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{{Short description|1705 battle in Punjab, India}}
{{Short description|1705 battle in Punjab, India}}
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{{EngvarB|date=June 2022}}
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{{multiple issues|
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{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Chamkaur
| conflict = Battle of Chamkaur
| partof = '''[[Mughal-Sikh Wars]]'''
| partof = '''[[Mughal-Sikh Wars]]''' and '''[[Hill States-Sikh Wars]]'''
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| date = 6 December 1705<ref> {{cite web|title= Gobind Singh ,Guru|date=19 December 2000 |url=https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/sikh-gurus/gobind-singh-guru|access-date= 6 March 2021}}</ref> or 1704<ref>{{harvtxt|Singha|2000|page=43}}</ref>
| date = 6 December 1705<ref name="Gobind Singh ,Guru">{{cite web|title= Gobind Singh ,Guru|date=19 December 2000 |url=https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/sikh-gurus/gobind-singh-guru|access-date= 6 March 2021}}</ref> or 1704<ref name="Singha 2000 page=43">{{harvtxt|Singha|2000|page=43}}</ref>
| place = Near the village of [[Chamkaur]], [[Rupnagar district]], [[Punjab, India]]
| place = Near the village of [[Chamkaur]], [[Rupnagar district]], [[Punjab, India]]
| coordinates =
| coordinates =
Line 23: Line 23:
| map_label =
| map_label =
| territory =
| territory =
| result = Mughal victory<ref>Louis E. Fenech, ''The Sikh Zafar-namah of Guru Gobind Singh'', (Oxford University Press, 2013), 66; "''The Ẓafar-nāmah in this light assumes the form of an intriguing tautology: certainly the Guru was routed by Mughal forces at both Anandpur and Chamkaur; put bluntly, he and his Sikh were militarily defeated and left scattered.''"</ref><ref name=eos />
| result = Mughal and Hindu Hill Chief victory<ref>Louis E. Fenech, ''The Sikh Zafar-namah of Guru Gobind Singh'', (Oxford University Press, 2013), 66; "''The Ẓafar-nāmah in this light assumes the form of an intriguing tautology: certainly the Guru was routed by Mughal forces at both Anandpur and Chamkaur; put bluntly, he and his Sikh were militarily defeated and left scattered.''"</ref><ref name=eos />
| combatant1 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|30px]] [[Mughal Empire]]
| combatant1 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|30px]] [[Mughal Empire]]<br>[[File:Bilaspur_flag.svg|30px]] Alliance of [[Hill States of India|Hill States]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Blue Putaran Nishan Sahib.png|30px]] [[Khalsa]] ([[Sikhs]])
| combatant2 = [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|30px]] [[Khalsa]] ([[Sikhs]])
| commander1 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] [[Aurangzeb]]
| commander1 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]]
'''Mughal Commanders'''
* [[Wazir Khan (Sirhind)|Wazir Khan]]
* [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]][[Wazir Khan (Sirhind)|Wazir Khan]]
* Zabardast Khan
* [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Zabardast Khan

