Banjara Sikhs
Bhai Dayala Das (1642-1675)
Bhai Dayala Das was born at Alipur Raj, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan in 1642, in the house of Bhai Mai Das. Bhai Mai Das was a rich Banjara trader and was the owner of Bhangeshwari Tanda, which was doing business from central Asia to Indian Sub-Continent. Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara and Bhai Mai Das was close relatives and was also business partners and was transporting the goods throughout the Asia. The good coordination between The Two tandas not only made Banjaras a very rich community, but also these tandas were spreading the Sikhism to far flung areas in the country. The family of Bhai Mai Das had been closely associated with Guru Nanak Sahib and later Bhai Mai Das was associated with Guru Arjun Sahib. Bhai Mai Das was not only a good business man but was also a great Sikh. In order to bring affluency among the Sikhs and to increase the entrepreneurship qualities among the Sikhs, Guru Arjun Sahib established 52 Kitas (Bazaar) at Amritsar and Bhai Mai Das played a significant role in establishing these trading center at Guru-da-Chhak (Amritsar). Bhai Dayala Das along with his two brothers Bhai Jetha Ji and Bhai Mani Ram Ji, met Guru Har Rai Sahib and became 100% devoted to Sikhism. Bhai Dayala Das also remained close associate of Guru Har Krishan Sahib and after the death of 8th Guru, he immediately joined the 9th Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and remained with him till the last brother. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji sat on the seat of Guru Nanak in 1664 and thereafter he was twice arrested by the Mughals, however after the intervention of Mirza Raja Ram Singh was released by the imperial army. In 1666 Bhai Dayala Das along with Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das became the companions of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji during his tour to east Indian. Guru Sahib from Monghyr wrote a letter to the Sikhs, stating that it is time for the congregation to serve the Guru. He added:
“Bhai Dyal Das Kahe
Sangat Guru ka hukam kar mannana.” (Whatever Bhai Dyal Das says, the Sangat should accept it as Guru’s command).
After the perusal of HukamNama by Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, some important facts has come out. During a visit of Guru Sahib to East India there were number of Sikh well wishers accompanying him and some of the Sikh families were present in the cities like Banaras and Patna. Even his brother in law Bhai Kripal Das also accompanied him to Patna, but the responsibility of leading the Sikh Sangat was given to a Banjara Sikh called Bhai Dayala Das, although the other Sikh disciples of Guru Sahib was elder to Bhai Dayala Das. When Bhai Dayala Das was given above said responsibility, he was just 23 years old. This clearly shows the faith of Sikh Guru in the Banjaras and these Banjaras had been associated with Sikhism, since from Guru Nanak Sahib. Bhai Dayala Das knowledge about Sikhism and its ideology was unmatched and this lead to Guru Sahib giving important responsibility to him. Besides above said responsibility, Bhai Dayala Das was collecting offerings from the Sikh Sangat and in a very efficient manner was submitting the same to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. In many of the HukamNama issued by Guru Tegh Bahadur, endorsing that Bhai Dayala Das has submitted the offerings of the Sikh Sangat to him. The militarization of Sikhism started from the time of Guru Arjun Sahib and by the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji a large army contingent of Sikh started moving along with him. Some account about the life of 9th Guru his found in the Padshah Buranjis of Assam. The name Padshah Buranjis his given to in historical document concerning the affairs of Delhi kings. In this Persian return, it is clearly mention that Guru Tegh Bahadur is accompanied with thirty thousand Sikh soldiers. Since it is a imperial document, and Aurangzeb was feeling threat from Guru Tegh Bahadur, therefore this document does not narrate the true picture in context of Guru Sahib, but the statics figures mention in it are important like thirty thousand Sikh soldiers accompany Guru Tegh Bahadur. These figure cannot be wrong as the militarization of the Sikhs took place fully by this time and it is worthwhile to mention here that the construction of Lohgarh Fort which became Khalsa Rajdhani during time of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was also in progress by the Banjara Sikhs. The Gurilla fighters were getting intensive training at Lohgarh in anticipation of a big war with the Mughals in the days to come. Banjaras acknowledge one god and look on Guru Nanak as the Supreme teacher.
After meeting of Kashmiri Pandits with Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib in 1675, Aurangzeb issued a Forman ( imperial orders) to Governor of Lahore to arrest Guru Sahib and be brought at Delhi. Although Guru Tegh Bahadur always accompanied with large number of Sikh soldiers (more than 30000), therefore it was not a easy task. Moreover faujdar of Sarhind and Kotwal of Ropar did not posses so much of army to execute the emperor’s order. Therefore these order were kept secret for some time (William Irvine in Late Mughals 79). CID was placed on Guru Tegh Bahadur and Mughal made regular spying of Guru Sahib for some months. On one day Guru Tegh Bahadur halted for the night at Muslim village Maskpur Raughara, near Ropar, at 3’ clock next morning of 12 july 1675, Bhai Dayala Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Mati Das the Guru & his three companions was arrested and hurriedly whisked army to Sarhind.
