Te meis falli est, nostrud aliquid nominavi vel in. His eligendi

On 16 June 1606, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir ordered that Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru be tortured and sentenced to death after the Guru had refused to stop preaching his message of God as started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Guru was made to sit on a burning hot sheet while boiling hot sand was poured over his body. After enduring five days of unrelenting torture, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was taken for a bath in the river. As thousands watched he entered the river, never to be seen again. Historical records and the Sikh tradition are unclear whether Guru Arjan was executed by drowning or died during torture.

He compiled the first official edition of the Sikh scripture called the Adi Granth, which later expanded into the Guru Granth Sahib.

Aurengazeb ascended the throne in Delhi in 1658 to convert whole of India to Islam. To fulfil this desire he re-imposed the "Jazia" (a protection tax paid by non-muslims), which often was as much as 60%. While the entire Indian people shuddered at his manner of building an Islamic state, he implemented a well calculated plan according to which he started with liquidating Hindu scholars in India in general and the Kashmiri Pandits in particular. According to him elimination of Hindu scholars was a pre-requisite for the spread of Islam in India.

In early 1675, the Kashmiri Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadar to seek his assistance in their hour of need. These Hindus from Kashmir had been given a deadline by Emperor Aurangzeb to convert to Islam or be killed. Pandit Kripa Ram with his large delegation met Guru Tegh Bahadar at Chak Nanki, Kahlur (now known as Anandpur Sahib). He explained their dilemma to the Guru in the open Sangat at the place where today stands Gurdwara Manji Sahib, in Anandpur Sahib.

Guru Tegh Bahadur decided to confront the religious persecution of Kashmiri Brahmins. He did so after appointing his son the successor-Guru, leaving his base of Makhowal and entering Ropar where he was promptly arrested. Guru Tegh Bahadur was kept in jail for four months in Sarhind, then transferred to Delhi in November 1675. There he was asked to perform a miracle to prove his nearness to his God. The Guru questioned the idea that "occult powers were a proof of one's nearness to God". After his "refusal to perform a miracle", he was asked to convert to Islam. He refused. Three of his colleagues (Bhai Sati Das Ji, Bhai mati Das Ji and bhai Dayala Ji), who had been arrested with him, were then put to death in front of him. He continued his refusal to convert to Islam. Aurangzeb ordered his execution. The spot of the execution was under a banyan tree (the trunk of the tree and well near-by where he took a bath are still preserved), opposite the Sunheri Masjid near the Kotwali in Chandni Chowk where he was lodged as a prisoner, on November 11, 1675.

His head was carried by Bhai Jaita, a disciple of the Guru, to Anandpur where the nine-year-old Guru Gobind Singh cremated it (The gurdwara at this spot is also called Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib). The body, before it could be quartered, was stolen under the cover of darkness by Lakhi Shah Vanjara, another disciple, who carried it in a cart of hay and cremated it by burning his hut. The Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib stands today at this location. Later on, the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, was built at Chandni Chowk at the site of Guru’s martyrdom.

Guru Teg Bahadur Ji entrusted all his financial activities to Bhai Mati Das, and thus he is sometimes given the name Diwan Mati Das, whereas Bhai Sati Das served Guru Tegh Bahadur as a cook. The two brothers accompanied Guru Teg Bahadur during his two-year stay at Assam. Guru Tegh Bahadur then bought a hillock near the village of Makhowal five miles north of Kiratpur and established a new town, Chakk Nanaki now named Anandpur Sahib (the abode of bliss) where Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das also resided.

Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, Bhai Dayala, Bhai Udai, and Bhai Jaita (Rangretta) as well as Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das travelled to Delhi when summoned by Emperor Aurangzeb to Delhi to convert to Islam. The Guru sent Bhai Jaita and Bhai Udai to Delhi to scout ahead and report back to him and to Anandpur.

Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was asked why he was called Teg Bahadur (gladiator or Knight of the Sword; before this, his name had been Tyag Mal). Bhai Mati Das immediately replied that the Guru had won the title by inflicting a heavy blow on the imperial forces at the young age of fourteen. Guru Tegh Bahadur was reprimanded for his breach of etiquette and outspokenness, and the Guru and his companions were ordered to be imprisoned and tortured until they agreed to embrace Islam.

