BHIKHAN KHAN (d. 1688) was a Pathan who had served in the Mughal army before joining Guru Gobind Singh at Paonta Sahib on the recommendation of Pir Buddhu Shah of Sadhaura. He had one hundred soldiers under his command, but he crossed over to the hill rajas on the eve of the battle of Bharigani (AD 1688). According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Bhikhan Khan told the Pathans in the employ of Guru Gobind Singh that the Guru was mainly dependant on them and that the rest of his army was only a miscellaneous rabble who would run away when they heard the first shot fired. He suggested that they could save their lives by taking the side of the hillmen.
GUJRAT (32°34`N, 7405`E). a district town in Pakistan, is sacred to Guru Hargobind, who stayed here for some time on his way back from Kashmir in 1620. Here he was met by the famous Muslim divine Shah Daula, well known to a local Sikh, Bhai Garhia, who also served as a masand in Kashmir preaching Guru Nanak`s word.
Discover Kale Khan's unwavering loyalty to Guru Gobind Singh at Paonta Sahib, despite others deserting him during the battle of Bharigani (1688).
NAUDH SINGH (d. 1752), son of Buddha Singh, was greatgrandfather of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He was a brave and daring man who applied his energies to expanding the family`s fortunes. He fortified the village of Sukkarchakk in 1730, and in the same year married the daughter of a rich landlord, Gulab Singh ofMajitha. He gained territory and, impressed by the example of his personal bravery, many an adventurous youth rallied round his arms. Eventually, he, along with his band of followers, joined the Faizullapuria misland won the admiration of his chief, Nawab Kapur Singh, by his bold exploits. He was among the Sikhs who pursued Ahmad Shah Durram out of India in 1749, and he died in 1752 as a result of the injuries sustained in battle.
Discover the tale of Mughal general Said Khan, whose encounter with Guru Gobind Singh shifted destiny from conquest to spiritual devotion.
BROWN, JOHN, alias RICHARD POTTER, an Englishman, who, deserting the East Indian Company`s service in the Bengal artillery, came to Lahore and joined the Sikh artillery in 1826. He was later promoted colonel and placed in charge of the artillery depot at Lahore. During the first Anglo Sikh war, he acted as a British spy. Just before the battle of `Aliwal, he went to Ludhiana and offered his services to his countrymen.
GULAB CHAND, son of Bhai Sadhu of village Malla, in Faridkot district of the Punjab, and Bibi Viro, daughter of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), fought along with his four brothers in the battle of Bharigani (18 September 1688), near Paonta in present day Himachal Pradesh, in which two of his brothers, Sarigram Shah and Jit Mail, were killed. Guru Gobind Singh describes Gulab Chand, in his account of the battle in his poetical work, Bachitra Ndtak, as a mighty hero "whose face lightened up at the prospect of joining action on the field of battle."
Discover Kalian Sud's transformation from soldier to true warrior by conquering inner battles with humility and the Guru's guidance in Lahore.
NIDHAN SINGH PANJHATTHA (d. 1839), soldier, minor commander and jdgirddr under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He acquired the epithet Parijhattha, the "five handed," for his gallantry in the battle of Ten hill (1823). He singlehanded made five Pathans prisoners and captured their weapons. This act of valour earned him the title of Panjhatthd. In every battle, Nidhan Singh was among the first to advance and the last to retreat, and his body was covered all over with the marks of his courage. His great grand father, Dulcha Singh, had been in the service of Raja Ranjit Deo of Jammu, and his grandfather, Ram Dat Singh, is said to have served the Sukkarchakkia family under Mahari Singh.
Discover the story of Sangat Rai, a Sikh hero who defended Guler from Mughal forces in 1696. Learn about his brave sacrifice for peace.
