SERJINDER writes;-''This episode in Sikh history was very tragic. Whereas Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his loyal companions were being hunted by the Mughal armies, there were other former Sikh leaders supported by Mata Sundari who defected to the Mughal rulers and were enjoying all the comforts and pampering.''
This part of Sikh history has been either ignored, covered up or just too embarrasing for mentioning.I have written about this many years back.That this and the part played by the Sikhs east of the Satluj known as Angrezi Punjab is full of Sikhs' stabbing Sikhs in the back situation.
Apart from Mata Sundri ji, the mughals made use of a Ajit Singh, husband of bibi Tara Kaur, widowed wife of Sahibzada Ajit Singh, who the Guru Sahib had then remarried to a Sikh from Burhanpur and had renamed him as Ajit Singh.This Ajit Singh has been named as Ajit Singh Palit, close to Mata Sunder Kaur, and in some instance, I understand has been refered to as her adopted son, if I recall correctly.Ajit singh was well looked after by Mughal Bahadar Shah; as Ajit Singh had declared his loyalty to the Mughal emperor.
To cut the nitty gritty out, Ajit Singh Palit was encouraged to preach against Banda Singh Bahadur, which he did with Mata Sundri's blessings and encouragement initially, however later he was disowned by Mata Sundari and the Sikhs due to other reasons or fall out over the support that was given by both him and Mata Sundari to the Mughals, against Banda Singh Ji.
However, I dont think there is factual evidence to support the theory that Banda Singh and Binod Singh[also refered to as Baz Singh in Moghul records] really parted from each other on difference or Binod Singh defected to the Moghuls.The records says the differences arose at Gurdas Nangal between April, 1715-to December 1715.
But according to a report sent by a Moghul government official, Anand Rao on the 9th of July 1714,to Bahadur Shah in Delhi says..''Baz Singh [not Binod Singh] has separated from Banda Singh.He is now camped at Makhowal, near Anandpur.He has the support of Kahloor's Raja Ajmer Chand.He is now daily raiding and killing in the nearby villages, and killing off the enemies and robbing their riches and animals.
The following week the reporter reports of the same Baz Singh and his camp at Ardoon and Mehlook principalities, one hundered miles away.
In August 1714,Baz Singh is recorded to have been attacked by the mughal armies
of Sirhind.Baz Singh and his soldiers instead of fighting the enemy are reported to have retreated into the hills of Nahan.
There is no further mughal record of Baaz Singh or Binod Singh.Baz Singh is reported to have been martyred on the same day as Banda Singh ji on the 9th of June 1716.
It is possible that the Mughal records may have mispelt or misunderstood or made an error of some sort over Binod and Baz.Other Sikh names in the record appear to be all correct.
But the most important point that needs highlighting is, there is absolutely no mention of the disagreement between Banda Singh and Baz Singh [or Binod Singh].
Neither is there any mention that Baz Singh[ or Binod Singh ]is in coperation with or pay of the Mughals.This is very important as the names of the Sikhs who coperated with the Mughals are recorded in the Mughal records.
Having covered the Sikh history of this era and Banda Singh very extensively, I believe that Binod Singh [or Baz Singh]are the same person.I believe that Binod Singh[Baz Singh] did not have any fall out with Banda Singh.Their parting of ways was for strategic and tactical military reasons, and long before Gurdas Nangal.
Their parting would have split the Mughal Army to fight on two fronts, against two different armies, thus stretching their resources.
While the Mughals chased after Binod Singh[Baz Singh]Banda Singh managed to escape; and fight at Ropar with the Mughals before he headed off towards the hills, and Saharanpur, according to the book, by Irwin Latter,'Mughals', Volume 1,Page 311.
Around August 1714, the Mughal record talks of the Sikhs of Eminabad making peace with the Military Chief Iradatmand Khan. The Sikhs would plunder Kabul,Kashmir, Lahore and Gujrat and would share half their bounty with him.,was one of the terms of the peace.
On 20th of April 1711, a letter sent to Mata Sundari by Bhai Mani Singh makes a scant mention of rumours, at the end, that Banda has escaped from Lohgarh.However the fact is Banda Singh had already escaped 5 months earlier and was already mobilising forces.Many historians feel this letter is fake and was written long afterwards by someone or Bhai Mani Singh himself.The question is WHY?
It is also on record that many Sikhs had defected and were fighting their own Sikh brothers for a price and reward from the Mughuls.There is no doubt about that.But to avoid embarrasment the reallity of Sikh history of this period has been silent or destroyed.
I go as far as to say, it was not simple arm twisting of Mata Sundari, but there is more, that we may never find as evidence.It's best left where it is, as any new evidence that could factually emerge would simply throw the whole Panth into disrepute and embarrasment.
I believe the rumours spread about Banda Singh, turning to be a guru etc were ONLY rumours [?spread with help of perhaps Bhai Mani Singh,[no evidence], but his approval against Banda Singh ji seems strange;jealousy?] and certainly it appears on the directions and help from Mata Sundari.
Records do state that Mata Sunder Kaur and mata Sahib Kaur ji was under house arrest and pressure applied by Farukhshiar to use them against Banda Singh.He got them to write letters to Sikhs to abandon Banda Singh, and urged him to stop the war.Banda Singh refused to ahere to the calls by Mata Sundar kaur ji and Mata Sahib Kaur.It was as result of this that they issued a Hukamnama gainst Banda Singh;and this is how the Panth became divided over opinion.Most Sikhs refused to accept the Hukamnama.They were aware of Ajit Singh Palit's relations with the Mughals and the fact the Mata Jis' lived with him.
Many of us will not accept, but the support to the Mughals by Sikhs against Sikhs was not simply confined to soldiers shifting loyalties and getting rewards from the Mughals, it was more than that meets the eyes, sadly.
This is why the Kurbani and Martyrdom of Banda Singh lay unrecognised until about 6 years ago.Even to this day, some still insist with unsubstantiated claims that he went against the Gurus orders and that he wanted the Gurgaddi;there is absolutely nothing to support such thinking, quite the contrary, he was penalised for trying to establish a Sikh raj and rights of the poor people. Sikh, hindu and muslims.Bad rumours about him were spread deliberately..with or without the mata Jis' knowledge ..I leave the readers to decide.
Gurcharan Singh
Kamuning Hills
