Page 53 - Lohgarh

Chapter 3

Founding of Lohgarh Fort

The idea of Lohgarh Fort was conceived by Guru Hargobind Sahib during
his imprisonment in the Gwalior Fort. Guru Hargobind spent about six
and a half years (1613 to 1618) in Gwalior Fort prison. This prison was
reserved for exceptional persons (especially defaulter taxpaying rulers,
state officials, opponents of the state or rebels) and non-Muslim religious
personalities. At the time of the imprisonment of the Guru, 101 rulers,
princes, chiefs, chieftains, feudals, landlords, state officials and other
prominent persons had been interned in Gwalior Fort. They had been
interned for non-payment of taxes or for disobeying one or another
command of the Emperor. They included Kalyan Chand and his son Tara
Chand (the ruler of Kehlur/ Bilaspur state), Hari Chand (the rulers of
Handur/ Nalagarh state) and others from hilly or Rajputana states.
Before the arrival of the Guru, these prisoners had been living in a state
of anxiety, despondency and helplessness. When the Guru reached
there, he began daily keertan (singing of hymns) and religious and
philosophical discourses. The Guru gave them confidence and made
them cheerful. Those who were feeling despondent and helpless and
suffering from the problem of psychosis began living in hope and high
spirits. They became devotees of the Guru. It seems that here the Guru
might have planned to build a very powerful Fort to ensure a defense
system to face the Mughal Empire. Lohgarh Fort seems to be a part of
this strategy.
Release of Guru Hargobind Sahab and the Heads of the States

In 1618, Murtaza Khan the Governor of Lahore died. In the meanwhile,