Question 1

Separation of the Chaar Sahibzaade - 1704

Accepted Answer

1. Wazir Khan was losing all the battles against Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Wazir Khan decided to work with the Hindu Mountain Kings to plan and capture Guru Gobind Singh Ji. 
2. Wazir Khan sent one million Mughal soldiers to Anandpur Sahib to attack Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his 10,000 Sikhs. 
3. The Mughal forces were losing many soldiers and so they used another strategy. Wazir Khan told his soldiers to stop food, clothes and water going into Anandpur Sahib. 
4. The soldiers surrounded the Fort of Anandpur Sahib for many months and eventually some of the Singhs began to struggle. These Singhs went to Guru Sahib to tell him “Guru Ji, we’ve been here too long, we have no food or water, we don’t want to die so we’ve decided to leave Anandpur Sahib”. 
5. Guru Ji told the Singhs “A Sikh is supposed to be strong, a Sikh can face anything when they believe Guru Ji is with them. If you Singhs think that by leaving Anandpur Sahib you will get happiness then sign this letter telling me that you are not my Sikhs and I am not your Guru”. 
6. 40 Singhs stepped forward to sign this letter and left Anandpur Sahib. Guru Sahib kept this letter in his kamar kassa (waist belt used to hold weapons) 
7. After the Mughals had surrounded Anandpur Sahib for 7 months, a message arrived from Aurangzeb and the Mountain Kings. The message said if the Guru and his Sikhs left the fort then they will not be harmed. This message was sent with 2 oaths. The Mughals made an Oath on the Quran and the Hindu Mountain Kings made an Oath on the Holy Cow. 
8. Guru Ji rejected this offer and told the Sikhs that we will stay here. The Sikhs had to survive with very little food and water. Some Singhs got together and discussed what should be done. Eventually they decided to get 5 Singhs to form the Panj Pyaare. 
9. The Panj Pyaare told Guru Gobind Singh Ji that we should leave Anandpur Sahib. Guru Ji had a lot of respect for the Panj Pyaare and had given them full authority since 1699 so to not disrespect them Guru Ji accepted this request. 
10. Whilst Guru Ji and his Sikhs were leaving the fort, the Mughals attacked them from behind. Guru Ji and his 2 older sons (Baba Ajit Singh Ji & Baba Jujhar Singh Ji) went to the back to fight the Mughal Army. 
11. On that day, there was a big storm. The younger Sahibzaade with Mata Gujar Kaur tried crossing the Sirsa River but were carried away down the river. Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the older Sahibzaade went to Chamkaur Sahib with 40 other Singhs.

Question 2

Shaheedi of Baba Ajit Singh Ji

Accepted Answer

1. Wazir Khan was informed that Guru Gobind Singh Ji was staying in Chamkaur Sahib with 40 other Singhs. Wazir Khan knew how strong Singhs were and so sent 1,000,000 Mughals to fight just 40 Singhs. 
2. The Mughals were losing too many men against the 40 Singhs and so Wazir Khan told them not to attack and instead to surround the fort and let no supplies in or out. 
3. Guru Ji decided that the Singhs would go out in groups of 5 to fight the 1,000,000 Mughals. In the morning, the first 5 Singhs went out to fight the Mughals. Guru Ji watched his Singhs get shaheed in battle. 
4. After a while, Baba Ajit Singh Ji decided that he was to lead the next jatha into the battle. The Singhs went to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and did a benti (request) to stop Baba Ajit Singh Ji from going into battle. Guru Ji replied “You are all my sons so sending Ajit Singh out is no different than sending another of my Sikhs out”. 
5. In the morning Baba Ajit Singh Ji went into battle. No Mughal wanted to fight Baba Ajit Singh Ji so they decided to surround him. 
6. At first, Baba Ji used his bow and arrow but when he ran out of arrows he used his spear. While fighting Baba Ajit Singh Ji’s spear broke. He then got his kirpan out and started fighting the Mughals with it. When the kirpan broke Baba Ji got his dagger out. 
7. After hours of fighting, Wazir Khan ordered his soldiers to fire arrows at Baba Ajit Singh Ji. Baba Ji smiled and held out his chest to embrace the arrows and become Shaheed. 
8. After being shot by the arrows Baba Ji turned around and looked at Guru Ji and smiled. Guru Gobind Singh Ji roared a Jaikara, "Bole So Nihaal! Sat Sri Akaal!", which could be heard by all of the villagers. Baba Ajit Singh Ji left his body to merge with Vaheguru.

