Thread by @cbkwgl

So, as like everything else, we were taught lies about Mahant Narain Das(the old man in the image) and Saka Nankana, then.

What we were told? He and his Pathan mercenaries attacked the Akalis who marched on Nankana and massacred them on Feb 20 1921. What was the trigger? Do we know?

What are the charges of the Akalis? Appropriation. Any proofs? We don't know. But, one thing is certain. Nankana's revenue is 5 lakhs and everyone would want that. But, more importantly, he refused to become Keshdhari.

This is never told. The Gurudwara was attacked in November 1920 for the first time.

With the next attack coming any moment, what would any responsible person do? Petition the police for help and support.

But, the Akalis are Jats, the backbone of British Army in India!! Britain refused to intervene.

Britain decided to wash off it's hands and directly said, we are not here to arbitrate over religious matters and then said, we can only intervene if there is violence.

The poor old man, what can he do? The government doesn't support in protecting what is legally his, the community is goaded against him - he did best what he deemed fit - hired mercenaries.

The eventual confrontation came. Even then, the Mahant seems to have tried to avoid confrontation.

The Akalis were in no mood to listen and the Mahant's men were really good. The Akalis were hunted and slaughtered. The bodies were piled and burnt. 86 Akalis died that day.

The violence happened finally for the British to act. But, the victim became the aggressor here!! The Akalis are baying for his blood and bands are rushing towards Nankana, armed to the teeth. The British cordoned off Nankana with threats of opening fire at the Akali bands.

The Akalis didn't listen and a troop of above 2000 barged into the town. The British had no option but to surrender.

Now Akalis say that they tried to negotiate with him and Narayan Das didn't listen. Why would a person talking from a position of strength listen when the only option presented to him is surrender?

So, Narayan Das was arrested along with 26 of his mercenaries. He was hanged to death.

Saka Nankana is a powerful image in consolidation of support for Akalis and the movement expanded massively after this.

Who is guilty here? The Akalis who provoked? The British who refused to act? Or the Old Mahant who is cornered and is receiving no help from any quarter? It's the narrative ultimately - and the narrative we were fed is that the Mahant is the only one to blame.

Now, how did the Akalis take this? Not just outrage. They bayed for more blood in revenge. Did they ever accept their guilt? In fact, just before the massacre, the Mahant tried to dissuade them from entering the area. So, the question still needs an answer - who is to be blamed?

100 years into future, what we have is only mythology with details getting added by the day.