“Chaar Sahibzade” – Children of India

Four young lads, closest to their father, Guru Gobind Singhji, following his footsteps to protect Hindus and their rights, all the four sons died a heroic death fighting and not submitting to Mughals for conversion to Islam.

Background: On 20^th December 1704, Guru Gobind Singhji with 400 sikhs had to leave Anandpur Sahib in Punjab; as all supplies of food and ammunition were cut. He along with his soldiers and children were promised a safe passage to leave Anandpur Sahib by Mughals by an oath signed by Emperor Aurangzeb sworn over Quran...but these proved meaningless as they all were brutally attacked by lakhs of Mughal troops who were fully equipped with arms and ammunition.

Guru Gobind Singhji had written to Aurangzeb when he broke his promise. The verses are in Zafarnamah!!

“13: Aurangzeb! I have no trust in your oaths anymore. (You have written that) God is one and that He is witness (between us).
14: I don’t have trust equivalent to even a drop (of water) in your generals (who came to me with oaths on Koran that I will be given safe passage out of Anandgarh Fort). They were all telling lies.
15: If anyone trusts (you) on your oath on Koran, that person is bound to be doomed in the end”

Enveloped by bitter cold and facing continuous rain, only 42 out of 400 sikhs along with GuruGobind Singhji and his two elder sons crossed the swollen Sirsa river. After crossing Sirsa river, Guruji & Panj (five)Pyaras, took shelter in a mud house owned by two brothers Chaudhari Roop Chand and Jagat Singh.

21^st December 1704, Battle of Chamkaur: This house on a hilltop in Chamkaur, became their fortress where Mughals attacked. To face 10 lakh troop on Mughal army led by Wazir Khan, Sikhs in groups of five used to move forward. Demonstrating gallantry and valiance, they used to kill lakhs at a go... This is where Guruji passed a statement, “Sava lakh se ek ladau, tabhe gobind singh naam kahau”.

In the battle of Chamkaur, both the elder sons of Guru Gobind Singhji - Sahibzada Ajit Singh (18 years) and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh (14 years) were martyred. They fought till their last breath and showed utmost bravery by slitting the enemy soldiers into two by just a blow of their sword.

Battle of Chamkaur was amidst the 13 battles which were fought against Mughals to stop the conversion drive of Hindus, driven by Aurangzeb who wanted Guru Gobind Singhji to be beheaded in order to declare his victory.

After this battle, on 22^nd December night, Guruji left along with eleven Sikhs as his mission wasn’t yet accomplished.. on other side Mughals thought that the entire Sikh troop along with Guru Gobind Singhji have been killed.

26^th December 1704: The Younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Sahibzada Zorawar Singh who was 9 years old and Sahibzada Fateh Singh - 7 years old along with their grandmother, who had got separated by Guruji while crossing the river. However later, they managed to cross the river and were given shelter by their former cook who betrayed them by handing over young Sahibzadas to Wazir Khans agents.

They were asked to accept Islam, if done so, will be given all the luxuries and comforts to lead a cosy life. The tender-aged, young sahibzadas who could have been easily lured; refused to surrender to the demands of Wazir Khan. Thus both little boys were cruelly and inhumanely executed by the Mughal ruler of Sirhind by building a wall of brick and mortar around them, putting them inside a tomb alive. They were left to die a slow torturous suffocating death.

Sahibzadas are grandsons of Guru Teg Bahadurji who got beheaded in Chandani Chowk protecting all the Pandits from conversion to Islam.

The place where the two sons of Guru Gobind were Martyred is today known Fatehgarh Sahib.

The martyrdom of Sahibzada Fateh Singh at a tender age has been the youngest ever voluntary sacrifice in order to protect Hinduism, which is known to very few.  

Earlier this month, December 2018, Over 100 Members of Parliament have signed a petition to celebrate children’s day in name of four Sahibzade. It has been requested to observe 26^th December as Children’s day.