Saka Sirhind



The Saka Sirhind (Punjabi: ਸਾਕਾ ਸਰਹਿੰਦ) or the Chhotte Sahibzada Saka (Punjabi: ਛੋਟੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦੇ ਸਾਕਾ) refers to the killing and martyrdom (Shaheedi) of the two sons of Guru Gobind Singh, named Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. The two Sikh children are remembered as the Chhotte Sahibzade (Punjabi: ਛੋਟੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦੇ (Gurmukhi)). They are believed to have attained martyrdom on 26 December 1704 at the ages of 5(or 6) and 9 respectively. In remembrance of this occasion, the Shaheedi Jor Mela is organised annually at Fatehgarh Sahib Punjab, India, to commemorate the supreme sacrifice at the place of their martyrdom on the 24th to 26 December.

Timeline
The Saka Sirhind collectively refers the following events:
 * In 1704, a joint attack from the Hindu Rajput Sivalik Hill Rajas and the Mughal Forces laid siege to the Anandgarh Fort in Anandpur Sahib. After eight months, both the Rajput and Mughal commanders swore on their respective holy texts (Bhagavad Gita and Quran) to give safe passage to the Guru and the Khalsa forces.
 * At the request of the Panj Pyare, the Guru's Mahil, which included Guru Gobind Singh and his family, including his wife, Mata Jito, his four sons, Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Fateh Singh and Zorawar Singh, his mother, Mata Gujri, and every Sikh in the Guru's court all left Anandpur Sahib towards Ropar at nighttime. (~ December 20, 1704).
 * The next day however, both the Rajput and Mughal Forces betrayed their peace treaty and ambushed the Khalsa Sikhs on the banks of the Sarsa River (now known as Pariwar Vichhora). Following the ambush, the Khalsa struggled to protect the Guru Mahil, Guru Gobind Singh and his two older sons were separated from his wife, his mother and two younger sons. (~ Morning of December 21, 1704)
 * In the aftermath of the ambush, Mata Gujri, with Fateh Singh and Zorawar Singh, traveled to Saheri with a trusted ally, Gangu, a Kashmiri Hindu Pundit, while the Guru's Mahil left for Delhi led by Bhai Mani Singh.
 * Guru Gobind Singh with Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, the Panj Pyrae and 40 Khalsa Sikh warriors marched towards Chamkaur. Upon arriving at the city, he requested safe passage from the city chief, Ajmer Chand, but was refused. However, upon hearing the Guru's plea for help, the chief's younger brother allowed the Sikhs to stay in his Haveli. (~ Afternoon of December 21, 1704)
 * Upon hearing of the Sikhs' presence in the Chamkaur, the Mughal Forces laid another siege on the city, drawing near the Haveli, leading to the Chamkaur battle. The two elder Sahibzade, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, along with three of the (five) Panj Piaras and thirty seven Sikhs died fighting Mughal army. (~ December 22–23, 1704)
 * Meanwhile, Mata Gujri and the two younger Sahibzade were betrayed by Gangu upon reaching the Saheri Pind. In exchange for some gold Mohurs, Gangu gave their location away to the Mughal court officers, sent by Wazir Khan. Following their arrest, they were escorted to Suba Sirhind and imprisoned in the Thanda Burj (Cold Tower), awaiting for trial in the Kacheri (royal court) of Suba Sirhind. (~ December 22–25, 1704)
 * In the Sarzameen of Sirhind, the two young Sikh boys, Fateh Singh and Zorawar Singh were judged guilty by the Assembly of Shaitans and Wazir Khan. The Nawab of Malerkotla, Sher Muhammad Khan was the sole dissenter. Subsequently, they were given a choice to escape their certain death by converting to Islam however they refused. (~ December 26, 1704)
 * Upon hearing of the death of her grandsons, Mata Gujri passed away during her morning prayers.
 * The bodies of the two Sahibzade and Mata Gujri are believed to have been cremated by Diwan Todar Mal, a scholar and Diwan in the Mughal court. He covered the cremation grounds in gold coins as their final rites couldn't be done on Mughal soil. His Haveli is now memorialized as a Gurudwara, Jyoti Swaroop Gurudwara Sahib located in Fatehgarh Sahib.