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'''Vadda Ghalughara''' ({{lang-pa|ਵੱਡਾ ਘੱਲੂਘਾਰਾ|translit=ʋəɖɖɑ kə̀lːuɡɑ̀ɾɑ|lit=The Great Massacre}} ) was the mass murder of the unarmed [[Sikh]]s by the Afghan forces of the [[Durrani Empire]] during the years of Afghan influence in the [[Punjab region]] of the [[Indian subcontinent]] owing to the repeated incursions of [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] in February 1762.<ref>According to the Punjabi-English Dictionary, eds. S.S. Joshi, Mukhtiar Singh Gill, (Patiala, India: Punjabi University Publication Bureau, 1994) the definitions of "Ghalughara" are as follows: "holcaust, massacre, great destruction, deluge, genocide, slaughter, (historically) the great loss of life suffered by Sikhs at the hands of their rulers, particularly on 1 May 1746 and 5 February 1762" (p. 293).</ref> It is distinguished from the [[Chhota Ghalughara]] (the Smaller Massacre). Mostly non-combatants, were killed in the event,<ref>Federalism, Nationalism and Development: India and the Punjab Economy, [https://books.google.com/books?id=lQpswqcdDLIC&pg=PA26&dq= p.26], Routledge, Pritam Singh</ref> and an estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 Sikhs were killed on 5 February 1762.<ref name="landford">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XxwIDgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA21&ots=-3RWupBjZ7&dq=1762%20sikhs%20afghans&pg=PA21#v=onepage&q=1762%20sikhs%20afghans&f=false|title=Afghanistan at War: From the 18th-Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century|page=21|author=Lansford, Tom|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781598847604|year=2017}}</ref><ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia pp. 396">Sardar Singh Bhatia, "Vadda Ghalughara", The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Volume IV, Patiala, Punjabi University, 1998, pp. 396; Syad Muhammad Latif, The History of Punjab from the Remotest Antiquity to the Present Time, New Delhi, Eurasia Publishing House (Pvt.) Ltd., 1964, p. 283.</ref>

The ''Vadda Ghalūghārā'' was a dramatic and bloody massacre during the campaign of [[Afghanistan]]'s ([[Durrani Empire]]) provincial government based at [[Lahore]] to wipe out the Sikhs, an offensive that had begun with the Mughals and lasted several decades.<ref>[[Khushwant Singh]], A History of the Sikhs, Volume I: 1469–1839, Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1978, pp. 127–129</ref>

==Background==

=== Persecution of the Sikhs (1746–1762) ===
In the 18 years following the [[Chhota Ghalughara]], Punjab was roiled with five invasions and had several years of rebellions and civil war. Under these unsettled circumstances, it was difficult for any authority to carry on a campaign of oppression against the Sikhs; instead the Sikhs were often sought and valued as useful allies in the various struggles for power.<ref>Hari Ram Gupta, A History of the Sikhs from Nadir Shah's Invasion to the Rise of Ranjit Singh (1739–1799); Volume I: Evolution of the Sikh Confederacies (1739–1768), Simla, Minerva Book Shop, 1952, pp. 68–69, 115–23, 139–43.</ref>

In these times of relative calm,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Journal of Research: (humanities)|date=1966|volume=1|issue=1–2|page=63|journal=Journal of Research: (humanities)}}</ref> however, Shah Nawaz, the governor at [[Lahore]] in 1747 and his Afghan allies resumed their genocidal campaigns against the Sikhs.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Bhagat|title=A History of the Sikh Misals|date=1993|publisher=Punjabi University|location=Patiala|page=55}}</ref> This period was characterised by the desecration of Sikh places of worship and the organised capture, torture and merciless execution of tens of thousands of Sikh men, women and children.<ref>Hari Ram Gupta, A History of the Sikhs from Nadir Shah's Invasion to the Rise of Ranjit Singh (1739–1799); Volume I: Evolution of the Sikh Confederacies (1739–1768), Simla, Minerva Book Shop, 1952, pp. 79–83.</ref>

=== The Governorship of Mir Mannu ===
Mir Mannu (Mu'in ul-Mulk)<ref name="McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP">{{cite book|last1=Evans|first1=Suzanne|title=Mothers of Heroes, Mothers of Martyrs: World War I and the Politics of Grief|date=2007|publisher=McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP|isbn=9780773560239|page=36}}</ref> became governor of [[Lahore]] and the surrounding provinces in 1748 through his exploits in battle against the Afghan army. His first act as governor was to take control of Ram Rauni, the Sikh fort at [[Amritsar]], where 500 Sikhs had taken shelter. Mir Mannu then stationed detachments of troops in all parts of Punjab with any Sikh inhabitants with orders to capture them and shave their heads and beards.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Agarwal|first1=Krishna Prakash|title=British Take-over of India: Modus Operandi : an Original Study of the Policies and Methods Adopted by the British While Taking Over India, Based on Treaties and Other Official Documents, Volume 2|date=1979|publisher=Oriental Publishers & Distributors|page=141}}</ref> His oppression was such that large numbers of Sikhs moved to relatively inaccessible mountains and forests. The governor ordered the apprehending of Sikhs and to send them in irons to Lahore. Hundreds were thus taken to Lahore and executed in the horse market before crowds of onlookers.<ref name="Bhagat Singh 1997, p. 130">Bhagat Singh, "Mu'in ul-Mulk", The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Volume III, Patiala, Punjabi University, 1997, p. 130.</ref><ref name="Dhanpat Rai & Sons">{{cite book|last1=Seetal|first1=Sohan|title=Rise of the Sikh Power and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh|date=1971|publisher=Dhanpat Rai & Sons|page=269}}</ref> According to the historian Nur Ahmed Chishti Mir Mannu ordered 1100 Sikhs to be killed at the horse market during [[Eid al-Fitr|Eid]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Kharak|last2=Singh|first2=Daljeet|title=Sikhism: its philosophy and history|date=1997|publisher=Institute of Sikh Studies|location=Chandigarh|isbn=9788185815039|page=467}}</ref>

Partly through the influence of his Hindu minister, Kaura Mall, who was sympathetic to the Sikhs, and partly because of the threat of another Afghan invasion, Mir Mannu made peace with the Sikhs the next year. This truce was to last until the passing of Kaura Mall in the battle against the Afghans in 1752 and the surrender of Lahore to invader [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]].<ref name="Bhagat Singh 1997, p. 130"/>

In his new role as governor for the Afghans, Mir Mannu was able to resume his persecution of the Sikhs. Moreover, he had arranged for new artillery to be forged and a unit of 900 men assigned especially to the hunting down of the "infidels".<ref>Hari Ram Gupta, A History of the Sikhs from Nadir Shah's Invasion to the Rise of Ranjit Singh (1739–1799); Volume I: Evolution of the Sikh Confederacies (1739–1768), Simla, Minerva Book Shop, 1952, pp. 63–64, 66.</ref> In the words of an eyewitness: "Muin appointed most of the gunmen to the task of chastising the Sikhs. They ran after these people up to {{convert|67|km|mi|sp=us}} a day and slew them wherever they stood up to oppose them. Anybody who brought a Sikh head received a reward of ten rupees per head."<ref name="Syed Hasan Askari 1998, p. 300">Syed Hasan Askari, "Tahmasnamah", The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Volume IV, Patiala, Punjabi University, 1998, p. 300.</ref>

According to that same account: "The Sikhs who were captured alive were sent to hell by being beaten with wooden mallets. At times, Adina Beg Khan sent 40 to 50 Sikh captives from the Doab. They were as a rule killed with the strokes of wooden hammers."<ref name="Syed Hasan Askari 1998, p. 300"/>

