SAHERI

SAHERI, originally called Kheri, is a village about 2 km west of Morinda ( 30″47`N, 76″29`E) in Ropar district of the Punjab. The village was destroyed by Banda Singh Bahadur in 1710, and the habitation that reappeared upon its ruins dropped the old name because of its dismal associations and adopted the new name of Saheri. It was at Kheri that Mata Gujari and her two young grandsons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, aged 9 and 7 respectively, were betrayed to their captors.

Separated from the main column as Guru Gobind Singh crossed the rivulet Sarsa, then in spate, on the night of 56 December 1705, they were escorted by their cook, Gangu, to his house at Kheri. The travel being hazardous and slow, they reached their destination only on the night of 67 December. As they were resting in the attic, the host purloined Mata Gujari`s saddlebag containing cash and valuables. In hope of a reward from the government for having Guru Gobind Singh`s mother and two of his sons seized, he spied on them, through the village headman, to Jani Khan and Mani Khan.

Ranghar officials at Morinda. Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were taken into custody and dispatched to Sirhind where they met a cruel fate on 13 Poh 1762 Bk/ 12 December 1705. There are three gurdwaras in Saheri.The one on the site of Gangu`s house is a double storeyed domed building inside the village. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated on the first floor, while the hall on the ground floor is used for bigger gatherings on special occasions. The second gurdwara, outside the village, marks the spot where, it is believed, Mata Gujari and her grand children were handed over to the officers.

These two gurdwaras are managed by the village sarigatbut the third one, which is located half a kilometre away in the fields, is under the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. It is said that, while escorting Mataji and the children during the dark night, Gangu lost his way, and, bypassing Kheri, walked towards the village of Rangia. Discovering his error, he had Mata Gujari and the Sahibzadas wait in a mangogrove until he had worked out the correct route to his village. The present gurdwara marks the site of the mangogrove.

References :

1. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
2. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
3. Harbans Singh, Guru Gobind Singh. Chandigarh,1966