It’s easy to joke about a Sardar, but it’s too difficult to be a Sardar!!

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I was standing at a railway station when my attention went towards a young Sikh boy standing near me wearing a Black turban with a long flowing beard and a kirpan strapped over his shirt.

Just then, an overcrowded local train arrived; the young Sikh boy tried to board the train but was unable to do so. Seeing the young Sikh unsuccessfully attempting to board the Train someone from inside the coach shouted out, 'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye' (Sir it's 12 o'clock!) (ie. You are going mad!)

The Sikh, on hearing this, did not lose his composure but smiled enigmatically towards the invisible heckler. The smile was so enigmatic that it seemed as if there was some reality hidden behind the smile... Intrigued by the enigmatic smile, I walked up to the young Sardar and asked why he smiled at that person who teased him.

The Sardar simply said, “the person was not teasing me but was asking for my Help”. That reply surprised me. He then added that, “there is a history behind the statement that everyone must know”.

The young Sardar narrated this story to me:

During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by Mughals, Hindus were subject to severe humiliation. The Mughals treated the Hindu women as their own property and would force Hindus to accept Islam and killed those who would refuse to accept Islam. It is then that our ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadurji came forward, in response to the request of the Kashmir Pandits to fight against all these cruelty of the Mughals.

Guru Tegh Bahadurji challenged the Mughal emperor to convert him to Islam. If he succeeded in doing so, all the Hindus would readily accept the Islam; however, if he failed in converting him, all cruelty towards the Hindus should stop. The Mughal emperor happily agreed to his challenge. The Mughals tried all they could, and even after severe torture they failed to convert him to Islam. The Mughals, unsuccessful in their attempt to convert Guru Tegh Bahadurji along with his four fellow members, killed them in a gruesome manner at Delhi's Chandni Chowk.

Guru Tegh Bahadurji sacrificed his life for the protection of Hindu religion. Have you ever heard of someone laying down his life for the protection of another religion? This is the reason why people still remember him as "Hind Ki Chaddar", Shield of the India. But, the great Guru did not get a decent funeral as no one came forward fearing their own death.

It was after this incident that 10th Guruji, Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Tegh Bahadurji) founder of Khalsa resolved that he would create such an identity for his followers that they would be easily identifiable, and would not be able to hide themselves. Initially, the Sikhs were very few in numbers, and they formed themselves into guerrilla units, and started their battle against the Mughal emperors.

In 1739, Nadir Shah raided Delhi, looted Hindustan and was carrying back with him a lot of Hindustani treasures and nearly 2200 Hindu women. The news spread like wild fire and reached Sardar Jassa Singh the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. Sardar Jassa Singh attacked Nadir Shah's caravan the same midnight, and rescued all the Hindu women and sent them home safely. (We never read about this rescue in our text books!!)

This did not happen only once!! It became the norm...thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis attacked and looted Hindustan and tried to carry treasures and Hindu women along with them, the Sikh army, though lesser in numbers but brave hearted enough, attacked them at midnight, 12 O'clock, and rescued the women first.

Thereafter, whenever any similar incident occurred people started contacting the Sikh army for help, and the Sikhs responded, attacking the barbarians at Midnight, 12 O'clock, with a passion bordering on madness.

Today, these "smart people" and the enemies of the Sikhs have spread the word that at "12 O'clock, Sikhs go mad"!!

This history was the reason I smiled at the person. By shouting out "Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye", he meant that his Mother or Sister was in trouble and he needed my help.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏽💪🏽😍😌

Do forward this message to everyone you know! Let this unknown valiant history be known henceforth!! It’s easy to joke about a Sardar; but it’s too difficult to be a Sardar!!!

Jai Hind!

Vandhe Maatharam!!