Lohgarh - Khalsa Rajdhani, Lohgarh fort - Lohgarh Trust by S. Daljeet Singh Bajwa (books that read to you .TXT) 📕

Lohgarh - Khalsa Rajdhani, Lohgarh fort - Lohgarh Trust

LOHGARH

THE WORLD’S LARGEST FORT

 

 

 

(The Capital of the Sikh Kingdom)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harjinder Singh Dilgeer Gagandeep Singh Gurvinder Singh

 

 

LOHGARH

THE WORLD’S LARGEST FORT

 

 

 

(The Capital of the Sikh Kingdom)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harjinder Singh Dilgeer Gagandeep Singh Gurvinder Singh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haryana Academy of History & Culture

Kurukshetra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lohagarh Fort History

 

© HAHC              I              2017

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used in any form without the written permission of the authors and the publishers.

 

 

ISBN : 978-81-920611-0-8

 

 

Published in India by :

Haryana Academy of History & Culture Gulzari Lal Nanda Centre, Arjun Chowk, Kurukshetra-136118

Telefax : 01744-251650

Email : [email protected]

 

 

Printed in India by :

 

 

 

 

Contents, views, facts etc. are not necessarily those of the Haryana Academy of History and Culture. Indeed they are of the authors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For

Lakhi Rai Vanjara

The unsung great hero of the South Asia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Thanks

 

Sh. Manohar Lal

(Chief Minister, Haryana)

 

Sh. Rajesh Khullar, IAS

(Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Haryana)

 

Prof. Darshan Singh

(Professor Emeritus, Punjab University, Chandigarh)

 

Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar

(Professor Emeritus, Kurukshetra University & Director, Haryana Academy of History and Culture, Kurukshetra)

 

Prof. Vishav Bandhu

(DAV College, Amritsar)

 

Prof. Rajiv Lochan

(Punjab University Chandigarh)

 

Prof. Veena Sachdeva

(Punjab University Chandigarh)

 

Prof. Kulwinder Singh Bajwa

(Former Head, Deptt. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala)

 

Prof. Subhash Parihar

(Kotkapura)

 

Jarnail Singh Khalsa

(Yamuna Nagar)

 

S.Gurmit Singh

(Retd. Sr. Scientist DRDO, Ministry of Defense,  Govt. of India)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

 

 

 

 

Message Chief Minister Haryana                                                 13

Foreword & Acknowledgements                                                15

Introduction                                                                                  19

Chapter 1

Lohgarh : The Largest Fort of The World                                   23

Geographical Map of Lohgarh 24

Walls, Security and Defense of Lohgarh Fort

Amar Vails (Immortal Veins) 25 Secret Passages 26 Water System 26 Hand Mills, Oil Presses And Utensils 26 Food Grains And Other Stuff 27 Signs Of Weapons And Toy Factory 27 Who Was The Owner of The Lohgarh Fort, Dabar

And The Land Around It?                                                    28

Who Built Lohgarh Fort & How Much Time? 29 Who Was Lakhi Rai Vanjara? 30 History of the Sikh Vanjaras 32 Role of Pir Budhu Shah 35 Mukhlisgarh and Lohgarh 38 Birth of Ram Rai, Rup Kaur And Guru Harkishan

Sahab ji                                                                               38

Chapter 2

Structure and Location of The Lohgarh Fort                              42

The Western Side of the Fort 45 The Southern Side of the Fort 46 The Eastern Side of the Fort 47

Chapter 3

Founding of Lohgarh Fort                                                            53

Release of Guru Hargobind Sahab and the Heads

of the States                                                                        53

Battle of Ruhila 55 Purchase of Land For Establishment of Keeratpur 56

Chapter 4

Banda Singh Bahadur’s Journey from Nanded to Lohgarh       58

Banda Singh Joins Sikh Faith 59 Banda Singh initiated into Sikhism 60 Banda Singh Leaves Nanded 61 Banda Singh Captures Royal Treasury 62 Victory of Samana 63 The Sikhs Capture Ghuram 66 Attack on Thaska 66 Thanesar and Shahbad-Markanda Subjugated 67 Mustafabad Occupied 67 Attack on Kunjpura 68 Victory of Kapuri 69 Sadhaura Falls to the Sikhs 70 Banda Singh Declares Lohgarh as the Capital

of the Sikh Kingdom                                                            72

Role of the Vanjaras of the Dabar Zone 73

Chapter 5

Banda Singh Bahadur’s Actions From The Lohgarh Fort           76

Preparations for Attack on Sarhind 76 Malerkotla Army Attacks the Sikhs of Majha 77 Battle of Chappar Chiri and Occupation of Sarhind 78 Banda Singh’s Treatment of the Muslims 84 The Sikh Rule & Promulgation of an Egalitarian

System                                                                              86

First Sikh Coin Issued 86 Sikh Expeditions in Deoband,

Saharanpur and Jalalabad                                                   89

Punishing the Pirzaadas of Behat 90 Buria Becomes Gulab Nagar 91 Sikh Actions in Lahore and Riarki Area 93 Jihad (holy war) Against the Sikhs 95

Chapter 6

Mughal Action Against The Sikhs                                              101

Bahadur Shah Receives Reports of Sikh Victories 102 Bahadur Shah Himself Leads Expedition Against

the Sikhs                                                                            108

Loss of Rahon 110 Loss of Taravri 112

- First Battle of Lohgarh 1710 to 1712                                    113

Attack on Lohgarh Fort 123 Propaganda about Occupation of Lohgarh Fort 129 Why Did Banda Singh Leave Lohgarh 130 Bahadur Shah Orders Massacre of The Sikhs 131 The Fate of The Ruler of Nahan 131

