Taken from “Poorab Janam Kay Milay Sanjogi” by Prof. Thakur Singh
Introduction
Baba Paroz was a Sikh during the time of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib jee. Baba jee’s village, Sarli, was in the Amritsar area. Guru Hargobind Sahib had come to the villages in this area to do parchaar and had left Baba Gurditta jee to head the sangat. Baba Gurditta jee not only did Sikhi parchaar but also taught shastar vidiya and the Sikhs in this area became warriors. Baba Paroz jee was one of the leaders of the Sikh sangat.
Problems With the Ranghars
One day the Sikhs had gathered and were talking amongst each other when the issue arose that the Muslim Ranghars of the area considered themselves the Masters of the land and whenever they would have a wedding, they would order all the local farmers to bring them milk. The Sikhs decided that this was an affront to their honour and a sign of slavery. They decided to throw off this slavery even if it cost them their lives. The Sikhs decided to ask Baba Paroz to lead them in this effort.
The Muslim Ranghars of village Bhorchhi used to allot land to the local farmers and used to put a tax on them as well. The next time the Ranghars demanded milk for a wedding, the Sikhs were ready. Baba jee took two clay pots and filled them with dung and poured a little bit of milk over top of them. Baba jee had the two pots sent to the Ranghars and told the Sikhs of the area to be ready.
The Battle
When the Ranghars received the pots and saw the contents, they were enraged. They were furious that someone had tried to resist them and dishonour them in this way. They completed their marriage ceremony but after, the gathered all their wedding guests and the Muslims of the area and began to march towards Baba Paroz’s dera with shouts of “Ali! Ali!”
Baba jee and the Sikhs of the area had gathered and were awaiting the attack. When they heard the Ranghar mob approach, they charged out shouting jaikaray and the battle began. The warriors on both sides took their positions and began to exchange blows. The Ranghars had brought all the Muslims of the area with them and the Sikhs were much less in number but they were all prepared to sacrifice their lives. They had begun the battle with no hope of living and were just waiting for the moment of Shahidi. This spirit of sacrifice in the Sikhs was making their attacks exceedingly fearless and deadly before which the Ranghars were having trouble holding their ground.
The battle continued for three to four hours and the Ranghars slowly began to move back. The Sikhs were encouraged even more now and doubled the vigor of their attack. The Sikh attack pushed the Ranghars back half way to their home village of Bhorchhi.
Shahidi
Though the Sikhs were close to victory, Baba Paroz became surrounded by the Ranghars and was mortally wounded. Rivers of blood began to gush from his wounds. Baba jee roared a jaikara and began to swing his Sri Sahib. He shouted challenges at the Ranghar army and charged forward. Seeing Baba jee’s terrifying figure, drenched in blood and running forward while swinging his kirpan, the Ranghars were horrified. How could a man so badly injured still be alive let alone charging after them? They were so afraid that they turned their backs and began to run towards their village.
Satguru jee’s power was coursing through Baba jee's body now and he ran after the fleeing Ranghars. Baba jee pursued them to the edge of Bhorchhi. The women of the village were standing on top of their houses and seeing this scene, shouted desperately, “Baba! Please forgive them now!”
Baba jee heard this and stopped there. His body collapsed to the ground and he became a Shahid. The other Sikhs also reached the spot and picked up Baba jee’s body to bring it back to the village. The entire area heard of Baba jee’s bravery and the miracle that had taken place and came to his saskaar.
The Ranghars had heard that Guru Hargobind Sahib had turned the Sikhs into warriors but now they knew first hand. After some days, they sent a message to the Sikhs that from now on they would treat them not as servants but as brothers and would never try to battle them again.
Today there is still a small puraatan platform at village Bhorchhi where Baba jee was Shahid and a Gurdwara at village Sarli where he was cremated.
Baba jee was an ancestor of Bau Mal Singh jee.
Introduction
Baba Paroz was a Sikh during the time of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib jee. Baba jee’s village, Sarli, was in the Amritsar area. Guru Hargobind Sahib had come to the villages in this area to do parchaar and had left Baba Gurditta jee to head the sangat. Baba Gurditta jee not only did Sikhi parchaar but also taught shastar vidiya and the Sikhs in this area became warriors. Baba Paroz jee was one of the leaders of the Sikh sangat.
Problems With the Ranghars
One day the Sikhs had gathered and were talking amongst each other when the issue arose that the Muslim Ranghars of the area considered themselves the Masters of the land and whenever they would have a wedding, they would order all the local farmers to bring them milk. The Sikhs decided that this was an affront to their honour and a sign of slavery. They decided to throw off this slavery even if it cost them their lives. The Sikhs decided to ask Baba Paroz to lead them in this effort.
The Muslim Ranghars of village Bhorchhi used to allot land to the local farmers and used to put a tax on them as well. The next time the Ranghars demanded milk for a wedding, the Sikhs were ready. Baba jee took two clay pots and filled them with dung and poured a little bit of milk over top of them. Baba jee had the two pots sent to the Ranghars and told the Sikhs of the area to be ready.
The Battle
When the Ranghars received the pots and saw the contents, they were enraged. They were furious that someone had tried to resist them and dishonour them in this way. They completed their marriage ceremony but after, the gathered all their wedding guests and the Muslims of the area and began to march towards Baba Paroz’s dera with shouts of “Ali! Ali!”
Baba jee and the Sikhs of the area had gathered and were awaiting the attack. When they heard the Ranghar mob approach, they charged out shouting jaikaray and the battle began. The warriors on both sides took their positions and began to exchange blows. The Ranghars had brought all the Muslims of the area with them and the Sikhs were much less in number but they were all prepared to sacrifice their lives. They had begun the battle with no hope of living and were just waiting for the moment of Shahidi. This spirit of sacrifice in the Sikhs was making their attacks exceedingly fearless and deadly before which the Ranghars were having trouble holding their ground.
The battle continued for three to four hours and the Ranghars slowly began to move back. The Sikhs were encouraged even more now and doubled the vigor of their attack. The Sikh attack pushed the Ranghars back half way to their home village of Bhorchhi.
Shahidi
Though the Sikhs were close to victory, Baba Paroz became surrounded by the Ranghars and was mortally wounded. Rivers of blood began to gush from his wounds. Baba jee roared a jaikara and began to swing his Sri Sahib. He shouted challenges at the Ranghar army and charged forward. Seeing Baba jee’s terrifying figure, drenched in blood and running forward while swinging his kirpan, the Ranghars were horrified. How could a man so badly injured still be alive let alone charging after them? They were so afraid that they turned their backs and began to run towards their village.
Satguru jee’s power was coursing through Baba jee's body now and he ran after the fleeing Ranghars. Baba jee pursued them to the edge of Bhorchhi. The women of the village were standing on top of their houses and seeing this scene, shouted desperately, “Baba! Please forgive them now!”
Baba jee heard this and stopped there. His body collapsed to the ground and he became a Shahid. The other Sikhs also reached the spot and picked up Baba jee’s body to bring it back to the village. The entire area heard of Baba jee’s bravery and the miracle that had taken place and came to his saskaar.
The Ranghars had heard that Guru Hargobind Sahib had turned the Sikhs into warriors but now they knew first hand. After some days, they sent a message to the Sikhs that from now on they would treat them not as servants but as brothers and would never try to battle them again.
Today there is still a small puraatan platform at village Bhorchhi where Baba jee was Shahid and a Gurdwara at village Sarli where he was cremated.
Baba jee was an ancestor of Bau Mal Singh jee.
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