From 1713 to 1753 A.D., Punjab was ruled by four Mughal governors — Abdus Samad Khan, Zakariya Khan, Yahiya Khan, and Mir Mannu. This time is remembered as the dark period of Sikh history.
During these forty years, the Sikhs faced severe cruelty from both the Mughals and the Afghans. Rewards were announced for killing Sikhs, and many were arrested daily, tortured, and executed in Lahore. To survive, Sikhs had to leave their homes and hide in forests and hills, where life was extremely harsh.
Yet, despite these hardships, the Sikhs remained strong and unshaken. The martyrdoms of brave leaders like Bhai Mani Singh Ji, Bhai Taru Singh Ji, and others gave new courage to the community. Through guerrilla warfare, they struck back at the Mughals and Afghans, never allowing them peace.
Among all governors, Mir Mannu was the most brutal, especially towards Sikh women and children. Still, despite endless sacrifices, the Sikhs kept their morale high and refused to give up their faith.
Abdus Samad Khan – Governor of Lahore (1713–1726)
In 1713 A.D., Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyar appointed Abdus Samad Khan as the Governor of Lahore. He was known as a strong warrior and strict general. His main duty was to crush the growing power of the Sikhs in Punjab.
Abdus Samad Khan ruled with a firm hand. In 1715 A.D., he fought the Battle of Gurdas Nangal against Banda Singh Bahadur. After a long siege, Banda Singh Bahadur and 740 Sikhs were captured.
On 9 June 1716 A.D., they were taken to Delhi and brutally executed. This was one of the darkest events in Sikh history. The emperor Farrukh Siyar was pleased with Abdus Samad Khan’s success and rewarded him with honours and titles.
Farrukh Siyar’s Edict (1716)
After the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur in 1716 A.D., Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyar issued a strict order to destroy Sikh power.
- Mughal officials were told to kill any Sikh they found, unless the Sikh agreed to convert to Islam.
- All Hindus were ordered to shave their heads and beards. Anyone who refused was treated as a Sikh and killed.
- People who gave shelter or help to Sikhs were also punished with death.
- On the other hand, anyone who gave information about Sikh movements or helped arrest them was promised rewards.
This edict gave Abdus Samad Khan the authority to carry out harsh actions against the Sikhs, making his rule one of the most feared in Punjab.
Steps Taken by Abdus Samad Khan Against the Sikhs
After Farrukh Siyar’s edict in 1716 A.D., Abdus Samad Khan began a strict campaign to weaken the Sikhs.
- Daily Arrests: Hundreds of Sikhs were caught every day and brought to Lahore.
- Forced Conversion: They were offered life if they accepted Islam, but most chose death instead.
- Cruel Executions: Those who refused were tortured and killed by executioners.
- Refuge in Forests: To escape, many Sikhs hid in the Lakhi jungles and Shivalik hills, facing hunger and hardships.
- Temporary Success: In the early years, this policy seemed effective, and Farrukh Siyar rewarded Abdus Samad Khan with the title “Sword of the State.”
Split Among the Sikhs
After the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur in 1716 A.D., the Sikh community became divided, which made them weaker against Mughal attacks.
- Two main groups emerged:
- Tat Khalsa – followers of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s teachings.
- Bandai Khalsa – followers who regarded Banda Singh Bahadur as their leader.
- Their differences showed in daily life:
- Tat Khalsa greeted each other with “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.”
- Bandai Khalsa greeted with “Fateh Darshan” and “Fateh Dharam.”
- Tat Khalsa wore blue robes, while Bandai Khalsa wore red robes.
Because of this split, the Sikhs could not stand united against the cruelties of Abdus Samad Khan, and their resistance weakened for a time.
Change in Circumstances (After 1720 A.D.)
After 1720 A.D., the situation began to shift in favour of the Sikhs.
- At the Mughal court, Farrukh Siyar was killed, and the empire became full of conspiracies and instability.
- Because of this political chaos, the central government could not focus properly on Punjab or the Sikhs.
- In Punjab, Abdus Samad Khan was busy dealing with revolts by Isa Khan and Hussain Khan, which reduced his pressure on the Sikhs.
- In 1721 A.D., with the guidance of Bhai Mani Singh Ji, a compromise was made between the two Sikh groups — Tat Khalsa and Bandai Khalsa — during the festival of Baisakhi at Amritsar.
- As a result, Bandai Khalsa merged into Tat Khalsa, and the Sikhs became united once again.
Activities of the Sikhs
After Tat Khalsa and Bandai Khalsa united in 1721 A.D., the Sikhs became stronger and more active.
- They formed Jathas — fighting groups of about 100 Sikhs each.
- These Jathas began raiding Mughal provinces and punishing those Hindus and Muslims who had betrayed Sikh families by handing them over to the Mughals.
- To stop them, Abdus Samad Khan sent a force under Aslam Khan to Amritsar.
- He was supported by Chaudhary Dev of Patti and his Diwan Har Sahai.
- The Sikhs launched a surprise attack, defeating the Mughal forces.
- In this battle, Har Sahai was killed, while Aslam Khan and Dev fled for their lives.
Failure of Abdus Samad Khan (1726 A.D.)
Despite his strict rule and many campaigns, Abdus Samad Khan could not crush the Sikhs completely.
- Old Age: By the mid‑1720s, he had grown old and lost the energy and enthusiasm he once had.
- Sikh Unity: The Sikhs had regained strength by uniting under one banner, which made them more effective in resisting his cruelty.
- Court Conspiracies: Mughal nobles plotted against him, weakening his position at the royal court.
Because of these reasons, Abdus Samad Khan was dismissed from his office in 1726 A.D. His failure marked the end of his harsh rule and showed that the Sikhs could not be destroyed despite years of persecution.
