In ordinary speech the word “Baba” means “grandfather” or “an old man.” Hence, on reading the heading of this story, you might be led to think that it relates to some old men. But that is not the case. When the events narrated below took place, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh were in their teens, Then, you might ask, why are they called Babas? The explanation is this. Among the Sikhs the word Baba is also applied to one worthy of high respect. It means “Most Respectable.” The sons of the Sikh Gurus were called “Babas’ from the very beginning of their lives. That is why the word “Baba” is applied to Guru Gobind Singh’s sons.

Baba Ajit Singh was the eldest of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh. He was born at Anandpur on January 7, 1687 A.D. From his early life he was given the sort of education and training that befitted the saint soldiers of Guru Gobind Singh. He acquired wonderful proficiency in the use of weapons of war, especially the bow and the arrow. He was also an excellent swordsman.

He was a strong and brave warrior. He began to take part in the Guru’s wars very early in life. He performed astonishing feats of bravery on several occasions, No danger or difficulty could ever daunt him. No danger could deter him from his path of duty.

Once a Brahman came to Guru Gobind Singh’s darbar. He complained that his newly wedded wife had been taken away by force by some Pathans of Bassi, near Hoshiarpur. Baba Ajit Singh offered to help the Brahman to recover his wife. With a band of young brave Sihks, Baba Ajit Singh fell upon Bassi during the night. He arrested the Pathans responsible for the wicked deed. He recovered the Brahman’s wife. He took the wicked Pathans to Anandpur the following morning. The Brahman’s wife was restored to him. The wicked Pathans were punished, suitably and severely.

Years later, Anandpur was besieged by the Mughal armies from Sarhind and Lahore. They were commanded by Nawab Wazir Khan and Nawab Zabardast Khan, respectively. all the hill chiefs, who were Hindus, joined them with their armies. One day, during the siege, the two commanders of the imperial army sent a messenger to the Guru. He was told to give the following message to him: “This army is not one belonging to petty hill chiefs. It is that of the great and mighty Emperor Aurangzeb. You will not be able to oppose it for long. You should show respect to the Emperor, give up fighting, and embrace Islam.”

Baba Ajit Singh was standing near the Guru. The messenger’s words aroused his anger. He drew his sword and said, “Shut up. If you utter another word, I shall humble your pride. I will cut off your head from your body. I will cut you to pieces for daring to speak such insolent words before the Guru.

The messenger said nothing more. He went away, humbled and burning with rage.

The siege of Anandpur caused great hardships to the Guru and his Sikhs. The besiegers were also getting tired, They sent message after message to the Guru. They said, “Vacate the fort. Go where you like. We swear on the Quran and the cow that you will not be harmed.” The Guru was sure that the oaths were false. He was not in favor of placing any trust in them. But he was prevailed upon chiefly by his mother, to vacate the fort. He did so during the night of December 20, 1704. As soon as the besiegers came to know of this, they forgot their oaths and fell upon the Guru’s party. Baba Ajit Singh, with a party of Sikhs held up the enemy while the rest were crossing the river Sarsa. When all had crossed, he and his party plunged their horses into the flooded river. They soon reached the other bank. the enemy did not have the courage to jump into the fast flowing ice cold water of the flooded stream.

After crossing the Sarsa, the Guru hurried towards Chamkaur. He had only forty Sikhs with him, besides his two elder sons. The Mughal army was coming after him. He learnt that another Mughal army lay a few miles off in front, He was thus between two large armies. He decided to meet them at Chamkaur. He reached there about sunset. He occupied a mud house or haveli and began to wait for the enemy.

The Mughals armies arrived during the night. They besieged the mud house on the following day. They attacked it from all sides. They had to go back, every time, after suffering heavy losses. Then they decided to force open the gate. They rushed towards it. A batch of five Sikhs went out to meet them and held their advance as long as possible. The Sikhs fought very bravely. They killed many. At last they were overpowered and slain. Then another batch of five Sikhs went out to meet and check the enemy’s advance. This went on for some time. The enemy suffered heavily at the hands of each batch.

After a time, Guru Gobind Singh’s eldest son, Baba Ajit Singh, asked permission to go out and oppose the enemy. He said, “Dear father, my name is Ajit or Unconquerable. I will not be conquered. And if conquered, I will not flee or come back alive. Permit me to go dear father.” He was less than eighteen years of age. The Guru knew what the end of his son would be.

But were they who had already fallen not his sons? He hugged and kissed Baba Ajit Singh for the last time. He then bade him go and seek martyrdom and life everlasting.

Baba Ajit Singh went out. He was accompanied by five Sikhs. At first they poured a rain of arrows on the enemy. He fought like a hero. Soon his stock of arrows was exhausted. He took out his lance and sprang upon the enemy. He was wounded. But he fought on as bravely as ever. Baba Ajit Singh thrust his lance into the heart ofa Muhammedan soldier the soldier wore steel armour. The lance got stuck in the armour. Baba Ajit Singh tried to pull it out, It broke in two. He drew his sword and fell upon the enemy. But he was overpowered. He fell. He was martyred. His soul went to meet his grandfather at the Almighty darbar.

The Guru had been watching his son from the roof of the mud house. He had admired and rejoiced at the skill, strength, and bravery shown by his son. He had seen him get wounded. He saw him fall. He thanked God that his son had meta saintwarrior’s death, that he had achieved martyrdom and eternal life,

Baba Jujhar Singh was the second son of Guru Gobind Singh. He was born in March 1689. He too, got the same training as his elder brother. Like Baba Ajit Singh, he accompanied the Guru to Chamkaur. Baba Jujhar Singh had also watched his elder brother fighting with the enemy. He had seen him fall. He, at once, stood before this father with folded hands. He made the same request as his elder brother had done. “Permit me, dear father,” said he, “to go where my brother has gone. lama Singh or Lion of yours. I shall prove worthy of you. 1 shall die fighting, with my face towards the enemy, with God and the Guru on my lips and in my heart.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 8, 1989