Why in News?
Sirhind Fateh Divas is in the news because the nation officially observed the historic day on May 12, 2026, with top leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, paying national tribute to the legendary Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji.
Historical Background & Origin
- The Date: Sirhind Fateh Divas marks the historic triumph of the Khalsa army over the Mughal forces on May 12–14, 1710.
- The Mastermind: The defensive campaign was directly commanded by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji, a saint-soldier commissioned by Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
- The Location: The decisive conflict exploded at Chappar Chiri (near Mohali, Punjab), pushing forward to capture the heavily fortified provincial Mughal capital of Sirhind.
Strategic Context: Avenging the Sahibzadas
- Root Catalyst: In 1704, the oppressive Mughal Governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, brutally executed the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji—Baba Zorawar Singh (9) and Baba Fateh Singh (7)—by bricking them alive when they refused religious conversion.
- Justice Served: The Battle of Chappar Chiri fundamentally aimed to uproot Wazir Khan's cruel regime. The Sikh forces completely routed the Mughal army, and Wazir Khan was slain on the battlefield.
Political & Economic Reforms
- First Sovereign Sikh State: This triumph officially established the foundational blocks of the first independent Sikh rule/empire in northern India.
- Abolition of Zamindari: Upon seizing power, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur dismantled the predatory Mughal Zamindari system, immediately transferring ownership of land directly to the local farmers cultivating it.
- Sovereign Mint: He introduced official governance stamps and minted independent coins in the names of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Observances & Traditions
- The Grand Fateh March: Every year, thousands of devotees assemble for massive religious processions, standard weapon martial arts displays (Gatka), and scriptural recitations.
- Sacred Venues: Core ceremonies center around Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib (the historic site of the Sahibzadas' martyrdom) and the Jyoti Swarup Sahib complex in Punjab.
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