The conflict between Guru Gobind Singh and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was not just a battle of swords, but a struggle of justice versus oppression, religious freedom versus forcible religious control, and human dignity versus dictatorship. This conflict spread on many fronts. Political, religious and military. Its impact was not only on the history of Punjab but also on the history of entire India.
On the pretext of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birth anniversary, let us understand in detail how much war took place between him and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. How did the protest start? How much loss did the Mughals suffer?
How did the protest start?
The conflict between the Sikhs and the Mughals had started before the time of Aurangzeb, from the time of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the fifth Guru), when Guru Arjan Dev Ji was martyred during the rule of Jahangir. But the direct ground for conflict between Guru Gobind Singh and Aurangzeb was prepared by three main events. Under the policy of religious intolerance, Aurangzeb issued many strict religious decrees during his rule. Many temples were demolished, Jizya tax was re-imposed and various types of pressures increased on non-Muslims.
The Sikh tradition, which was in favor of justice, equality and religious freedom, by its very nature started conflicting with Aurangzeb’s policy. Guru Gobind Singh’s father, the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, stood up to protect the religious rights of Kashmiri Pandits and other Hindus. According to historical tradition, when Kashmiri Brahmins reached Anandpur Sahib seeking help to escape from the atrocities of Aurangzeb, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji went to Delhi to protect their rights and lodged a protest in the Mughal court.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs.
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was martyred due to protest.
The result was that Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was arrested. Martyred in Chandni Chowk, Delhi in 1675. This martyrdom confirmed in the mind of Guru Gobind Singh that if arguments and pleas do not work against oppression, then taking up arms to protect religion also becomes a sacred duty. For this he established the Khalsa Panth in the year 1699.
Khalsa Panth was established again
In the year 1699, on the day of Baisakhi, Guru Gobind Singh Ji established the Khalsa Panth in Anandpur Sahib. Its objective is to create an organized, disciplined and fearless community against injustice. The five Kakar (Kesh, Kada, Kirpan, Kangha, Kachhera) and equality-based identity of the Khalsa gave a clear message to the Mughal rule that the Sikhs were no longer just a religious group, but an armed, self-respecting and independent community. This rising power became a direct political and religious challenge for Aurangzeb. From here the role of open conflict became stronger.
Aurangzeb is said to be the most cruel emperor of the Mughal Empire.
How many battles took place between Guru Gobind Singh and Aurangzeb?
The conflict between Guru Gobind Singh and Aurangzeb was not limited to one or two battles, but was a series of campaigns, sieges and battles. Historically these are mainly summarized in a few major wars. These battles were not formally fought simply as Aurangzeb versus Guru Gobind Singh, but as the Mughal army, the hill kings and their alliance, against Guru Sahib and his Khalsa. The major battles are numbered as follows:
Early clashes with hill kings and the Mughal alliance
The hill kings around Anandpur Sahib were uneasy with the growing power of Guru Gobind Singh and the rise of the Khalsa. Many times local clashes took place. On some occasions, Mughal forces also stood with them. These conflicts were the combined results of Aurangzeb’s policy, political jealousy of local kings and the growing power of the Sikhs. Anandpur Sahib was the main stronghold of Guru Gobind Singh. The hill kings tried to surround it many times.
On some occasions the Mughal army also participated in it. The major siege is believed to have taken place around 1704–1705, when a large combined force of the Mughals and the hill kings besieged Anandpur Sahib for months, cutting off supplies, food and aid, ultimately giving false assurances of safe passage under oath, and then treacherously attacking Sikh groups.
battle of chamkaur
While leaving Anandpur, there were continuous attacks on Sikh groups. In Chamkaur’s Garhi (fort-like house), Guru Gobind Singh and a few dozen of his Sikhs took a stand against the thousands of Mughal and Pahari troops. In this war, two Sahibzadas of Guru Sahib, Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, were martyred. The resources were very less, the enemy’s numbers were many times greater, yet the Sikh warriors caused huge losses to the enemy and were martyred while fighting.
