Sahibzada Jujhar Singh

Sahibzada Jujhar Singh was the second son of Guru Gobind Singh.

His mother’s name was Mata Jito (also known as Mata Sundari).

He was born at Anandpur Sahib on March 14, 1691.

According to the Nanakshahi Calendar, this event is now celebrated on April 9 each year.

 

Like his elder brother Sahibzada Ajit Singh, he started his training in the martial arts (Gatka) along with the study of the religious texts at a very young age.

 

In 1699, when he was eight years old, he was initiated as Khalsa in the historic event called the Amrit Sanskar Ceremony by Guru Gobind Singh (Birth of Khalsa).

 

At the time of the siege of Anandpur Sahib by a powerful combined force of Mughals and Hill Kingdoms in December 1705, Jujhar Singh, at the age of 14 years, was an experienced young warrior. He was well built and brave.

 

He was member of the group that successfully waded through the flooded Sarsa River on horseback.

 

He was part of the group accompanying Guru Gobind Singh reaching Chamkaur Sahib in the evening of December 06, 1705. The combined force was following them. They prepared for the next day’s battle during the night; as a result, they could hardly take rest at Night. They fortified the house in which Guru Gobind Singh stayed with 40 Sikhs (Garhi) and decided to fight the enemy to the last man.

 

Sahibzada Jujhar Singh keenly observed the heroic fight put up by his elder brother, Sahibzada Ajit Singh against overwhelming number and better equipped enemy soldiers from the roof of the fortress Chamkor Sahib. This scene had motivated him with the courage and the spirit to fight the enemy. By the time Sahibzada Ajit Singh sacrificed his life in battle, there were only 10 Sikhs left in the fortress.

 

Sahibzada Jujhar Singh requested his father Guru Gobind Singh to grant him permission to accompany the next batch of Sikhs to repeat the heroic act of his elder brother. He knew it meant a certain death. The Guru was pleased to see the determination of his 14 years old son. The Guru armed him with weapons and allowed him to go out with next batch of five Sikhs.

 

Bhai Himmat Singh

 

and Bhai Sahib Singh (two of the original Panj Piarey) along with 3 other Singhs accompanied Sahibzada Baba Jujhar Singh .

 

Once outside the fortress, the young Jujhar Singh attacked the enemy fearlessly. The accompanying Sikhs formed a protective ring around him. The enemy did not get the time to recover from the previous shock of the attack of Sahibzada Ajit Singh’s group and faced the second wave of attack by Sahibzada Jujhar Singh.  It appeared as if Sahibzada Ajit Singh had come back. The enemy forces were stunned by thrust of this second attack and had a little choice than to retreat.  S.Jujhar Singh Ji fought bravely. He, at the tender age of 14 years fought the battle as the befitting son of Guru Gobind Singh.

“Whoever dies, let him die such a death, that he does not have to die again.”

(Guru Granth Sahib page 555)

Guru Gobind Singh watched his brave son fighting fearlessly from the fortress. The Guru appreciated his courage and fighting skills. Sahibzada Jujhar Singh used arrows, spear and finally his sword. He killed numerous enemy soldiers. Heaps of dead bodies of enemy soldiers were piled around him. The accompanying Sikhs likewise killed many enemy soldiers while keeping a protective ring around Sahibzada Jujhar Singh. Many enemy soldiers ran away. The Guru watched this development with pride and gratefulness to the Almighty. He knew that the Sikhs had learned the lessons of warfare well and this group would soon join the Sikh martyrs who had attained the highest honour of fighting against the suppression of weak and poor section of society by the ruthless rulers of that time.

 

Slowly, due to the large strength, the enemy assembled around Sahibzada Jujhar Singh. He was surrounded by the enemy. He had a Neja (spear) in his hand at that time. He killed many enemies with the same. He also used a Khanda (double-edged-sword) to kill them.

Noticing that Jujhar Singh was surrounded by the enemy, the Guru fired volleys of arrows killing the enemy. Guru continued to give protection with arrows for almost 30 minutes. Baba and the 5 Sikh demonstrated Guru Gobind Singh’s concept of one Sikh equalling the bravery and courage of “Sava Lakh” (125,000) men. After a long drawn battle, the enemy soldiers managed to break the protective ring of Sikhs around young Jujhar Singh and attacked him from all directions in large number. Sahibzada Jujhar Singh was able to break the ring of the Mughal army soldiers surrounding him. Under the appreciative gaze of his father and the accompanying Sikhs, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh had put up a brave fight but was ultimately fatally injured and fell martyr on the ground encircled by heaps of dead bodies of the enemy.

 

Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib at Chamkaur Sahib now marks that site.

On seeing his second son falling martyr like his elder son, Guru thanked God for helping his sons to live up to his expectations. Guru demonstrated that he valued his Sikhs more than his sons and that he did not hesitate to sacrifice his own sons to fight against the injustice of the rulers of that time. The heroic deeds of the elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh will keep inspiring the young Sikh generations to rise to the occasion when ever called upon to fight for the justice, human right and equality for the time to come.

 

“That person alone is known as a spiritual warrior, who fights in defence of religion. They may be cut apart, piece by piece, but they never leave the field of battle.”

(Guru Granth Sahib page 1105)

 

Guru Sahib wrote in his composition, the Zafarnama:

“What trust can I have on your oath on Koran?

Otherwise, why should I have taken this path of taking up the sword?”

(Line 23, Zafarnama)

 

“Blessed is that land, blessed is that father, blessed is the great mother.

 Whose son has shown the way to live, for centuries to come”