I was standing at jalandhar station when my
attention went towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban
having a long beard and wearing a kirpan over his shirt.
After a while, one local train arrived, which was
totally packed. The Sikh youth tried to alight the train but failed to do so.
Just then a voice was heard from the back coach 'Sardarji Barah Baj gaye' (Sir
it's 12 o'clock!)
The Sikh youth looked over at that voice maker who
was a young Mischievous type of person and instead of showing any anger made a
smile towards him.
The smile made was so enigmatic that it seemed as
if some type of truth lies behind it. Not able to resist my temptation, I walked
towards him and asked why did he smile at that person who teased him.
The Sikh youth replied, 'He was not teasing me but
was asking for my Help'. I was surprised with these words and he told me that
there was a big history behind that which one should know. I was eager to know
the History and the Sikh youth narrated:
During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by
Mughals, all the Hindu people were humiliated and were treated like animals.
Mughals treated the Hindu women as there own property and were forcing all
Hindus to accept Islam and even used to kill the people if they were refusing to
accept.That time, our ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadarji came forward, in
response to a request of some Kashmir Pandits to fight against all these cruel
activities.
Guruji told the Mughal emperor that if he could
succeed in converting him to Islam, all the Hindus would accept the same. But,
if he failed, he should stop all those activities. The Mughal emperor happily
agreed to that but even after lots of torture to Guruji and his fellow members
he failed to convert him to Islam and Guruji along with his other four fellow
members, were tortured and sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk. Since the
Mughals were unable to convert them to Islam they were assassinated.
Thus Guruji sacrificed his life for the protection
of Hindu religion.
Can anybody lay down his life and that too for the
protection of another religion?
This is the reason he is still remembered as
"Hind Ki Chaddar", shield of India. For the sake of whom he had sacrificed his
life, none of them came forward to lift his body, fearing that they would also
be assassinated.
Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji, Sri Guru
Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) founder of khalsa made a resolution
that he would convert his followers to such human beings who would not be able
to hide themselves and could be easily located in thousands. At the start, the
Sikhs were very few in numbers as they were fighting against the Mughal
emperors. At that time, Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted
Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan treasures and nearly 2200 Hindu
women along with him. The news spread like a fire and was heard by Sardar Jassa
Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. He decided to attack
Nadir Shah's Kafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu
women and they were safely sent to their homes.
It didn't happen only once but thereafter whenever
any Abdaalis or Iranis had attacked and looted Hindustan and were trying to
carry the treasures and Hindu women along with them for selling them in Abdal
markets, the Sikh army although fewer in numbers but were brave hearted and
attacked them at midnight, 12 O'clock and rescued women.
After that time when there occurred a similar
incidence, people started to contact the Sikh army for their help and Sikhs used
to attack the raider's at Midnight, 12 O'clock. Nowadays, these "smart people"
and some Sikh enemies who are afraid of Sikhs, have spread these words that at
12 O'clock, the Sikhs go out of their senses. This historic fact was the reason
which made me smile over that person as I thought that his Mother or Sister
would be in trouble and wants my help and was reminding me by saying off
'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye'.
Plz do forward this message to all ur friends so
they can know about sikh history & its a humble appeal PLEASE dont make fun
of RELIGIONS as every religion is as pure as urs. !!!! :
By: Harmeet
Singh