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BINOD SINGH was a Trehan
Khatri in direct descent from Guru Angad,
Nanak II, was a devoted disciple of
Guru Gobind Singh and was among the
few Sikhs who accompanied him to the
South in 1708. He was chosen to be one
of the five companions of Banda Singh
Bahadr (1670-1716) sent by the Guru
in 1708 from Nanded to the Punjab to
chastise the persecutors of the Sikhs.
Binod Singh was Banda Singh's ally in
the campaign he launched upon arrival
in the Punjab. In the battle of Sirhind
fought in May 1710, Binod Singh commanded
the left wing of Banda Singh's army.
He was pitched against Sher Muhammad
Khan of Malerkotla who was commander
of Subahdar Wazir Khan's right wing
(this Sher Mohammad Khan is same raja
of Malerkotla who when seeing that chhote
Sahibzade were being martyred asked
whether "it was right").
After Banda Singh's conquest of the
province of Sirhind, the frontier district
of Karnal, bordering on Delhi territory,
was entrusted to Binod Singh. Soon thereafter,
in October 1710, Binod Singh had to
fight four battles - the first at Taraori,
12 km north of Karnal, second at Amin,
25 km north of Karnal, third at Thanesar,8
km farther north, and the fourth at
Shahabad, 22 km north of Thanesar.
In October 1714, Binod Singh with his
followers parted company with Banda
Singh when they declared themselves
as Tatt Khalsa (True Khalsa) as oppose
to the Bandai Khalsa (of Banda Bahadur)
. He was, however, in two minds: he
wanted to obey Mata Sundari's command,
and at the same time was unwilling to
fight along side of Banda Singh. There
were several reasons for this problem,
major one being that Banda Bahadur had
started to behave like as he was Guru.
No sooner had Binod Singh started moving
away at the head of his men than he
was attacked by the imperial forces
on all sides. According to Khafi Khan
three to four thousand of his men were
killed. Binod Singh is believed to have
lost his life in this massacre, too.
That was in 1716.
Feud between Tatt Khals and Banda Bahadur
was solved by Bhai Mani Singh Jathedar
of Akal Takht. There were several small
feuds, for example which war cry "sat
sri akal" or "Fateh Darshan".
He asked Sadh Sangat and a resolution
was reached that on two pieces of paper
the war cries of Tatt Khalsa "Sat
Sri Akal" and Bandai Khalsa "Fateh
Darshan" will be written and then
to be simaltaneously dropped in the
Sarovar at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.,
the one which came up first was adopted
and that was Sat Sri Akal. There were
bouts of physical feats between Bandai
and Tatt Khalsa, with Tatt Khalsa emerging
victorious in competitions of Kabaddi,
wreastling, etc. After this, whole of
Bandai Khalsa became a Tatt Khalsa.
This minor issue was resolved in such
a peaceful and simple manner by Bhai
Mani Singh ji.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Ganda Singh "Life
of Banda Singh Bahadur." 1935
Gian Singh Giani, Panth Prakash, Patiala
1970
Piara singh Padam and Giani Garja Singh,
Guru kian Sakhian, Patiala 1986
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