Maharaja Ranjit Singh In The Eyes On Non-sikhs

[Bijla Singh]

I won't go into too much detail since this topic is not about marathas. What marathas have written in their history books is half truth and half lies. Going back in time we find that Jatts of Punjab and Marathas of Maharashtra both were considered low caste people, equal to shudras. Shivaji, after few short campaigns decided to declare himself a "king" which required performing hindu rituals. So he called brahmins for "raj tilak". Brahmins after much discussion told him that he could not become a king since he was related to shudra caste. One of Shivaji's commanders, Maropant Pinglay, also opposed him. Since he wanted to become a king, he paid 4 crore 26 lakh rupees to brahmins and became a king. This was a bribe to change his caste after which he oppressed and killed shudras on the orders of brahmins. He charged 40% tax on all farmers. He kept 8 wives. Dr. Ambedkar, Jadoonath Sarkar and many others have written enough on his so-called kingdom and how he mismanaged it. His purpose was to establish a kingdom based on caste system and fully advocated it. Just like Raam Chandra he also killed a saint belonging to untouchable caste for doing bhagtee. His name was Chokhamela. He was dragged on the ground until he died. Shivaji never wished to free India from mughals. He never went to Punjab and died in 1680. We have no history books written during that period or any historic buildings. His kingdom benefited no one.

Marathas during 18th century came to Punjab only once and that was when Sikhs were living in jungles and hardly any Sikh remained in the cities. Most of Punjab had been ruined by invaders and local armies. Marathas came and slowly took over some areas and even tried to force Sikhs to submit themselves to maratha rule. As soon as Sikhs decided to fight back, news of Abdali's arrival came and maratha ran away and did not rest until they reached within the safety of their forts and mountains. Sikhs on the other hand had no army, ammunition, artillery, forts and mountains to fight abdali. Even then they fought. Marathas were greatly defeated in Panipat and could never raise their heads again. Sikhs not only defeated abdali but terrorized him so much that he traveled 40km from Lahore to Amritsar in four days. He always avoided fighting Sikhs. More than 50% of Sikh population had been killed in 1762 but it enraged Sikhs so much that they took over entire Punjab just after 3 years and ruled Punjab till 1849.

Marathas always fought for their own kingdom and not for any other kingdom. During panipat battle 22000 maratha women were taken a slaves and sold in Afghanistan. Their descendants can be found in Baluchistan even today. Sikhs saved more than 2000 of these women and took them back to Maharashtra. Think about the long travel, protection and expenses provided by the Sikhs from Punjab to south India. Sikhs fought for the country and for the people. Marathas fought for their own kingdom in which lower caste people were suppressed. They saved their kingdom by giving their daughters to mughals. They even gave their sons in dowry. Birbal was given away in dowry to Akbar. Hindu history is full of slavery. Hindus used to keep their mouths open so that mughals could spit.

Marathas are only praised by hindus but Sikhs and their bravery have been praised by Muslims, Hindus and British. Those who always hated Sikhs could not keep themselves from praising the bravery and high character of Sikhs. I have a copy of Jangnama of Qazi Noor Mohammad along with translation from Persian to Punjabi and it is a must read by all Sikhs. It shows how abdali was afraid of Sikhs so much so that one time he went back from Lahore and never dared to cross the river to enter the Sikh area. Contribution of Marathas to India is nothing. Sikhs are true freedom fighters and liberators of India.

Marathas are full of hatred. They threatened Sikhs to leave their state in 1966.

“Maharastra is a state for Marathas only. Others are not allowed to live here. We are informing everyone, especially Sikhs to leave the state and go back to Punjab within six months. After that we will not be held responsible for their fate.” (Indian Terrorism on the Land of Punjab, Baljit Singh, Pg. 26)

Their other statements talk about how they want to eliminate every Sardar kid in India. Such mentality is not new but comes from shivaji and his tiny kingdom. Their same mentality inspired them to help british take over Punjab. Sikhs never oppressed anyone. Their rule was welcomed by all. Many areas wrote to Sikhs inviting them to attack and take over because they wished to be part of Sikh rule.

ਅੱਜ ਹੋਵੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਤਾਂ ਮੁੱਲ ਪਾਵੇ ਜਿਹੜੀਆਂ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਨੇ ਤੇਗਾਂ ਮਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ।