Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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advantages of terrain and a secure base that the Marathas had. It had
no forts. The only fortification, if this could be called a fort at all,
which Guru Gobind Singh had built at Anandpur, was lost to the
movement for ever in the last battle there. After that, not to speak
of a base or a fort, the Khalsa had not a foothold or land which it
could call its own. It appeared from and disappeared into the
villages, hideouts, jungles, and areas which were under the firm
control of the governors of Sirhind and Lahore. This area was
close to Delhi and was on the life-line of the Mughal empire which
connected its capital with Kabul. The Rajputs and the Marathas
had found to their cost that it was not feasible to fight the Mughal
might in the plains. Bhao, The Maratha Commander in the battle
of Panipat, ‘judged himself to be unequal to cope with the Shah in
the open field’. 46 The Khalsa had no alternative. Moreover, the
area had a large Muslim population whose hostility to the movement
was very natural.
The Sikh movement was virtually crushed a number of times.46a
It suffered many serious reverses. But each time, like the proverbial
phoenix, it rose from its ashes. The first setback took place when
Guru Gobind Singh had to leave Anandpur, Chamkaur and finally
Mukatsar. But, within an year and a half of the Guru’s death, the
Khalsa under Banda had conquered Sirhind and humbled the
government of Lahore. It was a miracle wrought. The Guru had sent
messages to the Singhs to join Banda in his compaign. He had
instructed Banda especially to put the revolutionaries from Majha in
the forefront of the struggle. 47 Supreme sacrifices were made by the
Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh was no more, but the ‘Promethean fire’
that he had rekindled was all ablaze.
The second occasion, when the Sikh movement was practically
crushed, was when Banda was defeated, captured and executed. It
may not be out of place to point out that Banda’s defeat was in no
small measure due to the Tat Khalsa having parted company with
him. The Khalsa forces had already been weakened by this split in
their ranks. The defeat of Banda was the final blow and the signal for
a general persecution of the Singhs by the Mughal administration.
The Khalsa was no longer in a position to take the field against the