After a few days, Guru Tegh Bahadur and three of his companions were again brought before the Qazi of the city and again the Sikhs repeated their sentiments. Bhai Mati Das was offered marriage of the Nawab's daughter as well as governorship of the province if he converted to Islam. Bhai Mati Das refused and was ordered to cut in half. He was asked if he had any final wishes. He replied that he desired to be facing towards the Guru on his execution. Bhai Mati Das was made to stand erect between two posts and a double headed saw was placed on his head and he was sawn from his head to his loins. While this was happening, Bhai Mati Das recited the Japuji Sahib. There is a mystical belief that the recitation of the Gurbani continued and was completed even though the body was in two distinct halves.

Bhai Sati Das was the younger brother of Diwan Mati DasJi and served Guru Tegh Bahadur as a cook. Bhai Sati Das worked in the Guru’s langar and accompanied the Guru on his travels. Due to his affinity to the Guru he accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur to confront Aurangzeb over his policy of forcing non-muslims to convert to Islam or face death. Mughal Empire records from the 17th century explain Bhai Sati Das's death as punishment for challenging the authorities. He then tortured. Sati Das refused to abandon his faith and refused to covert to Islam. He was therefore sentenced to death unless he changed his mind to convert to Islam. When the Mughals were unable to sway Bhai Sati Das’s resolve, he was wrapped up in cotton wool, set alight and was roasted alive. He remained calm and peaceful and kept uttering Waheguru, waheguru, waheguru (Sikh meditation). His martyrdom is remembered by the Sikhs in their daily prayers. This happened on 24 November 1675, on the same day as Bhai Mati Das was executed.

He was the third Sikh to be executed by the Mughals in November 1675 before the Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadar. Bhai Dayal Das was asked for a final time if he would leave his faith and embrace Islam. Bhai sahib defiantly and consistently answered, "No!" to the qazi's repeated requests. This infuriated the qazi who pronunced his immediate torture and death. The executioners sat Bhai Sahib in the cauldron of water under which a large fire was lit. Slowly the water was let warm; then it was hot; soon it was too hot and then it was boiling. Bhai Dayala continued to his last breath to recite the Japji of Guru Nanak and the Sukhmani of Guru Arjan. He stayed on, sitting in the water, with an unwavering mind. His flesh separated from his bones and his soul departed to merge into the Supreme Being. After martyrdom of these Sikhs, the 9th Guru was also beheaded in Chandani Chowk, Delhi by Aurangzeb.

Bhai Taru Singh was a farmer at Poolha, Tehsil Kasur, in the Lahore district during the period when Sikhs were heavily persecuted by the Mughal empire. He had a small farm and grew maize. Upon watching Sikh fighters save a poor girl from the clutches of the Mughal oppressors Bhai Taru Singh decided to become a Sikh and initiated into the Khalsa. During this time, Sikh revolutionaries were plotting the overthrow of the Mughal governor of Punjab, Zakaria Khan. Bhai Taru Singh and his sister gave food and other aid to the Gursikhs (Devout Sikhs of the Guru). An informant reported them to Zakaria Khan and the two were arrested for treason. His sister's freedom was bribed for by the villagers, Bhai Taru Singh refused to seek a pardon. After a period of imprisonment and torture, Bhai Taru Singh was brought before the Khan and asked him where he got his powers from to undergo all of the agony. His reply was through his Keshas (Unshorn Hair) blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. Zakaria Khan then gave him the choice of converting to Islam or having his hair cut off. Bhai Taru Singh’s scalp was cut away from his skull with a sharp knife to prevent his hair from ever growing back. In response to having his scalp torn off Taru Singh cursed Zakaria Khan saying he would be killed by his shoes.Bhai Taru Singh ji was left to bleed to his death by Mughals. After cutting Bhai Taru Singh's scalp it is said that Zakaria Khan was stricken with unbearable pain and the inability to urinate. As a last resort, Khan sent an apology to the Khalsa Panth for his persecution of Sikhs and begged for forgiveness. It was suggested by his advisers that if Zakaria Khan had his own scalp hit with Bhai Taru Singh's shoes, his condition might be lifted. Although the shoe cured the Khan's condition, he died 22 days later. Upon hearing that he had miraculously outlived the Khan, Bhai Taru Singh left for sachkhand on 1st of July 1745

