Diwan Todar Mal
Diwan Todar Mal was a historical Jain figure from Sirhind who played a role in Sikh history during the period of Guru Gobind Singh. He is remembered by Sikhs for his actions to help the Sikhs cremate the remains of Guru Gobind Singh's two sons and mother during the persecution of Sikhs by the Mughals during the early 18th century.
Biography
[edit]Diwan Todar Mal was an Oswal Śvetāmbara Jain and 'Dewan' in the court of Mughal Nawab of Sirhind, Wazir Khan.[1][2][3]
In Sikh history, he is remembered for buying a small piece of land at a very huge price saying the world's costliest land ever bought for the cremation of the dead bodies of Mata Gujri, the mother and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the two younger sons of 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh in 1704 A.D, by paying an exorbitant price to the Wazir Khan 'Governor Of Sirhind'. He had to cover the whole piece of land with gold coins (ashrafis) in a vertical position, as he was asked to vertically place gold coins on the land and only that much land was given to him which he could cover with gold coins. He later also made arrangements for their cremation.[4] But, according to Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, the bodies of all the three were cremated by the descendants of Todar Mall Shahjahani because the latter had already died in 1665–66.[5]
Todar Mal, however had to bear the brunt of Wazir Khan's wrath, and he and his family had to abandon the haveli soon after, and themselves faded into oblivion, with dilapidated building being their only reminder. In the coming years, the haveli fell into rapid disrepair, and collapsed at many place. Though it survived ransacking of Sirhind by Banda Bahadur and during the reign of The Sikh Confederacy, the haveli was left untouched out of respect for Diwan Todar Mal.[6][7]
Legacy
[edit]
Today, Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup stands where these three martyrs were cremated and the road connecting the two Gurdwaras is known as Dewan Todar Mal Marg. Even today Diwan Todar Mal is deeply respected by the Sikhs and a Diwan Todar Mal Memorial Hall, congregation hall has been constructed at historic Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib by SGPC.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Macaulife, Max Arthur (2004) [First published 1900]. The Sikh religion : Vol 5 (Revised ed.). Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University.
- ^ "AN ANCIENT BROTHERHOOD". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research, Vol-19, Issue no.-January-December.
- ^ Dahiya, Amardeep (2014). Founder of the Khalsa: The Life and Times of Guru Gobind Singh. Hay House, Inc. p. 185. ISBN 9789381398616.
- ^ Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, SIKH HISTORY IN 10 VOLUMES, vol 1, p. 375.
- ^ "The forgotten Diwan of Sirhind". The Tribune. 2 January 2004.
- ^ Fatehgarh Sahib /Sirhind Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Govt of Punjab, Revenue Dept.
- ^ "Dewan Todar Mal- A true devotee of the Guru". Fatehgarh Sahib website. Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ Khushwant Singh (2009-11-07). "An Ancient Brotherhood". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010.
