Baba Fateh Singh - the
victorious
Waheguru ji ka khalsa
Waheguru ji ki fateh
The following is part of a presentation I
recently wrote for the Khalsa Council. I have taken some literary
liberties by presenting this in first- person format. This
requires some extrapolation of feelings and thoughts with
very little research data available - especially with Guru
Sahib's younger sons. I had to rely on my heart and my meditation.
And, of course, who really knows what was in the mind of these
incredible and brilliant incarnations! But, by taking the
chance and putting the piece in first person - it creates
a hologram effect and Baba Ajit Singh Maharaj seems to materialize
before us.
I hope you understand the spirit in which
it was done, and I apologize in advance for my errors and
my arrogance.
Shanti Kaur
I, Baba Fateh Singh, was born in February 1699.
I was barely eight weeks only on Baisakhi 1699 when the Khalsa
was formed, but I was an old soul in a little body. I did not
cry for food or comforts, but looked at the world with ethereal
regard.
Even though I was very young during the early
years of Anandpur Sahib, I retained the awareness and knowledge
of my past incarnations as a warrior. By the time I was seven
years old, I was regarded with respect for my wisdom and clarity.
I was fully aware of the situation that was developing, and
also fully aware of the future outcome. I spent hours in quiet
reflection allowing my mind to roam freely with my father, only
regretting that I had been born too late fight at his side.
During the evacuation of Anandpur Sahib, there
was a great deal of confusion and fear as the women and children
tried to forge the river to a position of relative safety. I
had no fear of the events as they unfolded, for I had long ago
seen it in my meditation. I felt how much my Grandmother worried
about me, and how much responsibility my brother felt for me.
In my own quiet way, with a squeeze of the hand, I tried to
give them reassurance.
During the night at the treacherous Brahmin's
house, I laid awake with my mind in sweet meditation on my father.
My love for Guru Gobind Singh extended beyond time and space
into the eternal realm of Such Kand. When the soldiers knocked
on the door, I was neither surprised nor afraid.
As I walked with Baba Zorawar Singh to the
governor's house, we came to the door of the palace. The huge
gates were closed and only a very small servant's door was open.
The soldiers roughly pushed us to go through the door, but to
do so we would have to bend over and duck down to enter. I saw
the evil trickery of Wazir Khan, and put my hand on my brother's
arm.
"Brother, wait. See what this evil man
is doing? We have to bend our necks and bow our heads to enter
through this little door. We are the sons of the 10th Guru and
we will never bow our heads to such a man!"
Even though the tension in the air was strong,
Baba Zorawar Singh laughed when he saw my wisdom. With a mischief
look, I turned my back to the door, and scooted through backwards
with Zorawar Singh close behind. Wazir Khan was furious when
he saw that he had been out-smarted by a seven-year-old boy.
When we stood before Wazir Khan, the governor
offered to spare our lives if only we would convert to Islam.
Even though Baba Zorawar Singh was confirmed in his resolve,
he always respected me and he turned to me before answering
the Khan. I replied to his unanswered question: " Dear
brother, our grandfather gave his head, but not his religion.
We are now given the same choice. You and I were both too young
that Baisakhi Day when the Guru called for a head, but now we
can claim our turn to answer the call. We have taken the Amrit
of the double-edge sword, so what do we care for death?"
Without a moment's hesitation, or quick beat
of the heart, I walked through the chaos to our execution. All
around people were weeping as the wall was raised and my death
grew near, but I was undisturbed. When the wall was up to my
chin and the executioner was ready to swing his sword, we were
asked one more time to save our lives and renounce our faith.
I lifted my chin and said as loud as I could, "My father
is Guru Gobind Singh, my grandfather is Guru Teg Bahadur, and
my great-grandfather is Guru Hargobind. Death means nothing
to me. Our death will fan the flames that will drive the tyrants
from this land."
With that, I closed my eyes and
surrendered to the sweet embrace of my father. This was the
moment for which I had taken human birth.
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