Jathedar Baba Hanuman Singh Ji Shaheed

[chatanga]

another thing to realise in the fall of Sikhs in numbers and the rise in hindus is that, it is a popular (but inaccurate) policy of hindus to claim that Hindu families raised their eldest son as a Sikh, but the reality was that it paid to be a Sikh in Maharaja Ranjit Singhs rule, as Sikhs were readily accepted into his army. This for the Hindus was a way of feeding their families, as their child was essentially a govt employee.

When Sikh rule ended, they saw that there was no longer a need to do this, and it was not financially positive, and hence the return to the Hindu fold, by many Sikhs.

[dalsingh101]

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[dalsingh101]

British sources could be biased as for the reasons for the attack. I would imagine they would be arrogant and try to paint the Nihang Singhs in as much of a demonic way possible.

I haven't read all the thread so forgive if I'm repeating what someone has already posted. The earlier reference to a nihung being mutilated on the orders of MRS doesn't come from British sources but from a Transylvanian doctor who worked for the Lahore state and seems to have been very impartial/unbiased. His name was Honigberger and he wrote about the incident in his memoirs as follows:

I introduced to our distinguished guests. Col. Wade and Dr. Murray, an Akalee or Nahung, whose nose, ears and

hands had been cut off by order of Runjeet Sing (he had even deserved the gallows ), and whose nose had been so

well restored in the mountains that we were all surprised,and confessed it could not have been better done in Europe.

As we know, from history, this operation was even in the remotest antiquity, practised by the Hindoos ; and they

fermed the nose out of the cuticle of the forehead, which proceeding is now, and always will be the same. In Europe,

where cutting off of noses is only in use, in exceptional cases — as when ulceration or other circumstances make it

requisite — this operation is usually performed with the cuticle of the arm, and judiciously too, as, according to our

custom, the head mostly is uncovered, and a scar on one's forehead, with a new nose on the face, makes rather an ugly

appearance ; whilst, in the East, the scar remains hidden beneath the turban.

<br />

In time of peace, the Nahungs gave a great deal of trouble to Runjeet Sing. On one occasion, he was even

forced to place two pieces of cannon outside the Delhi Gate of Lahore, in the vicinity of Seidgenj, where the robbers

congregate, because this band dared to intercept the communication of that city. They shut themselves up in Meea

Meer, five miles distant from Lahore, thence they made their appearance as rebels, but they were defeated, and

forced to depart, and from the town also, to Umritsir.

The individual just alluded to as deserving the gallows, had cut off the arm of a sentinel, for having prevented

him from entering the tent of the king by a private entrance. The Nahung had a servant with him, who

underwent no punishment, because he did not behave in an aggressive manner ; but the offender, by the order of Runjeet Singh, lost his ears, nose, and hands, by the same sabre with which he had so skilfully cut off the arm of the soldier on royal duty.

After the sad execution, he ran to drown himself in a well, but was prevented by the people who were accidentally present. When the king was informed of the fact, the culprit was sent to me, and put under my care and medical attendance, with strict orders to watch him, to prevent his committing suicide, and to present him, when cured, to the king. According to his own statement, he was drunk with bhang ( hemp ) when he committed the<br />

crime, and his only intention for intruding on the king had been to ask a gapa ( gift ). These robbers do not like to enter<br />

military service ; they prefer begging, and living by pillage.

I also agree with the earlier assertion that today people have a tendency to let their imaginations run riot when it comes to nihungs of old. They were certainly tough and free spirited in independent Panjab, but they weren't complete angels - and I don't see this as any sort of slur before anyone gets their knickers in a twist!!

Anyone interested can read more extracts from Honigberger's book here. Not sure if you need a login to view though? The extracts are well worth taking time to read!!

http://www.sikhawareness.com/index.php/topic/12872-john-martin-honigberger-maharajah-ranjit-singhs-doctor/page__hl__honigberger__fromsearch__1

[Singh559]

Love it ^.

The biggest disservice we can do to our history is to not look at our own history in an objective and unbiased manner with the scope of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and notable Sikh scholars in mind. That is, if, we want to empower ourselves for the future.

If there's an inconvenient truth(s), more harm will come trying to suppress or deny it. Understanding why it happened and addressing it better.