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 Sahibzada
Ajit Singh was born to Mata Sundari
and Guru Gobind Singh ji at Paonta Sahib
on 26 January 1687. The following year,
Guru Gobind Singh returned with the
family to Anandpur where Ajit Singh
was brought up in the approved Sikh
style. He was taught religious texts,
philosophy and history, and had training
in the manly arts such as riding, swordsmanship
and archery. He grew up into a handsome
young man, strong intelligent and a
natural leader of men.
Soon after the creation of Khalsa on
30 March 1699, he had his first test
of skill. A Sikh Congregation Sangat
coming from pothohar, northwest Punjab,
was attacked and looted on the way by
Ranghars of Nuh, a short distance from
Anandpur across the River Sutlej. Guru
Gobind singh ji sent Sahibzada Ajit
Singh, barely 12 years old, to that
village. Ajit Singh along with 100 Sikhs
reached there on 23 May 1699, punished
the Ranghars and recovered the looted
property.
 A
harder task was entrusted to him the
following year when the hill chiefs
supported by imperial Mughal troops
attacked Anandpur. Sahibzada Ajit Singh
was made responsible for the defence
of Taragarh Castle which became the
first target of attack. This according
to the Bhai Vahis, happened on 29 August
1700. Ajit Singh assisted by Bhai Ude
Singh, a seasoned soldier, repulsed
the attack. He also fought valiantly
in the battle of Nirmohgarh in October
1700. On 15 March 1701, a Sikh Sangat,
column of Sikh devotees, coming from
Darap area (around Sialkote) was waylaid
by Gujjars and Ranghars. Sahibzada Ajit
Singh led a sucessful expedition against
these thugs.
As instructed by his father Guru Gobind
Singh on 7 March 1703, he led 100 horsemen
to Bassi, near Hoshiarpur and rescued
a young Brahman bride forcibly taken
away by the local Pathan chieftain.
In 1691, Mata Sundari gave birth to
another boy which was named Jhujhar
Singh. Sahibzada Jhujhar Singh was four
years younger then Ajit Singh. Sahibzada
Ajit Singh for him was a sort of role
model to be followed. Jhujhar Singh
also was entrusted with several engagements
around Anandpur and on hills. Both Ajit
Singh and Jhujhar Singh led hundreds
of successful expeditions against tyrants,
helping needy who would come to Guru
Gobind Singh asking to get them justice.
Then Mughal forces sieged Anandpur
in 1705, Sahibzada Ajit Singh displayed
his qualities of courage and steadfastness.
When, at last, after Mughal Faujdar
give assurances that he only wanted
the castle of Anandpur, Anandpur was
vacated on the night of 3-4 December
1705. Sahibzada Ajit Singh was given
the command of the rearguard. As the
besiegers, violating their solemn promises
for a safe conduct of the evacuees,
attacked the column, he stoutly engaged
them on a hill-feature called Shahi
Tibbi until relieved by Bhai Ude Singh.
Ajit Singh crossed the Sarsa, then in
spate, along with his father, his younger
brother, Jhujhar Singh, and some fifty
Sikhs. Further reduced in numbers by
casualties at the hands of pursuing
troop from Ropar, the column reached
Chamkaur in the evening of 6 December
1705, and took up position in a garhi,
a high walled fortified house. The host,
since swelled by reinforcements from
Malerkotla and Sirhind and from among
the local Ranghars and Gujjars, soon
caught up with them and threw a tight
ring around Chamkaur. An unequal but
grim battle commenced with the sunrise
on 7 December 1705-in the words of Guru
Gobind Singh's Zafarnamah, a mere forty
defying thousands. The besieged, after
they had exhausted the meagre stock
of ammunitions and arrows, made sallies
in batches of five each to engage the
encircling host with sword and spear.
Sahibzada Ajit Singh led one of the
sallies and laid down his life fighting
in the thick of the battle. Gurdwara
Qatalgarh now marks the spot where he
fell, followed by Sahibzada Jhujhar
Singh who led the next sally. An annual
fair is held in the commemoration of
their martyrdoms on the 8th of the Bikrami
month of Poh (December - January).
The martyrdom of two of the sons of
Guru Gobind singh in the battle of Chamkaur
is substantiated by a contemporary record
in the form of an official letter preserved
in a MS., Ahkam-i-Alamgiri by Emperor
Aurungzeb's official letter writer,
Mirza 'Inayat' Ullah Khan Ismi (1653-1725).
The relevant extract from the Ms., translated
into English, shows that Mughals supplied
at least 700 men while Sarhind, Malerkotla,
and Ranghars were rest, it reads:
Received the letter containing misclaneous
matters including the arrival of Gobind,
the worshipper of Nanak, to a place
12 kos from Sirhind; the dispatch of
a force of 700 with artillery and other
material; his being besieged and vanquished
in the haveli [a large walled house]
of a zamindar of village chamkaur and
killing of his two sons and other companions;
and the capture of his mother and another
son...
Salute to Great Sikh Warrior Sardar
Sahibzada Ajit Singh ji.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Harbans Singh "The
encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol III."
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