"Reshaping Sikh Legacy: The Journey from Peace to Protection"
A momentous event reshaped the entire Sikh history and legacy, which had long embraced the peaceful teachings of Guru Nanak and thrived under the leadership of Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. However, when Guru Arjan was executed, his son, Guru Hargobind, took a pivotal step to safeguard the Sikh community by introducing militarization to Sikhism.
As
you enter Mochi Gate, the main road splits into two narrow streets. You'll find the historical 17th-century Saleh Kamboh Mosque standing at this junction. If you turn right, you'll be on Laal Khoo Bazaar. Just 200 meters
down this street, across from the famous Rafiq Sweets (one of the oldest sweet
shops in Lahore), you'll notice a small structure that appears to be a shrine
named "Mai Beri Wala Khoo." The shrine's plaster surface is adorned
with Quranic verses, and a Beri tree is right above it.
However,
this place has a more significant history, here once lies the revered Khoo, an
ancient well of great significance. Nearby, there used to be Chandu's haveli,
owned by a Hindu named Chandu Shah, who served as the Diwan in Mughal emperor
Jahangir Darbar. During the year 1606 AD, a significant event occurred in the
life of Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji at this location. Chandu wanted to marry his
daughter to the son of Sri Guru Arjan Saheb's son Guru Hargobind the sixth Sikh
Guru. He invited Guru Arjan Sahib to his haveli and tell him his reason for
inviting him, however, The Guru refused to marry Chandu's daughter with his son.
Chandu arrested the Guru and kept him in one of the dingy cells here. At his
imprisoned location there was a well and a “bairi”
It
is said that every Thursday famous Saint and Muslim preacher Mian Mir Saheb every
Thursday came to visit Guru Arjan Sahib in captivity he blessed the tree, so
that I might bear sweet fruits and also blessed the water of the well to remain sweet
to provide the nourishment for Guru Arjan. He also brought sweets for Guru and secretly
gave them to him.
The
Guru was tortured by Chandu at this very place. The dark pages of history
reveal that it was at this very site where Guru Arjan faced unimaginable trials
and tribulations. He endured tortures that would test the soul of any mortal.
Later this well name become “Laal Khoo” as it has seen the last hardships of
Guru.
Meharban
informed Chandu Shah, another enemy of Guru Arjan, falsely telling him that the
Guru had blessed Prince Khusrau and promised him he would become Emperor.
Chandu informed Jahangir and represented to the emperor that, if he did not
have Prince Khusrau quickly arrested, the pretender would receive great
military assistance from the followers of the Guru. The people of the Panjab,
he said, were all highway robbers.
Historical
records and the Sikh tradition are unclear as to whether Guru Arjan was
executed by drowning or died during torture.
On
25 May 1606 Guru Arjan, five days before his own death, selected his son Hargobind
as his successor and instructed his son to start a military tradition to
protect the Sikh people and always keep himself surrounded by armed Sikhs for
protection.
Fast
forward to 1619 AD, when Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji arrived in Lahore. The
Sikh Sangat, fiercely loyal to Guru Arjan, led Chandu on a humiliating
procession through the city's bazaars. Fate came full circle, and it was near
the sacred well where a "Bharbhonja" – a seller of poached grams –
struck Chandu with a deadly blow, putting an end to his malevolence.
Sikhs
started to visit this site to pay their respects to the well and the bairi tree
that sustained Guru Arjan's life during his several months in prison.
Eventually, a shrine was built at this sacred location.
Over
time, the sacredness of this place grew in the hearts of the Sikh Sangat. They
unitedly invested resources, purchasing neighboring houses, and constructing a
magnificent Gurdwara to honor Guru Arjan's legacy.
Through
the annals of time, the custodianship of the Gurdwara shifted hands. From 1927
to 1947 AD, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee dutifully cared for it,
and presently, the esteemed responsibility rests with the Pakistan Waqf Board.
The
well dried up around a century ago and the Gurdwara was illegally converted
into a shrine with no burial inside. Yet, people of different faiths, including
Muslims, still visit the site, lighting oil lamps and offering prayers. The
historical value of this place demands better preservation and attention from
concerned authorities.
