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Who was Banda Singh Bahadur and how did he challenge Mughal rule in Punjab?
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Punjab
The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple; right), Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Banda Singh Bahadur (1670–1716) was the first Sikh military leader to wage an offensive war against the Mughal Empire in India. Originally an ascetic named Madho Das, he became a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 and subsequently led a significant revolt in the Punjab region.12
Banda challenged Mughal authority by mobilizing a diverse following, including Jat zamindars, peasants, and low-caste cultivators, who were drawn to his egalitarian message. His rebellion posed a direct threat to Mughal sovereignty:2
- Territorial Control: He brought the territory between the Sutlej and Jamuna rivers under Sikh control.2
- Political Defiance: He adopted the title Sacha Badshah ("True King"), established a new calendar, and minted coins in the names of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind.2
- Military Resistance: He successfully engaged imperial forces until his capture at the fortress of Gurdas Nangal in 1715.12
Following his capture, he and his followers were taken to Delhi and executed in 1716, ending his attempt to establish an autonomous non-Mughal state.12