Post # 005
This day that year
13th April, Monday, was Vaisakhi, the festival celebrating the start of the Hindu solar new year as well as the harvesting season. I didn't realize how significant the day is in other religions too. Like for example Sikhism.
1. In 1699, on this day, Guru Gobind Singh formed the Khalsa panth of warriors, in opposition to Aurangzeb's persecution and assassination of Guru Tegh Bahadur. He is credited of infusing a fighting spirit into a previously docile sikh population, famously saying, "Sava lakh se ek ladhava."
2. In 1801, on this day, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, one of India's greatest leaders, was crowned as emperor of a unified Punjab. I recently read about Hari Singh Nalwa, his commander-in-chief, one of the few generals even East India Company used to be scared of. My chest swelled and my eyes teared up.
3. In 1919, on this day, a British Officer named Reginald Dyer ordered his troup to fire indiscriminately on a peaceful gathering in a place called Jalianwalabagh in Amritsar. Hundreds died and thousands were wounded. Significantly, this event changed Gandhiji's attitude towards the British. Till then, he considered the British to be fair rulers. Post this incident, he declared that British rule in India was 'inherently evil'.
