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  1. Guest

    Pakistan Rishta

    It seems like with feminism becoming a strong issue and difficulty of finding traditional women in western and indian sangat, just curious as to what process might be in terms of finding a Sikh girl from Pakistan?
  2. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sikh-christian-die-targeted-killings-pakistans-nw-98290252 Sikh, Christian die in targeted killings in Pakistan’s NW Pakistani police say a Sikh and a Christian have been shot dead in separate targeted attacks in the northwest city of Peshawar PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- A Pakistani Sikh businessman and a Christian cleaner were shot dead by unknown assailants in separate incidents in the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said Saturday. Gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on Sikh shop owner Dayal Singh when he was in his grocery store and fled the scene, said police officer Haroon Rasheed. He said an investigation was underway. Rasheed said police have found evidence from surveillance camera footage and will soon be able to identify the gunmen. Ranveer Singh, a representative of Pakistan’s minority Sikh community, said the businessman had no problems with anyone. He said Sikhs are feeling insecure as 11 members of their community have been killed in recent years. The minister for information and religious minorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is located, assured Sikhs the culprits will be arrested and there will be steps to protect minorities. Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel also announced compensation of 500,000 rupees for Singh’s family. A Christian man, Kashif Maseeh, was shot dead by unknown attackers on Saturday. He was attacked while returning from his job as a cleaner for local authorities. It was the third targeted killing in two days. Prominent Hindu doctor and eye surgeon Birbal Genani was gunned down in Karachi on Thursday. Police superintendent Zubair Tanoli said Genani received a fatal gunshot to the head. Religious minorities often face violence in Pakistan, even though the country’s Constitution guarantees them equal rights and the freedom to practice their faith
  3. Pakistan: Sikhs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protest as Islamists forcibly convert a female Sikh teacher and perform her nikaah On Sunday, her family members knew about the forced marriage and subsequent conversion. The family reached the police station where nobody cared to register their complaint. In another incident of flouting human rights in Pakistan, a female Sikh teacher was forcibly converted by Islamists in Peer Baba of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan on Saturday 20th August 2022. The Sikhs in the KPK province are protesting against this forced conversion. A video of the protests appeared on Twitter on Sunday, 21st August 2022, in which Sikhs can be seen protesting and raising various slogans outside a police station in Pakistan. According to a report by Aaj Tak, a young female teacher from the Sikh community was allegedly kidnapped on Saturday, and on the next day, her family was informed that the young girl is now married to a Muslim person. There is deep resentment in the Sikh community due to this incident. Dina Kaur, a Sikh teacher was kidnapped on Saturday. On Sunday, her family members knew about the forced marriage and subsequent conversion. The family reached the police station where nobody cared to register their complaint. According to the family members, the local police have not registered any FIR and have asked the Sikhs to be silent on this issue. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has expressed concern over this incident. Tagging the government of Pakistan in his tweet, Sirsa said, “How can a family silently watch its daughters being forcibly converted and emotionally exploited? This is against basic human rights and we stand in support of the Sikh brothers of Pakistan. I urge India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Ji to intervene in this matter.” He added, “I urge the External Affairs Minister to hold talks on the issue of minority Sikhs in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office is also not paying attention to this. Our earlier tweets on the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan have been ignored.” Persecution of Sikhs in Pakistan Earlier in May 2022, two Sikhs were killed in Peshawar, Pakistan. In that case, a strong protest was lodged by India. At that time, the spokesperson of the Indian Government said, “We have seen reports of the brutal killing of two Sikh traders by unidentified armed men in Peshawar. Sadly, this is not the first incident. Even before this, there have been attacks on Sikhs, a minority community in Pakistan.” https://www.opindia.com/2022/08/pakistan-sikhs-protest-islamists-forcibly-convert-teacher/
