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Outnumbered Sikh battles

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This is a list of battles in which outnumbered Sikh forces won.

Lahira (4,000 VS 36,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Lahira

The sixth sikh guru Guru Hargobind had started creating a sikh army after what the mughals had done to Guru Arjan, the fifth guru. As Guru Hargobind became famous, the mughals started creating tensions with the sikhs. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan sent Husein Beg with Lala Beg with an army of 36,000.[1] Guru Hargobind only had 3,000 soldiers, aided by 1,000 soldiers from Rai Jodh. The sikhs knew a type of fighting style called guerilla warfare. The mughals were defeated badly.[2] The mughals suffered 10,000 losses while the sikh lost only 1,200. Guru Hargobind build Guru Sar at the site in order to remember the battle.[1]

Kartarpur (1,800 VS 52,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Kartarpur

Painde Khan, the ex general of the sikh troops betrayed the sikhs and managed to convince Shah Jahan to challenge the sikhs in Kartarpur. The place was defended by Guru Hargobind and Baba Gurditta (eldest son of Guru Sahib). Guru Hargobind slowly fought Painde and easily defeated him. Instead of finishing him, the guru spared him and allowed him to recite shahada and covered the sunlight with his shield to prevent it shining on his body.[3]: 542 [4]: 209  The 1,800 sikh warriors destroyed the experienced 52,000 Mughals.[4]: 202 [4]: 198  700 sikhs died compared to the whooping 50,000 Mughals.[4]: 211 and 212 

Kiratpur (26 VS -1,500)[edit]

This battle was the final skirmish fought by Guru Hargobind. The battle preceding Battle of Patiala.

The Mughals heard about the Sikhs in the area and prepared a plan to ambush. However, the sikhs got a word of their plan and deflected their ambush by attack them. Later Guru Hargobind went to Patiala to give blessings to the martyred sikhs.[5]

Bhangani (1,507 VS 10,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Bhangani

The battle was the first battle fought by Guru Gobind (The 10th sikh guru) when he was just 19 years old.[6]

Bhim Chand (Kahlur)'s son was getting married with the daughter of Fateh Shah. Bhim Chand needed to go from Bilaspur to Srinagar for the ceremony and the easiest way to reach there was by crossing Paonta (now known as Paonta Sahib). Guru Ji has shifted with his people to the place in 1885. However, he and his armed party were rejected by Guru Ji to cross. Bhim Chand had to find another path to Srinagar, only making him more frustrated.

The guru was invited to the marriage by Fateh. He sent some of his people to the celebrations as his representatives. They had a gift for the bride, jewellery worth hundreds and thousands of rupees. When Bhim found about this, he quickly told Fateh that if the gift gets accepted, the marriage will be cancelled. Fateh was scared for her daughter which made him reject the gift.

When the sikhs returned to Paonta, they were attacked by the Raja's forces. They managed to survive and tell the whole story to the guru. This made him prepare for war.[7]

The battle lasted for a day, but was a amazing battle.[8] An army of 1,000 sikhs fought the 10,000 troops (later reinforced by 507)[9] }}and managed to win.[10][11] Despite having the chance of occupying the territory of the hill rajas, Guru Gobind didn't occupy anything.[12]

Shahi Tibbi(part of Battle of Sarsa) (50 VS 12,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Sarsa

Sahibzada Ajit Singh along with 49 other companions were sent by Guru Ji to resist the large enemy.[13]

Chamkaur (40 VS 1,000,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Chamkaur

After getting betrayed by the mughals and hill kings, they attack guru ji with as many troops as they can, resulting into an army of around 1 million.[14][15][16][17][18] The sikhs only had 40 troops left after the casualties in Battle of Anandpur Sahib and Battle of Sarsa.[15][14]

Guru Gobind Singh and his remaining army asked permission from the city chief to spend the night in their haveli. The chief refused, but his brother agreed and the Sikhs stayed in the Chamkaur Haveli.[19]

The sikhs fought bravely and managed to make around 150,000 mughals suffer. Even after having the odds of 1:25,000, the Mughals fail to capture Guru Gobind Singh. Sangat Singh, the Guru's doppelganger stayed and allowed the guru to escape before being martyred.[20]

This battle is the greatest battle fought by the sikhs and possibly the greatest last stand in history.

