Page 103 - Lohgarh

Mughal Action Against the Sikhs w 103

Bahadur Shah forgave these three Rajput rulers, and, sent for them
robes of honor. In fact, Bahadur Shah was so much worried about the
situation of the Punjab that he did not want to take any action against
the Rajputs; hence, he opted for a compromise with them. 6
On 12 May 1710, Preet Rao, a messenger, reported to Bahadur Shah
that “a Sikh has declared himself as Guru and has gathered several people
around him and attacked even Saharanpur.” Hearing this, Bahadur Shah
ordered the governors (of Sarhind, Lahore and Jammu) to take an
immediate action against the Sikhs. 7
On the same day, the agent of the ruler of Amber, in a letter to his
master, wrote:
“The agent of the Governor of Sarhind has told me that we should not
under-estimate the riots of this cult (the Sikhs). About seventy thousand
persons (the Sikhs) have gathered at Sadhaura. They recite the name of
Guru and also say that ‘a holy man has joined us from heavens’. (They)
have destroyed the parganas of Doaba and have established their
supremacy up to Fatehbad (Beas River). On receiving a letter from Wazir
Khan, Nawab Nizam-Ul-Mulk Asad Khan has written to the Governor of
Hissar to join him in his expedition against the Sikhs. But they too are
awe-stricken. Let us see what the will of God is. Some people of this
organisation have created a commotion in Lahore (zone) too. They have
killed several of them and it is said that they have put siege to Saharanpur
too...To sum up, the power of this cult is increasing day by day. Nawab
Asif-ud-Daula has sent letters to Mohammed Amin Khan and Khan Durran
Bahadur to immediately march against the Sikhs. They have told him
(Nawab) that if he marches (against the Sikhs), they too would join
him....As the situation is not undergoing any change, Nawab has decided
to send Abdullah Khan (Khwaja) to discuss it with Wazir Khan. He has
also written letters to the army chiefs of the surrounding areas asking
them to ‘deliberate among themselves to deal with this cult (Sikhs)’. The
Emperor too has told the army chiefs of the surrounding areas (to take
action against the Sikhs). (The Emperor) has also ordered to grant twenty-
five thousand aalat-i-nukra (silver coins) to Abdullah Khan and (has
commanded) to grant fifty thousand rupees to Abdullah Khan (for his
expedition against the Sikhs). Khan Sahib himself is passing through bad
days, but he has accepted the order (of the Emperor) under compulsion”. 8