  4. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/sikh-community-faces-existential-crisis-in-pakistan-101654007355224.html Sikh community faces 'existential crisis' in Pakistan In a brutal incident on May 15 recently, two Sikh traders--Kuljeet and Ranjit Singh- - were murdered on the outskirts of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Asian Lite International reported. According to Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, there are just 15,000-20,000 Sikhs estimated to be left in Pakistan of which some 500 Sikh households are in Peshawar. Published on May 31, 2022 08:06 PM IST Islamic outfits have made an unlivable environment for religious minorities in Pakistan through targeted killings, abductions and forced conversions. Attacks on Sikhs have become a regular affair in the country and it has triggered tension among communities. In a brutal incident on May 15 recently, two Sikh traders--Kuljeet and Ranjit Singh- - were murdered on the outskirts of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Asian Lite International reported. This was the 'twelfth' such incident since 2014 when Sikhs were targeted by extremists in KP province alone. Moreover, in September last year, Satnam Singh, a Sikh Unani medicine practitioner was shot down inside his clinic in Peshawar, the report added, citing the local community. The Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) took the responsibility for the attack. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also strongly condemned the murders and said in a statement, "This is not the first time that the Sikh community in KP has been targeted and we demand that the KP police identify and arrest the perpetrators promptly." The Sikh population in Pakistan is in a vulnerable state and has seen a massive decline in the last two decades amid rising cases of forced conversions and targeted attacks by the Islamic outfits because of their unique religious identifications and their population accumulation in unsafe areas of KP. World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) also condemned the Peshawar killings and expressed deep concerns for the safety of Pakistan's Sikh community. In their statement, the WSO stated that Sikhs in Pakistan are "feeling vulnerable and unsafe." Moreover, "they do not know if they will return home safely, if they go out." Most of the Sikhs in KP come from a financially weak background and run small grocery shops or work as Hakeems. Migrating to a safer place is becoming a compulsion for them as Pakistan does not guarantee their security in the region anymore, Asian Lite said. According to Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, there are just 15,000-20,000 Sikhs estimated to be left in Pakistan of which some 500 Sikh households are in Peshawar. In January 2020, a violent mob attacked one of the holiest Sikh shrines, Nankana Sahib Gurudwara, in Punjab province, and the horrific attack terrorized Sikhs across Pakistan because it made them realize that Punjab was not safe anymore. Amid the growing demands of imposing 'Sharia Law' in the country and the constant ascent in atrocities against Sikh minorities has shrunk space for them to survive in Pakistan, growing disenchantment among minority communities in Pakistan, especially among Sikhs, who thought that they could co-exist peacefully along with majority Muslims. Pakistan is witnessing a new wave of terrorism with several incidents of target killings of Sikh and Shia minorities reported in the Peshawar region in recent years. The previous governments in Pakistan abandoned the execution of the National Action Plan (NAP) which was meant to be put in place to carry out a crackdown on terrorism giving rise to horrific incidents taking place against minorities in the nation. Religious minorities in Pakistan are often treated as 'second-class' citizens, Asian Lite International reported.
  5. Lol why do people insist Pakistani Punjabis and Indian Punjabis are very similar and have similar culture. We don't. Their culture is entirely influenced by Islam.
  6. Thoughts? I heard the us gov wrote a letter saying that relations with the us will not improve until Imran Khan is gone. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-01/u-s-denies-imran-khan-s-claim-it-wants-him-ousted-in-pakistan
  7. Must read this thread: This is why we need to start being neutral...Hinduvsta or Islamists are not friends never have and never will be. https://www.dawn.com/news/1025160/day-3-the-sikhs-of-nankana-sahab
  8. With Pakistan being friends with Taliban...Kashmir will be forefront of wars between two countries. Expect more Islamists attacks from their end and expect India to 'exploit' Sikhs in Kashmir fake encounters 'Khalistan agents from TAliBan' etc Both Pakistan and India will exploit Sikhs. Gurdwaras in Pakistan are at risk. India will amplify their position of Hindu Rastra and continue the narrative 'Look how bad Islamists are Sikh-Hindu dharmic brotherhood' Many Indian Sikhs will for it. Need to be more cautious then ever. Islamists are just upfront to your face, hindvastas and gore are snarky.
  9. Beautiful old Gurdwara in Pakistan. The wood work was from Kashmir while the glasswork came from Belgium! A Pakistani architect talks about the design and artwork of the Gurdwara. I think she's going to be renovating the building.
  10. Here is the hate filled bigotry from a mullah in pakistan. Hope this is an eye opener for those praising Pakistan. These bigots are free to make big speeches to crowds in Pakistan. Shame on them!! https://youtu.be/7dWlanixDWs
  11. Latest research as of 2019 and 2020 showed Sikhism is the fastest growing religion in Australia and new Zealand. A concentrated effort should be made to make these two countries a hub of Sikhi. Canada also has a growing Sikh population though not officially recognised it is growing fast too. Pakistan should be our kaums number one target for secret conversions it would be beautiful to see west punjab once the centre of Sikh power of maharajah ranjit singhs kingdom having a majority Sikh population. And besides the more pakistani's that are converted to Sikhi the more stable the future of Sikhs and other non-muslims like hindus and buddhists will be in neighbouring Afghanistan and kashmir. What we need is less langari's doing their largar parties and handing out langar gifts to non-believers and more parchar parties and with gurbani gifts for non-Sikhs.
