Thread by @Jainismrevival

#JainPersonalities

An Epitome of #Humanity: Diwan Todarmal

Who laid 78000 Gold coins to buy 4 yards of land to cremate the bodies of #Sikh Guru Gobind Singh's 2 sons & his mother in 1704 CE; who were executed & denied last rites as they refused to convert into #Islam
#Thread

Seth Todarmal was born in an Oswal #Jain Shwetambar family in Punjab (exact city vary in diff sources) & his ancestors were wealthy Traders. In 1630CE, Emperor Shah Jahan promoted him to the post of Diwan-cum-Faujdar in Sirhind, Punjab. (A biopic on him was released in 2023).
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In 1658, as soon as Aurangzeb got the throne, he replaced all the bureaucrats with Muslims. He dismissed Diwan Todarmal & appointed Wazir Khan. Hence, Todarmalji stayed in his Jahazi Haveli at Sirhind & continued his business.
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Guru Gobind Singh's 2 younger sons (6 yrs Joravar & 9 yrs Fateh) were arrested in 1704 CE by Nawab Wazir khan for refusing to convert into #Islam. They were walled & executed by Nawab Wazir. On hearing the death of her innocent grandsons, grandmother Gujari died out of shock
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A head resembling that of Guru ji was brought to Sirhind & it was rumoured that he was killed, while it actually was Sangat Singh. On the other hand, Guruji reached Machhiwara in the darkness of the night.
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When Nawab got to know Todarmal was going to perform the last rites he announced that no mughal land be given for cremation. Land owners around Sirhind Fort didn't allow Todarmal to hold cremation in their fields. Atlast a Chaudhari Atta agreed to sell a plot with a condition
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He give as many gold coins that would cover the land needed. When Todarmal started placing them, he demanded to place them vertically! Spending all his fortune, with 78,000 coins he bought 4 yards & cremated Guruji's mother & his sons. Costliest land ever bought in history!
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Todarmal cremated them with due respect & put the ashes in an urn buried there. The burial site is now marked by a beautiful Gurudwara Jyoti Saroop at Fatehgarh Sahib, near Sirhind. In spite of this act of humanity everyone kept distance from Sethji out of fear of persecution
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Todarmal however had to bear the wrath of Wazir Khan, he & his family abandoned his Jahaz haveli after this incident & faded into oblivion, with this dilapidated building being their only reminder. In the coming years, the haveli fell into rapid disrepair & collapsed.
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They moved to Machhiwara administered by Sodhi dynasty then. He bought a piece of agricultural land and built a small house near Shitala Mata mandir at Mohalla Game Shah. His 9th generation Balraj Chopra and his wife Mrs.Bimala reside there now.
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Diwan Todarmal had relinquished his entire wealth to get a small piece of land to perform last rites of the Sahebzades of Guru Gobind Singh & his mother Mata Gujari. Guru Gobind Singh passed away in 1708 CE
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Even today Diwan Todarmal is deeply respected by the Sikhs. 'Diwan Todarmal Jain Memorial Hall', a congregation hall has been constructed at this historic Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib by the SGPC. A road in Sirhind Town is also now named after him.
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The Jahaz Haveli of TodarMal is situated on the eastern side of Sirhind-Ropar Railway line, a km away from Fatehgarh Sahib, lying dilapidated. In 2010, efforts were taken by the #Sikh community to restore it.
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Ps: Diwan Todarmal was not a Sikh nor a Digambar (confusing him with Pandit Todarmal a scholar), Raja Todarmal in Akbar' court preceeded Diwan Todarmal. Many Punjabis/Sikhs are unaware of their #Jain roots/lineage as they hv adapted or converted to other faiths going forth.
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