Muktsar (40 VS 10,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Muktsar

The battle was fought on December 29, 1704, following Battle of Chamkaur.[21] The Mughals yet again outnumberd the sikhs. In Battle of Chamkaur, about 100 sikhs abandoned Guru Gobind. Some of those deserters fought in this battle to have a chance to redeem themselves. The leading person in the battle was Maha Singh, one of the sikhs who had deserted the guru. Late in the battle Guru ji found Maha Singh slowly dying and forgives him by blessing him.[22] The battle was formally known as Khidrana as it was faught at the pool of khidrana, but was later changed to Muktsar, which literally translate to The Pool of Liberation.[23][24]

Wan (22 VS 2,200)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Wan (1726)

This battle was the first major battle fought after the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur. Bhai Tara Singh was starting to be a criminal in the mughal eyes because he kept criminals instead of turning them in.[25][26] At first the Mughals sent a 25 horse cavalry along 80 troops but they were taken care by one of Tara's colleagues. Later the Mughals finally sent a force of 2000 horsemen, 200 policemen, 40 light guns and 4 cannons on wheels. Even though they had this much of an advantage, they were fought bravely by the Khalsa and won.[27] Even after outnumbering them, the Mughals suffered really high casualties and retreated later.

Martyrdom of Bhai Bota Singh and Bhai Garja Singh (2 VS 150)[edit]

Possible fresco depiction of Bota or Garja Singh

The Mughals thought that the Sikhs are gone forever as there was no sign of them since 4 months. They were living in the forests around that time. Bhai Bota and Bhai Garja Singh were heading to the holy Harminder Sahib. They were ambushed by Mughals who were surprised that they were Sikhs. Even though Bhai Bota Singh only had a wooden stick and Bhai Garja Singh had a sword, they fought the army of around 100 men until their was nothing but pieces left of them.[28]

Amritsar (5,000 VS 20,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Amritsar (1757)

This battle is not as outnumbered as the others, but it is one of the coolest in Sikh history. This battle can also be referred as Battle of Gohalwar. It was also the 4th invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali fought on the 11th of November 1757.[29] The Afghans prepared on attacking Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple). Upon hearing this, Baba Deep Singh vowed to protect the holy site even if it means sacrificing his life. He managed to assemble an army of 5,000 Sikhs to fight the enemy, who had an army of around 20,000.[30] Baba Deep Singh was 75 years old at the time.

During the battle, Baba Deep Singh started a 1v1 between Jamal Shah, one of the Afghan commanders. Although Jamal Shah was easily beaten of by the 75 year old but he suffered a neck injury.[31]

There are 2 different versions on how Baba Deep Singh died. The famous one states that he fought with his head on one of the hand and the other one with a sword. He fought until he reached the Golden Temple and stopped, fully dead. The second version states that he had a serious neck blow but not fully decapitated and fought until he reached the Golden Temple.

When the Afghans saw this they immediately retreated, fearing the sikhs.[32] This resulted in a Sikh victory.

Darbar Sahib (30 VS 30,000)[edit]

Main article: Siege of Darbar Sahib (1764)

This battle is lost in the shadows of Baba Deep Singh's battle. It was fought between Baba Gurbaksh Singh and 29 sikhs versus a whooping 30,000 afghans.[33] Ahmed Shah Abdali controlled 18,000 men while Nasir Khan commanding 12,000.[34]

Baba Gurbaksh Singh, Nihal Singh, Basant Singh, Man Singh and 26 other Sikhs all perished but made the enemy suffer high casualties.[35]

Saidu (9,000 VS 150,000)[edit]

This battle was the most outnumbered battle Hari Singh Nalwa fought. The battle was fought on 23 Febuary 1827 at around ten in the morning. The muslims first shouted their war cry Allah hu Akbar. The Sikh response to this was with their war cry Bole so nihal, Sat Sri Akal. The army of 150,000 Afghans was defeated in a matter of 2 hours. They looted their camp taking several guns, swivels and camp equipment.[36][37]

Saragarhi (21 VS 10,000)[edit]

Main article: Battle of Saragarhi

This is also the most famous last stand in history. 21 sikhs valiantly fought against a tiring force of 10,000 afghans.[38] The afghans surrounded the fort, preparing to assault it.[39] All the 21 sikhs perished but put up a brilliant fight against their long time enemies and managed to damage 450 people.[40] The objective of the Afghans was to attack Saragarhi, Gulistan and Lockhart fort and capture it in one day. They failed to do so as they couldn't get through 21 sikhs.

