After evacuating Anandpur, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji preceded towards Ropar. He soon learnt that a large Muslim army lay a few miles in front. He knew that the armies of the two viceroys and the hill-chiefs were pursuing him. He was thus between two formidable armies. He had only forty Sikhs and his two elder sons with him. He decided to change his course and go to Chamkaur.
The Mughal armies arrived at nightfall. They surrounded the village. Early next day they began their attacks on the haveli. They were greeted, each time, with a volley of bullets and arrows. Each time they fell back after losing many of their soldiers. Two army officers, Nahar Khan and Gairat Khan, tried, in turn, to scale the wall of the haveli. They were cut down by the Guru. Another officer, Mahmud Khan, saved himself from the Guru's arrows by hiding behind a wall.
The imperial army then decided to direct all their efforts towards-forcing to open the gate. As they moved in that direction, a number of Sikhs went out to oppose them and defend the gate. They fought most valiantly and killed many of the attackers. At last, they were overpowered and slain. Then another batch of Sikhs came out and bravely engaged the attacker as long as they could.
This went on for a good part of the day. Then there was a slight pause. The Sikhs met and decided to request and prevail upon the Guru to make good his escape. 'If he goes,'said they, 'he can raise thousands to carry on the fight for sacred cause.' So they approached him to make the request. They found that the Guru's eldest son, Baba Ajit Singh, was standing, with folded hands before him. He was begging permission to go out and check the enemy's advance in the next attack, which was sure to come soon.
'Dear father,' they heard him say, 'you have named me Ajit or unconquerable. I shall justify your choice of my name. I shall not be conquered. I shall not yield. If I am overpowered, I shall die fighting like my brother Sikhs. O' father, permit me to go and fight on the battleground and grace me with the oppurtunity to make my life fruitful and worthy in your service.'
The Guru embraced and kissed his son for the last time. He then let him go into certain death. The Sikhs fell on their knees before the Guru and begged him to save himself and his two sons. But the Guru did not agree to do so.
Every father wants to see their child get married, but this was the time of fighting the enemy. Death was waiting and today Baba Ajeet Singh would be marrying death.
Baba Ajit Singh, who was hardly eighteen said farewell to his father, his younger brother, and his brother Sikhs. Five Sikhs accompanied him. The attackers came on.
They were engaged by Baba Ajit Singh and his eight companions. Many of the attackers were cut down. At last, the nine brave warriors were overcome and killed.
The Guru had been watching his son from the top storey, and admiring and rejoicing at his daring bravery and skill as a warrior. When he saw him fall, he thanked God that his son had proved worthy of His cause.
When Baba Ajit Singh Ji attained Shaheedi, Guru Sahib roared a Jaikara of "Sat Siree Akal."
The Guru's second son, Baba Jujhar Singh now made the same request as his elder brother had made.
"Permit me, dear father, to go where my brother has gone. Don't say that I am too young. I am your son. I am a Singh, a Lion, of yours. I shall prove worthy of you. I shall die fighting, with my face towards the enemy, with the Naam on my lips and the Guru in my heart."
The Guru took him in his lap. He kissed and patted him, Then he gave him a sword and a shield. 'Go my son,' said the Guru, 'and join your grandfather and elder brother, 'Go and wait for me there.'
Thus armed, this lad of fourteen years went out to face thousands of hard, well-trained, and far better armed Mughal soldiers. Two Sikhs accompanied him. Baba Jujhar Singh fought as valiantly as his elder brother had done. Many mighty soldiers fell under the sword of the child-warrior. Then he was overpowered.
He died fighting to the last breath
The Guru had been watching and admiring Baba Jujhar Singh's wonderful performance. When he fell, the Guru thanked God that his second son had also proved worthy of His cause.
The gate was attacked and defended in this way throughout the day. At night the Mughal army lay down to take rest. By then, besides the Guru's two sons, three of his five Beloved ones had been killed. Their names were Bhai Mutikam Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh, and Bhai Himmat Singh. Thirty two other Sikhs had also fallen. Only ten Sikhs were left with him.
These five Sikhs met the Guru and said, 'We beg you to make good your escape. You will create thousands of Khalsa warriors. The Khalsa warriors will destroy the cruel, Godless tyrants.' The Guru shook his head. Thereupon, the Sikhs said,'O true King, at the time of the creation of the Khalsa, you declared, "The Guru is the Khalsa, the Khalsa is the Guru." We as the Guru Khalsa, order you to go. We hope you will excuse our adopting this role.'
The Guru was left with no alternative. He had to obey the Guru Khalsa. He seated his five Sikhs near him and proceeded to entrust the Guruship to them. Then he said, 'After me the Khalsa Panth shall be the Guru under the guidance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Whenever five Sikhs assemble and remember or call me, I shall be with them.
Saying this, the Guru went round them thrice. Then he laid his plume and crest in front of them, gave them his arms, bowed before them, and said aloud, ‘Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa! Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh!! The Guru Khalsa further decided that three Sikhs – Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharm Singh, and Bhai Man Singh should accompany the Guru. Two Sikhs- Bhai Sant Singh and Bhai Sangat Singh – where to remain in the haveli. They were to hold it as long as there was breath in their bodies.
The Guru and three companions left the haveli at the dead of night. It was pitch dark. Thick clouds covered the Sky, here and there. There were occasional flashes of lightning. As the proceeded, Bhai Daya Singh said, ‘O true King, there lies the body of Baba Ajit Singh.’ The Guru looked at the body, blessed his martyred son and walked on. A moment later, Bhai Daya Singh said, ‘Here lies the body of Baba Jujar Singh.’ The Guru looked in that direction, blessed his martyred son, and walked on. Bhai Daya Singh then said, ‘O true King, I have sheet with me. I wish to tear it into two pieces and cover with them the bodies of the two martyrs.’
The Guru said, ‘The idea is good. You have my permission, but on one condition, you should first cover the bodies of my thrity five martyred Sikhs. They are my sons in spirit and equally dear to me. After that you may cover the bodies of these two martyrs, who are my son in flesh.’ Bhai Daya Singh could make no reply. He bowed and held his tongue. They then proceeded on their risky course.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and three companions left Chamkaur at the dead of December night. The Guru pointed to a star to his companions, ‘We shall proceed in the direction of that star.’
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was at the time in the forests of Machhiwara, when the news of the martyrdom of his younger sons reached him. On hearing this he pulled out a plant with tip of his arrow and forecast that this tragedy will herald the uprooting of Moghul Empire in India. And to the Emperor he wrote:
"It matters little if a jackal through cunning and treachery succeeds in killing two Lion's Cubs, for the Lion himself lives to inflict retribution, on you."
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji addressed his followers thus have sacrificed four sons for the survival of the thousands of my sons who are still alive.You are wrong if you think I had only four sons, I have thousands of sons and daughters and in them I see the four I sacrificed. Those four sons were four virtues from Waheguru Ji, their body parts were to be smashed so that those virtues could be poured into the Khalsa.
rather die fighting than run like a coward
Jujhar means warrior, my Khalsa
is powerful and strong
Zorawar means Power, as long as my Khalsa is
distinct I will give them all of my power
Fateh is victory, my Khalsa will
fight for Waheguru's victory
O' Mata Jee, when I see one Khalsa with
these 4 qualities I see all four sons
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