Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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time in their history. Hunted like hare and pursued like wild beasts
they wandered from place to place seeking shelter to save themselves
from the fury of the government, from the revenge of the hostile
Muslim population, and from the greed of the toady Hindus.’ 51
‘If anybody enquired of a Hindu woman how many sons she
had, she would reply that she had three sons, but one of them had
become a Sikh. Thereby she meant that the converted one should be
considered among the dead.’ 52
‘Majha, the homeland of the Sikhs, was completely ruined.’ 53
“A wonderful and terrible trial indeed, from which the weak came
out strong, from which the strong came out sublime. There were many
great deeds done in the small struggles of life. There was a determined
though unseen bravery, which defended itself foot to foot in the
darkness, noble and mysterious triumphs which no eye could see.” 54
It has been estimated that the number of these guerillas was at
one time reduced to about two thousand men. 55 From this small force,
they grew from strength to strength and not only challenged the Mughal
empire, but became the masters of the country right upto the bank of
Jamuna. To quote Gupta again: “Thus had the Sikhs emerged
triumphant from their deadly struggle of the past thirty years; and the
long-drawn agony of their subjection came to an end, and the dream
of their independence was realized. They had admirably succeeded in
holding their own and in steadily pursuing their course, notwithstanding
the hosts of terrors and disasters that gathered themselves together,
not only to check their ardour and to intercept their progress, but also
to bring them to the verge of annihilation. Surging floods of opposition
rose and increased; the impetuous rains of consternation descended
and fell; the rending storms of desperation blew and reged; and all
these opposing elements struck and beat upon them; but they could
not shake the sturdy Sikhs standing on the steel-like rock of faith and
freedom. The internal vigour consisting of their dogged faith in
themselves and in the prophecy of Guru Gobind Singh that they would
one day become a nation, their determined courage and unconquerable
spirit of resistance, not only sustained them against the bloody
persecution of a great Government determined to suppress them, but