  12. Christian girl, 13, is kidnapped by 44-year-old man in Pakistan and forced to convert to Islam and marry him Arzoo Raja was abducted from her home in Karachi on October 13, activists say Two days later her 44-year-old 'husband' produced a marriage certificate Protests have broken out after a Pakistani court upheld the marriage's validity A 13-year-old Christian girl was kidnapped in Pakistan and forced to marry a 44-year-old man who made her convert to Islam, campaigners say. Arzoo Raja was abducted from her home in Karachi on October 13, and two days later her 'husband' produced a marriage certificate saying she was 18 and had converted to Islam. The case has led to protests in Karachi and Lahore but a Pakistani court has upheld the marriage after her husband claimed she had converted of her own free will. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8896671/Christian-girl-13-kidnapped-44-year-old-man-Pakistan.html
  13. Waheguru ji ka khalsa , Waheguru ji ki Fateh it is with a very heavy heart and ros beyond measure , I have to inform you all that the pakistanis have been encouraged by case of previous kidnapping and the nonaction by pakistani government to return the girl asap , the muslims have taken this as go-ahead to repeat this crime again . This time Bulbaul kaur daughter of S Preetan SIngh head granthi of Panja Sahib has been kidnapped by two men https://www.facebook.com/mssirsa/videos/1005665476572176
  14. https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/WaBCEddMLH5DaM0aD5wzbN/Why-India-is-part-dysfunctional-fully-functional.html What do you think of this man's analysis? I found this part quite interesting:
  15. Seeing how they are now going to ramp up efforts to include pakistani held kashmiri cities in their weather forecasts and the ministry of external affairs has told pakistan to vacate kashmir will we see a war break out this year over kashmir?
  16. Sangat ji Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh! I came across a new documentary on the lost Sikh heritage in Pakistan. It is about the journey of one Amardeep Singh, an author/filmmaker as he explores the historical Gurdwaras in Pakistan, apart from the commonly known and famous Panja Sahib, Kartarpur Darbar Sahib and Nankana Sahib. He really went deep into the rural areas of Pakistan to document the Gurdwaras that our ancestors had to leave behind in 1947. Looking at the some of the buildings and listening to the stories really hit me in the feels lol. Apart from this, we can also see how much sharda the Nanakpanthis have towards SGGS ji, something some of us so-called Sikhs can learn from. I highly recommend you watch it..also there are some other videos on his channel as well..haven't watched anything else yet. Thought I'd share this first. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
  17. Sikh separatist leader condemns Kabul gurdwara attack, requests India to shelter minorities from Afghanistan ANI | Updated: Mar 28, 2020 15:15 ISTFounder of Dal Khalsa and UK-based Sikh separatist leader Jaswant Singh Thekedar (File photo) London [UK], Mar 28 (ANI): Jaswant Singh Thekedar, the founder of Dal Khalsa - a Sikh separatist organisation, has condemned the barbaric attack on a historic gurdwara in Kabul and requested the Indian government to shelter the remaining families of Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan. On Wednesday, armed terrorists killed 25 civilians in a terror attack on the 400-year-old Gurdwara in Shor Bazar in Kabul. The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack, but many experts believe that Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), propagated it to oppose Ashraf Ghani, who was re-elected as the President of Afghanistan last month. In a video message, Singh said, "In Afghanistan, the way the Taliban carried out a barbaric attack on the Sikhs in Kabul's historic gurdwara and killed children and women who were praying for the people affected by coronavirus pandemic is highly condemnable." "The attackers are not religious people and they have no humanity. They have only one motive to call others as 'kafirs' or infidel and kill them. It is also preached in their holy book. This is an unforgettable incident for the Sikhs," he added. The separatist leader also stated that he has requested the Indian government to allow the remaining Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan to get them settled in India. "Our request has been accepted and after the COVID-19 crisis. Whoever will apply for a visa, the Indian government will facilitate them," he said. "We are thankful to the Indian authorities. We are also reaching out to the victims' families with all possible help. We are your brothers. The horrific attack has happened on the entire Sikh community. We all stand together with your pain," Singh added. The Sikh community in the war-torn country that once constituted a vibrant, well integrated and economically active part of the Afghan society has been persecuted and driven away, since the Taliban grabbed the reins in the 1990s. Their depletion has been so rapid that of the once close to a quarter of a million population, only a minuscule 1000-odd still remain in the country, barely eking out a livelihood amid extremely violent circumstances. (ANI)
