Binod Singh

Binod Singh, (died 1716 or 1721) a Trehan Khatri and a descendant of Guru Angad, was an army man and disciple of Guru Gobind Singh and was among few Sikhs who accompanied him to Nanded in 1706. In Budha Dal Chronicles, Guru Gobind Singh made Baba Binod Singh the head of the Khalsa .

Early life

Nothing is known of his early life, not even his year of birth. After Guru Gobind Singh died, Binod Singh became the principle ustad (teacher) of Shastar Vidya.

Alliance with Banda Singh Bahadur

Regarding Binod Singh, Kahn Singh Nabha states in Mahankosh:

He was one of the five companions of Banda Bahadur (1670-1716) sent by the Guru in 1708 from Nanded to the Punjab to punish Wazir Khan, Nawab of Sirhind. This Panj Piare quintet, in-which Binod Singh was a member of, was instructed to accompany Banda Singh Bahadur northwards from the Deccan on the mission he had been assigned by the Guru. The Panj Piare quintet was reinforced with a group of 20 Sikhs, they would all join Banda Singh on his military expedition. Binod Singh was Banda Singh's ally in the campaign he launched upon arrival in the Punjab.

Binod Singh commanded the left wing of Khalsa Army in the Battle of Chappar Chiri fought in May 1710. After conquest of the province of Sirhind, the frontier district of Karnal, bordering on Delhi territory, was entrusted to Binod Singh. Soon thereafter, in October 1710, Binod Singh fought 4 battles at Tarori, second at Amin, 25 km north of Karnal, third at Thanesar, 8 km farther north, and the fourth at Shahabad, 22 km north of Thanesar.

Differences with Banda Bahadur

Baba Binod Singh did not agree to some of the innovations of Banda Singh Bahadur. As ordered by a Hukamnama by Mata Sundri, Binod Singh left Banda Bahadur with other Sikhs in October 1714 and declared themselves as Tatt Khalsa and followers of Banda were called Bandai Khalsa. After Binod Singh and other Sikhs left, Banda Bahadur was captured and prosecuted in Delhi.

Binod Singh came to Goindwal after dispute with Banda Bahadur at Gurdas Nanagal.

Binod Singh then stayed at Amritsar for a bit but after found employment with the Mughals and accompanied the Mughals when they besieged Banda Singh Bahadur's forces at Gurdas Nangal. However, Binod Singh did not wish to fight his co-religionists and tried to leave but the Mughals did not allow this to happen so they tried to eliminate Binod Singh and the retinue of a few thousand of Sikhs that accompanied him.

Death

According to Khafi Khan, three to four thousand of his men were killed. Binod Singh is believed to have lost his life in this massacre in 1716. Other sources state Binod Singh was killed in a later clash with Mughal forces in 1721.

Battles fought by Baba Binod Singh

• Battle of Sonipat
• Battle of Ambala
• Battle of Samana
• Battle of Sadhaura
• Battle of Chappar Chiri
• Battle of Rahon (1710)
• Battle of Kapuri
• Battle of Jammu
• Battle of Jalalabad (1710)
• Battle of Thanesar (1710)
• Battle of Lohgarh
• Battle of Gurdas Nangal or Siege of Gurdaspur

References