After destroying Saragarhi the afghans thought of attacking Fort Gulistan but realized that it was too late. The british reinforcements reached their just before the fort could be captured. Pashtuns claimed to have at least 180 casualties.[41]

Saragarhi Day is celebrated on 12 September each year to commemorate the battle.[42]

Bolowali (5 VS 12,000)[edit]

This encounter was fought between the Dashmesh Regiment of the Khalistan movement and Indian troops. All 5 sikhs fought bravely and damaged an innumerable amount of indians.[43]

Honarable mentions[edit]

Battle of Patiala (7,000 VS 150,000)[44] Battle of Babeli (4 VS 2200)[45] Battle of Longewala (120 vs 2,000)[46][47]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Suraj Granth Raas 7
  2. ^ Surjit Singh Gandhi (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 820–821. ISBN 9788126908585.
  3. ^ Surjit Singh Gandhi (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 9788126908585.
  4. ^ a b c d Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1909). The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors, Vol 4. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Wikisource
  5. ^ "Battle of Kiratpur - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia". www.sikhiwiki.org.
  6. ^ Singh, Bhagat Lakshman (1995). A Short Sketch of the Life and Works of Guru Gobind Singh. Asian Educational Services. p. 78. ISBN 978-81-206-0576-3. OCLC 55854929.
  7. ^ Gazetteer of the Sirmur State. New Delhi: Indus Publishing. 1996. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7387-056-9. OCLC 41357468.
  8. ^ Singh, Prithi Pal (2007). The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-8382-075-2.
  9. ^ Gandhi, Surjit (2007). The History of The Sikh Gurus Retold 1606 - 1708. Atlantic. pp. 774, 775. ISBN 8126908599.
  10. ^ Raj Pal Singh (2004). The Sikhs : Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years. Pentagon Press. p. 35. ISBN 9788186505465.
  11. ^ Phyllis G. Jestice (2004). Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. pp. 345, 346. ISBN 9781576073551.
  12. ^ Singh, Prithi Pal (2006). The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Press. pp. Guru Gobind Singh, 137. ISBN 81-8382-075-1.
  13. ^ "Battles Fought by Guru Gobind Singh Ji In Post Khalsa Period - Abhipedia 6th battle".
  14. ^ a b English Translation Zafarnamah stanza 19 " And, what could my forty men do (at Chamkaur), when a hundred thousand men, unawares, pounced upon them? (19)"
  15. ^ a b "Zafarnamah Hindi". "गुरसनह चि कारे कुनद चिहल नर gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar कि दह लख बरआयद बरो बेख़बर stanza १९ k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar stanza 19"
  16. ^ Jagtar Singh, Sokhi (2016–2017). Zafarnamah (Patshahi Dasveen). Jagtar Singh Sokhi, Sokhi House ,ward no. 4 Mudki Distt Ferozepur. p. 21. Retrieved 7 February 2022. gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar what can forty hungry men do when ten lac strong army pounces upon them ?
  17. ^ Singh, Prof. Surinderjit. guru Gobind singh'sZAFARNAMAH. p. 44. Retrieved 7 February 2022. Gursanah chi kare kunad chihal nar. Ki dab lak bar dyad baro bekhabar.19.What can at all do, the forty famished men, When attacked suddenly by a million foemen.19
  18. ^ Dasam Granth Manuscript. Panjab Digital Library of custodian Dera Gurusar Khudda Hoshiarpur. Translation written on the ANGS of Sree Dasam Granth – By Mashaqat Singh
  19. ^ "Chamkaur Sahib". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Patiala. 19 December 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  20. ^ Dogra, R. C.; Mansukhani, G. S. (1995). Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture. Vikas Publishing House. p. 100. ISBN 0706983688.
  21. ^ History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E Surjit Singh Gandhi
  22. ^ "Chali Muktay: The Forty Liberated Ones". Sikh Information. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  23. ^ R. K. Pruthi (2004). Sikhism And Indian Civilization. Discovery Publishing House. p. 106. ISBN 978-81-7141-879-4.