Bhai Dayala Das was brutally martyrdom along with Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib at Chandni Chowk Delhi in 1675. Bhai Dayala Das was 33 years old when he was martyrdom.
Bhai Dayala Das sustained with two sons named Bhai Kalyan Singh and Bhai Matha Singh. Both of them were martyrdom filling along with Guru Gobind Singh against Mughals in 29-08-1700 and 08-10-1700 at Anandpur Sahib.
The Bhat Vahi Jadavansian says:-
Lakhia beta Godhu Ka, Nagahia, Hem, Hari beta Lakhia ke, Naik Dhuma Beta Kahne ka Tumar Bijlant Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Mahal Nauwan ki lash uthae lae- day dia Raisina gum men adhi Garhi rain rahe.
Lakhi son of Godhu, Nagahia, Hema and Hari sons of Lakhi, Nanik Dhuma son of Kahne, timar Bijlant pick up the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth Guru and cremated it is Raisina village 12 minutes before down.
Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara (1580-1680)
Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara (1580-1680), is the greatest Sikh hero of all times, as per Karsindu Bhat Vahi, he was born at village Kherapur Sadat, Tehsil Muzzafarpur, District Alipura, Pakistan, on Saravanbadi Ashtami samat 1637 (04-07-1580), in the house of Naik Goddu. Some of Bhat Vahis also narrates that he was born at Narnaul, Haryana. Even Banjaras of Narnaul claims that he was born in South Haryana and later on shifted to Delhi for Business. There he purchase four village named Malcha, Raisina, Narela and BharaKhamba. He was very rich trader and transporter of India, having four tandas and each tanda having 50000 bulk carts. It can be easy assessed that he was employer of 4 lac Banjara. He died on Jethi Sudi Akadshi Samat 1737 (07-06-1680AD) at the age of 99 year and 10 months at New Delhi in his Malcha Palace. He had 8 sons named Bhai Nagaiya, Bhai Hema, Bhai Harhi, Bhai Pandara, Bhai Bakshi, Bhai Bala & Bhai Jawahar & daughter Bibi Seeto (Balwant Kaur), 17 grandsons and 24 great grand sons in which 32 embraced martyrdom in support of Guru Gobind Singh and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Archeological evidences of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara on all trade route Indian sub continent clear depicts that he was doing trade from central Asia to India sub continent. Banjara used to transport a 1.5 million metric tons goods thought the India. He constructed hundreds of drinking water ponds & wells in Uttar Pradesh & Central India. Banjaras used to work only for 9 months and remained stationed at their tanda village for 3 months during rainy season. Mughal currency and system both was used for business purposes by the Banjara. In 17th century Mughal empire become richest economy of world and GDP of Indian sub continent reached to highest level and it controlled 24.4% of world’s economy. Banjara’s played a significant role in raising the economic status of Mughals, as being trading community, helped in developing new market of products, moreover sine the Banjaras were nomadic and travel through the country and supply of goods. This knowledge and their trading skills helped in increasing the affluencing and slowing Banjaras became richest community in the nation. Moreover Banjara disowned varna system long ago and class category was established in tanda management system. A man was classified on the basis of duties performing and the ascribed status was not given any importance in Banjara culture. Being a best entrepreneurship community who de-owned the caste system, came easily under the influence of Banjara movement. There Banjara became close associate of redial Bhagat movement Saints like Bhagat Ravi Das Ji and Bhagat Kabir Ji. After the Guru Nanak started his mission of humanity and universal brotherhood, these Banjara, followed the path shown by Guru Nanak, at Tanda banjara Bareilly . Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara being a rich trader was the owner of four villages in Delhi named Malcha, Raisana, Baharkamba & Narela and also owned many other important trading sites in India. He was a contractor and a supplier of the Mughal Army who supplied them with weapons, horses, grains, saddles, limes, stone, bridles (rakabs) and reins. He was the main contractor for the construction of Red fort at Delhi. He was employer of more than four lacs Banjaras. He also traded in cotton and textiles. He had four trading Tanda each of which were having more than 50,000 bulk carts. One lacs armed men were engaged for the protection and management of Tanda. He used to import and export goods from central Asia to India. His grandfather Nayak Thakur was also one of the main suppliers of the Mughal Army during the reign of Akbar. Nayak Thakur of Hemu Bakal was also his close associate. Both use to trade in salt and grains in the area of Rewari and Narnaul.
Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara made inter-regional exchanges in agriculture products, construction materials and live stocks. Nahmardis of pargana of Sehwan and Chararhalos of Sind and Bhotiyas of central Himalayas traded with Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara, by exchanging lives stocks such as camel, horses, oxen, sheep, goats etc., in lieu of food grains and weapons following the barter system.
Unrecognized contribution of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara and Banjara Sikhs.
