Thank you for this very helpful visualisation. Mapping out the battle and conquests really brings out how geostrategically planned out the campaigns were. In my view, the planning for these campaigns might have gone on for a while, possibly even beginning in Nanded. In terms of cartographic representation, it would be interesting to juxtapose this with a satellite map. These Sikh campaigns were so devastating for the Mughal empire for multiple reasons : one that the region conquered by the Khalsa Army was all plains territory wedged between the Rajputana deserts and the Himalayas. It cut off north central India from the Silk Road economy, in addition to land tax revenues, and also perhaps more importantly the mercenary markets of Central Asia. An interesting historical correlation is that the East India Company’s trading rights, which had revoked by Aurangzeb after a brief war (Child’s War), were reinstated by Farrukhaiyyar after the shock of the Sikh campaigns. No doubt the loss of northern land and trade revenues was a factor.
One of the most intriguing part of Banda Singh’s adventures & the following advent of Sikh Misls is the legitimacy of it all. The legitimacy in the sense that was this what was desired of him by the Guru himself ?!? Guru Gobind Singh Ji had befriended Bahadur Shah & the latter played host to him in Nanded. Guru Sahb even helped Bahadur Shah in the war of succession by sending a Sikh contingent to fight alongside Bahadur Shah in the Battle of Jajua. So when We see Banda Singh in conflict with Bahadur Shah.. it raises a few questions to Banda’s personal ambitions vis a vis the Guru’s directives ?!?
Guru Gobind Singh Ji helped Bahadur Shah as he was far more better than Azam Shah. They helped him get the throne in exchange for Bahadur Shah to punish Wazir Khan who had killed many innocents, sikhs, and terrorized Punjab and fought many battles with Guru Sahib. He also bricked the chote sahibzaade alive who were the sons of Guru Sahib. After helping Bahadur Shah it was time for Wazir Khan but Bahadur Shah backed out of the deal so Guru Gobind Singh Ji left Bahadur Shah's camp after he didn't go through with the deal. Guru Gobind Singh Ji made their own camp in Nanded and while they were there, they came across a man named Madho Das. Madho used all his powers to try to defeat Guru Ji but failed and became Guru Sahibs Banda with the name of Banda Singh Bahadur. Guru Sahib then sent Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji to Punjab to punish Wazir Khan and all those who commited atrocities in Punjab. Guru Ji told him to establish Raj in Punjab which Baba Ji did. These conquests weren't Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji's ambitions but Guru Gobind Singh Ji's orders. After the battle of Lohgarh in 1710, Bahadur Shah ordered all Sikhs to be hunted down so he was still a bad Mughal. Bahadur Shah didn't give justice so Guru Sahib sent Banda Singh Bahadur Ji to take justice. Raj Karega Khalsa Aaki Rahe Na Ko - Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj
Thank you for this very helpful visualisation. Mapping out the battle and conquests really brings out how geostrategically planned out the campaigns were. In my view, the planning for these campaigns might have gone on for a while, possibly even beginning in Nanded. In terms of cartographic representation, it would be interesting to juxtapose this with a satellite map. These Sikh campaigns were so devastating for the Mughal empire for multiple reasons : one that the region conquered by the Khalsa Army was all plains territory wedged between the Rajputana deserts and the Himalayas. It cut off north central India from the Silk Road economy, in addition to land tax revenues, and also perhaps more importantly the mercenary markets of Central Asia. An interesting historical correlation is that the East India Company’s trading rights, which had revoked by Aurangzeb after a brief war (Child’s War), were reinstated by Farrukhaiyyar after the shock of the Sikh campaigns. No doubt the loss of northern land and trade revenues was a factor.
Thank you once again. Hope for more soon.
Please can you do the same for the entire misl period? Starting right from 1716 all the way to the establishment of Sikh Empire
One of the most intriguing part of Banda Singh’s adventures & the following advent of Sikh Misls is the legitimacy of it all. The legitimacy in the sense that was this what was desired of him by the Guru himself ?!? Guru Gobind Singh Ji had befriended Bahadur Shah & the latter played host to him in Nanded. Guru Sahb even helped Bahadur Shah in the war of succession by sending a Sikh contingent to fight alongside Bahadur Shah in the Battle of Jajua. So when We see Banda Singh in conflict with Bahadur Shah.. it raises a few questions to Banda’s personal ambitions vis a vis the Guru’s directives ?!?
Guru Gobind Singh Ji helped Bahadur Shah as he was far more better than Azam Shah. They helped him get the throne in exchange for Bahadur Shah to punish Wazir Khan who had killed many innocents, sikhs, and terrorized Punjab and fought many battles with Guru Sahib. He also bricked the chote sahibzaade alive who were the sons of Guru Sahib. After helping Bahadur Shah it was time for Wazir Khan but Bahadur Shah backed out of the deal so Guru Gobind Singh Ji left Bahadur Shah's camp after he didn't go through with the deal. Guru Gobind Singh Ji made their own camp in Nanded and while they were there, they came across a man named Madho Das. Madho used all his powers to try to defeat Guru Ji but failed and became Guru Sahibs Banda with the name of Banda Singh Bahadur. Guru Sahib then sent Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji to Punjab to punish Wazir Khan and all those who commited atrocities in Punjab. Guru Ji told him to establish Raj in Punjab which Baba Ji did. These conquests weren't Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji's ambitions but Guru Gobind Singh Ji's orders. After the battle of Lohgarh in 1710, Bahadur Shah ordered all Sikhs to be hunted down so he was still a bad Mughal. Bahadur Shah didn't give justice so Guru Sahib sent Banda Singh Bahadur Ji to take justice. Raj Karega Khalsa Aaki Rahe Na Ko - Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj