25th February

==> BANDA SINGH BAHADHUR: born on KatakSudhi 13 sunmat 1727 to Rajput father Ramdev who was a resident of the Rajori village in Jammu. He was named Lashman Dev by his parents. Since childhood, he exhibited extremely fondness for sanskrit literature and hunting. However, he plunged into deep remorse after killing a pregnant deer. As a result he discarded all his hunting tools and became a disciple of Vaesnav JankiPrasad. He shed all his material wealth, started onto the seekers path for enlightenment, and adopted the new name, Madho Dass.

Wondering in search of enlightenment, when he traveled towards south India and reached the banks of Godawari, he fell in love with this beautiful new place. He established his Ashram and started living here. In sunmat 1765, when Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached Nandaedh, he was extremely impressed and influenced by Guru's preaching. He offered himself as "Satguru Da Banda" (Satguru's person). Guru Gobind Singh Ji introduced him to Amrit and changed his name to Gurbakash Singh. However, he remained popularly known in our Panth as "Banda".

To eradicate the prevalent injustices, Guru Gobind Singh sent Banda accompanied by the following five GurSikhs to Punjab:

	Baba Binod Singh
	Baba Kanh Singh
	Baba Bajh Singh
	Baba Bijae Singh
	Baba Ram Singh

Banda went to Punjab in sunmat 1765 accompanied with a Hukamnama from Guru Gobind Singh addressed to all the GurSikh. In this Hukamnama, Guru Gobind Singh asked GurSikhs to help Banda in his efforts. Before departure, Banda received three arrows from Guru Gobind Singh and the following instructions:

1. Remain celibate ("Jatt rakhana")
2. Live, operate, and act under the dictates of Khalsa ("Khalsae dae Anusari hokae rahna")
3. Never consider yourself to be Guru ("Aap nu Guru na manenna")
4. Eat only after serving others ("Vartakae Shakana")
5. Help the orphas, poor, unprotected, helpless, destitute, or disolate. ("Anatha di sahiata karni")

Upon reaching Punjab, Gurbakash Singh strictly followed Guru Sahib's instructions and successfully punish all who had previously mistreated the Khalsa Panth. On the 1st Hadh sunmat 1767, after conquering Sirhind, Wajir Khan was punished and eventually killed for the mistreatment of Sahibzadas.

However, Gurbakash Singh became popular among the Khalsa Panth, his self-godliness started awakening. As a result he started adopting and engaging in practices that were against Gurmat. In sunmat 1771, Banda Bahdhur expressed desires to establish his own Gadhi in Sri Harmindar Sahib and sought his self-worhsip. He started a new slogan of "Sachae Sahib ki Fateh" in contrast to the traditional "Vaaheguru Jee Kee Fateh". This resulted in a severe split among Khalsa Panth. Those following the principles as laid by Guru Gobind Singh came to known as "TattKhalsa" while the followers of Gurbakash Singh were known as "BandaiKhalsa". Today there are very few Bandai Sikhs. They do not believe in any other holy scriptures other than Sri Guru Granth Sahib. All their practice are according to Gurmat principles.

Eventually, Banda Bahadhur was cornered by the pursuing enemy forces at "Gurdaspur de Gadhi". It is also popularly known as Bhai Duni Chand di Hawaeli. After months of sustained attacks from AbdalSamadKhan and others with a force of over 20,000, Banda Bahadhur was arrested along with his companions and taken to Delhi. He accepted Shahadat on Chaet Sudhi 1st sunmat 1773.

-Ref. Mahan Kosh.

==> SIRHIND: one of the prominent historical cities of India. Under mughals, Sirhind was a wealthy city. It is at this place where on 13th Poh sunmat 1761, Baba Jorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the younger sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, were bricked alive and murdered by Wajir Khan. Subsequently Matta Gujri also passed away near this area.

On 1st of Jaeth sunmat 1767, Bandha Bahadhur captured Sirhind and killed Wajir Khan. In sunmat 1820, KhalsaDal forces captured Sirhind after killing the then ruler Jain Khan, and constructed the historical Gurudwaras. This city is popularly known as "GurMari" among GurSikh Panth.

Historical Gurudwaras in Sirhind include:

1. ShaheedGanj 1: the place marking the cremation of 6,000 Gursikhs, when Bandha Bahadhur captured Sirhind.
2. ShaheedGanj 2: marking the place where Jathaedar Sukha Singh fell while fighting Jain Khan. The Khalsa forces successfully captured Sirhind during this attack.
3. ShaheedGanj 3: marking the place where Jathaedar Malla Singh fell while fighting Jain Khan. The Khalsa forces successfully captured Sirhind during this attack.
4. JottiSaroop: marking the cremation place of younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh and Matta Gujri, mother of Guru Gobind Singh.
5. ThadhaSahib: the place where sixth Patshah, Guru Har Gobind Sahib stayed for a short while.
6. FatehGadh: marking the shaheedi place of Sahibzadas. It is about 1.5 miles from the Sirhind railway station where maela celebrations are held annually.
7. Matta Gujri Ji Da Burj: the place where Matta Gujri and the younger Sahibzadas were imprisoned by Wajir Khan. It is also the place of Matta Gujri's Akal Chalana.
8. VimaanGadh: the place where the bodies of younger Sahibzadas and Matta Gujri were brought from FatehGadh and held for the evening. Subsequently the bodies were washed and honorably cremated at JottiSaroop.

-Ref. Mahan Kosh

-Ref. "Babbar Akali Movement, A historical Survey," by Dr. Gurcharan Singh, Aman Publications, 1993.