  18. As this virus is out doing its worst in the world and we have evil sunni salafi islamic terrorists running around harming our people and other innocents. I think its time we did some reading and reflection on what sikhi and sikh history says about testing and trying times. Post any relevant gurbani scriptures or sikh ithihaas stories that may inspire others Heres mine: ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਨਿਤਾਣਿਆ ਕਾ ਤਾਣੁ ॥ साहिबु निताणिआ का ताणु ॥ Sāhib niṯāṇi▫ā kā ṯāṇ. Our Lord and Master is the Power of the powerless. ਆਇ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਥਿਰੁ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ आइ न जाई थिरु सदा गुर सबदी सचु जाणु ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥ Ā▫e na jā▫ī thir saḏā gur sabḏī sacẖ jāṇ. ||1|| rahā▫o. He does not come or go; He is Eternal and Permanent. Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, He is known as True. ||1||Pause|| ਜੇ ਕੋ ਹੋਵੈ ਦੁਬਲਾ ਨੰਗ ਭੁਖ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥ जे को होवै दुबला नंग भुख की पीर ॥ Je ko hovai ḏublā nang bẖukẖ kī pīr. If you are weakened by the pains of hunger and poverty, ਦਮੜਾ ਪਲੈ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਧੀਰ ॥ दमड़ा पलै ना पवै ना को देवै धीर ॥ Ḏamṛā palai nā pavai nā ko ḏevai ḏẖīr. with no money in your pockets, and no one will give you any comfort, ਸੁਆਰਥੁ ਸੁਆਉ ਨ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਾਜੁ ॥ सुआरथु सुआउ न को करे ना किछु होवै काजु ॥ Su▫ārath su▫ā▫o na ko kare nā kicẖẖ hovai kāj. and no one will satisfy your hopes and desires, and none of your works is accomplished - ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਰਾਜੁ ॥੨॥ चिति आवै ओसु पारब्रहमु ता निहचलु होवै राजु ॥२॥ Cẖiṯ āvai os pārbarahm ṯā nihcẖal hovai rāj. ||2|| if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, you shall obtain the eternal kingdom. ||2|| ਜਾ ਕਉ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਰੋਗੁ ॥ जा कउ चिंता बहुतु बहुतु देही विआपै रोगु ॥ Jā ka▫o cẖinṯā bahuṯ bahuṯ ḏehī vi▫āpai rog. When you are plagued by great and excessive anxiety, and diseases of the body; ਗ੍ਰਿਸਤਿ ਕੁਟੰਬਿ ਪਲੇਟਿਆ ਕਦੇ ਹਰਖੁ ਕਦੇ ਸੋਗੁ ॥ ग्रिसति कुट्मबि पलेटिआ कदे हरखु कदे सोगु ॥ Garisaṯ kutamb paleti▫ā kaḏe harakẖ kaḏe sog. when you are wrapped up in the attachments of household and family, sometimes feeling joy, and then other times sorrow; ਗਉਣੁ ਕਰੇ ਚਹੁ ਕੁੰਟ ਕਾ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਸੋਇ ॥ गउणु करे चहु कुंट का घड़ी न बैसणु सोइ ॥ Ga▫oṇ kare cẖahu kunt kā gẖaṛī na baisaṇ so▫e. when you are wandering around in all four directions, and you cannot sit or sleep even for a moment - ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥ चिति आवै ओसु पारब्रहमु तनु मनु सीतलु होइ ॥३॥ Cẖiṯ āvai os pārbarahm ṯan man sīṯal ho▫e. ||3|| if you come to remember the Supreme Lord God, then your body and mind shall be cooled and soothed. ||3|| - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji ang 70 ================================================= The Great Battle of Balakot Between Wahaabi Salafi Jihadi's and Sikh Imperial Army - Khalsa Fauj The destruction of the foremost <Edited> Jihad. The battle of Balakot marks an extremely important revolution in the Sikh affairs of the late 1700’s. Inspired by extremism and an answer to the decadent policies of the virtually extinct mughal empire, the battle was the first jihad launched via the Wahaabi ideology. It aimed to usher Punjab into an Islamic past which would rival the golden age of the mughal state. Lead by a fanatical individual it aimed to eradicate the Sikh empire, expand the new state’s border to connect with British India and ultimately birth an extensively powerful Islamic state. Plans which were paid put by the Khalsa forces. The battle was the brainchild of Syed Ahmed, a deeply religious Islamic individual who has been awarded the honor of being the first indigenous Jihadi of the Indian sub-continent. He was born in Rai Breli in 1786 A.D., a time when the mughal state’s funeral bells were pealing with ever greater pitch. The Maratha confederacy had turned on their Mughal masters and had succeeded in establishing an independent domain of sorts, despite being severely mauled by the ferocious Afghanis. The Sikhs had succeeded in liberating major portions of Punjab and planting the seeds of a powerful and Alexandrian empire, whilst a major portion of the sub-continent