Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Sher Jang, Nawab of Malerkotla State 1672 to 1712

Nawab Sher Moh'd Ali Khan of Malerkotla 1672 to 1712

1672 - 1712 Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Sher Jang, Nawab of Malerkotla born at Fort Kotla, 1640, elder son of Nawab Firoz Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla, education privately. Succeeded on the death of his father, 1672. Granted the titles of Bahadur and Sher Jang, and a Sword of Honour, by the Emperor. Held in near veneration by the Sikhs because he appealed to Aurangzeb to spare the lives of Guru Gobind Singh's two young sons, when captured at Sirhind. He declared that their execution contravened the dictates of Islam and the laws laid-down by the Prophet. According to the Mahan Kosh, when told that the Nawab of Malerkotla had raised his voice, the Guru blessed the house of the nawab, declaring that its "roots shall remain forever green." He died at Maler Kotla,in 1712 (buried there at the Shahi Muqbara), having eight sons: 1) Nawab Ghulam Husain Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla. 2) Sahibzada Mirza Khan. 3) Sahibzada Muhammad Azim Khan. 4) Nawab Jamal Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla 5) Sahibzada Fateh 'Ali Khan. 6) Sahibzada Akbar 'Ali Khan. 7) Sahibzada Ghulam 'Ali Khan. 8) Sahibzada Ghulam Rasul Khan. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The roots of communal harmony in the area date back to 1705, when Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, 9 and 7 year old sons of 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, were ordered to be bricked alive by the governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan. His close relative, Sher Mohammed Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla, who was present in the court, lodged vehement protest against this inhuman act and said it was against Islam. Wazir Khan nevertheless had the Sahibzadas tortured and bricked into a section of wall while still alive. At this the Nawab of Malerkotla walked out of the court in protest. Guru Gobind Singh on learning this kind and humanitarian approach profusely thanked the Nawab of Malerkotla and blessed him with his Hukamnama, Kirpan etc. In recognition of this act, the State of Malerkotla did not witness a single incident of violence during partition. " Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan's historical Plea "

The two younger Shahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh who were 7 and 9 years old and the Guru's mother were arrested by Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind. Wazir Khan was informed about their whereabouts by Gangu who had been a cook at the Guru's house for many years. Wazir Khan gave the two children a choice: Either give up the Sikh Faith or Die. True to the spirit of their grandfather Guru Tegh Bahadur and their father Guru Gobind Singh, the love for the Sikh faith was so strong that the young children chose death. Mata Gujri ji, the Guru's mother, was informed about her grandchildrens fate in the prison where she died. Wazir Khan decided to brick the children alive. Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan of Malerkotla State tried to stop Wazir Khan from commiting such a heinous crime. Unfortunately his efforts failed. It is said that when Guru Gobind Singh came to know about the fate of his younger sons he uprooted a shrub with his arrow and declared that the tyrannical reign of Wazir Khan would be put to any end. This prophecy came true when the Sikh forces under the command of Banda Singh Bahadur, after a fierce fight, defeated the forces of Wazir Khan. One event of this battle was a command given by Banda Singh Bahadur to the Sikh forces not to destroy a mosque because like a Gurudwara and a temple it too was a place of worship. Guru Gobind Singh also ordered the Sikhs to always help and support the people of Malerkotla and prevent any calamity from befalling them. A promise that the Sikh community has fulfilled so far. The following is the English translation of the letter of appeal written by Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan to Emperor Aurangzeb to stop Wazir Khan from bricking the children alive. Both this translation and the photocopy were published in the Sikh Review. **************************************************************************************** ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF AN APPEAL IN PERSIAN By NAWAB SHER MOHAMMAD KHAN OF MALERKOTLA STATE Presented to THE IMPERIAL MAJESTY MOHIUD-DIN AURANGZEB ALMGIR EMPEROR OF INDIA, 1705 AD O mighty king of the world who, on account of justice has placed thy throne on the Azure Vault; may the dappled horse of the skies be ever under thy control because thou hast eclipsed the brilliance of the Sun and Moon by the splendour of thy innumerable victories. The humble and devoted petitioner, with all respect due to the grandeur of the Shadow of God and to the might of the saviour of the world, most respectfully begs to lay his humble appeal before Your Most Gracious Majesty, and hopes from Your Imperial Majesty's unfathomable kindness and illimitable magnanimity that the August person of the Shadow of God, viceregent of the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him) in this world, the incarnation of God's mercy over his creatures, by sheer munificence, be pleased to bestow his compassion and forgiveness on the young sons of Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikh Nation. The Viceroy of Sirhind Province, with a view to avenging the disobedience and disloyal activities of the Guru which might have been committed by him, has, without any fault or crime of the guiltless or innocent children simply on the basis of their being the scions of Guru Gobind Singh, condemned these minor sons liable to execution and has proposed to wall them up alive till they die. Although no one dares to raise an objection against the order of the Viceroy whose order is as inevitable as death, yet the faithful servants and well wishers of your August Majesty's Empire deem it most advisable to humbly appeal and to bring to Your Majesty's benign notice. May it be said that if, in view of certain important political considerations, Your Majesty is disposed to inflict suitable punishment on the Sikh Nation for their undesirable activities in the past, it would be quite compatible with justice, but Your Majesty's humble and devoted servant thinks that it would, in no way, be consistent with the principles of sovereignity and supreme power to wreak vengeance of the misdeeds of a whole nation on two innocent children who, on account of their tender age, are quite innocent and unable to take a stand against the all-powerful Viceroy. This sort of action obviously appears to be against the dictates of Islam and the laws propounded by the Founder of Islam (may God's blessings be showered on him) and Your Majesty's humble servant is afraid that the enactment of such an atrocious act would perpetually remain an ugly blot on the face of Your Majesty's renowed justice and righteousness. It may graciously be considered that the mode of inflicting the punishment and torture as contemplated by the Viceroy of Sirhind can by no means be considered compatible with the principles of supreme rule, equity and justice. In view of the above considerations Your Majesty's humble and devoted servant most respectfully takes the liberty of suggesting that if Your Majesty considers it expedient, that the sons of Guru Gobind Singh may be kept under restraint from indulging in disloyal activities it would be more appropriate if they could be interned in the Royal capital at Delhi, till they are duly reformed, so as to willingly acknowledge allegiance and loyalty to the throne. In the alternative both the boys may be placed under my care so as to keep a check on their actions and movements and not to allow them to entertain any kind of ideas of sedition or disloyalty in their minds. Although the humble petitioner fears that this humble appeal which is prompted exclusively by the sense of veracity and loyality to the throne may be deemed as transgressing the limits of propriety, yet the fear of God and the urge of faith does not allow the suppression of truth. If this humble appeal has the honour of meeting the Royal acceptance it shall be most fortunate. If, however, unfortunately it is deprived of the honour of acceptance, still Your Majesty's humble and devoted servant shall have the consolation of having performed the sacred duty of expressing what was right and just and not having allowed his pen to deviate in the expression of truth. (Signed) Sher Mohammad Khan Nawab of Malerkotla State ************************************************************************************