The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire: Part 2 – Sikh Persecution

“Sikhism was born out of wedlock between Hinduism and Islam after they had known each other for a period of nearly nine hundred years. But once it had taken birth, it began to develop a personality of its own and in due course grew into a faith which had some semblance to Hinduism, some to Islam, and yet had features which bore no resemblance to either.”

History of Sikhs Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
Khushwant Singh

The persecution of the Sikhs following the fall of their first state marked one of the darkest and most challenging periods in Sikh history. The dissolution of Banda Singh Bahadur’s short-lived rule in 1716 ushered in an era of violent suppression at the hands of the Mughal Empire. Despite achieving victory over the Sikhs in the Punjab, the Mughals were themselves in a state of decline, struggling to maintain their once-mighty empire as regional powers asserted their independence. In this period of turmoil, the Sikhs found themselves the target of brutal repression, yet their indomitable spirit and resilience allowed them to survive and eventually rise again.

The Decline of the Mughal Empire
The early 18th century was a time of immense upheaval across the Indian subcontinent. The Mughal Empire, which had reached its territorial peak under Emperor Aurangzeb, was beginning to unravel. Aurangzeb’s aggressive expansionist policies had drained the empire’s treasury and stretched its military forces thin. His successors were unable to effectively govern the vast territories he had conquered, and as a result, the once-centralized power of the Mughal state began to weaken.

Across India, regional governors and hereditary vassals, sensing the empire’s vulnerability, started breaking away from Delhi’s control. The Nawabs of Bengal declared independence in the east, while the Maratha Confederacy expanded its hold over central and southern India. However, one region where the Mughals desperately tried to maintain a foothold was Punjab—the homeland of the Sikhs. Recognizing the potential threat posed by a resurgent Sikh movement, the Mughal administration in Punjab embarked on a relentless campaign to annihilate the Sikh presence in the region.

The Mughal Persecution of Sikhs
With Banda Singh Bahadur’s execution in 1716, the Mughals believed they had stamped out the Sikh rebellion. However, the movement was far from extinguished. Fearful of Sikh resurgence, the Mughal governors of Punjab launched a systematic campaign to eradicate the Sikh identity through violent oppression. From the provincial capital of Lahore, the administration oversaw daily public executions of captured Sikhs. Bounties were placed on Sikh heads, incentivizing mercenaries and soldiers to hunt them down.

To escape persecution, many Sikhs were forced to abandon their external religious identity. Some chose to shave their beards and remove their turbans, blending into the Hindu and Muslim populations as Sahajdhari Sikhs, uninitiated members of the community who practiced Sikhism privately. While some chose this path for survival, many others refused to submit to Mughal authority and instead sought refuge in remote regions.

The Shivalik Hills, located at the foothills of the Himalayas, became a sanctuary for these Sikh fugitives. Here, they formed small, nomadic warrior bands known as Jathas. These groups, initially scattered and disorganized, consisted of guerrilla fighters who engaged in small-scale skirmishes with Mughal forces, ensuring that Sikh resistance never completely disappeared.

Mata Sundari and the Reorganization of the Sikhs
During this period of extreme persecution, the Sikh community found an unexpected source of leadership and unity in Mata Sundari, the widow of Guru Gobind Singh. Recognizing the need for coordinated resistance, she played a crucial role in reorganizing the Sikh forces. Under her guidance, the fragmented Jathas were placed under the authority of the Sarbat Khalsa, a grand assembly of initiated Sikhs that convened twice a year in the sacred city of Amritsar.

The Sarbat Khalsa became the governing body of the Sikh resistance, ensuring that even in times of persecution, the community maintained its cohesion and strategic direction. This assembly provided leadership to the scattered Jathas and ensured that the Sikhs did not become permanently marginalized. Each year, despite the dangers involved, these warriors would descend from their hideouts in the mountains, traversing through enemy-occupied territories to gather at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Here, they would reaffirm their faith, take part in collective decision-making, and strategize for the future of the Sikh struggle.