Question 3

Shaheedi of Baba Jujhar Singh Ji

Accepted Answer

1. After hearing that his brother had obtained shaheedi, Baba Jujhar Singh Ji asked Guru ji “Guru Ji, I too want to go where my brother Ajit Singh has gone (Sach Khand) I would like to go out into the battlefield with my brothers”. 
2. Guru Ji looked at Baba Jujhar Singh Ji and told him “Jujhar Singh, I am so glad you asked me this. The Singhs and Kaurs of the future will remember the example you will set meaning thousands of Sikhs will be willing to give their heads for the Guru and for their Panth. Go Jujhar Singh, into the battlefield, to set this example”. 
3. The next morning, Baba Jujhar Singh Ji went out with 4 other Singhs. The Mughals were shocked as they thought Baba Ajit Singh Ji had come back to fight them. 
4. Baba Jujhar Singh Ji killed thousands of Mughals and finally obtained shaheedi. After Baba Ji had fallen, Wazir Khan ordered the elephant to move forward and crush Baba Jujhar Singh Ji’s body. 
5. All the Singhs and Mughals looked at Guru Ji expecting a tear as both of his sons had now been Shaheed but all they got was another loud roar “Bole So Nihaal! Sat Sri Akaal!”. 
6. After this Guru Gobind Singh Ji told the Singhs “I am in absolute bliss, my sons have shown me how much love they have for Vaheguru and now I too wish to merge with the One, so I will take the next jatha of Singhs into the battlefield”. 
7. The Singhs that were still left with Guru Ji were shocked and didn’t want Guru Ji to go out into the battlefield. 5 Singhs got together to form Panj Pyaare again and they told Guru Ji to leave the fort as the Sikh Panth still needs someone to guide them. 
8. Guru Ji accepted the request of the Panj Pyaare and that night Guru Ji roared into the village of Chamkaur “I am Guru Gobind Singh Ji! I am leaving this Fort now! If anyone is listening, come and catch me, fight me if you dare!”. 
9. There was a very bad storm this night but the Mughals still heard these roars and as one does not step up to fight a lion, no one stepped up to fight Guru Ji. Guru Ji and the Singhs left the Fort.

Question 4

Shaheedi of Baba Zorawar Singh Ji + Baba Fateh Singh Ji

Accepted Answer

1. Mata Gujri Ji, Baba Zorawaar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji were separated from the rest of the Sikhs.

2. Whilst walking through the jungle, they met Gangoo who used to be a cook for Guru Ji. He offered them protection in his house and Mata Gujri Ji accepted.

3. When Mata Gujri was sleeping, Gangoo stole her bag of jewels. Mata Gujri asked Gangoo what he is doing and he replied “I think someone stole your jewels”.

4. The next day, Gangoo told the Mughal soldiers that Guru Ji’s two youngest sons were at his house. They were arrested and taken to Wazir Khan who ordered them to be put in a tanda burj (cold tower).

5. The next day, the younger Sahibzaade were taken to Wazir Khan’s court. The Mughals wanted to make the Sahibzade to bow down to Wazir Khan and so they opened the smaller door, which would force the Sahibzaade to bow down.

6. The soldiers were first to walk in an purposely put their head in first. However, the Sahibzaade put their foot in first and so they did not bow to Wazir Khan.

7. When they got there, they shouted “Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh”.

8. Wazir Khan was angered and told the Sahibzaade that their father and older brothers had been killed. He told them if they convert then they will be given all the happiness in the world. They refused.

9. Wazir Khan told them “If you don’t convert then you will be put to death. Baba Zorawaar Singh Ji whispered to Baba Fateh Singh Ji “Brother, the time of shaheedi has arrived”.

10. Baba Zorawaar Singh Ji said to Wazir Khan “We know our father is alive and we do not accept your offer”.

11. Wazir Khan was angered by these words. Sucha Nand tried to persuade Wazir Khan to put them to death by saying “Look at their behavior at this age, these offsprings of a cobra should be killed”.

12. Wazir Khan said “You are right, but I want them to embrace Islam. Let us give them time to think and we shall try again”.

13. Wazir Khan ordered the Sahibzaade to be tortured in order to break their Sikhi.

14. First, the Sahibzaade were beaten with sticks that had metal coils. The Sahibzaade were heavily bleeding. They were then sent back to the tanda burj.

