Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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Mughals. Under the relentless persecution launched by Emperor
Farrukh Siyar they were forced to split into small bands. This was the
beginning of the heroic guerilla warfare.
The time of the guerilla struggle was the most trying for the
movement. We would quote Hari Ram Gupta rather extensively. ‘The
Emperor then issued a general edict which was applicable to all parts
of the empire. According to it, every Sikh wherever seen was to be
immediately arrested. He was to be offered only one alternative, either
Islam or sword. It was to be executed there and then without any
hesitation or loss of time. A schedule of valuable rewards was
proclaimed. For every Sikh head Rs. 25 was to be given, and for a
Sikh captive a sum of Rs. 100/- was to be awarded’. 48
‘The emperor’s orders were strictly obeyed. The Governors of
Sarhind, Lahore and Jammu tried to surpass one another in persecution
of the Sikhs in order to win the goodwill of Farrukh Siyar. Abdul
Samad was entrusted with the supervision of this work. They took
written undertaking from the headmen of villages in their jurisdiction
not to allow any Sikh to live there. If there were some Sikhs, they
were to be arrested and sent to the neighbouring police station. In
case they could not capture them, a report was to be lodged with
Government officials about their presence. Scouts roamed about
everywhere to see that the lambardars or village headmen obeyed the
government orders. Local intelligencers were appointed to report in
secret at the nearby police or military posts. Connivance on their part
resulted in imprisonment and confiscation of property.
They declared their own lists of prizes : Rs. 10/- for supplying
information about the presence of a Sikh, Rs. 20/- for actually showing
a Sikh, Rs. 40/- for helping in his capture, and Rs. 80/- for bringing
every Sikh head’. 49
Forster writes: “such was the keen spirit that animated the
persecution, such was the success of the exertions, that the name of a
Sicque no longer existed in the Mughal dominion. Those who still
adhered to the tenets of Nanock, either fled into the mountains at the
head of the Punjab, or cut off their hair, and exteriorly renounced the
profession of their religion.” 50
‘The faithful followers of the guru experienced the worst possible