Shaheedi Banda Singh Bahadur

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was the first Sikh to establish Sikh rule. He captured large part of Punjab and established sikh rule in those areas. He minted coins in the name of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobing Singh.

The Mugal Emperor Bahadur Shah did not like that situation. To take back his lost areas, he started chasing Banda Singh Bahadur with his overwhelming force. Assessing the situation, Banda Singh Bahadur and his soldiers took defensive position at fort of Loh Garh in Dec 1710. The Mugal forces surrounded the fort. The Supplies to the fort were cut off. Banda Singh and his men forced their way through the Mugal army on a pitch dark night. They and moved towards upper hill areas. They punished the kings of hills, who had sent their forces to join the Mugal force against Guru Gobind Singh. Thereafter, they moved towards Jammu.

Bahadar Shah reached Lahore in Aug.1711. His wanted to kill or capture Banda Singh Bahadur. Bahadur Shah died due to illness in Feb 1712. There was fight for the Throne of Delhi among his sons for about one year. Banda Singh Bahadur took advantage of that situation. He collected his forces and once again conquered Batala, Kalanaour, Sarhind, Muzaffar Nagar and other areas of Punjab in1712.

Farukh Seyer, son of Azimu-Shaan became king of Hindustan in Feb 1713. He was annoyed due to the defeat of Mughtal forces against Banda Singh Bahadur. He decided to send a large force from Delhi to mobilize the forces of Punjab to defeat and capture Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.

The Sikh forces were ultimately besieged in the fortes of Gurdas Nangal by the overwhelming number of Mughal forces.

Sikhs fought valiantly under the leadership of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur to inflict heavy casualties on the Moghul army. Due to prolonged encirclement of the fortes by superior number of forces, the Sikh forces were left with no rations. They were forced to eat tree leaves to sustain their life. Due to this reason, they became too weak to fight the enemy.

Ultimately, the brave Sikh general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was arrested along with seven hundred Sikh soldiers and brought to Delhi, where they were mounted on ponies, insulted and paraded in the Bazars of Delhi. Sikhs were offered amnesty to accept conversion to Islam. But, none of them accepted this offer. Therefore, they were tortured and killed publicly at Chandni Chowk, Delhi. They died in high spirits, sticking to their faith.

At last, in June 1716, Banda Singh Bahadur and his 26 companions were taken to the streets of old Delhi in the form of a procession. They were then taken to the Makbra (Grave) of Khawaza Kutub-ud-deen Bakhitiyar Kaki near Kutub Minar. 26 Sikhs were beheaded in the presence of Banda Singh Bahadur, hoping that he may still ask for mercy. He was asked to accept Islam or face death. He accepted death.

Before Baba Banda Singh was martyred mercilessly by the tyrant rulers, his four years old son was put to death in front of Baba Banda Singh. His son’s abdomen was opened to take out his heart. It was thrust into the mouth of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. But even after this inhuman and cruel act, the tyrant rulers failed to break Baba Ji’s resolve and determination. He remained composed.

He was mercilessly tortured by pinching the flesh of his body, bit by bit, with the help of heated pincers. His eyes were notched out; hands and feet were chopped off. When he became unconscious, his head was chopped off.

It is a strange coincidence that at the age of 15 years, Banda Singh Bahadur saw two infants of a deer dying, which altogether changed his life and at the age of 46, the beating heart of his own son was pushed into his own mouth.

The English historian Conningham wrote that it was inhumane, unsocial and forest ruled activity of the victorious Mugals for having treated the Sikhs in such ill manners. Such dreadful were the scenes, perhaps no body except those who saw could believe.

Farakh-Seyer, who tortured and killed Banda Singh and his men in June 1716, met with the same fate after three years at the hands of his own men. There was a revolt against him. He tried to hide himself in a dark room of the Red Fort. He was chased and his eyes were similarly notched before he was killed.

Parasrampur is famous for its annual Shaheedi Banda Singh Bahadur Jor Mela, which is a big attraction in Jalandhar. The Baba Lodhiana Youth Sports Club (Regd.) constructed a sports stadium on 4 acres (16,000 m2) of land in Parasrampur. The stadium hosts the annual 3 day sports and cultural event in November and hosts the Mata Chanan Kaur Dhanoa Punjab Sports Championship, which form part of the Shaheedi Jor Mela.

The Mata Chanan Kaur Dhanoa Punjab Sports Championship includes Kabbaddi, Hockey, Wrstling, Athletics, Volleyball, Body Building, Weightlifting, Dog Racing and Bullock Cart racing. Kabaddi Players receive the largest cash prizes ever awarded at this tournament.

After the sporting events are concluded, a programme of cultural entertainment continues till late night.

The annual 3 day festival attracts more than 4,000 sportsmen and women from all over the world.