Mediyaan YuvaMATA BAGH KAUR (AKA) MAI BHAGO
– The Punjabi Sikh Female General who led 40 Sikh Warriors and Forced the Mughal Troope of 10,000 to Retreat from the Battle of Muktsar in 1705
The Land of Bharat have always given the liberty and scope for women to take part in the protection of Matru Bhoomi. At several instances, the womenfolk of Bharat Bhoomi have contributed their best in the protection of Motherland against invaders and have proved that they were no lesser than men. In fact, some of their valour has been so remarkable and amazing that they should be made the idols of inspirations for younger generations to grow with deeper sense of true patriotism and energy to safeguard Bharat Bhoomi. One such valiant warrior was the Punjabi Sikh female General Mata Bhag Kaur, also called Mai Bhago.
Mai Bhag Kaur was born at Jhabal Kalan village near Amritsar, Majha District in Punjab. Her grandfather was Piro Singh and father was Bhai Mallo Shah. She had four brothers. She learnt the skills of warfare from her father. Mai Bhago was married to Bhai Nidhan Singh.
In 1704 – 05, General Wazir Khan sent by the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb with his troop of around 16,000 soldiers laid siege of Anandpur Sahib which was the Sikh Capital. During the siege, 40 Sikhs gave Bedahwa (resignation/ letter of abandoning the Guru) to Guru Gobind Singh. The 40 Sikhs deserted Guru Gobind Singh and after signing a document that they were renouncing Guru Gobind Singh from being their teacher and leader, left Anandpur Sahib.
When Mai Bhago heard about the deserters which included her husband and brothers, she went to the 40 deserters and pleaded them to return to the Guru. She made them realize their act of cowardice to leave the Guru, convinced them to return to Anandpur and apologize to the Tenth Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Ultimately, the forty of them agreed and they returned.
Meanwhile, the Guru was in retreat with his army after having escaped from the siege of Anandpur when on 29th December 1705, Mai Bhago with her small force of the 40 warriors who were returning to the apologize to the Guru, on behalf of the army of Guru Gobind Singh decided to fight the Mughals.
With a Keski (Sikh turban) tied around her head, dressed in the male attire of the Khalsa warriors and having a Kirpan (a curved knife / dagger), Mai Bhago bounced daringly on the huge Mughal army. Her skills in weaponry, archery, warfare, horse-riding and leadership gave Mai Bhago the guts to lead a band of forty warrior-men to fight against the Mughals at the Battle of Sri Muktsar Sahib in 1705 at Khidrana.
The fierce fight and ambush given by the 40 Sikh soldiers lead by the female General Mai Bhago on the Mughal army which outnumbered to Ten Thousand was so valorous and intense that the Mughals could not withstand the attack. Ultimately, the Mughals were forced to retreat and go away from the battlefield. All of them except Mai Bhago were martyred in the Battle.
Seeing the martyrdom of those forty soldiers as their regret and repentance, Guru Gobind Singh tore the document of resignation on the request of the dying Mahan Singh, forgave all the 40 Shaheeds (Martyrs) and called them ‘Chali Mukte’ (the 40 Liberated Ones). Thereafter, Khidrana became Sri Muktsar Sahib which means ‘the Pool of Liberation’.
The Guru Saheb was deeply touched by the faith, dedication, devotion, patriotism, and heroism of wounded Mata Bhag Kaur. After the battle, Mai Bhago joined the army of Guru Gobind Singh and served the Guru as a brave soldier.
In 1708 at Nanded, after the Guru’s Soul left the mortal abode, Mai Bhago retired to a life of meditation at Jinvara, 11 kms from Bidar in Karnataka where she lived uptil she breathed her last.
History will always salute the valorous Bharathiya female Sikh Warrior-Saint Mai Bhag Kaur for her strong patriotism and gallant warriorship to lead 40 Warriors and defeat the huge Mughal army of 10,000.
Dr.M.VIJAYA