15. The next day, the Sahibzaade were tied up to a tree and stones were thrown at them. After that, the Sahibzaades' fingers were burnt.

16. The Sahibzaade still did not give up their Sikhi. After the torture, the Sahibzaade were sent back to the Tanda Burj.

17. The next day, the Sahibzaade were taken to the court of Wazir Khan. Sucha Nand asked the Sahibzaade “if you are released then what will you do?”.

18. Baba Fateh Singh Ji laughed and replied “We will go back to our father and get more Singhs together and then we will come here and take Wazir Khan's head”.

19. After hearing this, a fatwa (decision) was given that the Sahibzaade will be bricked alive. They were then sent back to the tanda burj to their grandmother for their final night.

20. The next day, Mata Gujjar Kaur dressed the Sahibzaade in a blue cholla. She hugged them and sent them with the guards.

21. As the Sahibzaade were walking away from Mata Gujjar Kaur, Baba Fateh Singh Ji looked back. Mata Ji asked “Fateh Singh, why are you looking back?”.

22. Fateh Singh replied “Mata Ji, you have never let me and Veer ji out of your sight, you have always taken care of me and Veer ji and we have always slept beside you. So Mata Ji when we give shaheedi then please follow us because Sachkhand will not be the same without you”.

23. Mata Ji smiled and replied “I won’t be far behind”. Mata Ji then thought of Mata Jeeto Ji (Sahibzaade’s mother) and said “Look Jeeto, today your sons are getting married to death”.

24. The Sahibzaade were then taken to Wazir Khan. Wazir Khan said “There is still time, accept Islam and you will be spared”. The Sahibzaade refused. Wazir Khan then ordered them to be bricked alive.

25. Wazir Khan tried finding anyone who was willing to brick the Sahibzaade alive but everyone refused.

26. Then Wazir Khan bribed 2 brothers, Shashal Beg and Bashal Beg, who then accepted to brick the Sahibzaade alive (These 2 brothers were later killed by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur).

27. Whilst being bricked alive the Sahibzaade started reading Jap Ji Sahib.

28. Every time the brick wall got to their shoulders, it would collapse. Wazir Khan then ordered for the Sahibzaades’ throats to be cut.

29. Baba Zorawar Singh Ji survived for 3 minutes and then went to Sachkhand. Baba Fateh Singh Ji’s feet were shaking for 12 minutes and then he went to Sach Khand.

30. After a few minutes, Mata Gujjar Kaur Ji also went to Sachkhand.

31. A man called Todar Mal wanted to cremate the Sahibzaade and Mata Ji. Wazir Khan told Todar Mal to bring him jewels and lay them out on the ground. Wazir Khan said you can only cremate the Sahibzaade and Mata Ji on the land that is covered with the jewels.

32. Todar Mal brought plenty of jewels and layed them down. He then cremated the Sahibzaade with Mata Gujjar Kaur Ji. 
 
Note: When the Sahibzaade were in the Tanda Burj, a poor man called Bhai Moti Ram Mehra Ji would sneak in and serve them milk. When Wazir Khan found out about this, Bhai Moti Ram Mehra Ji and his entire family were put on the Charkhree (wheels).
 
Note: After the Shaheedi of the Chaar Sahibzaade,  Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote the Zafarnama.
 
Note: Baba Fateh Singh Ji is the 2nd youngest Shaheed in history who knowingly and consciously laid down his life. Baba ji was a fearless Gursikh who should be a role model for every Sikh, especially children!

Question 5

Morals of Stories

Accepted Answer

• A Singh of Guru Gobind Singh Ji is capable of fighting 125,000 people at once as they have Guru Ji on their side. 
 • Never leave the Guru even if you feel you are going through a bad time – Guru Sahib gives tests to see how strong of a Sikh you are and we must pass these tests by sticking with Guru Ji! 
 • As a Sikh of the Guru, we must learn how to fight (Shastar Vidya). We must use these skills to protect others and to defend ourselves. 
 • Guru Gobind Singh Ji tells us in Sarbloh Granth that he has 5 children. Guru Ji tells us that he loves his 4 sons but he is willing to sacrifice them for his 5th child which is the Khalsa (Us!). 
 • Guru Ji is forgiving so if you make mistakes then don’t worry, as long as you are truly sorry, Guru Ji will forgive you. 
 • The Panj Pyaare are the form of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and we should respect them and see Guru Ji within them. We must accept what the Panj Pyaare tell us to do.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Sikhi Class

Chaar Sahibzaade