Lehal Library

7. Persecution of the Sikhs and the Reorganization of the Khalsa Army T he disintegration of the Mughal Empire was caused by man~ factors, of which the two most imponant were the rise of the Marathas and the Sikhs. 1 What Sivaji did in central India, Banda achieved a little later and in a more spectacular manner in the Pu1tjab. Their success encouraged the Rohillas, Rajputs, andjats. It also encouraged the Satraps in Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and the Deccan to elevate their status from one of viceroyaJty to kingship. In the Punjab, the governor, Abdus Samad Khan, continued to pay lip service to the Emperor as long as it suited him. But it was both in his interests as well as of the imperial government to put down the Sikhs, who had become the spearhead of the agrarian revolt. Consequently measures against them were intensified. The execution of Banda and seven hundred men in Delhi was followed by a vigorous campaign in the Punjab. A garrison was cantoned in Amritsar and an edict was issued by the Emperono apprehend the Khalsa wherever found and, if they resisted, to kill them. 2 Since the Khalsa were easily identifiable 1 The basic cause of disruption was of course the bigotry and repression of non-Muslims started by Emperor Aurangzeb. He realized the folly of trying to rule by tyranny and prophesied that after him only turmoil would remain-a.t mli a.rt llllmil Jasfld biiq,. (Edwardes and Garrett, Mughal Ru!., in India, p. 155.) 2 Forster, Trav,Lf.. 1, 271.