Battle of Chapad Chidi

About 3 centuries ago, a fierce battle was fought at the battlefield of Chapud-Chidhi. This battle has been recognized as one of the most important battles fought in our Sikh History. This battle was fought between powerful Mughals under the command of Nawab Wazir Khan and valiant Sikhs under the leadership of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on 22 May, 1710 on the battlefield of Chapud-Chidhi near Sirhind.

Nawab Wazir Khan was a tyrant and merciless ruler. He had killed thousands of innocent lives. He was the main pillar of the Aurangzeb’s policy against in Punjab. He was involved in almost all the battles against Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He was also responsible for the Shaheedi of young Sahibzadas- Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji of Guru Sahib. He was also responsible for the attack of two Pathans over Guru Sahib at Sri Hazoor Sahib in Nanded while he was in his deep meditation. The martyrdom of young Princes was the concrete reason behind this war. The whole army was well equipped with armors, shields, weapons, guns, gunpowder etc.

Nawab Wazir Khan had started preparations for the war. He gathered all of his forces and called out all his Jagirdars to accompany him with their forces. He also raised the flag of Jihad and thousands of Muslims joined him. A large number of Hindus also joined the Jihad and thus, he made a large army. He placed his large cannons, heavy guns with unlimited gun powder in one side, a wall of fierce full war elephants covered with hard iron shields on second side, his Jagirdari forces on third side and his own army on the fourth side. He himself sat over an elephant protected by a number of Gazis surrounding him.

On the other hand, a handful of Sikhs were there without any equipment of guns, cannons, gunpowder, musketeers, war elephants, shields, armor etc. They were not even having sufficient cavalry. Baba Ji also divided his army into four parts: Sikhs from Malwa region under Dharam Singh, Karam Singh, Aali Singh, Maali Singh, Takht Singh, Nagahia Singh etc; Sikhs from Majha region under Baba Binod Singh, Bhai Baaz Singh, Bhai Ram Singh; some force under Baba Kahan Singh, Miri Singh with some other accompanied forces and the last division was under his own command. Baba Ji sat at some height so that he could see what is happening over the battlefield.

Even being outnumbered Mughal Army was afraid of Baba Ji. This was a new war against Sikhs after some peace period. They had already caused a lot casualty in early wars. Now they were reunited again. Baba Ji was also very famous as he was set as a commander by Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself. They had seen that no one had been able to defeat Baba Ji even with large well-equipped and well-trained forces. They were also affected by a rumor that Baba Ji was a black magician, he can kill anyone, he can make his army invincible, no weapon could touch him, he can call ghosts, bring storms, he can get all the plans made by enemy, he can turn into any animal, bird or ghost etc.

Wazir Khan sent nephew of Diwan Sucha Nand with 1000 troops to join Sikh army and flee away in the battle. Though Baba Ji did not believed him but still he permitted him to join his army.

The battle began with the firing of cannons of Mughal army. Their fires did not cause much loss over the Sikh army rather most of their fires shot into the woods. The Sikhs were having 4-5 small canons which were made to shot accurately into the Mughal canons. This caused plundering of Mughal artillery. Due to lighter weight and higher mobility of the cannons, the Sikh battalions were able march towards the Mughal artillery. It seemed to be a kind of magic by Baba Ji to the Mughal army. Bhai Baaz Singh Ji and other Singh warriors captured the Mughal artillery. With this artillery, they attacked the war elephants of Mughals. Due to this bombarding caused by the cannons, the war elephants ran backwards and created a big trouble for Mughal army itself. At this, Nawab Wazir Khan ordered his whole army to attack and a fierce battle was fought. This caused heavy casualties over the both sides. At this time, nephew of Diwan Sucha Nand fled with his troops but he was killed on the way. The battle continued for 2 days but no decision could be made. In the morning of 24 May, Mughal army being outnumbered started getting their side heavier. At this time Baba Ji himself jumped into the battlefield. Sikhs were boosted up incredibly and began marching towards their victory. Nawab Wazir Khan was killed in the battle. There is controversy over how he was killed. Some say he was killed in fight with Bhai Baaz Singh, some say he was killed by Baba Ji, some say an arrow stroke over his head while some say he was captured and tortured to death. After his death, the Mughal army fled away and the Sikhs were victorious in this battle. And very soon, the fort of Sirhind was also captured.

Later he established his capital at Mukhlispur which he named as Lohgarh. This was the first capital of Sikh Rule.

This battle has got an important place in history. It was the outstanding victory of Sikhs over Mughals, destruction of the principle pillar of the Mughal Government, victory of truth and courage over darkness of tyranny, the beginning of the first Sikh rule, the establishment of the very first Sikh capital, the introduction of the Sikh Coins for the first time in History.