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{{ | {{Short description|Sikh warrior}} | ||
{{one source|date=December 2020}} | {{one source|date=December 2020}} | ||
{{EngvarB|date=December 2020}} | {{EngvarB|date=December 2020}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} | ||
'''Mehtab Singh''' was a [[Sikh]] warrior and martyr. | '''Mehtab Singh''' (d. 1745) was a [[Sikh]] warrior and martyr.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date= |title=Matab Singh |url=https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/biographical/sikh-martyrs/matab-singh/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=The Sikh Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref> He was the son of Hara Singh of Mirarikot, a Ravidassia Sikh of the Bhangu clan. | ||
==Sikh Persecution== | ==Sikh Persecution== | ||
[[Punjab region|Punjab]] had gone through an era of [[Sikh persecution]] under the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] governor of [[Lahore]] | [[Punjab region|Punjab]] had gone through an era of [[Sikh persecution]] under the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] governor of [[Lahore]] [[Zakariya Khan Bahadur|Zakariya Khan]] from 1726 to 1745 A.D. | ||
In 1740, the governor of Lahore put [[Massa Ranghar]] or Musalul Khan, a Chaudhury of Mandiala, in charge of [[Harmandir Sahib]] (Golden Temple). Sikhs were not allowed to visit [[Harmandir Sahib]] or to take a dip in the holy waters of its tank (sarovar). Massa Ranghar persecuted the Sikhs and looted the shops and homes of Hindus. He watched dancing girls perform, drank alcohol and smoked [[Mu‘assel|shisha]] inside [[Harmandir Sahib]]. | In 1740, the governor of Lahore put [[Massa Ranghar]] or Musalul Khan, a Chaudhury of Mandiala, in charge of [[Harmandir Sahib]] (Golden Temple). Sikhs were not allowed to visit [[Harmandir Sahib]] or to take a dip in the holy waters of its tank (sarovar). Massa Ranghar persecuted the Sikhs and looted the shops and homes of Hindus. He watched dancing girls perform, drank alcohol and smoked [[Mu‘assel|shisha]] inside [[Harmandir Sahib]]. | ||
==News from Amritsar== | ==News from Amritsar== | ||
Two residents of Amritsar, Tej Ram, a Hindu, and Bulaka Singh, took this news to a band of Khalsa in the deserts of [[Bikaner]] under the leadership of Sardar Sham Singh. Tej Ram and Bulaka Singh narrated their stories to the congregation of Sikhs. After listening, Sardar Mehtab Singh Bhangu volunteered to bring Massa Ranghar's head back to Bikaner. Another Sikh, Sardar Sukha Singh of Mari Kamboki also stood up and asked to accompany Mehtab Singh. | Two residents of Amritsar, Tej Ram, a Hindu, and Bulaka Singh, took this news to a band of Khalsa in the deserts of [[Bikaner]] under the leadership of Sardar Sham Singh. Tej Ram and Bulaka Singh narrated their stories to the congregation of Sikhs. After listening, Sardar Mehtab Singh Bhangu volunteered to bring Massa Ranghar's head back to Bikaner. Another Sikh, Sardar [[Sukha Singh]] of Mari Kamboki also stood up and asked to accompany Mehtab Singh. | ||
Both of the Sikhs disguised themselves as landlords (Chaudhries) bringing revenue to Amritsar. They rode across the desert and reached [[Damdama Sahib]] at Talwandi Sabo near [[Bathinda]]. They filled up bags of broken pottery pieces and made them look as if they were full of coins. | Both of the Sikhs disguised themselves as landlords (Chaudhries) bringing revenue to Amritsar. They rode across the desert and reached [[Damdama Sahib]] at Talwandi Sabo near [[Bathinda]]. They filled up bags of broken pottery pieces and made them look as if they were full of coins. | ||
==Revenge at Harmandir Sahib== | ==Revenge at Harmandir Sahib== | ||
On August 11, 1740 A.D. they dressed up as landlords from [[Patti, Punjab|Patti]] and entered the city of [[Amritsar]]. They reached [[Harmandir Sahib]] and then tied their horses to the berry tree and went inside [[Harmandir Sahib]] carrying the bags. [[Massa Ranghar]]<ref name="SikhStudies">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fa6B20l9AeQC&q=kasur+arabic+punjab&pg= | On August 11, 1740 A.D. they dressed up as landlords from [[Patti, Punjab|Patti]] and entered the city of [[Amritsar]]. They reached [[Harmandir Sahib]] and then tied their horses to the berry tree and went inside [[Harmandir Sahib]] carrying the bags. [[Massa Ranghar]]<ref name="SikhStudies">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fa6B20l9AeQC&q=kasur+arabic+punjab&pg=PA31|title=Sikh Studies|last=Singha|first=Dr H. S.|date=2005|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170102588|language=en}}</ref> was smoking [[Mu‘assel|shisha]] and watching dancing girls. The Sikhs threw the bags under Massa's bed and said that they had come to pay the revenue. Massa bent downwards to have a look at the bags. Mehtab Singh immediately took his sword and slashed it at Massa's neck and instantly severed his head. Sukha Singh finished off the guards of Massa Ranghar. They put Massa's head in a bag and rode their horses back to [[Talwandi Sabo]] the same evening. The next day they reached [[Bikaner]] and presented Massa Ranghar's head on a spear to the congregation (Dal) of Sikhs.<ref name="SikhStudies"/> | ||
==Death== | |||
[[File:Taru Singh and Mehtab Singh Bhangu martyrdom.jpg|thumb|19th century drawing depicting the martyrdom of Taru Singh and Mehtab Singh Bhangu. Taru Singh is being scalped in the foreground whilst Mehtab Singh is being killed by a 'charkhari' (death wheel) in the background on the right-side.]] | |||
He was crushed on the spikes of wheel (charkhari) and put to death in 1745. He was martyred alongside [[Bhai Taru Singh|Taru Singh]], who was scalped alive.<ref name="SikhStudies">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fa6B20l9AeQC&q=kasur+arabic+punjab&pg=PA31|title=Sikh Studies|last=Singha|first=Dr H. S.|date=2005|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170102588|language=en}}</ref> | |||
== Legacy == | |||
[[Ratan Singh Bhangu|Rattan Singh Bhangu]], author of the Sikh historiographical text 'Prachin Panth Parkash', was his grandson.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |title=The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University of Patiala |year=1995 |isbn=9788173801006}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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[[Category:Sikh warriors]] | [[Category:Sikh warriors]] | ||
{{Sikh-bio-stub}} | {{Sikh-bio-stub}} | ||