was divided among various warlords, generals and princes. Maharajah Ranjit Singh. Syed Ahmed easily garnered the factor that attacking the British, who were a rising power, would earn him no territorial merit. It would only invoke the latter’s wrath upon him and crush his campaign. The Marathas despite being severely weakened by their engagements with the Afghanis, Sikhs and the British still presented a murderous front to any potential invader. This only left the Sikh empire, an isolated but extensively impregnable domain ruled over by Maharajah Ranjit Singh. An awe-inspiring Napoleonic figure in his own right. Ahmed based his assumptions on the Afghani intolerance of the Sikh infidels. He unwittingly assumed that the Afghani polity would aide him in crushing the infidel and liberating what he saw as being an oppressed populace. With these potential factors as his basis, Ahmed left his family and with total faith in Allah traversed towards Peshawar. His journey was arduous and extensively bone breaking. He took a route via Sindh, Quetta, Qandhar and Kabul, and arrived heavily exhausted in Peshawar where he outlined his plan to the various regional warlords and warrior populace. An extensive number of these individuals had prior to Ahmed’s arrival, crossed steel with the Khalsa forces and were heavily disillusioned by his ineptness and heavy reliance on fate amalgamated with luck. After depicting their ridicule of his planned campaign they left him, yet despite this failure, on Ahmed’s part, he still managed to raise a detachment of Mujhaideen warriors who being hot-blooded and head strong readily agreed to attack Sikh domains. Led by Ahmed they succeeded in attacking a few Sikh territories but were mostly beaten back, which subsequently lowered their morale and provoked no reaction from the Khalsa border forces. Ahmed on seeing this and after conferencing with his accomplices, including Shah Ismail the grandson of Shah Waliulah of Delhi, decided on a new course of action. He adopted a nomadic agenda and continually traveled from one province frontier to it’s neighbor until ultimately he set foot in Balakot in 1831 A.D. Foregoing all militaristic and rational notions, Ahmed’s strategy was to engage the Sikh in the mountains of Balakot, annihilate them and conquer neighboring Kashmir; another extended domain of Ranjit Singh’s regional fiefdom. “I am in the mountains of Pakhli (name of the area). The people here have welcomed us with warmth and hospitality and have given us a place to stay. They have also promised to support us in the jihad. For the time being, I am camped in the town of Balakot, which is located in the (river) Kunhar pass. The army of the infidels [kuffars] is camped not too far from us. Since Balakot is located at a secure place (surrounded by hills and bounded by the river), God willing, the infidels will not be able to reach us. Of course, we may choose to advance and enter into a battle at our own initiative. And this we intend to do in the next two or three days. With the help of God, we will be victorious. If we win this battle, and, God willing, we will, then we will occupy all the land alongside the Jehlum River including the Kingdom of Kashmir. Please pray, day and night, for our victory.” -Syed Ahmad’s letter to an accomplice. Hari Singh Nalwa, the lion-shredder, was the viceroy and commander-in-chief of the Punjab territories encircling Balakot. An intelligent and fearsome general Hari Singh commanded his main captain Sher Singh to encircle Balakot and move a battalion of the Khalsa forces to Muzaffarabad. A few companies also surrounded Mitti Kot, the mountainous terrain encircling Ahmed’s forces. Ahmed after surveying the battlefield had it flooded to encumber the attacking Khalsa forces. Headlong he fell into the elaborate trap planned by his foes, the Khalsa nerve-center had easily maneuvered it’s foe into the very position the latter had wanted to encumber the Khalsa in. On the days catalyzing in commencement of the battle a mujhaideen foolishly charged the Khalsa companies keeping him under surveillance. He became encumbered by the very mud which Ahmed had planned to annihilate the Khalsa opposition in. Khalsa snipers soon finished him off via their bullets. Realizing that his elaborate trap had been exposed, with the crack of dawn Ahmed ordered a headlong charge into the Khalsa forces. Discarding all caution the mujhaideen vainly charged the joyous Khalsa who readily clashed with it. Amongst cries of Allah, and Waheguru a bloody slaughter commenced in which the mujhaideen were rapidly dispatched to their resting regions. It is believed that 1300 mujhaideen blindly lost their lives that fateful day, with the Khalsa receiving only a few casualties. The first indigenous sub-continental jihad met it’s demise in a bloody fashion.
