Thread by @CestMoiz

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Yesterday marked the 308th anniversary of the day Sikhs, led by Banda Singh Bahadur entered the city of #Sirhind

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#Sirhind was the unfortunate witness to the martyrdom of the two younger Sahebzadas of Guru Gobind Singh at the..

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.. hands of its Governor Wazir Khan, who'd vowed to finish the Sikhs after the battle of Anandpur Saheb in 1704.

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#Sirhind
Sahebzadas Fateh Singh and Zorawar Singh were just 9 and 6 years old respectively, but stood firm to their faith like a rock.

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#Sirhind
They chose martyrdom over conversion to Islam, along with their grandmother, Mata Gujri, the wife of Guru Teg Bahadur, who ..

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.. too had earned the title 'Hind Di Chaddar' for his sacrifice.
Enraged at this dastardly act, the Sikhs vowed revenge.

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#Sirhind
Soon, in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh too was murdered by assassins thought to have been sent by the same Wazir Khan.
However, ..

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#Sirhind
.. the Guru had, shortly before his death, baptized a young ascetic, Madho Singh and given him the title, 'Banda Bahadur.'

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#Sirhind
Realizing that he was mortally wounded and wouldn't be able to punish Wazir Khan himself, Guru Gobind Singh sent Banda Bahadur ..

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#Sirhind
.. for the job shortly before he left for his heavenly abode.
In Oct 1708, Banda Singh Bahadur marched towards Punjab with ..

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#Sirhind
.. 25 Khalsas and a 'Hukumnama' enjoining Sikhs to gather under his banner. As Banda reached Delhi, thousands had gathered .

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#Sirhind
.. around him, raring to avenge the Guru and his Sahebzadas.
Sonepat, Samana, Shahbad, Mustafabad, Kapuri and Banur were soon ..

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.. subjugated. Now Banda Singh Bahadur marched towards #Sirhind to give battle to Wazir Khan, who too had marched out to meet him.

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#Sirhind
The Khalsas and the Mughals clashed at Chappar Chiri in Kharar Tehsil on 12 May 1710.
The Mughals fielded cannons and cavalry..

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#Sirhind
.. whereas the Khalsas fought with swords, spears and small arms.
It was not an easy battle. Wazir Khan fielded a strong ..

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#Sirhind
.. army, bolstered in numbers by a call to Jihad issued by Wazir Khan.
In initial stages of battle, they prevailed over the ..

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#Sirhind
.. the Khalsa, with their artillery causing many casualties.
Realising the criticality of taking out the Mughal artillery, the Sikhs ..

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#Sirhind
.. charged towards the guns. Many fell enroute, but the remaining finally silenced the Mughal artillery.
Now started a ..

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#Sirhind
.. hand to hand fight. Here too, Mughals had an upper hand due to their numbers.
At this stage, Baaj Singh, the second in ..

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#Sirhind
.. command of Banda, who was sitting atop a mound to observe and direct the battle, approached him and requested him to join..

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#Sirhind
.. the battle.
Banda Bahadur moved to the forefront of his army to give battle to the enemy.

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#Sirhind
In words of Sohan Singh, 'Then rose He (Banda) like a hungry lion from his cave & sprang upon the army like a bolt from the blue.

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#Sirhind
His appearance very much encouraged the Khalsa, whereas it struck a general terror among the enemy.

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The irresistible Banda, with a single sally changed the whole scene.'
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Encouraged by the sight of their leader, the Sikhs fell ..

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#Sirhind
.. upon their enemy with renewed vigour.
Many a Mughal were dispatched by the Khalsas.

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#Sirhind
In the words of Khazan Singh, 'When the battle was raging, a strong storm set in and with that the Singhs rushed at the enemy ..

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#Sirhind
and put them to flight.'
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'Money and baggage, horses, elephants, fell' says Khafi Khan, 'into the hands of the ..

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#Sirhind
.. infidels (Singhs) and not a man of the army of Islam escaped with more than his life and the clothes he stood in.'
Unquote

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#Sirhind
Outnumbered, out-gunned and under-equipped, yet the Khalsas prevailed over the enemy.
Wazir Khan himself fell to the sword of ..

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#Sirhind
.. Fateh Singh.
After a bloody battle lasting two days, the Singhs finally raised the victory cry and Banda Bahadur took ..

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.. formal charge of #Sirhind, which had borne the brunt of the final stages of battle as the Mughals fled Westwards from Chappar Chiri.

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On 27 May 1710, Banda Singh Bahadur held a huge 'Diwan' in #Sirhind city and proclaimed the Khalsa rule and the end of Mughal tyranny.

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#Sirhind
With this victory, 'Khalsas of Gobind' now controlled all lands between Sutlej and Yamuna.
This was the first Sikh Kingdom in ..

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#Sirhind
..the Land of Five Rivers, established after innumerable sacrifices.
God bless the souls of those that perished in those days