INTRODUCTION :
After the death of Banda bahadur, sikh people were left leaderless. The condition of Punjab became pitiable, they became disorganised and weak. Continuous invasion by Ahemd shah abdali and atrocities of Mughal governors of Punjab lead to hardship for people. Sikh were ruthlessly killed and suppressed. Atlast to save themselves they had to move to forest areas.
DAL KHALSA
FORMATION OF DAL KHALSA :
- To survive and meet their daily requirements in forest sikh organised themselves in Jathas who plundered royal treasures and killed those people who favoured mughals.
- Zakariya Khan in 1733 offered jagirs to sikhs. Sikhs accepted the offer and chose sardar Kapur Singh as their Nawab.
- In 1734 AD sikhs were divided into two parts the Buddha dal which consisted of elderly people and the Taruna Dal of new and young people who were mainly engaged in war and safety of Budha dal.
- After the death of Zakariya Khan sikhs reorganised themselves into 25 groups.
- On the festival of Baisakhi in 1748 a Sarbat khalsa was organised which united Sikh into one unified body. DAL KHALSA under the leadership of Nawab Kapur Singh
FUNCTION OF DAL KHALSA :
- All money brought by any jatha would be deposited in the common Khalsa Fund.
- Common Langar for both Dals.
- Every sikh will follow the order of Jathedar.
RAKHI SYSTEM :
- The Rakhi system evolved in 1753 A.D which means protection money internally or externally . Between 1751 to 1762 people of Punjab faced the darkest period due to atrocities and continuous invasions done by Ahemd shah abdali, people were plundered and exploited ruthlessly. Under this condition DAL khalsa offered protection to villagers in exchange of one fifth of the revenue of the village, twice a year which was called Rakhi system. Rakhi was either provided by one chief of two or more jathedars.
- Although this system was unlawful but gave good results. It gained goodwill of people as they were protected by exploitation. Rakhi system also ensured permanent income to sikh misls dars. It reformed the character of sikh people. While sikh people successfully take over the government of punjab.
GURMATTA :
The word 'Gurmatta' means advice of a spiritual Guru, which is the central body for sikh and came into existence After the death of Guru Gobind Singh . Sikh gathered at amritsar for a meeting which was known as Sarbat khalsa and the decisions passed in Sarbat khalsa in the presence of Holy book Guru Granth Sahib came to be known as Gurmatta.
FUNCTION OF GURMATTA :
- Elected leader of Gurmatta.
- Took decisions of administration of gurdwara.
- Discuss plans for military actions.
- Resolve rivalry between sikhs.
MISLS
ORIGIN AND ADMINISTRATION OF MISLS :
- The word Misls means equal or alikein Arabic origin. Every misls enjoyed equal status. After the execution of Banda bahadur sikhs organised themselves into DAL khalsa and further was divided into 12 divisions based on democratic principles which came to be known as Misls.
CIVIL ADMINISTRATION OF MISLS :
- STATUS OF MISLDAR : Chief of misls were known as misldar who enjoyed vital power and had independent territory.
- PANCHAYAT SYSTEM : Village was an administrative unit of misls which resolved disputes and arranged defence in times of urgency.
- EQUALITY AMONG MISLS : each misls was equal and was headed by jathedars. Booty of war divided among misls as per their share of soldiers sent in war.
REVENUE SYSTEM :
- RAKHI SYSTEM : DAL khalsa offered protection to villagers in exchange of one fifth of the revenue of the village, twice a year which was called Rakhi system. Rakhi was either provided by one chief of two or more jathedars.
- TRIBUTE : Jathedars were paid tributes as a source of income.
- LAND REVENUE : These were mainly a source of income for misls. One fifth revenue was gathered from the villages directly under misls and one fourth from barren land.
JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION :
- MISLS COURT : Misls court decides both civil and criminal cases, punishments vary from crime to crime.
- GURMATTA COURT : Cases related to sikh religion fall under Gurmatta Court.
- COURT AS SOURCE OF INCOME : Justice was an important source of income.
- NAZRANA : While filing suit
- SHUKRANA : Paid by party who won the case
- JURMANA : Party who lost case.
MILITARY ADMINISTRATION :
- DIFFERENT WINGS :
- Cavalry
- Infantry
- Artillery
- WEAPONS:
- Swords
- Matchlocks
- Guns
- Bows and arrows
- GUERILLA WARFARE : pitched battles were avoided and Sikhs focused on guerilla warfare. It proved advantageous for sikhs.
- UNIFORM AND SALARY : uniform consisted of Turban, kaccha and kurta while there was no permanent salary for soldiers.
CONCLUSION
After the execution of Banda bahadur sikhs were divided and remained leaderless due to which they faced atrocities and exploitations. Dal khalsa united them under one umbrella and made then built strong Sikh position.
BOOK REFERENCE ( CLICK TO BUY )
The Sikhs of the Punjab: 03 (The New Cambridge History of India)