Literally meaning the Epistle of Victory, Zafarnama was penned as a letter by Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji reprimanding Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. To understand the relevance of this letter, let's revisit the charismatic life journey of the tenth Guru of Sikhism Shri Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Gobind brought to Sikhism a fierce military order and self-belief previously unheard of. Under his command, Khalsa stood up to the tyranny of Mughals and their hillside overlords. Guruji fought 14 battles in his life after he was handed over the holy duty to lead Sikhism when his father was beheaded by Aurangzeb by deception. In his struggle against oppression, he had to endure the sacrifices of countless close followers and all four of his sons. The year 1704 was perhaps the most testing for his faith and ideals. In 1704, during the prolonged siege of Anandpur Sahib, Sikh army resisted and even managed to injure the Mughal commander. Shrewd Aurangzeb then ordered his general Wazir Khan to strike peace negotiations and buy some time. He offered safe passage for the remaining Sikh survivors. Written promises were made over the holy Qur'an. But once stepped out of Anandpur Sahib in a couple of batches, Mughals attacked them again on their way. Guruji and his troops fought valiantly at Sirsa, but his two younger sons were captured along with his mother Mata Gujri. Both the sons aged 8 and 5 were buried alive in a wall with their heads held high when they refused to bow them. Mata Gujri collapsed seeing her grandsons die as well. Guru Gobind didn't deter though as he made a last stand at the legendary Battle of Chamkaur. Crossing river Sirsa had depleted his army gravely due to freezing cold water and floods. The trailing Mughal army soon encircled the remaining 40 of them. Different historical accounts mention somewhere between 10 thousand to 10 lakhs (does it really matter?) of Mughal-Rajpoot coalition charging versus these 40 brave Sikhs.
सवा लाख से एक लड़ाऊं, तव गोविंदसिंह नाम कहाऊं This battle cry from Guru Gobind Singh ensured such fierce response that the Mughal army was taken aback. This moment is arguably the most glorious one from a rich and proud Sikh history. With supreme sacrifices made and valour displayed that night, Guru Gobind was safely escorted out of Mughal army's reach in a disguise. Once he reached Dina, he wrote a scathing letter to Aurangzeb holding him responsible for his lies and deceits. That letter was met with a seemingly sincere offer from Aurangzeb to come meet him and discuss these grievances (of which he claimed ignorance) in person. Guru Teg-bahadur, his father was assassinated on the similar pretext already. So Guru Gobind Singh wrote a second letter, this time in an exquisite Persian language. The retold and translated version of it has 111 verses available now and you can go through its magnificent English translation over internet. Guru Gobind Singh claimed in this letter a moral victory in this battle and rebuked the Mughal emperor for his utter lack of morality. He reprimanded him for the false promises bringing dishonour to the holy Qur'an. He mocked the large Mughal army poetically for failing to capture him and swore an oath that this battle had only strengthened Khalsa as it breathed a new life into their eternal fight against tyranny.
At the same time, he showed his statesmanship and praised Aurangzeb for his personal virtues like pious living and excellent horsemanship in 6 verses. In total 34 verses, Guru Gobind praised God and exhibited his fine command over the Persian language, as smooth as his skilled swordsmanship. In 32 verses he tactfully denied Aurangzeb's proposal and counter offered him to come and meet him, with a TRUE promise of no harm under his protection. He even appealed to his whatever leftover humanity as an elder veer (brother, warrior) to join him in righting the wrongs made in history.
Aurangzeb was a weak 91-year-old man by now. Once he read this letter, he was impressed by the intellect and articulation of his enemy. His eyes (as it is claimed) filled with remorse and guilt. And he requested even more sincerely to Guru Gobind only to visit due to his poor age. Even sent a royal messneger this time to pursuade him.
This letter shows what it takes to be a mass leader and conscious keeper of a faith. How to keep one's personal biases out between a person and a post! How to protect and fight in battle with an axe or sword, but also how to make deeper wounds by a pen. Bravery is not just in sacrificing life for a cause, it takes even more courage to speak up with a purpose and appeal to an enemy's heart. And in such efforts, these wordsmiths leave behind something that inspires the future generations- a chronicle of victory, ie, Zafarnama.
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