Banda Bahadur Maligned and misunderstood

Banda Bahadur - Misunderstood and Maligned

(Sikh Ithas bina Bakwas)

When lies are repeated they become truths (temporarily).  Worse is when ingrates are from your own faith who have licked lies without thinking.  Fuddu “Sikhs” - I truly wish there was another word but this is the most apt I could think of at the moment.

Guru Gobind Singh left Punjab a broken man, not because he sacrificed his entire family for the faith; but because of betrayals and back stabbings by both Hindus and Muslims.  They were the cause of gruesome murders of his family.   In colloquial lingo Punjabis, irrespective of religion are called “thaal mootiye” or plate pissers. 

Khalsa was all but gone.  And that would have been the end of Sikhs and at the mercy of Islamic fanatics - who had strong and seasoned soldiers from all over India ready to wipe out kafirs.

As fate would have it, the Guru met Banda Bahadur, and as is the case in that area, the meeting has different versions.  I will let petty people squabble over the gossip laced tales.  I am more interested in the bigger picture.  If Gobind Singh was the spark that ignited the Khalsa, Banda Bahadur is the wild fire that burnt the fanatic weeds to ashes.

Here is a thought provoking look at the situation.  Gobind Singh had a brilliant mind and had excellent philosophical and practical acumen.  Why did he overlook his remaining “panj piyare” or the beloved one and other followers, and chose Banda Bahadur.  He must have seen leadership qualities that he entrusted his creation under his command.   Either Khusralsa needs to admit that he made a bad decision or shut up.  I will digress and rebuke Hindus, who don’t have a hero from their community for centuries.  They spread lies that Banda was not baptized.  Hindus need to make heroes and not claim others.  Maybe then, they will be able to break the shackles of their misery and humiliations.

Banda was a great warrior who defeated Mughal armies and their lapdogs in Haryana and Punjab.  He kept his promise to the Guru and dispatched the cruel chiefs and reduced their areas to rubble. Travelers who witnessed the battles and his capture were impressed by his zeal.  How can Khusralsa point finger at him when all they do is gorge on langar, steal money and wallow like pigs in gurudwaras?

The first allegation is that he killed “innocent Muslims”.  Maybe, but why is Khusralsa more worried about this than the murders of Gurus and Sikhs?  The second allegation is that forcefully converted Muslims who were forcefully converted Hindus!  People in this area don’t have loyalty to faith.  To them it is an amulet for personal gain or safety.  Many, if not most, converted out of fear.  It happened by the thousands on both sides of the border during partition as well.  The muslims were not ‘innocent’; maybe they were “civilians”.  Often, these civilians were combatants, marauders or looters.  These ‘innocent’ are vicious mobs ready to kill, lynch and maim for rumors.  It happens to this day.  The majority of killings were done by ‘civilians’ in 1947 and 1984.

Finally, Banda was captured in Gurdas Nangal after a lengthy siege, along with his toddler son tortured, and executed.  He did not flinch.  If he wasn’t loyal to the Guru, he could have easily saved himself and his son.  The sow litters of today are sell outs.  Why was he finally defeated?  Plate pissers betrayed him or “abandoned” him.  Just like today in Punjab, plate pissers, will kill their own out of jealousy, for token or monetary gains and all movements in Punjab have failed and sabotaged from within.  Any political or power struggle brings the worst in these people and they resort to petty allegations to cause rift and sow discord.  Banda fell victim to the same.

Mudslinging, jealousy, intrigue by whatever means, are the only arsenal in Khusralsa’s strategy.  It is alleged that he changed the “salutation” to “Guru Fateh”; or victory to the Guru.  There is no historical record and even if he did,  what is wrong with it?  He didn’t say Banda Fateh.  Also, about half of Guru’s sikhs stayed and died with him.  Why would they?  And this coming from bastards who have turned gurudwaras into whore houses and drug dens!   Daily, they twist and blaspheme their holy book.  Only when you actually fight for the faith, can you criticize Banda.  First sign of trouble and these litters run away with tails between their legs.

The second bakwas is that Malerkotla was spared because of alleged utterance of Guru.  A counter point is that a Brahmin for money, surprise!, spread the rumor to save the state. Do note that the nawab of the state fought against the sikhs and didn’t act to save the Guru’s sons.  All he did was lip service for whatever reason.  It is often quoted that the Guru advised not to trust a Muslim  who is a compulsive liar.  An analogy of innumerable sesame seeds on an oily arm is the countless lies a Muslim lives by, is attributed to the Guru.  What or who to believe?  

Foolish fuddus are not capable of seeing the truth and repeat bakwas and lies that others have spread.  Next time, beards are pulled and turbans are knocked, remember it is punishment for being platepissers with petty minds.  Those who stray from their dharma are reduced to a bleating mess.  That is the condition of so called sikhs, who routinely suffer indignity even in their own homeland.  They have become pariahs and lost their homes time and again - chased like stray dogs in 1947 and 1984.  Punishment for blasphemy of not celebrating heroes and committing the sin of misjudging and maligning. 

Banda’s sacrifice rekindled the Sikh cause.  If it wasn’t for him, the ‘randi rona” or widow wailing of Khusralsa would have been on the banks of Yamuna or Ganga.  They would be groveling to get into all their religious places.