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Minister of State for Culture in an event organized by the National Monuments Authority (NMA) released ‘Banda Singh Bahadur Martyrdom Monument Poster’ ahead of his 306th Martyrdom Day on 9th June.
Who was Baba Banda Singh Bahadur?
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was born in the Rajput family (1670, Rajouri). His original name was Baba Madhav Das, and he was a Bairagi Sadhu.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji sent Banda Singh to Punjab in 1708. He was advised to put an end to the cruelty of Punjab rulers, punish the guilty and cruel misrulers and fight for human rights, empower and strengthen the poor, the low and slave-like people who could not even imagine freedom.
He established his authority and Khalsa rule in Punjab and abolished the zamindari system. Under his leadership, Sirhind was conquered by the Sikhs from mughals.
He was the first Sikh military leader to wage an offensive war against the Mughal rulers of India, thereby temporarily extending Sikh territory.
Martyrdom
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his son Ajai Singh were martyred on 9 June 1716 along with his other 18 companions near a gate en-route to the tomb of the so-called Sufi saint Qutub-ud-din Bakhtiar kaki at Mehrauli.
His glorious martyrdom validates Bhagat Kabir’s rendition in Guru Granth Sahib.
Memorial
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial is at Chappar Chiri, Mohali which is a tribute to the brave Sikh warrior under whose command the Battle of Chappar Chiri was fought between the Sikhs and the forces of the Mughal Empire led by Wazir Khan in May 1710.
With a decisive victory in this war, Sikh rule was established from Lahore to Delhi
Source: The post is based on the article “Release of Banda Singh Bahadur Martyrdom Monument Poster ahead of his 306th Martyrdom Day organized by National Monuments Authority” published in PIB on 3rd June 2022.
