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Bibi Kaulan / Mai Bhago / Rani Jindian

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Bibi Kaulan

Qazi Rustam Khan had bought her from her parents while she was a child. The Qazi gave her the education of Islam and sent her to Saint Mian Mir for higher schooling. Saint Mian Mir knew a large number of Guru's verses by heart which he used to quote to his disciples. Bibi Kaulan also remembered some of the verses by heart which she used to recite by herself for her pleasure. One day, Qazi Rustam Khan heard Bibi Kaulan reciting Guru Nanak's verses at home and he rebuked her. Her punishment was that she was to be beheaded for this sin." When Saint Mian Mir heard about the decree of beheading of Bibi Kaulan, he sent her to Amritsar. Guru Hargobind Ji made arrangement for separate accommodation for Bibi Kaulan. In memory of Bibi Kaulan's resolve to remain firm on her words, the Guru constructed a pool named Kaulsar in 1627 A.D. Bibi Kaulan died at Kartarpur in 1630 A.D.

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Mai Bhago
Mai Bhago was a staunch Sikh by birth and upbringing. When a group of 40 Sikhs, led by Mahan Singh Brar told Guru Gobind Singh Ji that they are not his Sikhs anymore. Guru Ji asked them to write it in a document and sign it. All forty Sikhs signed this document Bedava and left Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Mai Bhago was distressed to hear that some of the Sikhs of her neighbourhood who had gone to Anandpur to fight for Guru Gobind Singh Ji had deserted him under adverse conditions. Hearing her taunts, these Sikhs were ashamed at their deed and under the leadership of Mai Bhago went back.

Travelling day and night in the Jungles of Malva region, imperial Mughal forces were in constant pursuit of Guru Ji. Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached village of Khidrana, when Mai Bhago and the men she was leading stopped near the pool of Khidrana. They fought the pursuing mughal forces furiously forcing them to retreat. All forty Sikhs attained martyrdom in this pitched battle, in which Guru himself was supporting them with a shower of arrows from a nearby high ground. Mai Bhago and Guru Gobind Singh Ji were the sole survivors of this fiercely fought battle.

Mahan Singh, who had been seriously wounded, also died as the Guru took him into his lap. Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed those forty dead as the Forty Liberated Ones. He took Mai Bhago into his care who had also suffered injury in the battle. She then stayed on with Guru Gobind Singh as one of his bodyguards.

There is a Gurdwara built in her memory near the main Gurdwara Sachkhand at Nanded. Her spear is still preserved at the Gurdwara along with the arms of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. She was a symbol of bravery and courage. Her life story and skill in organization against odds will always be a milestone in Sikh history. Her example inspired many brave Sikh ladies to face death with honour.

Rani Jindian
Rani Jind Kaur the mother of Dalip Singh, the ruler of Lahore kingdom, was the brain behind the rising of 1848-49 against the British authorities. She was known for her intelligence and intrepid spirit, Jindan was one of the few persons who was intensely disliked and also feared by the British.
Rani Jindan played a conspicuous role in the Punjab politics after her son's elevation to the throne of Lahore kingdom. The British entered into a treaty with the Lahore kingdom in December 1846 which made them the virtual masters of the Punjab. They had not only excluded the Rani from participating in the negotiations which led to the signing of the treaty but also of all share in the government of the Lahore Kingdom. She was removed from the Regency Council, which was to conduct the administration during the minority of Maharaja Dalip Singh.
She became the symbol of the sovereignty of the Khalsa ruling the Punjab in the name of her son. She reviewed the troops and addressed them, held court and transacted,in public, State business. She reconstituted the supreme Khalsa Council by giving representation to the principal sardars and restored a working balance between the army panchayats and the civil administration.
The Queen had become a symbol of national dignity. She continued to urge the freedom fighters back in the Punjab to continue the struggle dauntlessly. Through her trusted band of servants, she continued to send letters and messages to the chiefs of the rebellion. The Government of India confiscated all her jewels and other property at Benaras and allowed her to stay in Nepal on a monthly pension of one thousand rupees.
In Nepal, Rani Jindan, carried through her secret plans for the expulsion of the British from the Punjab. She wrote letters to influential people both inside and outside Punjab to rise once again against the British. In the rising of 1857, she found a fresh opportunity to stimulate a rising in the Punjab. But her efforts were again rendered futile by the vigilance of the British.
Disillusioned, her health shattered and almost blind she went to England to stay with her son Maharaj Dalip Singh. Rani resided in a separate house in England till her death in 1863. As per Rani's last wishes, Dalip Singh brought her body back for cremation to India, but was disallowed by the British to perform the last rites in Punjab. He therefore cremated her body at Nasik and returned to England.

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