* Khwaja Muhammad{{WIA}}
* [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Khwaja Muhammad{{WIA}}
* Nahar Khan{{KIA}}
* [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Nahar Khan{{KIA}}
* Mu'nim Khan.<ref name="Fenech2013p14">{{cite book|author=Louis E. Fenech|title=The Sikh Zafar-namah of Guru Gobind Singh: A Discursive Blade in the Heart of the Mughal Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aUUfAQAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-993145-3 |pages=87 }}</ref>
* [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Mu'nim Khan<ref name="Fenech2013p14">{{cite book|author=Louis E. Fenech|title=The Sikh Zafar-namah of Guru Gobind Singh: A Discursive Blade in the Heart of the Mughal Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aUUfAQAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-993145-3 |pages=87 }}</ref>
* Ghairat Khan{{KIA}}
* Ghairat Khan{{KIA}}
[[File:Bilaspur_flag.svg|30px]]
⚫
| commander2 = [[File:Blue Putaran Nishan Sahib.png|25px]] [[Guru Gobind Singh]]
Hill State Commanders
* Ajmer Chand
* Fateh Shah
*
⚫
| commander2 = [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Guru Gobind Singh]]
* [[Daya Singh]]
* [[Daya Singh]]
* [[Dharam Singh (Sikhism)|Dharam Singh]]
* [[Dharam Singh (Sikhism)|Dharam Singh]]
* [[Mohkam Singh]]{{KIA}}
* [[Mohkam Singh]]{{KIA}}
* [[Himmat Singh (Sikhism)|Himmat Singh]]{{KIA}}
* [[Himmat Singh (Sikhism)|Himmat Singh]]{{KIA}}
* [[Sahib Singh (Sikhism)|Sahib Singh]]{{KIA}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://sikhism.about.com/od/historicalpersonalities/tp/Panj-Pyare-The-Five-Beloved.htm |title=Panj Pyare the Five Beloved of Sikh History – Guru Gobind Singh Creates the Original Panj Pyare of 1699 |work=about.com |access-date=27 April 2012}}</ref>
* [[Sahib Singh (Sikhism)|Sahib Singh]]{{KIA}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://sikhism.about.com/od/historicalpersonalities/tp/Panj-Pyare-The-Five-Beloved.htm |title= Panj Pyare the Five Beloved of Sikh History – Guru Gobind Singh Creates the Original Panj Pyare of 1699 |work= about.com |access-date= 27 April 2012 |archive-date= 15 April 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220415061541/https://www.learnreligions.com/panj-pyare-five-beloved-sikh-history-2993218 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
* [[Alam Singh Nachna]]{{KIA}}
* [[Ajit Singh (Sikhism)|Ajit Singh]]{{KIA}}<ref>{{cite book|title= The Sikhs : Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years|author= Raj Pal Singh|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ra19YSPDliQC&q=hargobind+jahangir&pg=PA34|publisher= Pentagon Press|year= 2004|isbn= 978-8186505465|pages= 34}}</ref>
* [[Ajit Singh (Sikhism)|Ajit Singh]]{{KIA}}<ref>{{cite book|title= The Sikhs : Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years|author= Raj Pal Singh|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ra19YSPDliQC&q=hargobind+jahangir&pg=PA34|publisher= Pentagon Press|year= 2004|isbn= 978-8186505465|pages= 34}}</ref>
* [[Jujhar Singh]]{{KIA}}
* [[Jujhar Singh]]{{KIA}}
| strength1 = Unknown, but much larger<ref name="Singha2000">{{cite book|last=Singha|first=H. S|title=The encyclopedia of Sikhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqIbJz7vMn0C|access-date=22 December 2011|year=2000|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=978-81-7010-301-1|page=31}}</ref> {{small|(Gobind Singh's ''[[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnama]]'' metaphorically states that the Mughal soldiers numbered 1 million)}}<ref name= ZFN >[http://www.sikhs.org/transl5.htm English Translation Zafarnamah] stanza 19 " And, what could my forty men do (at Chamkaur), when a hundred thousand men, unawares, pounced upon them? (19)"</ref><ref name = ZFN2> {{ cite web|title= Zafarnamah Hindi|url=https://www.dekho-ji.com/zafarnama#hindi|quote=“गुरसनह चि कारे कुनद चिहल नर gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar कि दह लख बरआयद बरो बेख़बर stanza १९ k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar stanza 19”}}</ref><ref name=ZFN3>{{cite book|title= Zafarnamah (Patshahi Dasveen)|url=https://archive.org/details/zafarnamah-p-10/mode/2up| first=Sokhi|last=Jagtar Singh|page=21|quote= gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar what can forty hungry men do when ten lac strong army pounces upon them ?|date=2016–2017|publisher=Jagtar Singh Sokhi, Sokhi House ,ward no. 4 Mudki Distt Ferozepur|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=guru Gobind singh'sZAFARNAMAH|url=https://archive.org/details/GuruGobindSinghsZafarnamah/page/n41/mode/2up|last=Singh|first=Prof. Surinderjit|page=44|quote=Gursanah chi kare kunad chihal nar. Ki dab lak bar dyad baro bekhabar.19.What can at all do, the forty famished men, When attacked suddenly by a million foemen.19|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=DG>{{cite book|title=Dasam Granth Manuscript|url= http://www.panjabdigilib.org/webuser/searches/displayPageContent.jsp?ID=12774&page=1180&CategoryID=3&Searched=W3GX|publisher=Panjab Digital Library of custodian Dera Gurusar Khudda Hoshiarpur|quote= Translation written on the ANGS of Sree Dasam Granth – By Mashaqat Singh}}</ref>
