In 1675 Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) led by Pandit Kirpa Ram came to seek help from Guru Tegh Bahadur for protection against atrocities of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. They, on the advice of the Guru, told the Mughal authorities that they would willingly embrace Islam if Guru Tegh Bahadur, did the same. Guru Tegh Bahadur was arrested and taken to Delhi. Before departing to Delhi, Guru ji nominated his son Gobind Rai as next Sikh Guru.
Guru Tegh Bahadur was put in chains and ordered to be tortured until he would accept Islam. But Mughals failed to make him accept Islam. For this Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in public at Chandni Chowk on 11 November 1675.
Guru Ji is known as “Hind Di Chadar” (The shield of India) as he saved Hinduism by sacrificing his life.
On 13th April 1699, Guru Gobind Rai asked for five heads from his followers. Five Sikhs (Daya Ram, Dharam Das, Himmat Rai, Mohkam Chand, and Sahib Chand) volunteered to give their heads. He named them as Panj Pyare (The Five Loved Ones) and gave them mixture of Water, Patashas and Khanda (Double edged sword) as Amrit (“Nectar”) and gave them all the name “Singh” (Lion), and designated them collectively as Khalsa (the Pure Ones).
The Guru then astounded the five and the whole assembly as he knelt and asked them to in turn initiate him as a member, on an equal footing with them in the Khalsa, thus becoming the sixth member of the new order. His name became Guru Gobind Singh. This is how the Khalsa Panth came into existence. Till date Hindu and Sikh celebrate this day with all the enthusiasm and valor.
On the eve of tercentenary of Khalsa Panth in 1999, I was one of the devotees who had gone to Anadpur Sahib to celebrate tercentenary of birth of Khalsa Panth. When I reached Sri Keshgarh Sahib, I saw some Kashimri Pandits who had also come to pay tribute and seek blessings of Sikh Gurus.
This was not the first time that Kasmiri Pandits had come to Anadpur Sahib to seek blessings of Guru Ji. Their forefathers had also come there to seek help from Guru Teg Baahadur to save them from Aurangzeb, around 325 years back. Then Guru Ji had sacrificed his life to save their lives and their faith.
Whatever is happening there in Kashmir these days is almost the same and now there are hundreds of Aurangzebs but there is no one who can save the Kashmiri Pandits and their faith. My heart filled with pain and I pleaded to Guru Ji to come back and save the humanity. Following is the poem I wrote at one go sitting there and have not edited ever since:
“Lod Hai- ਲੋੜ ਹੈ”
Tin Sadiya Beetan Magro
Main Ajj Phir Kashmiri Pandita Nu
Anandpur Sahib De Qilae Wal Jaandea Dekhea Hai,
Lagda Hai Aapniya Bodiaan Te Janaeouan Piche
Ohna Nu Ajj Phir Kise ‘Teg’ De Sir Di Lod Hai.
Te Eh Lod Ajay Khatam Hoyi Nahin Jaapdi
Sago Hor Vadh Gayi Hai,
Te Ajj Phir Itihaas Aapne Aap Nu
Dohraan Te Tulea Hoyea Hai.
‘Jafarnama’ Likh Ke
Kafara Nu Side Raah Paan Wala
Pata Nahin Kithe Jaa Baithea Hai,
Te Ajj Ohde Loka ‘ch ‘Kufarname’ Likhan Di Hod Hai.
‘Baazawalea’
Hun Ta Tere Baaz Vi Sehme Baithe Ne
Titra De Dar To,
Te Ajj Phir Tere Baaza Nu
Teri Chamakdi Shamsheer Di Lod Hai.
Jeeneya Merneya To Mukt Tere ‘Chali Mukte’
Dar Di Qaid ‘ch Ne Ajj Phir,
Te Ajj Phir Ohna Nu Dar Di Qaid whicho
Mukt Kervaan Di Lod Hai.
Lagda Hai ‘Chandi‘ vi Ja Baithi Hai
Machiware De Junglean ‘ch
Shumb Nishumb De Dar To,
Te Ajj Phir Teri Chandi Nu
Teri ‘Chandi Di Vaar’ Di Lod Hai.
O Jinha Sheesh Kalm Kerva Laye
Per Kesha Nu Hath Na Laun Dita,
Ajj Ohna Nidar Bahadara ‘ch
Kesh Qatal Kervaan Di Hod Hai.
‘Kalgiyan Walea’
Je Aap Nahin Aana
Ta Bhej De Koi Hor ‘Banda’
Dakhkhn To ‘Bahadar’ Bana Ke,
Ajj Teri Singha Di Qaum Nu
Bahadara Di Thod Hai.
Tin Sadiyaan Beet Gayian Ne
Sikha Nu Singh Banea,
Kinjh Karange Tere Bajurg Singh
Ehna Kashmiri Pandita Di Rakheya?
Ajj Phir Ghol Ke Bhej De
‘Amrit’ Which Sanjivni Booti,
Ajj Teri Singha Di Qaum nu
Navi Taqat Di Lod Hai.
Tin Sadiyaan Beetan Magro
Main Ajj Phir Kashmiri Pandita Nu
Anandpur Sahib De Qilae Wal Jaandeya Dekheya Hai,
Lagda Hai Aapniya Bodiaan Te Janaeouan Piche
Ohna Nu Ajj Phir Kise ‘Teg’ De Sir Di Lod Hai.