Chapter 7

The Emperor Leads Campaign Against the Sikhs                      138

The Emperor Plans A Cantonment At Ropar 139 Rumour Of Banda Singh’s Plan To Occupy Delhi 140

Chapter 8

Banda Singh After Leaving Lohgarh                                          145

Banda Singh Subjugates Hill States 145 Killing of The Chiefs of Jammu And Sultanpur Lodhi 147 Sikh Army Again Captures Batala And Kalanaur 149

Chapter 9

Death of Emperor Bahadur Shah                                                154

Battle For Succession 163

Chapter 10

Banda Singh Bahadur’s Return to Sadhaura and Lohgarh         166

Second Attack on Sadhaura Fort by the Mughal Army 169

Chapter 11

Third Mughal Expedition Against The Sikhs                             172

Murder of Emperor Jahandar Shah

Farukhsiyar Becomes The Emperor                                   172

Farukhsiyar Forgives Abdus Samad Khan

and Sends Him After Banda Singh Bahadur                         174

Third Mughal Attack on Sadhaura Fort 177 Martyrdom of Bhai Fateh Singh 181

Chapter 12

Third Mughal Attack on Lohgarh                                                183

Why Did Banda Singh Leave Lohgarh In 1713? 185

Chapter 13

The Last Battles of Banda Singh Bahadur                                 189

Chapter 14

Battle of Gurdas Nangal and Arrest of Banda Singh Bahadur   197

 

Siege of Gurdas Nangal Banda Singh and Sikhs Inside the Fortress Capture of Banda Singh and his Companions Banda Singh was Immediately Fettered Farukhsiyer celebrated the Arrest of Banda Singh The Scene of Procession of the Sikhs Prisoners Execution of the Sikh Prisoners Banda Singh and Sikh Prisoners Statements

 

 

Declaration of Captured Sikh Youth Royal Rewards for those who Captured Banda Singh Who Demolished Lohgarh How Much

Chapter 15Demolition of Lohgarh                                                             217

Time Did It Take?                                                               217

Chapter 16Situation After The Demolition of Lohgarh Fort                  220Chapter 17Contribution of Banda Singh Bahadur                                       222

Banda Singh and Islam 224

Appendix                                                                                       226

Mughal Royals & Generals who

fought against the Sikhs                                                        226

EPILOGUE                                                                                    228

Places associated with Banda Singh Bahadur& His Companions                                                                        229Banda Singh Bahadur : A Poem by Rabinder Nath Tagore          233List of 52 Bastions of Lohgarh                                                    236State of Garhwal and the Sikhs                                              238Folk Song on Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara                                          241

Glossary                                                                                        242

Bibliography                                                                                 247Maps and Photo section

Illustrated Evidences of Lohgarh and Kingdom

of Baba Banda Singh.                                                          253

Epicentre map of (Zone 2) 254 Route Map of Sikh Tandas to Import supplies

 

to Lohgarh.                                                                         255

Territory of Sikh Kingdom 255 Muklishgarh and Lohgarh maps, Pictures and Details 256 Lohgarh’s Bastion at village Mansoorpur(Zone 3) 258 Lohgarh’s Bastion at village Bhawan (Zone 3) 262 Pictures of some of the 52 bastions of Lohgarh 264 Walls and other remants of Lohgarh Fort 269 Dams and Water preservation System 272 Pottery, Chakki, Bricks

Pottery etc. Found at Lohgarh (Zone 2 & Zone 3)                                276

Places related to Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara 281 Wells of Lakhi Rai 283 Palaces of Massa Rangar & Other Rangars

Buriya town                                                                         284

Gurudwara Gorakpur(Pinjor) and Sikh Bastions 285 News cutting and the Lohgarh Trust 286

Index                                                                                              287

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message

Chief Minister, Haryana

 

Maharana Partap, Shivaji and Banda Singh Bahadur are among the great heroes who resisted and opposed the subjugation of India by foreign invaders. Their contribution cannot be forgotten. For Haryana, Banda Singh Bahadur has special importance, because, he had his capital in this region and many of his victories were in what forms Haryana today. My ancestors were also a part of the Banda Bahadur’s army. I am proud of this heritage.

The Fort of Lohgarh is perhaps among the greatest Forts of the world. The campaign to capture it kept the mighty Mughal Empire engaged for six long years, a campaign that eventually destroyed the Mughal army, drained their treasury and shattered their economy.

The region that forms Haryana has been the epicentre of important events in India’s history. It is the cradle of India’s rich civilizational heritage. The unfolding of the historical facts related to the great hero, Banda Singh and the Lohagarh Fort are bound to make all Haryanvis proud.

In our effort to pay our humble tribute to Banda Bahadur the government has planned to set up at Lohgarh, a memorial and a befitting museum and also a school of martial arts. Several other projects are also planned for Lohgarh and the region around it.

When I learnt that this great chapter of our history did not have any good study in a published form, the government assigned the task to Gagandeep Singh, District Development & Panchayat Officer, Yamuna Nagar. This was done because Gagandeep had conducted extensive surveys and research in the area and come out with several important

 

 

new facts. To complete the task in an academically sound manner, Gagandeep associated Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, a reputed historian and scholar to complete the task of bringing out a history of the Lohgarh Fort. Dr. Dilgeer has been ably supported by Gagandeep Singh, Gurvinder Singh, Gurmit Singh and Jarnail Singh in the completion of this important study.

The Haryana Academy of History and Culture has done well to take up the task of publishing the volume.

I am confident this volume will fill a critical gap in the history of Haryana’s rich legacy. I also hope this volume will be useful not just for the students of history, but also for those who are interested in reading about our brave legacy and great heritage.

 

 

Manohar Lal

Chief  Minister, Haryana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreword & Acknowledgements

 

 

 

Banda Singh Bahadur changed the history