WAZIR KHAN, NAWAB (d. 1710) Wazir Khan, a resident of Kuhjpura near Karnal (now in Haryana), served as the faujdar of Sirhind under the Mughals during the early 18th century. The hill chiefs in the Sivalik ranges often sought his assistance against Guru Gobind Singh, who was then residing at Anandpur. In August 1700, the chiefs laid siege to Anandpur but found the defenses impregnable. Guru Gobind Singh later relocated to a site 4 km south of Kiratpur. At this point, Wazir Khan dispatched troops from Sirhind to join the chiefs.
A fresh attack was launched, leading to the battle of Nirmohgarh. The encounter lasted a week, with Wazir Khan’s forces using cannons. On 14 October 1700, Guru Gobind Singh and his Sikhs broke through the cordon and crossed the Sutlej River into Basoli, a small friendly state. The imperial troops retreated to Sirhind.
Conflict Escalates Guru Gobind Singh returned to Anandpur, enjoying relative peace until winter 1704. At that time, Ajmer Chand of Kahlur secured orders from Emperor Aurangzib for his deputies in Lahore and Sirhind to launch an expedition against the Guru. Wazir Khan advanced from Sirhind, while Zabardast Khan marched from Lahore. They joined forces with the hill rajas at Ropar.
Failing to breach Anandpur’s defenses, the forces laid siege to the town. Wazir Khan then resorted to deceit, sending messengers to Guru Gobind Singh with solemn oaths of safe conduct if he evacuated the town. Trusting these assurances, the Guru left Anandpur on the night of 5–6 December 1705. However, Wazir Khan pursued him immediately. Fierce fighting erupted along the Sarsa River, which was in spate. Guru Gobind Singh managed to cross the river and, accompanied by his two elder sons and forty Sikhs, reached Chamkaur, where they took shelter in a vacant house.
Wazir Khan, reinforced by troops from Malerkotla, encircled Chamkaur. In the intense battle on 7 December 1705, most of the Sikhs, including the Guru’s elder sons, were killed. The remaining Sikhs urged Guru Gobind Singh to escape to regroup his followers. The Guru slipped through the encircling forces and retreated into the semi-desert Malva region.
Wazir Khan returned to Sirhind, where he ordered the execution of the Guru’s two younger sons, aged nine and seven, who had been betrayed into his custody by an old servant.
Final Days Determined to capture the Guru, Wazir Khan pursued him to Khidrana (modern Muktsar) in Faridkot district. Before he could attack, a group of forty Sikhs valiantly confronted his forces. They were all killed in battle, but Wazir Khan’s troops, exhausted from long marches, had to retreat.
Wazir Khan grew alarmed when he learned that Emperor Aurangzib’s successor, Bahadur Shah, had grown friendly with Guru Gobind Singh and was traveling with him towards the south. Fearing this alliance, Wazir Khan secretly hired two Pathan assassins, including Jamshaid Khan, to kill the Guru. At Nanded, one of the assassins stabbed the Guru twice in the abdomen. Though Guru Gobind Singh succumbed to his wounds on 7 October 1708, he had already sent Banda Singh Bahadur to Punjab to avenge the persecution.
Banda Singh Bahadur, joined by armed Sikhs from across Punjab, launched an offensive, ransacking Samana, Ghuram, and Chhat-Banur before targeting Sirhind. On 12 May 1710, a fierce battle took place at Chappar Chiri (near modern Chandigarh). Wazir Khan was killed in the daylong engagement, and his army was decisively defeated.
References:
- Bhangu, Ratan Singh, Prachin Panth Prakash, Amritsar, 1914
- Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa [Reprint], Patiala, 1970
- Gupta, Hari Ram, History of Sikh Gurus, Delhi, 1973
- Harbans Singh, Guru Gobind Singh, Chandigarh, 1966