Mir Mannu explicitly ordered his troops to seize and torture the Sikh women and children.<ref name="McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP"/><ref name="Dhanpat Rai & Sons"/> The women were seized from their homes and forced grind grain in prison with the detainees forced to grind about 1.25 maunds of grain<ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Ganda|title=Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia|date=1990|publisher=Punjabi University|location=Patiala|page=71}}</ref> (46 kilo grams) of grain to grind in a day. According to a Sikh account, "Many of the women were given merciless lashing, working all day exhausted from thirst and hunger, they plied their stone-mills and while they plied their stone-mills and sang their Guru's hymns. The Hindu or the Muslim, or in fact anyone who saw them and listened to their songs was utterly astonished. As their children, hungry and thirsty, wailed and writhed on the ground for a morsel, the helpless prisoners in the hands of the prisoners could do little except solace them with their affection until wearied from crying the hungry children would go to sleep."<ref>Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the Sikhs, Delhi, Manohar Books, 1983, pp. 135–36</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Seetal|first1=Sohan|title=Rise of the Sikh Power and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh|date=1971|publisher=Dhanpat Rai & Sons|page=271}}</ref>

Mir Mannu's reign, however, did not stop the spread of Sikhism.<ref>Bhagat Singh, "Mu'in ul-Mulk", ''The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Volume III'', Patiala, Punjabi University, 1997, p. 131.</ref>

=== Baba Deep Singh ===
{{Main|Baba Deep Singh}}
In 1757, when Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded India for loot and plunder a fourth time he was so harassed by Sikh fighters who several times slew his guards and pillaged his baggage train that he became determined to take his revenge on them. Because Durrani could not lay his hands on the elusive bands of Sikhs, he determined to attack their holy city [[Amritsar]], the [[Harimandir Sahib]] was blown up, and the surrounding pool filled with the entrails of slaughtered cows.<ref>Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, Volume I: 1469–1839, Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1978, pp. 144–45.</ref>

[[File:Akali Deep Singh.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Baba Deep Singh]] a prominent Sikh ''[[Sant (religion)|Sant]]'']]
Hearing of this event [[Baba Deep Singh]], an elderly scholar of the Sikhs living at [[Takht Sri Damdama Sahib|Damdama Sahib]], {{convert|160|km|mi}} south of Amritsar, was stirred to action. As leader of one of the Sikh divisions entrusted with the care of the temple he felt responsible for the damage that had been done to it and announced his intention of rebuilding the Harmandir Sahib. He set out his forces Sikhs toward the Amritsar and along the way, many other Sikhs joined, eventually numbering about 5,000 when they reached the outskirts of Amritsar. In the nearby town of [[Tarn Taran Sahib]] they prepared themselves for martyrdom by sprinkling saffron on each other's turbans.<ref>Khushwant Singh, ''A History of the Sikhs, Volume I: 1469–1839'', Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1978, p. 145; Hari Ram Gupta, ''A History of the Sikhs from Nadir Shah's Invasion to the Rise of Ranjit Singh (1739–1799); Volume I: Evolution of the Sikh Confederacies (1739–1768)'', Shimla, Minerva Book Shop, 1952, p. 109.</ref>

When word reached Lahore that a large body of Sikhs had arrived near Amritsar a general mobilisation was ordered. Two large forces were sent. Approaching Amritsar, Baba Deep Singh and his companions encountered them and a fierce battle ensued.<ref>Khushwant Singh, ''A History of the Sikhs, Volume I: 1469–1839'', Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1978, p. 145; Hari Ram Gupta, A History of the Sikhs from Nadir Shah's Invasion to the Rise of Ranjit Singh (1739–1799); Volume I: Evolution of the Sikh Confederacies (1739–1768), Simla, Minerva Book Shop, 1952, pp. 109–110.</ref>

Wielding his [[Khanda (sword)|double-edged sword]], the 69-year-old Sikh sustained many wounds. According to tradition, his head was severed but Baba Deep Singh still pressed on in his determination to reach the holy shrine, until he made the precincts of the Harmandir Sahib. It was Baba Deep Singh's headless body holding his head on his left hand and wielding his great sword in his right that had fought on until he redeemed his pledge to reach the holy temple.<ref>Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, Volume I: 1469–1839, Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1978, p. 145; K.S. Thapar, "Baba Dip Singh", The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Volume I, Patiala, Punjabi University, 1995, p. 588.</ref>