| strength1 = Unknown, but much larger<ref name="Singha2000">{{cite book|last=Singha|first=H. S|title=The encyclopedia of Sikhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqIbJz7vMn0C|access-date=22 December 2011|year=2000|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=978-81-7010-301-1|page=31}}</ref> {{small|(Gobind Singh's ''[[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnama]]'' metaphorically states that the Mughal soldiers numbered 1 million)}}<ref name= ZFN >[http://www.sikhs.org/transl5.htm English Translation Zafarnamah] stanza 19 " And, what could my forty men do (at Chamkaur), when a hundred thousand men, unawares, pounced upon them? (19)"</ref><ref name = ZFN2>{{ cite web|title= Zafarnamah Hindi|url=https://www.dhansikhi.com/category/images/zafarnama-zafarnamah-%e0%a8%9c%e0%a8%bc%e0%a8%ab%e0%a8%bc%e0%a8%b0%e0%a8%a8%e0%a8%be%e0%a8%ae%e0%a8%be%e0%a8%b9%e0%a9%91-%d8%b8%d9%81%d8%b1%d9%86%d8%a7%d9%85%d9%87/|quote=“गुरसनह चि कारे कुनद चिहल नर gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar कि दह लख बरआयद बरो बेख़बर stanza १९ k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar stanza 19”}}</ref><ref name=ZFN3>{{cite book|title= Zafarnamah (Patshahi Dasveen)|url=https://archive.org/details/zafarnamah-p-10/mode/2up| first=Sokhi|last=Jagtar Singh|page=21|quote= gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar what can forty hungry men do when ten lac strong army pounces upon them ?|date=2016–2017|publisher=Jagtar Singh Sokhi, Sokhi House ,ward no. 4 Mudki Distt Ferozepur|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=guru Gobind singh'sZAFARNAMAH|url=https://archive.org/details/GuruGobindSinghsZafarnamah/page/n41/mode/2up|last=Singh|first=Prof. Surinderjit|page=44|quote=Gursanah chi kare kunad chihal nar. Ki dab lak bar dyad baro bekhabar.19.What can at all do, the forty famished men, When attacked suddenly by a million foemen.19|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=DG>{{cite book|title=Dasam Granth Manuscript|url= http://www.panjabdigilib.org/webuser/searches/displayPageContent.jsp?ID=12774&page=1180&CategoryID=3&Searched=W3GX|publisher=Panjab Digital Library of custodian Dera Gurusar Khudda Hoshiarpur|quote= Translation written on the ANGS of Sree Dasam Granth – By Mashaqat Singh}}</ref>
| strength2 = 40<ref name=ZFN2/><ref name=ZFN/>
| strength2 = 40<ref name=ZFN2/><ref name=ZFN/>
| casualties1 = * Khwaja Muhammad injured
| casualties1 = * Khwaja Muhammad injured
Line 53: Line 59:
* [[Himmat Singh (Sikhism)|Bhai Himmat Singh]] killed
* [[Himmat Singh (Sikhism)|Bhai Himmat Singh]] killed
* [[Sahib Singh (Sikhism)|Sahib Singh]] killed
* [[Sahib Singh (Sikhism)|Sahib Singh]] killed
* [[Sangat Singh (Sikh warrior)|Sangat Singh]] killed
* 32 other Sikh soldiers killed<ref name=dalbirsingh144>{{cite book |last=Dhillon |first=Dr Dalbir Singh |date=1988 |title=Sikhism – Origin and Development |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=osnkLKPMWykC&pg=PA144 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers and Distributors |page=151 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917230548/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=osnkLKPMWykC&pg=PA144 |archive-date=17 September 2016 }}</ref>
* 31 other Sikh soldiers killed<ref name=dalbirsingh144>{{cite book |last=Dhillon |first=Dr Dalbir Singh |date=1988 |title=Sikhism – Origin and Development |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=osnkLKPMWykC&pg=PA144 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers and Distributors |page=151 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917230548/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=osnkLKPMWykC&pg=PA144 |archive-date=17 September 2016}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Aurangzeb}}
{{Campaignbox Aurangzeb}}
{{Campaignbox Mughal-Sikh Wars}}
{{Campaignbox Mughal-Sikh Wars}}
{{Campaignbox Hill States-Sikh Wars}}
[[File:Zafarnama.jpg|300px|thumb|The Zafarnama of [[Guru Gobind Singh]]]]
[[File:Zafarnama.jpg|300px|thumb|The Zafarnama of [[Guru Gobind Singh]]]]