  24. ^ Linda Edwards (2001). A brief guide to beliefs. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 171. ISBN 0-664-22259-5. Battle of Muktsar.
  25. ^ "5 Battles Where Sikhs Were Greatly Outnumbered- Sikh24.com". https://www.sikh24.com/. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  26. ^ "Buy Pracheen Panth Prakash by Ratan Singh Bhangu". www.jsks.co.in. Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  27. ^ "22 sikhs vs 2200 mughals - Baru Sahib, free Sikh encyclopedia". barusahib.org).
  28. ^ "Bhai Bota Singh Ji and Bhai Garja Singh Ji". October 7, 2013.
  29. ^ Lansford, Tom (2017). Afghanistan at War: From the 18th-Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598847604.
  30. ^ Singha, H. S (2005). Sikh Studies. Hemkunt Press. p. 36. ISBN 9788170102458.
  31. ^ Singh, Bhagat (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Punjabi University,Patiala. p. 242. ISBN 978-8130201818.
  32. ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). Muslim Rule in India. New Delhi: S.Chand. Rise and Growth of Sikh Power;240.
  33. ^ Singh, Ganda (1990). Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Publication Bureau Punjabi University,Patiala. pp. 143–146.
  34. ^ Gupta, Hari (2007). History of the Sikhs Volume II. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 215–216. ISBN 81-215-0248-9.
  35. ^ Muhammad, Noor (2020). Singh, Ganda (ed.). Jangnamah (2nd ed.). Khalsa College Amritsar. p. 46.
  36. ^ Shaheed, Shah Ismail. "Strengthening of the Faith – English – Shah Ismail Shaheed". IslamHouse.com. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  37. ^ "Shah Ismail Shaheed". Rekhta. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  38. ^ "No. 26937". The London Gazette. 11 February 1898. p. 863.
  39. ^ Yate, Major A.C. (1900). "Life of Lieu. Col. John Haughton" (PDF). p. 126. When day broke on the 12th, the Orakzai-Afridi "lashkar" was seen to be in force near Gogra on the east, at the Samana Suk on the west, and round the Saragarhi post, thus severing Gulistan from Fort Lockhart.(Their total number has been variously estimated at from twelve to twenty thousand.)It was, therefore, no longer possible for Colonel Haughton to carry aid to Saragarhi or Guhstan, as he had done twice before. The enemy turned the brunt of their attack on the little post of Saragarhi.
  40. ^ Col Kanwaljit Singh, Maj H S Ahluwalia (1987). "Saragarhi (1897)". Saragarhi Battalion: Ashes to Glory. Lancer International. p. 20. ISBN 9788170620228. The gallant defence of Saragarhi by Havildar Ishar Singh and twenty other ranks and a follower is estimated to have lost the enemy about four hundred and fifty killed and wounded
  41. ^ Major General Jaswant Singh Letter to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II Archived 12 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine Institute of Sikh Studies (1999) - accessed 30 March 2008
  42. ^ Shri (28 August 2019). "21 Sikhs clashed with ten thousand Pathans – Battle of saragarhi". Meramaal. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  43. ^ "Fifth battle bolowali 5 vs 12,000". https://www.thesikhdaily.com/. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  44. ^ "Bibi Sahib Kaur - Great Sikh Women". Gateway to Sikhism Foundation. 27 January 2014.
  45. ^ "Battle of Babeli: 4 Babbars vs 2200 Britishers - Babbar Akali Movement". https://www.tribuneindia.com/. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  46. ^ Karl R. DeRouen; Uk Heo (2007). Civil Wars of the World: Major Conflicts Since World War II. ABC-CLIO. pp. 101–. ISBN 978-1-85109-919-1.
  47. ^ Jaques, Tony (2007). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8,500 Battles from Antiquity Through the Twenty-First Century. Greenwood. p. 597. ISBN 978-0313335389.
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