Sikh Stories Origins and its Relationship to Coins. Part 2 : THE BEGINING OF SIKH COINS OF THE SIKH EMPIRE - PUNJAB

 

THE BEGINING OF SIKH COINS OF THE SIKH EMPIRE - PUNJAB

By Dalwinder Singh Sidhu

 

After the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh on 7^th October 1708, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur took over the leadership of the Khalsa Panth (Sikh Brotherhood). To counteract against the Mughal rulers atrocities and religious persecution of the Sikhs, he decided to eliminate the rule of the Mughal power itself. Baba Banda Singh made a start towards the creation of an independent Sikh State (Punjab), and assumed political authority.

 

Many Sikhs came from afar to join Baba Banda Singh in his struggle against the injustice of the Mughals. Other leaders like Tilok Singh (Tiloka), the ancestor of the Phulkian Rulers, gave material help. On 26^th November 1709, Baba Banda Singh with his army attacked and captured Samana, the native town of Jalalud-Din, the executioner of Guru Tegh Bahadur. This was followed by the conquest of Ghurham, Thaska, Shahabad and Mustafabad. Banda attacked the cruel Faujdar of Kapuri, Qadam ud Din, and razed the town to the ground. Banda attacked Usman Khan, the Chief of Sadhaura, who had oppressed the Hindus and also tortured to death the Muslim Saint, Sayyid Buddhu Shah, for having assisted Guru Gobind Singh at the battle of Bhangani.  

 

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur turned his attention to Sirhind. The Sikh forces defeated the army of Nawab Wazir Khan, the Subedar of Sirhind at the Battle of Chappar Chiri (near present day Chandigarh) on 14^th May 1710. Wazir Khan was killed in this battle and his army put to rout. The Sikhs entered Sirhind and, with the exception of the Hindu Temples and Mosques, destroyed most of the town as an act of vengeance. Sirhind was the place where on the orders of the cruel Wazir Khan, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s two youngest sons, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, were bricked up alive and subsequently executed on 12th December 1705. To commemorate the conquest of Sirhind, a new era was declared by the Sikhs, starting with Samvat Year 1 (which commenced on 14^th May 1710). Banda Singh Bahadur appointed Baj Singh as the first Sikh Governor of Sirhind, which gave him control over the surrounding territory.

 

Around June 1710, Banda Singh and his army captured Saharanpur. When he arrived at Nanauta in July 1710, many of the Gujjars (who were Nanak panthis), swelled the ranks of his army. A Sikh contingent was sent to occupy Pathankot. His next stop was Batala and Kalanaur and thence to Lahore. He gave a crushing defeat to Sayyid Aslam, the Governor of Lahore at the village of Bhiloval. On 3^rd October 1710, the Sikh forces occupied Rahon in the Jalandhar Doab. Baba Banda made the old fort of Mukhlisgarh in

 

the Himalayas, his Headquarters and renamed it Lohgarh. He was now the virtual Ruler of all areas under his control, which stretched from Panipat to the suburbs of Lahore, and included the entire Majha and Riaarki areas, as well as the territories lying between the Rivers Yamuna and Sutlej. He appointed Sikh administrators in many of these areas, to collect revenue and maintain law and order.

In 1711, the Khalsa Panth, under the leadership of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, issued the first known 1 Rupee silver coins bearing the Year 2 from Mukhlispore (renamed Lohgarh) near Sadhaura. A second issue of the 1 Rupee silver coins, bearing the Year 3, was issued in 1712. The couplet of these coins is slightly different from the couplet used on the seal of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. The Mint name is not mentioned on these coins. Though Baba Banda Singh issued these coins from his Headquarters at Lohgarh, they were struck at a well equiped Mint. By this time, many areas in Punjab were under the control of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. It is more than probable that these coins were struck at one of these towns which had minting facilities.

The Dal Khalsa  (Sikh Confederacy) and its coinage

The years 1716 – 1733 were a period of persecution of the Sikhs by the Mughal rulers. The Sikhs were captured and tortured and many fled into the jungles. Many battles were fought during this period by the Khalsa Panth under the leadership of Kapur Singh (1697 – 1753). Finally in 1733, Zakaria Khan the Governor of Punjab, decided to reconcile with the Sikhs. He offered them a jagir (fief) with an annual revenue of one lakh rupees, and the title of Nawab to their leader. The Sikh Chiefs appointed Kapur Singh as Nawab, settled at Amritsar their holy city, and began to consolidate their power in Punjab.

In 1734, Nawab Kapur Singh divided the Sikhs into two sections – the Budda Dal (composed of the wise and elderly Sikhs, of over 40 years of age) and the Taruna Dal (comprising of the younger and more agile Sikhs). The Budda Dal was in charge of guarding the holy places and shrines, preaching the Guru’s messages and spreading the Sikh faith. The Taruna Dal was tasked with the training of the Sikhs in martial arts and warfare, and to fight the enemy, when necessary.

By 1747, the Sikhs had 65 jathas (bands) in the Punjab. On 29th March 1748 (Baisakhi day), the sarbat Khalsa (the General Assembly of the Sikhs) under Kapur Singh gathered in Amritsar, their holy city. The Sikh forces were united into a single fighting force under the control of the Dal Khalsa, (the Sikh Confederacy), which was also the highest religious body of the Sikhs at the Akaal Takht (the throne of the Timeless One God, Waheguru) at Amritsar. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1718 – 1783) was given the supreme command of the Dal Khalsa. The Sikhs were now divided into eleven (11) Misls or Divisions, each under the control of a Sikh Chief, with his own banner.

Jassa Singh Ahluwalia established the system of “Rakhi” (protection) in the Punjab around 1756. In return for one-fifth of one’s income to the Sikh leadership, protection was given to the people, against exploitation by Government officials and robbers. This system was a great success, and ultimately led to the establishment of a national monarchy.

In September 1761, Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, together with Charat Singh of Gujjranwala, and other Misl Chiefs (Jai Singh Kanhaiya Misl, Hari Singh Bangi Misl), attacked and captured Lahore. With this victory, the territory from the River Sind to the River Sutlej, came under the control of the Khalsa army. The Sikh leaders of the Dal Khalsa, honored Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia by conferring upon him the title “Sultan-ul-Qaum” (Ruler of the community). 

In April 1765, the general assembly (Sarbat Khalsa) comprising of the leaders of the various Misls, led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, passed a Gurmata (decree) to establish the Sikh State of Punjab by declaring their sovereignty and independence. In 1765, under the authority of the Sikh League “Khalsa”, the Bhangi Misl, which occupied Lahore, struck 1 Rupee silver coins at the Lahore Mint. These 1 Rupee coins were struck between the Vikram Samvat Years 1822 – 1857 (1765 – 1800). These coins continued to be issued in Lahore from Vikram Samvat 1858 - 1903 (1801 - 1846) under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors.