Guru Gobindsingh Ji

Born at Patna Sahib (Bihar) in 1666 A.D., Gobind Rai (the name of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji before initiation to the' order of the Khalsa) had his early education there and came to settle at Anandpur Sahib (Punjab). He was only nine years old when he was entrusted to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of Guru ship, after Guru Teg Bahadur Ji Sahib's martyrdom, which he himself had sent to Delhi to oppose the tyranny of the rulers. The Tenth Guru felt the need of strengthening the Indian Nation. He implored his Sikhs to bring with them good quality weapons and horses while coming to see him. He started recruiting the Khalsa Army, equipped it with up-to-date armaments and imparted training of all tactics.

The psychology of the superstitious and slavery stricken people was also to be overhauled. This the Tenth Master achieved by introducing a new form of Baptism, the water used in baptism, instead of being stirred with the Guru's toe, was now to be stirred with Khanda (a double-edged sword), and the Sikhs initiated were to be called SINGHS (Lions) or KHALSA (the Master's own); they were to wear in future the same five signs all beginning with letter "K' - Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a comb), Kachhera (short drawer), Kara. (An iron bangle) and Kirpan (a sword). The first five who came forward at the call of the Guru, to get new birth, belonged to different parts of the country and totally different castes. They were Bhai Daya Ram Ji, a Khatri of Lahore; Bhai Dharam Dass Ji, a Jat of Hastnapur-Delhi; Bhai Mohkam Chand Ji, a washer man of Dwarka; Bhai Sahib Chand Ji, a barber of Bidar and Bhai Himmat Rai Ji, a water-carrier of Jagannath Puri. After the initiation; all these five SINGHS were described by the Guru as "PYARAS" (his beloveds).

The baptism with the double-edged sword infused a new life into the almost dead masses, dying under the yoke of tyranny and persecution. The Khalsa thus born was inspired by a sense of divine mission to right the wrongs of the world; and in the discharge of his duties, no fear of earthly power was to stand in the way. This raising of the Indian spirit from servility, which had dominated it for centuries, brought about a great change in the tone of the national character: Even those people who had been considered as the dregs of humanity were changed, as if by magic into something rich and strange, the like of' which India had never seen before. The sweepers, barbers and confectioners, who had never touched the sword, became undunder the stimulating leadership of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, doughty warriors, who never shrank from fear, and who were ever ready to shed their own blood where the safety of a least creature of God was in danger. Even their outward appearance underwent a marvelous change. They came to be regarded as the models of physical beauty and stateliness of manner as much as they were respected for the truth and honesty of character.

Throughout his life, Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought against injustice and tyranny. The manner in which he sacrificed the lives of his father, his mother, his beloved associates whom he regarded his own flesh and blood and all the four sons at the altar of duty towards his Motherland is an example which will remain unparalleled in history for generations to come. His elder two sons were martyred while fighting with the enemy in Chamkaur battle, while the younger two, aged eight. and six were bricked alive under the orders of the Governor to Sirhind in the X'mas week of 1704. Guru Sahib never considered any sacrifice too great for a noble cause. He bore all the calamities and atrocities patiently and boldly, and on hearing the news that all his four sons have been killed, he never lost heart but on the contrary thus uttered in thankfulness to the Almighty Lord:

"Today, I have discharged thy Trust to thee. My son's lives have been sacrificed for the sake of Dharma. "The Dasmesh Guru fought as many as fourteen battles with the imperialist forces and except two, won in all triumphantly. But it is to be noted that he did not fight for any territory or worldly power, or against any religion or sect, but had set himself against injustice, oppression and intolerance. Among his followers and admirers were Hindus as well as Muslims. Many staunch followers of Islam had aligned themselves with him against the imperial forces. Fighting on his side, Pir Budhu

Shah sacrificed four of his sons and a number of his disciples in the battle of Bhangani. The Muslim ruler of Malerkotla, Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan raised a strong protest against the execution of Guru Sahib's two minor sons at Sirhind. Thus people of different faiths were attracted to the Guru whose teachings were that all men were equal and that, though the outer forms different, the fundamental truth was the same everywhere.

As a great social and religious reformer, Guru Gobind Singh Ji kept up the tradition of Sikh Gurus who had launched a crusade against superstition, polytheism,idolatry, infanticide, caste system, addictions and host of other evils. Apart form agitating the minds of the people against social maladies and malpractices, Guru Ji retained & fostered positive values like the spirit of service (Sewa) and sacrifice as inculcated by the previous Gurus. Guru Sahib strictly exhorted his followers to lead pure and pious life. In his compositions he has stressed on ""Character Building". He was a man of principles. He gave a certain thought after practicing the same in his own life. In the toil and troubles of war even the Guru did not forget the moral virtues of peaceful times. He preached strict conjugal fidelity.

"Stick to this resolve; my son! till the last breathe of your life: your love for your wife should grow from day to day. But never even in dream you think of getting into the bed of another woman" - was his sincere advice.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji had a very distinctive personality. Besides being a fearless soldier and far sighted Commander in the battlefield; an intellectual and philosopher in the company of sages and seers; national patriot to the core that happily he may sacrifice his whole family at the altar of Mother-land,he was a versatile writer, prolific poet and renowned scholar. He was master of flawless style in Persian, Arabic, Hindi Brij, PrakritSanskrit and Punjabi. He chose a wide range of themes to inspire new spirits in the hearts of those who had remained the very "dregs of Society' for a number of centuries.

Guru Ji has 52 renowned poets at his Royal Court and got the old Puran & Shastras and deeds of ancient heroes translated into Hindi and Punjabi. To create a martial spirit and love for sacrificing oneself for the sake of faith and religion, used to have the stories of the ancient heroes narrated by the bards, in a musical inspiring tune and powerful voice in daily congregation. He wrote his autobiography in verse entitled "Bachitra Natak'. Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Chandi Di War, Choubis

Avtar, Shabad Hazare, Gyan Prabodh are some of his famous poetic works. Zafar-Nama

(Epistle of Victory), the letter written in Persian script, which was despatched, to the Emperor Aurangzeb, is still read with great reverence. It is the "Zafar Nama' whereby is enshrined the great Thought of the Great Divine Master :

"When all the peaceful efforts fail to give you justice, it is legitimate to resort to the Sword."

The blessings that the Guru Sahib had sought from the Almighty God were as described here under (in his own words):

"Grant me this boon "O' God, from Thy Greatness.

May I never refrain from righteous acts:

May I fight without fear all foes in life's battle.

With confident courage claiming the victory.

May my highest ambition be singing Thy praises.

And may Thy Glory be grained in my mind;

When this mortal life reaches its limit,

May I die fighting with limitless courage!"

Guru Ji had commenced Southward journey on the personal invitation of Emperor Aurangzeb, but Guru Sahib was on the way when he heard the news of Aurangzeb's death. King Bahadur Shah, the elder son of Aurangzeb ascended the throne with the assistance of the Sikh Army in the battlefield of Jaju. Tara Azam; the younger brother of Bahadur Shah was killed with Guru Sahib's golden-tipped arrow. Bahadur Shah in Return held a special Royal Darbar at Agra on July 23, 1707 and acknowledged the timely help of Guru Sahib and, presented the latter a rich address of honor and various other valuable gifts, which included ""SAIF" (a double-edged broad sword)' of Arab origin which was used by the Khalifas of Islam in at least five battels at Karbala and was presented to Aurangzeb by the Arab Chiefs.

Now the Guru was guest of Emperor Bahadur Shah and accompanied the latter to his march to the South; to suppress the rebellion of his younger brother` Kam Bakhsh The Guru was anxious to solve the problem of the struggling Punjab some how with peaceful talks with the emperor but before the negotiations could come a successful turn, he was fatally, stabbed at Nanded by the agents of the Nawab of Sirhind and left for Sachkhand Gaman on October 7, 1708. But before this Guru Ji proclaimed that "from today onwards; Guru Grantha Sahib Ji (The Holy Book of the Sikhs), is the Guru and it should be regarded as the embodiment and visible form of all the ten Gurus."

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a true son of India who through out his life span thought for the country, fought for the country and sacrificed his all for the country: He strived hard for achieving his goal of establishing Dharma and

uprooting the evil forces. It was his strong desire to see his country free, prosperous and peace loving and it was his Khalsa Panth, who fulfilled his ambition later on and accomplished the noble work set-forth by the Tenth Master. The country is deeply indebted to this great .son of India. Great Indian Historian Prof. Indu Bhushan Bannerji rightly counts him "among the greatest of Indians of all ages."