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Allied forces:The allied force after the fifth battle of Anandpur, and within a few hours of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s arrival at Chamkaur, encircled him on the night of 21 st December and started mounting attacks by first light. Since guns could not be ferried across the river Sarsa the allied forces had to physically attack the Garhi (a mud house on higher ground in which Guru Sahib Ji and his forty Sikhs had taken positions.)
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The Khalsa Force: |
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Organising all round defence of the ghari, Guru Ji himself occupied a position on the top story of the house to observe and engage with the enemy with his arrows and direct the defence operation. As long as there was ammunition with Guru Ji and his troops, no enemy soldier could come close.
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Days were short but there was still 3 to 4 hours of day light left when the ammunition was beginning to be exhausted. In order to keep the enemy at bay Guru Ji divided his men into groups, each of which was to go out and fight the enemy with his personal weapons, sabres, spears, sword or lance. These groups were to operate in different directions one after the other to keep the enemy guessing. It was intended to ensure that the enemy did not storm the house from all sides before last light. Guru Sahib Ji’s sons, S. Ajit Singh Ji (17 years) and S. Jujhar Singh Ji (15 years) personally led such dare devil attacks and kissed martyrdom after putting many an enemy to sleep with their chivalrous, brave and powerful strokes of sabres and lance. By night fall the Ghari was held by only Guru Sahib Ji and elven soldiers. |
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Escape and Evasion. |
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Guru Sahib Ji had made up his mind that it was time for martyrdom and prepared to lay down his life for the Khalsa but the Sikhs approached Guru Ji in a group of five, evoking the Panj Piaray. With caution they told Guru Ji that he must leave the ghari and gather together the Sikhs once again, that much work still needed to be done and Guru Ji was desperately needed by his Sikhs. Guru Ji was confronted by the Panj Piaray and hence could not refuse them, reluctantly Guru Ji agreed. |
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A small party had more chance of escape then a large group of all twelve. Therefore only a group of 1 and 3 with Guru Ji as their leader was to escape. A Sikh ventured out down into the compound and removed the cloaks of three dead Mughal soldiers. Bare footed in the pitch black night, they were to rope down the outer wall of the Garhi. The rendezvous point was decided with the help of a star and distance towards the north into the Malwa area. Since Anandpur was already captured and towards the east was the town of Sirhand: a strong hold of the enemy and on the west lay the river Sutlej, a formidable obstacle, it was decided to proceed towards due north. |
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The group of three soldiers of Guru Ji’s party started their escape in the enemies dress approached the enemy camp from three different directions, undetected. Just at this time, as coordinated, arrows from the Ghari were discharged to cause havoc and confusion, attempts were made and succeeded to extinguish the burning lamps of the enemy sentries which had illuminated the Ghari and the surrounding areas. While running past the enemy camp in the directions of south, east and west, they individually raised load cries warning that Guru Ji, along with his soldiers, was escaping. Since by now complete darkness prevailed the allied forces were completely confused and unknowingly fell upon each other killing many. The allied forces deployed to the north of the Ghari also hearing the commotion moved towards the east and west where confusion prevailed. At this opportune moment, when there was utter confusion Guru Ji moved towards the north. Even here in the midst of such danger, high odds and great confusion Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s steely character still shone through. As Guru Ji made his escape he clapped loudly three times and announced “Here goes the pir of the Hindus, confront him he who dares,” many enemy soldiers were dispatched. Meanwhile the confusion, unrest and ghost chasing by the enemy continued till day break. |
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The allied commanders were satisfied to see ‘The Guru’ still sitting in the top storey of the house where he was seen the whole previous day. As it turned out a Sikh named Sangat Singh who had a striking resemblance with Guru Gobind Singh Ji had put on Guru Ji’s head dress and took position in the top storey of the building. Also, the rest of the eight soldiers had kept shooting arrows unabated in all directions to show a continued spirit of resistance and defence. |
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On investigation it was found that not a single Khalsa soldier had died in the night long confusion whereas innumerable allied troops lay dead. The allied forces decided to attack the ghari by sheer numbers, killed all the eight Sikhs including Sangat Singh with whom it was thought that the Guru was killed. But soon it dawned on the Subhdhar of Sirhand that Guru Ji was not amongst the eight killed at Chamkaur and he had made good his escape from a force that now numbered over half a million, as more forces had arrived from Delhi. |
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Meanwhile Guru Gobind Singh Ji, all by himself headed towards the Machiwara jungles and reached the outskirts of the jungle by first light of 22 nd December. The three other members of the group headed north to meet Guru Ji at the decided rendezvous point. |
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There after the Mughals employed all resources to capture Guru Ji but all in vain because Guru Sahib Ji covered long distances only by night on unused tracks. Guru Ji avoided villages and settlements initially and later perfectly disguised himself with the help of two loyal Pathan soldiers to make his escape. |
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Deductions and lessons to learn. |
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Astral navigation by night is reliable even when the going is in an unknown country strewn with the enemy. |
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Distance and direction method to determine a rendezvous point in unknown country by night is practicable. |
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Escape and evasion is possible with physical and mental toughness, firm resolve and commonsense. Guru Sahib Ji covered 16kms bare foot in unknown terrain full of thorny bushes by night in two to three hours and reached the pre-determined meeting place before first light. |
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For escape and evasion a high standard of training, high moral and psychological strength in the troops is a primary requirement. |
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The besieging force can be forced to lose valuable time and resources by daring attacks of groups consisting of crack soldiers, who had determination and fervour to kiss martyrdom. Small groups of Khalsa soldiers forming suicide squads held the enemy at bay for three to four hours of remaining day light by sheer personal hair-raising boldness and unimaginable valour. |
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Maintenance of momentum of attack is most vital for ultimate success. |
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A move by night must be simple in both concept and nature to avoid confusion. |
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Leadership. |
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Calm, cool and serene composure of a leader, in adverse conditions inspires confidence and removes all kinds of fear or panic in the troops. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was not at all perturbed facing such heavy odds and maintained complete tranquillity of both mind and soul. |
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The knowledge of prominent physical features of the entire combat zone including those of the enemies terrain is important for the commander. Escape and evasion in unknown country then is a feasible proposition. Guru Sahib Ji headed in the right direction and the right time avoiding capture. |
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