Bhai Mani Singh was an 18th-century Sikh scholar and martyr. His brother, Dayala was killed at Dehli with Guru Tegh Bahadur. Mani Singh spent a considerable part of his life in service at Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. in 1737 ca., Bhai Mani Singh asked to Governor of Lahore, Zakaria Khan, for permission to hold the Diwali festival to celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas at the Harmandir Sahib. The permission was granted for a tribute of Rs. 5,000. He hoped that he would be able to pay the sum out of the offerings to be made by the Sikhs who were invited to come. He issued initiations to the Sikhs of all places. The Governor alongside Diwan Lakhpat Rai had different intentions and he sent secret orders to his forces to make a surprise attack on the Sikhs during the festival. Bhai Mani Singh came to know of this plan and sent messages to tell the Sikhs not to come. The Sikhs that did come had to leave because of the presence of an unnecessary big military force and suspicious movement of the officers. Thus no money could be collected or paid to the government and Bhai Mani Singh was ordered to be executed. Bhai Mani Singh was taken to Lahore in chains. When Bhai Mani Singh could not pay the fine the dues he had agreed to pay the Mughals (to legally hold the event) he was ordered to convert to Islam. Refusing to give up his beliefs he was ordered death by dismemberment. When the executioner started to begin with his wrists, Bhai Mani Singh sincerely reminded the executioner of the sentence, reminding the executioner of his punishment and to start at the joints in his hands. The nature of his death in which he was dismembered joint by joint has become a part of the daily Sikh Ardas (prayer)

Bhai Mani Singh was executed at Nakhaas Chowk, Lahore in December 1738 ca. The Nakhaas Chowk has since been known as Shaheed Ganj – the place of martyrdom. Another commemorative shrine built in the late 1900s at a Gurdwara near Longowal in the ruins of village Kaimbowal marks Bhai Mani Singh's hometown and place of birth. By 1737, the Mughal government of Lahore had strictly prohibited the Sikhs to visit Amritsar and bathe in the holy tank. Zakaria Khan died in 1745

Bhai Subeg Singh was a government official at the time of Khan Bahadur Zakaria Khan. He was a highly respected official as he possessed a very high moral character and was adept at his work. He was respected by the residents of Lahore and by the Governor Zakaria Khan. Subeg Singh had a bright and promising son named Shahbaz Singh. There, a great conflict arose between Sikhs and Muslims, and the teachers condemned Sikhism. Shahbaz Singh strongly defended his faith and criticized Islam for forcibly converting men belonging to other religions. The matter was reported to the Qazi who delivered the usual judgement- embrace Islam or face death. The boy refused bluntly to abandon his faith and embrace Islam. He was sent to Lahore to stand his trial before the Governor. Subeg Singh approached Zakariya Khan and the chief Qazi with a request to release his son, as he was innocent. But Zakariya Khan refused to interfere in the case and the chief Qazi also turned a deaf ear to him. In frustration, Subeg Singh used some harsh words and left. Later, he was arrested on a trumped-up charge of supplying information to the Sikhs and put under restraint. Zakariya Khan died before punishing Subeg Singh and Shahbaz Singh. His son, Yahiya Khan, became the Governor of Lahore and was as relentless as his father, but crueller. He had no soft corner for Subeg Singh or Shahbaz Singh. He therefore took up their cases and pursued them with zeal. After putting up a show of a trial, both father and son were asked to embrace Islam or face death. They bluntly refused. The Governor ordered their executions by crushing them on the wheels. They were tied tightly on opposite wheels. The wheels were rotated. The sharp knives tied to the wheels pierced the bodies of both Singhs and tore them apart. The blood started oozing from the bodies of the Singhs. The wheels were stopped in between and they were asked again if they accept Islam and their answer was we will never abandon our Sikhi and we will never accept Islam. The wheels were rotated again. Both Singhs kept on reciting Gurbani and their consciousness was immersed in their Guru. They faced the hour of great adversity and torture with great courage. They happily accepted martyrdom for their Sikh faith with great valor.