battle of muktsar
It is also called a liberating war. 40 Sikhs first gave in to pressure and broke the relationship with the Guru by writing a letter of denial, but later they realized their mistake. Despite being outnumbered by the enemy in the war, they fought with amazing bravery and sacrificed their lives. Guru Gobind Singh declared him free, thus this war was named Muktsar. The final political architect behind these wars was Aurangzeb, whose policies, orders and armies repeatedly attacked the Sikhs. In this sense, it can be said that the conflict between Guru Gobind Singh and Aurangzeb was fought on many stages and on many fronts, and not just in the form of one or two formal battles.
How much loss did the Mughals suffer?
War is not measured by casualties alone; It is also judged by its impact on ideas, morale, prestige and grip of governance. Under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikhs hurt the Mughals at many levels. The Mughal and Pahari armies continued to suffer unexpected losses in Chamkaur, Muktsar and other skirmishes. The Mughals had more numbers and resources, but they repeatedly suffered heavy casualties in front of the organization, discipline and bravery of the Khalsa. Small Sikh contingents inflicted losses on larger Mughal contingents both in guerrilla style and in open battle.
Presented himself as a follower of Islamic justice
Aurangzeb presented himself as the emperor who followed Islamic justice, but the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and repeated betrayal deeply hurt his moral image. He could not achieve a decisive victory for long against a relatively small but determined community. This challenged the power narrative of the Mughal Empire at a practical level. Guru Gobind Singh created a feeling among the Sikhs that they are not dependent on any royal favor or oppression, but are the soldiers of Waheguru. The Khalsa oath, ‘I will fight birds, I will fight one and a quarter lakh’, was a direct ideological challenge to the Mughal Empire that no matter how great the power of injustice is, the flame of justice cannot be extinguished.
Zafarnama showed a mirror to Aurangzeb
Zafarnama (Persian letter) written by Guru Gobind Singh during the last days of Aurangzeb showed his injustice, oath breaking and deceit in front of him. This letter is seen as a moral attack on the Mughal power. Guru Gobind Singh later inspired commanders like Banda Singh Bahadur, who captured many strong forts of the Mughals, broke the zamindari system and provided land to the farmers. All this continued to weaken the hold of the Mughal Empire in the post-Aurangzeb period. In a way, the struggle of Guru Gobind Singh paved the way for the decline of the Mughal Empire.
Anniversaries are also an occasion to remind us of our values.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birth anniversary is not just a celebration of his birth date, but an occasion to remind him of the values for which he dedicated his life. He showed that not only protecting one’s own religion, but also protecting the religions of others is an equally sacred responsibility. The martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur ji and the resolve of Guru Gobind Singh are its symbols. Through the establishment of Khalsa, the walls of casteism and discrimination were broken. Any Khalsa Sikh will be identified by his deeds, courage and character, and not by birth. This message was a challenge to the structure of both power and society. He made the sword a symbol not of violence but of establishing justice against injustice.
Guru Gobind Singh was not only a warrior but also a great poet, saint and philosopher. Lines like chiddi te main baaz tadaoon…, prayers like deh shiva bar mohe eh, highlight both the spiritual depth and heroic spirit within him.
The struggle between Guru Gobind Singh and Aurangzeb was basically a struggle between two viewpoints. On the one hand, the power that wanted to keep freedom of expression and belief under its control, on the other hand, the spiritual warrior tradition that said that a person cannot be deprived of his faith, dignity and freedom. The Mughal Empire may not have been physically destroyed in all the battles and sieges that took place, but in the war of ideas, Guru Gobind Singh deeply hurt Aurangzeb’s policies. This is the reason that even today, on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary, his life’s struggle is remembered as an indelible symbol of justice, courage, sacrifice and religious freedom.
Also read: How did the British snatch Bengal from the Mughals, which used to enrich the Sultanate? Where PM Modi visited