The '''Battle of Chamkaur''', also known as '''Battle of Chamkaur Sahib''', was a battle fought between the Khalsa, led by [[Guru Gobind Singh]], and the coalition forces of the Mughals led by [[Wazir Khan (Sirhind)|Wazir Khan]] and of Hindu hill chief. Guru Gobind Singh makes a reference to this battle in his letter [[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnama]].
The '''Battle of Chamkaur''', also known as '''Battle of Chamkaur Sahib''' or the '''Second battle of Chamkaur''', was fought between the Khalsa, led by [[Guru Gobind Singh]], and the coalition forces of the Mughals led by [[Wazir Khan (Sirhind)|Wazir Khan]] and of Hindu hill chief. Guru Gobind Singh makes a reference to this battle in his letter [[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnama]].


==Preamble to the battle==
==Preamble to the battle==
After Guru Gobind Singh left [[Anandpur Sahib]] on the night of 5 and 6 December 1704,<ref>{{harvtxt|Singha|2000|page=43}}</ref> or 1705<ref> {{cite web|title= Gobind Singh ,Guru|date=19 December 2000 |url=https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/sikh-gurus/gobind-singh-guru|access-date= 6 March 2021}}</ref> he crossed the Sarsa river with his disciples. While they were crossing, the mughals and hill chiefs attacked. Guru Gobind Singh and his followers asked permission of the city chief for shelter to rest for the night in their ''garhi'' or [[haveli]]. He refused, but his younger brother allowed the Sikhs to stay in the haveli.<ref name=eos>{{cite web |url=https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/punjab/chamkaur-sahib |title=Chamkaur Sahib |website=Encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=19 December 2000 |publisher=Punjabi University Patiala |access-date=28 December 2020 }}</ref>
After Guru Gobind Singh left [[Anandpur Sahib]] on the night of 5 and 6 December 1704,<ref name="Singha 2000 page=43"/> or 1705<ref name="Gobind Singh ,Guru"/> he crossed the [[Sarsa river|Sarsa River]] with his disciples. While they were crossing, the Mughals and hill kings attacked. Guru Gobind Singh and his followers asked permission of the city chief for shelter to rest for the night in their ''garhi'' or [[haveli]]. He refused, but his younger brother allowed the Sikhs to stay in the haveli.<ref name=eos>{{cite web |url=https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/punjab/chamkaur-sahib |title=Chamkaur Sahib |website=Encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=19 December 2000 |publisher=Punjabi University Patiala |access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref>