In April 1757, Ahmed Shah Abdali, after his fourth invasion, was returning to Kabul from Delhi with precious booty and young men and women as captives. Singhs made a plan to retrieve the valuables and set the prisoners free. The jatha of Baba Deep Singh Ji was deployed near Kurkhetar (also called Kurukshetra). His men freed a large number of prisoners and took all the stolen valuables from Abdali. While departing from Lahore, Abdali appointed his son Taimur Shah, the Governor of Lahore and told him, "Try to finish the Sikhs". In Accordance with his orders, Taimur Shah started demolishing Gurdwaras and filling the sarovars (pool tanks) with debris and alcohol. When Baba Deep Singh Ji came to know of this violation of sanctity and demolition of Sri Harmandar Sahib, he narrated it to the Sangat (congregation) of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, and said, "Diwali will be celebrated at Amritsar this year." Five hundred Singhs came forward to go with him. Baba Deep Singh Ji offered an Ardaas (pray) before starting for Amritsar, "May my head fall at Sri Harmandar Sahib."

When news of Baba Deep Singh Ji's intentions reached Jahan Khan, he immediately mobilized an army of 20,000 men and proceeded towards Tarn Taran. Baba Deep Singh Ji's army intercepted Jahan Khan's forces near the village of Goharwal, about five miles from Amritsar. At this point, there was a clash between the opposing forces. Baba Deep Singh Ji fought with his 15kg (about 32 lbs.) khanda (double-edged sword). Each Sikh fought with such great valor and courage that the enemy was almost defeated. During the midst of battle, a large army of reinforcements arrived for Jahan Khan's men, turning the odds against the Sikhs. Yet, the Sikhs with Baba Deep Singh Ji as their head continued fighting and advanced towards Amritsar.

During the clash, one of the Mughal commanders, Jamal Khan, attacked Baba Deep Singh Ji. As they fought, both men swung their weapons with great force, leaving both of their heads separated from their bodies. After seeing this scene, a young Sikh warrior called out to Baba Ji, reminding him of his vow to reach Sri Harimander Sahib. Upon hearing this, Baba Deep Singh Ji immediately stood up, holding his severed head upright on his left palm while holding his khanda in his right hand.

He then continued fighting (with strength derived from the recitation of JapJi Sahib) and moving towards Sri Harimander Sahib. Upon seeing the sight of Baba Deep Singh's headless body tearing through their numbers, most of the men in the Mughal army fled away in terror. Baba Deep Singh was able to continue fighting and fulfilled his oath on finally reached Sri Harimander Sahib - there he bowed and lay his head on the parkarma (rectangular walkway) of this sacred Gurdwara.

Baba Banda Singh Bahadar Ji was arrested with 736 Sikhs and brought to Delhi in March 1716. 700 Singhs fearlessly accepted execution but refused to give up their faith. Also along with prisoners there are also 20 captive Sikh Generals that were tortured to death. Their heads were then impaled on spears and arranged in a circle around Banda who was now squatting on the ground. There were hundreds of spectators standing around watching this scene. Banda Singh was then given a short sword and ordered to kill his own son Ajai Singh. As he sat unperturbed, the executioner moved forward and plunged his sword into the little child cutting the body into two. Then pieces of flesh were cut from the body and thrown in Banda's face. His liver was removed and thrust into Banda Singh's mouth. The father sat through all this without any signs of emotion. His powers of endurance were to be tested still further.

The executioner then stepped forward and thrust the point of his dagger into Banda's right eye, pulling out the eyeball. He then pulled out the other eyeball. Banda sat through all this as still as a rock. His face gave no twitch of pain. The cruel devil then took his sword and slashed off Banda's left foot, then both his arms. But Banda's features were still calm as if he was at peace with his Creator. Finally they tore off his flesh with red-hot pincers, and there being nothing else left in their book of tortures, they cut his body up into a hundred pieces, and were satisfied. Thus in 1716, Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadar was publicly beheaded in Delhi for refusing to give up his Sikhi. /p>

