Sahibzada Ajit Singh

Sahibzada Ajit Singh (1687 - 1705), was the eldest of Guru Gobind Singh's four sons. His younger brothers were Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. With his three brothers, Sahibzada Ajit Singh carried on a great family tradition: that of attaining the status of one of the most hallowed martyrs in Sikh history. Before him and his brothers, their grandfather, the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur and great-great grandfather, the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev had also been executed by the Mughals.

Early life

Ajit Singh was born to Mata Sundari and Guru Gobind Singh at Paonta Sahib on 26 January, 1687. The following year, Guru Gobind Singh returned with the family to Anandpur where Ajit Singh was brought up in the approved Sikh style. He was taught religious texts, philosophy and history, and had training in the manly arts such as riding, swordsmanship and archery. He grew up into a handsome young man, strong intelligent and a natural leader of men.

Battles

The Ranghars of Nuh

Soon after the creation of the Khalsa on 13 April 1699, he had his first test of skill. A Sikh Congregation('Sangat') coming from the Pothohar region of northwest Punjab, was attacked and looted on the way by the Ranghars(a Muslim tribe) of Nuh, a short distance from Anandpur across the River Satluj. Guru Gobind sent Sahibzada Ajit Singh, then barely 12 years old, to that village. Ajit Singh along with a 100 men reached the spot on 23 May 1699, punished the Ranghars and recovered the looted property.

Taragarh and Nirmohgarh

A harder task was entrusted to Sahibzada Ajit the following year when the hill chiefs supported by imperial Mughal troops from Lahore and Sirhind attacked Anandpur. Sahibzada Ajit Singh was made responsible for the defence of the Taragarh Fort which became the first target of attack. This happened on 29 August 1700. Ajit Singh assisted by Bhai Udai Singh, a seasoned soldier, repulsed the attack. He also fought valiantly in the battle of Nirmohgarh in October 1700. On 15 March 1701, a Sikh Sangat coming from the Darap area (near Sialkot) was waylaid by Gujjars and Ranghars. Sahibzada Ajit Singh led a successful expedition against them.

The birth of Sahibzada Jujhar Singh

In 1691, Mata Sundari gave birth to another boy who was named Jujhar Singh. Sahibzada Jujhar Singh was four years younger than Ajit Singh. Sahibzada Ajit Singh became a model for him. Jujhar Singh also was entrusted with several engagements around Anandpur and on hills. Both Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh led hundreds of successful expeditions, helping the needy who would come to Guru Gobind Singh asking to get them justice.

Chamkaur, Sahibzada Ajit Singh's final battle

When Mughal forces besieged Anandpur in 1705, Sahibzada Ajit Singh again displayed his qualities of courage and steadfastness. After a long stalemate, the Mughal Faujdar gave his assurances that he only wanted the fort of Anandpur and would let the population of the town go unharmed. Anandpur was vacated on the night of 3-4 December 1705. Sahibzada Ajit Singh was given the command of the rearguard. As the besiegers, violating their solemn promises, attacked the column, he stoutly engaged them on a hill-feature called "Shahi Tibbi" until he was relieved by Bhai Udai Singh. Ajit Singh crossed the Sarsa, then in spate, along with his father, younger brother, Jujhar Singh, and some fifty men. Further reduced in numbers by casualties at the hands of pursuing troops from Ropar, the column reached Chamkaur on the evening of 6 December 1705, and took up position in a "garhi"(a stockade) and prepared for a fight to the finish. The host, since swelled by reinforcements from Malerkotla and Sirhind and from among the local Ranghars and Gujjars, soon caught up with them and threw a tight ring around Chamkaur. An unequal but grim battle commenced with the sunrise on 7 December 1705 - in the words of Guru Gobind Singh's Zafarnamah, a mere forty defying thousands. The besieged, after they had exhausted the meagre stock of ammunitions and arrows, made sallies in batches of five each to engage the encircling host with sword and spear.

Sahibzada Ajit Singh led one of the sallies and laid down his life fighting in the thick of the battle. Gurdwara Qatalgarh now marks the spot where he fell, followed by Sahibzada Jhujhar Singh who led the next sally. An annual fair is held in the commemoration of their martyrdoms in December - January.

Trivia

Mohali, a satellite town of Chandigarh, has been renamed as "Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar Mohali"("SAS Nagar Mohali") in the memory of Sahibzada Ajit Singh. It is located in the newest district of the state which is also called Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar Mohali

See also

*Sahibzada Jujhar Singh
*Sahibzada Zorawar Singh
*Sahibzada Fateh Singh

References

* [http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/warriors/ajit.html http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/warriors/ajit.html]