Sikh Guerrilla Warfare and the Persistent Threat to the Mughals
By the late 1720s, the Mughals realized that despite their efforts, Sikh resistance had not been eradicated. Instead, it had evolved into a more formidable guerrilla force. The Jathedars, or Sikh military leaders, transformed their bands from small raiding parties into an organized military threat that launched periodic strikes on Mughal outposts, caravans, and supply lines.

The resilience of these warriors forced the Mughal authorities to remain on constant high alert. The governor of Punjab, Zakarya Khan, took particularly aggressive measures to counter the Sikh threat. His administration intensified crackdowns, increasing bounties on Sikh fighters and sanctioning mass executions. However, the very brutality of his rule only served to strengthen Sikh unity, as the persecution they faced reaffirmed their commitment to their faith and their determination to resist subjugation.

A Turning Point: The Restoration of Sikh Land and Recognition
By 1733, after nearly two decades of relentless persecution and continued Sikh resistance, Zakarya Khan recognized the futility of his campaign to eliminate the Khalsa. The constant raids by Sikh warriors had become an economic burden on Mughal resources. In an effort to bring stability to the region, he sought a compromise. The governor offered to revoke all repressive measures against the Sikhs, grant them land in southern Punjab, and bestow the title of Nawab upon a Sikh leader in exchange for their agreement to cease their raids.

The Sarbat Khalsa convened in Amritsar to deliberate on the offer. After careful consideration, they agreed to accept, choosing Kapur Singh, a highly respected military leader, as their first Nawab. This decision marked a turning point in Sikh history—after years of operating as fugitives, the Sikhs were once again recognized as a legitimate political entity.

Kapur Singh used this opportunity to reorganize the Sikh forces, ensuring that they could consolidate their strength. The various Jathas were merged into two umbrella military formations:

• The Taruna Dal (young warriors), which comprised the more active fighters who would continue to engage in military expeditions.
• The Budha Dal (veteran soldiers), which provided experience and strategic leadership.

Together, these forces became known as the Dal Khalsa, or the Army of the Pure, an entity that would later play a crucial role in the establishment of the Sikh Empire.

The Road to Sikh Sovereignty
Despite the brutal persecution they faced in the aftermath of Banda Singh Bahadur’s fall, the Sikhs refused to be vanquished. Through resilience, strategic adaptation, and unwavering faith, they not only survived the oppressive policies of the Mughal regime but ultimately emerged stronger. The period of persecution and exile proved to be a crucible that refined Sikh military and political strategies, allowing them to evolve into a formidable power.

The compromises made with Zakarya Khan in 1733 provided the Sikhs with a temporary respite, but their ambitions were far from over. Over the next several decades, they would continue to consolidate their strength, leading to the rise of the Sikh Confederacy and, eventually, the establishment of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The persecution of the Sikhs in the early 18th century was a tragic but transformative period in their history. It was during these dark times that the Khalsa demonstrated its unyielding spirit, proving that no empire, no matter how powerful, could suppress their quest for sovereignty and justice. Today, their story remains a testament to the enduring power of faith, unity, and resistance in the face of oppression.

Link to blogs in this series:

1. The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire: Part 1 – The Rise and Fall of Banda Bahadur
2. The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire: Part 2 – Sikh Persecution
3. The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire: Part 3 – Persian & Afghan Invasions

References:

1. The Sikhs by Khushwant Singh
2. A History of the Sikhs: Volume 1: 1469by1838 by Khushwant Singh
3. A History of the Sikhs: Volume 2: 1839by2004 by Khushwant Singh
4. The Sikhs of the Punjab by J.S. Grewal
5. The Sikh Gurus by Dhillon Harish
6. The Sikh World by Pashaura Singh & Arvind Pal Singh Mandair

👁️ 97 views