Historians have not reflected rightfully the great contribution and sacrifices which Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara did for the sake of uplift of Sikhism and Gurmat. Actually he (Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara) is a real hero of Sikh history who along with Bhai Makhan Shah Labana paid all the cost prices of different sites acquired for construction of number of forts including Lohgarh fort on behalf of his revered Sixth Sikh Guru Shri Hargobind Sahib. He supplied all types of materials including live stocks for erecting forts for defensibility of Sikh army. In case a merit list among the Sikhs is drawn in respect of their contribution towards Sikhism and Gurmat principals expansion the name of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara will be placed on the top of first position. His heroic action at the time of execution of Guru Teg Bahadur to death at Chandni Chowk in Delhi in 1675 is well known and highly appreciated among the Sikh masses. He broke the strong cordon of Mughal army around the severed body of Guru Teg Bahadur which was supposed to be cut into four pieces and hung at high places in four different corner of Delhi for the exhibition of general public. He along with his four son and thousand of men created the terror, disorder and confusion among strong security belt of Muslim security men present at site around the dead body of Guru Teg Bahadur and picked the severed head and handed it over to Bhai Jaita (Jagjivan Singh) who brought it to Anandpur Sahib. He himself loaded the trunk of Guru Sahib’s body in his cart and moved swiftly along with his Tanda towards his house in village Raisana in Delhi. He placed the body of Guru inside his house and burnt his house as pyre such to cremate it. Gurdwara Rakab Ganj erected at the place of his house. After this incident he died after five year i.e. at the age of approximately 100 years.
The number of sacrifices made by this clan of Banjara to preserve Sikhism is unparallel and unprecedent. Here over 100 Banjaras Sikhs have been listed whose contributions are cited as examples, but their number are much more. From the list we find three brothers named Bhai Dayala boiled alive in boiling hot water kept in pot, Bhai Mati das body was sawed into two pieces and Sati Das burnt alive by wrapping in burning cotton. Bhai Mani Singh was cut limbs by limbs, Bhai Jagat Singh was skinned alive and Bhai Mani Singh son Chitar Singh cut off with spokes. Their six other brothers also embraced martyrdom. Bhai Ballu sent his own brother Nanu and three sons Nathia, Dassa and Suhela with Guru Hargobind Sahib who also embraced martyrdom. Bhai Mani Singh sacrificed all his sons named Chitar Singh, Bachitar Singh, Udai Singh, Anik Singh, Ajaib Singh, Bhagwan Singh and grandsons Keso Singh, Saina Singh, Sangram Singh, Ram Singh, Mehboob singh, Fateh Singh, Albel Singh, Mehar Singh, Bagh Singh, Maha Singh, Seetal Singh and uncles Nathia’s sons Sangat Singh Bangeshwari, Ran Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Kaur Singh, Baj Singh, Sham Singh, Sukha Singh, Lal Singh, Nand Singh etc. Almost whole of the family of Bhai Mani Singh has entered the list of martyrs.
Bhai Jawahar Singh (1620- 1700)
He was born in 1620 at village Malcha, New Delhi at the house of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara . His family had been associated to Sikhism from the Guru Nanak and he learnt the lesson of Sikhism by heart and also implemented the principles of Sikhism in letter and spirit in his life. Bhai Jawahar Singh became a close associate of Guru Har Rai Sahib and even Guru Har Krishan Sahib. After the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, he played a significant role in cremating the his body at Delhi under the leadership of his father Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara. Since his father owned big trading tandas so helped his father in managing the tandas and its trade activities. Under the guidance of his father Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara accomplished many government construction Mughals Govt. Family of Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara was successful in receiving patronage of Mughals and therefore the secret mission of construction of fort Lohgarh, in which supply of material was made by Banjaras which never name under the suspicious radar of Mughals. The construction of fort Lohgarh meanwhile was in progress and Bhai Jawahar Singh and his tanda was regularly supplying the material required for the construction of fort Lohgarh. Like his father, he became a expert trader and assisting his father during trader activities through out the India Sub-Continent. He was also transporting and selling the finished products of 52 factories of Lohgarh to appropriate markets, so that the best prize for the products can be obtained. The funds raised from selling of the goods was further used for up keeping of families living in 52 villages of Lohgarh and the profit was deposited in the Khalsa common wealth which was further used for the construction of fort Lohgarh. Moreover Bhai Jawahar Singh had good knowledge about the Indian Sub Continent and its tribe and clans, therefore it helped in spread of Sikhism in far flung areas..
After the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Banjara Sikhs became hostile to Mughals and preparation of war against Mughals was started under leadership of Guru Gobind Singh. In 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh, established Khalsa Panth and the Guru took water in iron bowl, stirred it with Khanda (double-edge sword) to the recitation of bani. Mata Jito borught a plate full of patasas and with the approval of the Guru put them into water. Amrit, the nectar of immortality, was now ready. The Nectar thus prepared was administered to the five beloved from the same bowl to signify their initiation into the casteless fraternity of the Khalsa. Bhai Jawahar Singh, was among the first Sikhs to the (Amit Sanehar Nectar). Bhai Jawahar Singh, participated with Guru Gobind Singh in battle of Nadarsh 1690, Rustam Khan’s expedition against Anandpur 1691. The Husain Battle of Guler 1693, two battle of Anandpur (1694–96) in was martyrdom in battle of Nirmongarh in 1700.