  19. For those who don't know who Allama Muhammad Iqbal was, he is widely known as Allama Iqbal, was a poet, philosopher and politician, as well as an academic, barrister and scholar in British India who is widely regarded as having inspired the Pakistan Movement. He is called the "Spiritual Father of Pakistan." and to this day islamist supremacist extremists in pakistan often quote his poetry when talking of muslim separatism. Seeing how influential allama iqbal's poetry was and still is to the consciences of punjabi muslims back before partition and desire for separate nationhood. Do we have such a figure a poet in our history or present times who captures the mood and struggles of the Sikh nation?
  20. 40% of people in jail for blasphemy in Pakistan are non muslims despite non muslims only making 3% of the countries population. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000fzpl/storyville-the-accused-damned-or-devoted
  21. Chillianwala – the forgotten British defeat Previous Next Previous Next Lt. Col Muhammad Arslan Qadeer (Rtd) 4:59 PM | January 08, 2020 Just 35 Kms south west of Kharian located on the eastern bank of the river Jehlum is the village of Chillianwala. Insignificant as it looks and unknown to most, this small village apparently is no different to the vast countryside surrounding the Kharian Garrison on either side of the GT road. Nevertheless, it is this singular and unique honor attached to the village of Chillianwala or Chillianwallah as it was spelled then, to have served as one of the biggest and bloodiest battlefields in the history of warfare. The Anglo-Sikh war of 1849 is perhaps one of the few battles which go down in history symbolizing the greatest military debacles the British had suffered. Right on the entrance to Chillianwala, on the western side of the road situated on a high ground is the gleaming gigantic grandeur of the obelisk made of red sand stone reverberating the great battle fought under the British Commander in Chief Lord Hugh Gough and Sardar Sher Singh Attariwala. On four sides of the structure are the inscriptions in English, Hindi, Urdu and Persian. Enclosed in the same premises are the five graves in perfect condition. Out of these, two in the foreground are thought to be of Brigadier John Pennycuick and Brigadier Alexander Pope. The gravestones however are regrettably missing. Just adjacent to it is another premises housing a giant metallic cross resting on a huge foundation. The main inscription reads: A Cruce Salus To record the names of the brave officers who fell in the great battle fought on the adjoining plain, 13 th January 1849. The Cross was placed beside their tombs by Richard 6 th Earl of Mayo Viceroy and Governor General 1871. On the western side of the base holding the cross is inscribed the long list of names of European officers killed in the battle. The first two in the list are Brig John Pennycuick Commander 5 th Brigade and Brig Alexander Pope Commander 2 nd Brigade of Cavalry, the two being the senior most officers in the British side among a total of 2357 casualties on 13 January 1849. On the eastern side are the infantry, Cavalry and artillery unitsthat took part in the battle. The battle of Chillianwala is unique as it marked the foundation of the Indian rebellion and led to the great uprising of the native armies then under the control of the East India Company. Chillianwala marks the biggest debacle wherein the British was defeated most decisively despite beingmilitarily and logistically overwhelmingly superior. In addition to military preponderance, the British also enjoyed towards their side the advantages of favourable terrain and weather as opposed to that in Afghanistan in the three Anglo afghan wars – the situational factors so fondly highlighted by British historians. As the story goes, it all started after the death of Ranjit Singh (1839) when his incompetent sons proved to be too weak to hold the throne. Karak Singh his first successor could not stick around for long and was deposed within four months. Another son Naunehal Singh though a very capable and competent person met a premature death after being crushed under a falling arch. He was succeeded by one of Ranjit Singh’s many illegitimate sons who was despised by the elders and nobles of the court and was soon removed from power. It was then Rani Jindan, one of the many wives of Ranjit Singh and a former dancing girl usurped power ruling in the name of Duleep Singh, her five year old son. Rani Jindan along with her hindu confidants was wary of the strength of the sikh army. She knowing