==The battle==
==Battle==
Despite giving assurance of safe conduct, the Mughal soldiers were looking for Guru Gobind Singh, to take his head as a trophy. After learning that the party of Sikhs had taken shelter in the haveli, they laid siege upon it. The actual battle is said to have taken place outside the haveli where Guru Gobind Singh was resting.<ref name=eos/> Negotiations broke down and the Sikh soldiers chose to engage the overwhelming Mughal forces, thus allowing their Guru to escape. Another Sikh who resembled the Guru, Sangat Singh, donned the Guru's clothes and remained with the soldiers. The next morning the remaining Sikhs were killed by Mughal forces.<ref name="Dogra">{{cite book |last1=Dogra |first1=R. C. |last2=Mansukhani |first2=G. S. |title=Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture |year=1995 |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |isbn=0706983688 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofs0000dogr/page/100 100] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofs0000dogr/page/100 }}</ref>
Despite giving assurance of safe conduct, the Mughal soldiers were looking for Guru Gobind Singh, to take his head as a trophy. After learning that the party of Sikhs had taken shelter in the haveli, they laid siege upon it. The actual battle is said to have taken place outside the haveli where Guru Gobind Singh was resting.<ref name=eos/> A council of ''[[Panj Pyare|Panj Piare]]'' was convened during the battle, whom ordered Guru Gobind Singh to leave the battlefield to preserve his life and continue leading the Sikhs, a request which the Guru obeyed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Sandhu |first=Gian Singh |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1376370414 |title=Who Are the Sikhs? An Exploration of the Beliefs, Practices, & Traditions of the Sikh People. |publisher=Archway Publishing |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-6657-3953-5 |chapter=34. Who are the current panj pyare? |oclc=1376370414 |quote=At crucial moments of Sikh history, the panj pyare have collectively acted as supreme authority for the Sikhs. For example, during the battle of Chamkaur, the last five surviving Sikhs constituted themselves into the Council of Five, and they commanded Guru Gobind to leave the fortress and save himself to reassemble the Sikhs. Before Guru Gobind Singh passed away, he ended the line of living gurus. Through the institution of the panj pyare, the Guru envisioned a continuing society that would conduct itself democratically and choose its leaders based on merit.}}</ref> Negotiations broke down and the Sikh soldiers chose to engage the overwhelming Mughal forces, thus allowing their Guru to escape. Another Sikh who resembled the Guru, [[Sangat Singh (Sikh warrior)|Sangat Singh]], donned the Guru's clothes and remained with the soldiers. The next morning the remaining Sikhs were killed by Mughal forces.<ref name="Dogra">{{cite book |last1=Dogra |first1=R. C. |last2=Mansukhani |first2=G. S. |title=Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture |year=1995 |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |isbn=0706983688 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofs0000dogr/page/100 100] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofs0000dogr/page/100 }}</ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
The Guru emphasised how he was proud that his sons had died fighting in battle, and that he had 'thousands of sons – the Singhs'. He also said that he would never trust Aurangzeb again due to the broken vow he took on the Quran.<ref name="ZN3">{{cite web|last=Singh|first=Guru Gobind|title=Zafarnama stanza 45|url=http://www.zafarnama.com/Download/zafarnama.pdf|publisher=zafarnama.com|access-date=24 September 2013}}</ref>
The Guru emphasised how he was proud that his sons had died fighting in battle, and that he had 'thousands of sons – the [[Singh|Singhs]]'. He also said that he would never trust Aurangzeb again due to the broken vow he took on the [[Quran]].<ref name="ZN3">{{cite web|last=Singh|first=Guru Gobind|title=Zafarnama stanza 45|url=http://www.zafarnama.com/Download/zafarnama.pdf|publisher=zafarnama.com|access-date=24 September 2013}}</ref>


==Zafarnama==
==Zafarnama==
[[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnama]] or "Epistle of Victory" is a letter that was written by Guru Gobind Singh to the then Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Zafarnama vividly describes what happened at Chamkaur, and also holds Aurangzeb responsible for what occurred and promises he broke.
[[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnama]] or "Epistle of Victory" is a letter that was written by Guru Gobind Singh to the then Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Zafarnama vividly describes what happened at Chamkaur, and also holds Aurangzeb responsible for what occurred and promises he broke.


