Fatehgarh Sahib Shaheedi Jor Mel- a tribute to younger sahibzadas’ martyrdom-Puri
Jaswant Singh Puri
Shaheedi Jor Mel or Shaheedi Sabha is a three day annual religious congregation organized every year at Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib in the Fatehgarh Sahib district on 26th,27th and 28th December to commemorate the sacrifices and martyrdom of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the youngest sons of the Tenth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The two younger sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who were martyred on December 27, 1705 symbolise the tyranny of the Moghul rule. Lacs of devotees, irrespective of caste and religion, pay their obeisance and homage where nine year old Zorawar Singh and seven year old Fateh Singh were bricked alive on the advice of Sucha Nand. Nawab Wazir Khan ordered the innocent and young children to be bricked alive. The news was given to their grandmother Mata Gujar Kaur ji by Diwan Todar Mal and proved fatal for her .
It was Diwan Todar Mal, Hindu Merchant of Sirhand, who on 13 December, 1705 performed the cremation of the three martyred bodies of Baba Zorawar Singh, Baba Fateh Singh and Mata Gujr Kaur Ji. The wealthy merchant had to cover the required ground for cremation with gold coins to get the release of three bodies. Todar Mal forsake everything for his love of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. That is why the Sikhs hold Dewan Todar Mal in High esteem. To perpetuate the memory of the noble minded Seth, a road in Sirhand town and a hall in Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib have been named after him.
The victory and valour of the other two sons Jujhar Singh and Ajit Singh who were martyred in Chamkaur Sahib teach us to remain steadfast, strong and patient and adhere to the principles even in the most trying situations and hardships of life. The sacrifices imbibe in us the spirit to fight against injustice and tyranny. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji uttered:
“ਇਨ ਪੁਤਰਨ ਕੇ ਸੀਸ ਪਰ ਵਾਰਦੀਏ ਸੁਤ ਚਾਰ
ਚਾਰ ਮੂਏ ਤੋ ਕਿਆ ਹੂਆਜੀਵਤ ਕਈਹਜ਼ਾਰ।”
“I have sacrificed my four sons.
So what if my four sons are martyred
When thousands of Singhs are alive.”
The annual congregation at Fatehgarh Sahib reminds us how the two younger sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji were bricked alive who refused to give up their religion and embrace Islam by the Mughal Subedar of Sirhind, Wazir Khan. He offered them treasure and comforts of the world if they embrace Islam religion but they refused boldly and stuck to their faith in Sikhism. Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, north of the Sirhand marks the site of their live entombment. Their mortal remains were cremated at a nearby place where Gurudwara Jyoti Sarup is situated.To pay homage to the valiant innocent martyrs a Golden Palaquin of ‘PanjPyaras’is taken out in pageant which moves from the Gurudwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib to Gurudwara Sri Jyoti Sarup. The Shaheedi Jor Mel is accompanied with performances of martial arts known as ‘Gatika’. So the community that is replete with valiant, vigorous, enthusiastic and heroic personalities is sure to move ahead with prosperity. That is why the vanity and egoism and the high-sounding pride of the Mughals was shattered.
The First day of the congregation is observed purely in religious spirits. Earlier, the second day was reserved for rallies and meetings by political parties. But recently, this system has stopped and only tributes to younger Sahibzadas are paid peacefully. Shiromani Gurudwara Management Committee arranges congregation programs where Sikh Preachers, ‘Raagis’, ‘Dhadi Jathas’ sing Shabads and narrate the history of the Sikh culture. Peopleof adjoining areas organize ‘Langar’ which is served on the way to lacs of people. Women folk prepare food in Community Kitchen and serve with full faith to ‘Sangat’.
The cooperation and enthusiasm of locals is seen during the fair with full affection and fervor. An important custom of Shaheedi Jor Mel is the organization of ‘Akhand Path’ to get the blessings of divine souls who were martyred.
Even Prime Minister of India has announced to celebrate ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ on the martyrdom of younger sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The P.M. will participate in a programme at Major Dhayan Chand National Stadium, Delhi on December, 26. He will also flag off a march past by over 3000 children. Interactive programmes will be held to educate the citizens about the exemplary courage of the younger sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The history of Sirhand goes back to before Christ times but its growth was witnessed from 1000 A.D. to 1764 A.D. when it was finally razed to the ground. Wazir Khan’s involvement of attack on Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708 A.D. led to his death and with this the destruction of Sirhand followed. Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s prophesy about Sirhand proved true and its wreckage was scattered over the entire area between Yamuna and Satluj. It was Banda Singh Bahadur who formed a peasant army and fought battles as ordained by the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs. Sirhand was ultimately captured in January 1764 by the Khalsa Army. Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib had a small gathering initially in 1800 A.D. but it grew to manifold with the passage of time.
Fatehgarh Sahib Shaheedi Jor Mel- a tribute to younger sahibzadas’ martyrdom-Puri. The holy ambience of the Gurudwara is uplifting.The visiting devotees are a force of determination that none can weaken the Sikh community who are ingrained with full faith in the tenets and principles of Sikhism. The legacy of the sacrifice should pervade through the generation to generation.
Note: This article is dedicated to Smt. Alka Puri, M.A. (Hindi, B.Ed.) who was the Secretary, Ladies Club, Punjabi University, Patiala during the tenure of Vice Chancellor Dr. S.S. Johal, awarded with Padma Bhushan in 2004. Smt. Alka Puri was the wife of Dr. Ajit Singh Puri and mother of Jaswant Singh Puri.
(The views expressed are personal)
December 26,2022