Zakariya Khan was the Mughal governor of Lahore, now in Pakistan. He had taken part in the Mughal Empire’s operations against the Sikh leader Banda Singh Bahadur. After the capture of Banda Singh and his companions in December 1715, he escorted the prisoners to Delhi, rounding up Sikhs that he could find in villages along the route. As he reached the Mughal capital, the caravan comprised seven hundred bullock carts full of severed heads and over seven hundred captives. He ordered village officials to capture Sikhs and hand them over for execution. A graded scale of rewards was laid down – a blanket for cutting off a Sikh’s hair; ten rupees for information about the whereabouts of a Sikh; fifty rupees for a Sikh scalp. Plunder of Sikh homes was made lawful; giving shelter to Sikhs or withholding information about their movements was made a capital offense.

Zakariya Khan’s police, consisting of nearly 20,000 men especially recruited for this purpose, scoured the countryside and brought back hundreds of Sikhs in chains.

Prominent Sikhs including the revered Bhai Mani Singh and Bhai Tariff Singh were, after the severest of torments, publicly beheaded at the Nakhas, the horse-market of Lahore, renamed by Sikhs “Shahidganj” in honour of the martyrs.

Yet Zakariya Khan remained unsuccessful in his object of vanquishing the Sikhs. He died at Lahore on 1 July 1745 a dispirited man, bequeathing to his sons and successors chaos and confusion.

Barbarism of Muin Ul Mulk ( Shortened Mir Mannu) , Governor of Lahore and Multan, Punjab confiscated the estate of the Sikhs and deployed army patrols to eliminate them. He announced a reward of rupees ten for a person who brought a Singh's head. He also began to reward the informers for giving whereabouts of Singhs and their families. People in greed were getting Singhs and their families arrested.

From 1748-53, Sikh women and children were kidnapped from their villages and imprisoned in the jails of Lahore by Mir Mannu. Every woman was given forty pounds of grain to grind each day and heavy stones were placed on the chest of those who were unable. The young children and babies of these women, were tortured, speared and cut into pieces before their very eyes. Their children were transfixed on javelins before their very eyes.

Their children were cut into pieces and garlands of those pieces were put around their mother’s necks. They were given a quarter of bread to eat and a bowl of water in the whole day. Bowing to the will of God, those tolerated it all. On the 4th November, 1753 A.D., Mir Mannu died. After his death, Sikhs set the prisoners free and took them away.

Ramgarhia Sikh Temple

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Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Misl Day - Coventry

Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Celebrations

A Message of Condolence to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

New Ramgarhia Council U.K. Executive Committee 2022

Ramgarhia Calendar 2024

Ramgarhia FOCUS Issue 9 - December 2023

Newsletter Special Issue Kenya 2023

Ramgarhia FOCUS Issue 8 - December 2022

Ramgarhia FOCUS Issue 7 - July 2022

Ramgarhia Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Day Celebrated in Nairobi in May 2019.

RCUK AIMS and OBJECTIVES

Our vision at Ramgarhia Council U.K. is to create a culture where Ramgarhia Sikhs are proud to work with us and encourage others to join us.

Ramgarhia Council UK was set up in 1977 by the Ramgarhia Temples and institutions of UK to get together and share views affecting our community. The intention as always was to take forward and promote our culture, our families and build a base for our children who are our future. The Council has at present thirty two member organisations and has its own constitution. For this purpose UK is divided into North, Midlands and South Regions. The elections of office bearers take place every year and the main posts are filled from one region and the assistants from another and the process is followed in rotation covering all regions. The main aims and objectives of the council are:

• To promote togetherness and prosperity of the Ramgarhia Community living in U.K. and to reform the social conduct.
• To find solutions for problems occurring due to relationship of Western Culture & Sikh traditions.
• To expand communication and brotherhood affection between other communities and organisations.
• All member organisations to implement decisions taken by U.K. Council.
• To set up a register of U.K. Ramgarhia Community.
• To search and publicise the Ramgarhia History.
• To make aware the whole Ramgarhia Community in the field of Culture, Religion, Politics and Industry.
• To implement changing educational reforms.
• To inspire for equal opportunities in organisations.

In 1999 Ramgarhia Council UK as the national body set up individual regional councils to look after the local issues but still responsible to them and work with them.