well that her fragile marriage with power could fizzle out any time struck a deal with the British which envisaged destruction of the sikh military might and continuation of her rule. To materialize the plan the sikh army was incited and launched across the Sutlej river (The Anglo-Sikh boundary) to invade East India Company’s territory. As a result of treachery and poor leadership the sikh army was thus decisively defeated on the 10 th of February 1845 and the Sikh state came under the domination of the English East India Company. Henry Lawrence, who was the British Resident, became the de facto ruler overlooking the affairs of the state on behalf of the infant Duleep Singh. The Sikh army had been humiliated and felt that it had not been defeated militarily but merely betrayed by its leaders who wanted destruction of the Sikh army and acted treacherously. Later in April 1848, Diwan Mulraj, the Governor of Multan, which was the southern Punjab province of the Sikh State rebelled against the British regent and all the sikh troops at Multan joined him. To suppress this uprising the British organized three columns to march towards Multan; one under General Sher Singh, one under Lieutenant Edwards and one under Lieutenant Lake to recapture Multan. Consequently, in August 1848 a siege was laid against the city of Multan. On the 14th of September Sher Singh with all his troops crossed over to the rebel side. Sardar Sher Singh Attariwala as he was known, after consultation with Mulraj decided to move north of the Chenab River. His father Chattar Sigh the Governor of Hazara province who had already rebelled, joined him by occupying the strategic Attock Fort. Thus the British lost almost the whole area north of the Chenab River in addition to the Multan Fort. The Governor of East India Company had meanwhile issued orders for the invasion of Punjab and crush the sikh rising under the leadership of the overall Commander-in-Chief of India and also the East India Company’s private Bengal Army, General Sir Hugh Gough. On the 11th of January 1849, Gough resolved to attack Sher Singh’s position the centre of which rested a few miles west of Chillianwala. On the 12th of January while carrying out a reconnaissance, he discovered that the Sikh had swung forward. On discovery of the Sikh position so close to Chillianwala, Gough decided to attack the Sikh position on the next day that is 13 Jan 1849. The British Army was divided into two infantry Divisions (3 rd and 2 nd ) with a Cavalry Brigade each on outer flanks. The 3rd Division commanded by Brigadier General Colin Campbell formed the left or southern Division launched an enthusiastic but reckless attack based on a conventional bayonet charge. Though they did manage to reach the Sikh positions, however in the process the punishment inflicted was too severe. The Sikh counter attacked and the assailants withdrew in disorder towards Chillianwala. The leading Brigade Commander Brigadier Pennycuick and his son Lieutenant Alexander Pennycuick killed in the bloody engagement. The 2nd Infantry division commanded by Major General Sir Walter Gilbert formed the right (northern) division. Gilbert’s leading Brigades aptly supported by artillery successfully cleared all Sikh positions in front and drove the Sikhs close to the River Jehlum. While Gilbert was reorganizing for the final assault, he was suddenly counter attacked by the Sikhs in force from his rear. This happened due to the fact that his integral cavalry brigade which was commanded by Brigadier Pope and was responsible to guard the right (northern) flank and rear of Gilbert’s Division, completely overrun by the ferocious cavalry charge of the Sikhs leaving the right and rear flank vulnerable to counter attack. Sher Singh Attariwala immediately ordered a counter attack and Sikh infantry and cavalry located on the north-west hills immediately advanced down from the heights through the open gap created by the absence of Brigadier Pope’s cavalry and encircled Gilbert’s division from the rear followed by a ruthless massacre. The damage done at Chillianwala to the prestige of British might was enormous and played a major role in changing the attitude of native states towards British leading directly to the ‘Great Sepoy Rebellion’ (The war of independence 1857) in which the British almost lost their Indian Empire and the English East India Company whose private Bengal Army had fought Chillianwala lost India to the British Crown. https://nation.com.pk/08-Jan-2020/chillianwala-the-forgotten-british-defeat
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