After his escape from Chamkaur, the exhausted Guru is said to have been carried by two Pathans (Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan) to Jatpur where he was received by the local Muslim chieftain. He later went to Dina, and stayed at mayi Desan ji house, where he wrote "Zafarnama" in Persian, in 111 verses.<ref name="ZN3" />
After his escape from Chamkaur, the exhausted Guru is said to have been carried by two Pathans (Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan) to Jatpur where he was received by the local Muslim chieftain. He later went to Dina, and stayed at Mai Desanji's house, where he wrote "Zafarnama" in Persian, in 111 verses.<ref name="ZN3" />

== See also ==


==References==
==References==
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{{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}
{{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}
{{Guru Gobind Singh}}
{{Guru Gobind Singh}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chamkaur, Battle Of}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chamkaur, Battle Of}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1704]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1704]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1705]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire|Chamkaur]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire|Chamkaur]]
[[Category:1704 in India]]
[[Category:1704 in India]]
[[Category:1705 in India]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Sikhs|Chamkaur]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Sikhs|Chamkaur]]
[[Category:1700s in the Mughal Empire]]

Latest revision as of 03:59, 7 October 2024

Not to be confused with the First Battle of Chamkaur, another previous battle in 1702 at the same location.
Battle of Chamkaur
Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars and Hill States-Sikh Wars
Date6 December 1705[1] or 1704[2]
Location
Near the village of Chamkaur, Rupnagar district, Punjab, India
Result Mughal and Hindu Hill Chief victory[3][4]
Belligerents
Mughal Empire
Alliance of Hill States		 Khalsa (Sikhs)
Commanders and leaders

Mughal Commanders

Hill State Commanders

  • Ajmer Chand
  • Fateh Shah

Guru Gobind Singh

Strength
Unknown, but much larger[8] (Gobind Singh's Zafarnama metaphorically states that the Mughal soldiers numbered 1 million)[9][10][11][12][13] 40[10][9]
Casualties and losses
  • Khwaja Muhammad injured
  • Nahar Khan killed
  • Ghairat Khan killed
  • Innumerable Mughal soldiers Killed.
  • Ajit Singh killed
  • Jujhar Singh killed
  • Mohkam Singh killed
  • Bhai Himmat Singh killed
  • Sahib Singh killed
  • Sangat Singh killed
  • 31 other Sikh soldiers killed[14]
    • The Zafarnama of Guru Gobind Singh

    The Battle of Chamkaur, also known as Battle of Chamkaur Sahib or the Second battle of Chamkaur, was fought between the Khalsa, led by Guru Gobind Singh, and the coalition forces of the Mughals led by Wazir Khan and of Hindu hill chief. Guru Gobind Singh makes a reference to this battle in his letter Zafarnama.

    Preamble to the battle

    After Guru Gobind Singh left Anandpur Sahib on the night of 5 and 6 December 1704,[2] or 1705[1] he crossed the Sarsa River with his disciples. While they were crossing, the Mughals and hill kings attacked. Guru Gobind Singh and his followers asked permission of the city chief for shelter to rest for the night in their garhi or haveli. He refused, but his younger brother allowed the Sikhs to stay in the haveli.[4]

    Battle

    Despite giving assurance of safe conduct, the Mughal soldiers were looking for Guru Gobind Singh, to take his head as a trophy. After learning that the party of Sikhs had taken shelter in the haveli, they laid siege upon it. The actual battle is said to have taken place outside the haveli where Guru Gobind Singh was resting.[4] A council of Panj Piare was convened during the battle, whom ordered Guru Gobind Singh to leave the battlefield to preserve his life and continue leading the Sikhs, a request which the Guru obeyed.[15] Negotiations broke down and the Sikh soldiers chose to engage the overwhelming Mughal forces, thus allowing their Guru to escape. Another Sikh who resembled the Guru, Sangat Singh, donned the Guru's clothes and remained with the soldiers. The next morning the remaining Sikhs were killed by Mughal forces.[16]

    Aftermath

    The Guru emphasised how he was proud that his sons had died fighting in battle, and that he had 'thousands of sons – the Singhs'. He also said that he would never trust Aurangzeb again due to the broken vow he took on the Quran.[17]

    Zafarnama

    Zafarnama or "Epistle of Victory" is a letter that was written by Guru Gobind Singh to the then Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Zafarnama vividly describes what happened at Chamkaur, and also holds Aurangzeb responsible for what occurred and promises he broke.

