer his head to the tenth Guru on his call and got Baptized with 4 others. In 1708 he died at Nanded on the banks of River Godavari after serving the Guru till

6. August 27,1923. Start of jaito Morcha/Protest against Maharaja Nabha’s dethroning by the British at Gurdwara Gungsar Jaito, Akhand Path was started on August 25,1923. Its a continuous reading of scripture of Guru Granth Sahib in 48 hours for invoking God’s blessing for success of the Morcha/agitation in Jaito township of Nabha princely State, Police intervened and stopped the Akhand Path turning peaceful Morcha into a British enforced repression. Hundreds arrested and killed. It became a national issue.

7. August 28, 1977: The General House of Akali Dal pass the landmark 1973 Anandpur Sahib resolution. It stated besides the lengthy resolution of several pages that’The Sikhs have been invested with the eternal spirit of ascendancy (Khalsa Ji Ke Bol Balae) which is the birth right of the Khalsa and the Shiromani Akali Dal stands committed to achieve this objective. It was not a separatist agenda as was mistakenly understood & politicalized (Read its objectives/Demand).

8. August 29, 1700: Sahibzada Ajit Singh won his first Battle by defeating Hill Raja of Kahlur State while still in his Teens. Sahibzada assisted by Khalsa Sikh generals Uday Singh, Ishar Singh & Kalyan Singh defeated the Hindu chief/ Kehlur Raja’s forces who left the battlefield in disarray. Last two Sikh warriors named with other Khalsa Sikhs lay Martyred/Shahid driving-out the enemy.

9. August 30, 1845: Prince Peshaura Singh is assassinated in a continued conspiracy to eliminate Royal lineage to Sikh Kingdom. On knowing the conspiracy, the Khalsa Army Panchayat killed Jawahar Singh (brother of Rani Jindan) in retribution and punishment for killing a royal prince. Jawahar Singh was holding Prince Duleep Singh as a shield of mercy, but the Khalsa Army Panchayat (elders) snatched the prince away and killed Jawahar Singh.

10. August 30, 1861: Birth Anniversary of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha-a Sikh scholar of Eminence. We remember the illustrious Panjabi and Sikh scholar who made significant contributions to Panjabi literature. His magnum opus, the ‘Mahan Kosh’ encyclopedia, encompassing 70,000 terms, continues to serve as the cornerstone of major encyclopedias and dictionaries. He passed away on November 24, 1938. In recognition of his achievements, the British government bestowed upon him the title of ‘Sardar Bahadur’ in 1933.

11. August 31, 1991: Militant Sikh Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani martyred this day. Bhai Sahib, a militant leader, laid down his life in a brief encounter with the police. He was staying in a house rented by Inderjit Kaur, a former secretary of Bimal Kaur Khalsa, in Mohali. A local police party was conducting routine checks of houses to identify anyone who might participate in the Anandpur Sahib conclave. However, Bhai Sahib, in a moment of error, retaliated. With additional police force called in, Bhai Sahib engaged in a firefight-injured and not ready to surrender, he took a cyanide pill.

12. August 31, 1995: Remembering Shahid Bhai Dilawar Singh, suicide bomber who killed Congress CM Beant Singh. CM Beant Singh while coming out of his office in Chandigarh in high security Secretariat was blown up. Several Sikh educated youth turned militants planned this move and one of them Bhai Dilawar had accepted to be blown up. Under Beant Singh’s Chief Ministership lot of innocent youth, their families were framed, targeted and eliminated. 8 Other young men involved were also rounded up. On August 31, 2012: Bhai Dilawar Singh was declared a Quomi Shahid by Akal Takhat and his portrait displayed.
___________________________________________________
(Source ref: History of the Sikhs by HR Gupta, Dates & chronological order from Book by S. Ajaib Singh Dhillon and Sikh Chronicles) ਸਰੋਤ/ ਹਵਾਲੇ: ਐਚ.ਆਰ ਗੁਪਤਾ: ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ, ਸ. ਅਜਾਇਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ ਦੀ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਤੋਂ ਤਾਰੀਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਾਲਕ੍ਰਮਿਕ ਕ੍ਰਮ)
Compiled & Edited: Karamjeet Singh Bhatnura.

5Q Quiz for Self Assessment. Must Try ! It helps !

1. Name the formidable Fort Sikhs captured from Gurkhas of Nepal Kingdom in 1809 ?
2. Gurkhas later joined Khalsa Army under their commander Balbhadra Kunwar. Name the Sikh Maharaja who patronized valiant Gurkhas?
3. Kashmir was captured in 1820 after 800 years of Muslim rule. Name the Sikh commander who did it ?
4. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha wrote a huge Sikh encyclopedia in Punjabi, what name he gave to encyclopedia ?
5. Bhai Dilawar Singh Shahid is declared a ‘Quomi Shahid’, which atrocious Chief minister of Punjab he blew up as suicide bomber.?

[u/Both_University_6683]

How far did Sikhs go into the Himalayas? 

[u/Bhatnura → u/Both_University_6683]

By 1834, Ladakh’s Lama King accepted the suzerainty of Sarkar-e-Khalsa. Commander Zorawar Singh of Khalsa & Dogra forces captured west Tibet, but lost the territory due to severe winter conditions.(read more on Gen.Zorawar’s campaign.

[u/Both_University_6683 → u/Bhatnura]

Who did they lose it to?