An Aspect of Guru Gobind Singh’s Career

Summary

The article explores Guru Gobind Singh’s early career, focusing on his military and political activities before he founded the Khalsa. Following his father Guru Tegh Bahadur’s execution by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the ten-year-old Gobind Rai took on leadership of the Sikh community. Sikh chroniclers describe his childhood interest in arms and his determination to avenge his father. He collected weapons, practised archery, hunting and musket shooting, built a big drum, and began gathering followers. The article notes that while some stories of his childhood heroism are legendary, Macauliffe’s translation of the Bachitra Natak suggests that Gobind Singh was encouraged by his father to delay open confrontation until a suitable time. After his father’s death, Gobind Rai relocated from Patna to the Shivalik hills, establishing a base at Paonta Sahib under the protection of Raja Fateh Shah of Srinagar. Circumstances forced him to leave and he later accepted the invitation of Raja Bhim Chand to return to Kahlur (Bilaspur) where he founded Anandpur, which became the centre of his activities. Initially, Gobind Singh adopted a defensive posture, avoiding open conflict with the Mughal authorities. However, he became involved in a conflict between Raja Bhim Chand and Nawab Alif Khan of the Mughal administration. The Bachitra Natak describes how Gobind Singh personally took part in the battle of Nadaun, using firearms and demonstrating his martial skills. The battle ended with the Mughal forces being driven into the river. The author examines the reasons for Gobind Singh’s alliance with Bhim Chand, noting that the Sikh chronicles do not provide explicit motives. Dr. Banerjee suggests that the hill rajas felt threatened by Mughal interference and sought the Guru’s help. After the battle, the alliance quickly dissolved; Gobind Singh looted a village in Bhim Chand’s territory, perhaps because the rajas made their peace with the Mughals. Subsequent Mughal expeditions against the hill rajas, commanded by Mian Khan, Husain Khan and Jujhar Singh, were interpreted by Sikh chroniclers as part of a single campaign to crush the Guru, but contemporary Persian histories are silent on these events. The article argues that the importance attributed to these expeditions is exaggerated and that the Mughal administration was primarily concerned with larger rebellions. The author concludes that Guru Gobind Singh’s early career shows him building a military base and negotiating alliances with hill chiefs, while maintaining a defensive strategy against imperial forces. He engaged in local power struggles more than a direct anti-Mughal rebellion at this stage.