About the Author Dr. Kulwinder Singh Bajwa, retired from the Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University Patiala. He graduated from Baring Union Christian College Batala with Hon's in History. He did post-graduation in History from Guru Nanak Dev University and got his Ph.D. from the same University with his thesis on : Historical Analysis of Early Nineteenth Century European Travel Literature on the Punjab. He served as a Research Associate and Lecturer in the Department of History, Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar. He was Prof. Incharge of the Sikh History Research Department, Khalsa College Amritsar, more than a decade. He has the credit of participating in more than hundred National and International conferences and seminars in India and abroad. His publications. include more than six dozen research papers and four books: (i)Akali Dal Sacha Sauda Bar(ed.), SGPC., Amritsar 2002, (ii) A Brief History of Khalsa College Amritsar (1892-2003), SHRD., Khalsa College Amritsar, 2003, (iii) Mehma Parkash Vartak (ed.) Singh Brothers, Amritsar 2004. (iv) Jathedar Kartar Singh Jhabbar & Akali Jatha Sacja Sauda Bar (ed.), The Sikh University press, Belgium 2010.
Foreword On the eve of the tricentenary celebrations of the martyrdom day of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (1670- 1716) that falls on 9th June of every year since 1716, many a scholars and historians are paying homage to the great Sikh warrior of early 18th century, who as a true follower of Guru Gobind Singh carried on his mission and legacy and shook the very foundations of the Mughal Empire. Dr. Kulwinder Singh Bajwa, an independent and straight forward scholar of repute of this century is a professionally trained historian. Nearly half a dozen books and more than three dozen research articles published in various journals of national and international repute are to his credit.
Preface Commemorations of anniversaries related to the lives of the Sikh Gurus, the Sikh heroes and martyrs, is a significant tradition among the Sikhs. In tune with this glorious tradition, the Sikh Panth is celebrating the tercentenary of the martyrdom of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Besides being an upholder of great Sikh tradition of martyrdom, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (1670-1716) was a great warrior, a great general and a good statesman. He was the first general of the Khalsa forces appointed by Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708). He left Nanded on 5th October, 1708, with his mission to uproot the oppressive Mughal Rule. His arrival in Delhi and Punjab, added a new dimension to the social base of the Khalsa by mobilizing the peasants and tenants to the struggle against the Mughal Feudal suppression and cruelty. However, on 12th May, 1710, at the historic battle of Chapper Chiri (corrupted name of Chappar Jhiri), Wazir Khan, the faujhdar of Sarhind was killed and Sarhind was occupied by the Khalsa Forces on 14 May, 1710. Thereupon, a declaration of Sovereign Khalsa State was made by minting coins in the names of the Sikh Gurus: Guru Nanak (1469-1539) and Guru Gobind Singh (1666- 1708), with its headquarter at Lohgarh (iron castle).
**Contents and Sample Pages**
