VAR AMRITSAR KI

VAR AMRITSAR KI, also known as Var Singhan Ki, by Darshan Bhagat, a disciple of Bhai Kanhaiya is an eyewitness account of the battle fought in Amritsar between a force sent by the Mughal satrap of Lahore and the Sikhs on the Baisakhi day (29 March) of 1709. A manuscript of the poem was held under No. 2735 in the Sikh Reference Library, Amritsar, until the library perished in 1984. A published version in the anthology tided Panjabi Varan (Kalam Mandir, Patiala) is, however, available. As a result of the conciliatory policy of Emperor Bahadur Shah, the lands attached to the Golden Temple, Amritsar, which had been earlier confiscated were restored and Sikhs were appointed by Mata Sundari, widow of Guru Gobind Singh, to administer theJ`agirat Amritsar.

On a complaint made by a local banker Chuhar Mall, Aslam Khan, the deputy Governor of Lahore, sent Har Sahai, the revenue officer of Patti, against the Sikhs. Har Sahai was killed in the skirmish as was Chaudhari Deva of Naushahra Pannuan, also deputed by Aslam Khan. The Var panegyrized the bravery and skill displayed by the Sikhs in this battle. It concludes with the remark that Aslam Khan was rebuked by Emperor Bahadur Shah for having taken the sword against the House of Nanak.

References :

1. Padam, Piara Singh, ed., Panjabi Varan. Patiala, 1980