== The Massacre of 1762==
When [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] returned for his sixth campaign of conquest (his fifth being in 1759–1761), Sikh fighters were residing in the town of Jandiala, {{convert|18|km|mi}} east of [[Amritsar]]. The place was the home of Aqil, the head of the Nirinjania sect, a friend of the Afghans, and an inveterate enemy of the Sikhs.<ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia 1998, pp. 396">Sardar Singh Bhatia, "Vadda Ghalughara", ''The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Volume IV'', Patiala, Punjabi University, 1998, pp. 396.</ref>

Aqil sent messengers to Durrani pleading for his help against the Sikhs. The Afghan forces hurried to Jandiala, but by the time they arrived the siege had been lifted and the besiegers were gone.<ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia 1998, pp. 396"/>

The Sikh fighters had retreated with the view of taking their families to safety in the [[Hariyana|Haryana]] desert east of their location before returning to confront the invader. When the Afghan leader came to know of the whereabouts of the Sikhs he sent word ahead to his allies in [[Malerkotla]] and [[Sirhind]] to stop their advance. Durrani then in less than 48 hours set about on a rapid march, covering the distance of {{convert|240|km|mi}} and including two river crossings<ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia 1998, pp. 396"/>

In twilight Durrani and his allies surprised the Sikhs who numbered about 30,000<ref name="landford"/> with most of them noncombatants. It was decided that the Sikh fighters would form a cordon around the slow-moving baggage train consisting of women, children and old men. Then they would then make their way to the desert in the south-west by the town of Barnala, where they expected their ally [[Ala Singh|Alha Singh]] of [[Patiala]] to come to their rescue.<ref>Syad Muhammad Latif, The History of Punjab from the Remotest Antiquity to the Present Time, New Delhi, Eurasia Publishing House (Pvt.) Ltd., 1964, p. 283;
Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, Volume I: 1469–1839, Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1978, p. 154.</ref>

A secondhand account by the son and nephew of two eyewitnesses describes the Sikhs. "Fighting while moving and moving while fighting, they kept the baggage train marching, covering it as a hen covers its chicks under its wings."<ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia 1998, pp. 396"/> More than once, the troops of the invader broke the cordon and mercilessly butchered the women, children and elderly inside, but each time the Sikh warriors regrouped and managed to push back the attackers.<ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia 1998, pp. 396"/>

By early afternoon, the fighting cavalcade reached a large pond, the first they had come across since morning. Suddenly the bloodletting ceased as the two forces went to the water to quench their thirst and relax their tired limbs.<ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia 1998, pp. 396"/>

From that point on the two forces went their separate ways. The Afghan forces had inflicted great losses on the Sikh nation and had in turn many of them killed and wounded and they were exhausted having not any rest in two days. The remainder of the Sikhs proceeded into the semi-desert toward [[Barnala]]. Ahmad Shah Durrani's army returned to the capital of [[Lahore]] with hundreds of Sikhs in chains. From the capital, Durrani returned to Amritsar and blew up the [[Harimandir Sahib]] which since 1757 the Sikhs had rebuilt. As a deliberate act of sacrilege, the pool around it was filled with cow carcasses.<ref>Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, Volume I: 1469–1839, Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1978, p. 154-55.</ref> It was estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 Sikhs were killed on 5 February 1762.<ref name="landford"/><ref name="Sardar Singh Bhatia pp. 396"/>

==See also==
* [[Chhota Ghalughara]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{coord missing|India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vadda Ghalughara}}
[[Category:History of Sikhism]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Massacres of Sikhs]]
[[Category:1760s in the Durrani Empire]]
[[Category:Persecution of Sikhs]]

Vadda Ghalughara - Revision history

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