    After his escape from Chamkaur, the exhausted Guru is said to have been carried by two Pathans (Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan) to Jatpur where he was received by the local Muslim chieftain. He later went to Dina, and stayed at Mai Desanji's house, where he wrote "Zafarnama" in Persian, in 111 verses.[17]

    References

    1. ^ a b "Gobind Singh ,Guru". 19 December 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
    2. ^ a b Singha (2000, p. 43)
    3. ^ Louis E. Fenech, The Sikh Zafar-namah of Guru Gobind Singh, (Oxford University Press, 2013), 66; "The Ẓafar-nāmah in this light assumes the form of an intriguing tautology: certainly the Guru was routed by Mughal forces at both Anandpur and Chamkaur; put bluntly, he and his Sikh were militarily defeated and left scattered."
    4. ^ a b c "Chamkaur Sahib". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Patiala. 19 December 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
    5. ^ Louis E. Fenech (2013). The Sikh Zafar-namah of Guru Gobind Singh: A Discursive Blade in the Heart of the Mughal Empire. Oxford University Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-19-993145-3.
    6. ^ "Panj Pyare the Five Beloved of Sikh History – Guru Gobind Singh Creates the Original Panj Pyare of 1699". about.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
    7. ^ Raj Pal Singh (2004). The Sikhs : Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years. Pentagon Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-8186505465.
    8. ^ Singha, H. S (2000). The encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
    9. ^ a b English Translation Zafarnamah stanza 19 " And, what could my forty men do (at Chamkaur), when a hundred thousand men, unawares, pounced upon them? (19)"
    10. ^ a b "Zafarnamah Hindi". "गुरसनह चि कारे कुनद चिहल नर gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar कि दह लख बरआयद बरो बेख़बर stanza १९ k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar stanza 19"
    11. ^ Jagtar Singh, Sokhi (2016–2017). Zafarnamah (Patshahi Dasveen). Jagtar Singh Sokhi, Sokhi House ,ward no. 4 Mudki Distt Ferozepur. p. 21. Retrieved 7 February 2022. gursaneh ch kaare kunadh chihal nar k dheh lakh baraayadh baro bekhhabar what can forty hungry men do when ten lac strong army pounces upon them ?
    12. ^ Singh, Prof. Surinderjit. guru Gobind singh'sZAFARNAMAH. p. 44. Retrieved 7 February 2022. Gursanah chi kare kunad chihal nar. Ki dab lak bar dyad baro bekhabar.19.What can at all do, the forty famished men, When attacked suddenly by a million foemen.19
    13. ^ Dasam Granth Manuscript. Panjab Digital Library of custodian Dera Gurusar Khudda Hoshiarpur. Translation written on the ANGS of Sree Dasam Granth – By Mashaqat Singh
    14. ^ Dhillon, Dr Dalbir Singh (1988). Sikhism – Origin and Development. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors. p. 151. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016.
    15. ^ Sandhu, Gian Singh (2023). "34. Who are the current panj pyare?". Who Are the Sikhs? An Exploration of the Beliefs, Practices, & Traditions of the Sikh People. Archway Publishing. ISBN 978-1-6657-3953-5. OCLC 1376370414. At crucial moments of Sikh history, the panj pyare have collectively acted as supreme authority for the Sikhs. For example, during the battle of Chamkaur, the last five surviving Sikhs constituted themselves into the Council of Five, and they commanded Guru Gobind to leave the fortress and save himself to reassemble the Sikhs. Before Guru Gobind Singh passed away, he ended the line of living gurus. Through the institution of the panj pyare, the Guru envisioned a continuing society that would conduct itself democratically and choose its leaders based on merit.
    16. ^ Dogra, R. C.; Mansukhani, G. S. (1995). Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture. Vikas Publishing House. p. 100. ISBN 0706983688.
    17. ^ a b Singh, Guru Gobind. "Zafarnama stanza 45" (PDF). zafarnama.com. Retrieved 24 September 2013.

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