Lohgarh Fort- Sikh State Capital (1710-1716), established by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, is spread in almost 7000 acres which is situated in the old state of Nahan, now in District Yamuna Nagar of Haryana and District Sirmour of Himanchal Pradesh. The Fort area is presently falls in revenue estates of Lohgarh, Haripur, Jhil, Mehtawali, Palori, Sukron, Maharonwala which all exist in Himachal Pardesh now whereas Bhagwanpur Nathori, Dhanoura, Nagli and Mohenderpur revenue estates exist in Haryana State. The circumference of this Fort is about about 50 kms. Lohgarh fort was constructed by the people of India i.e. by the Sikh inhabitant of India who reside near the vicinity of this area built Lohgarh fort. This is the largest fort highly defensive of the world comprising 200 hills on which different ramparts are made at each of the top of 200 hills. This makes Lohgarh –fort as the largest fortification of the world, constructed so far.

Bahadur Shah the Mughal emperor himself reached Lohgarh in 1710 to free this fort from the hand of Sikh army. After reaching this place he understood the gravity of the situation i.e. the defensibility and invincibility of the fort he was compelled to move back Lahore without capturing it. Now the fear of collapse of vast Mughal Empire hovered in his mind as a result of which depression caused to him due to which he became insane and

died after some time.

Archaeological structures related to Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara present now at Lohgarh site indicates that he (Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara 1624-1695) had contributed a lot for the construction of fort. On 28^th March 1624, a Sikh smelan was held at ‘Guru-Da-Chakk’ where a large gathering of Sikh were present. This smelan was also attended by rulers of Bilaspur (Raja Kalyan Chand 1619-1649), Raja of Handour (Dharam Chand 1619-1701), Raja of Garwal (Pirthi Chand 1619-1662), Raja of Nahan (Karam Chand 1619-1630). All of these rulers were released from Gwalior prison in 1619 alongwith Sixth Guru Har Gobind Sahib by Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Kalyan Chand the ruler of Bilaspur requested Guru Sahib to establish his headquarter in his territory for this he made an offer of piece of land as a free gift to Guru Sahib. The Guru Sahib already was interested in strategic defense site in hilly area to combat with Mughal but he (Guru Sahib) was not ready to accept a piece of land as a free gift. He (Guru Sahib) paid the price of piece of land to Bilaspur ruler although he insisted not to accepted. Guru Sahib toured the area around Satluj river and selected some territory of the villages of Kalyanpur, Bhatoli and Jiowal. Similarly for establishing different forts in the area of Handur and Garwal pieces of land were identified and acquired. Similarly Lohgarh site area was also identified for high level fortification which falls in the revenue state of erstwhile Nahan where Dabar hills were existing. Prices of all three sites of lands was paid by both Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara and Baba Makhan Shah Labana on the behalf of Guru Sahib. For the inhabitation of Banjara Sikhs, he (Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara) ,also purchased number of pieces of land around Lohgarh fort area in Dabar hill which falls near the proximity of town Sadhaura, Lohgarh and Khizrabad. He established 52 villages for the settlement for Sikhs in the vicinity of Lohgarh and later on these villages were given the shape of Garhi(small forts). Kafi Khan has mentioned 52 defense post of Lohgarh and these were villages which were fortified for the defense of the Hill Fort Lohgarh.

Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara was not only a rich and great trader but also a clever strategist and a warrior. He established many cottage industries in the pargana of Khizrabad (now in district Yamuna Nagar) in the foot of the Dabar hills (Shivalik Hills). This area was having uneven land with thick thorny jungle with number of seasonal rivulets flows through the area water discharge of which falls in the Yamuna and Markanda river. In 17^th and 18^th century very small area in the adjacency of Lohgarh was cultivable. Therefore no income were generated here. Mughal mansabdars had no interest in this barren land. Scarcity of population in the proximity of Lohgarh and due to its tough terrain made the condition suitable for the Sikh Tanda Banjaras to settle near the Lohgarh for accomplishing the task of secret mission of construction of fort. For employment generation purposes cottage industries pertaining to various activities alongwith weapon industries were establish in the revenue estate of village Vansantoor. Sikh Tandas brought here iron and copper ores from Orissa mines. Damascened steel swords were fabricated here. Ironsmiths first heated bars of steeled iron to a red hot state in crucible heated furnish with constant working of the bellow then hammered it heavily to shape it into thin bars. These thin bars were then moulded into a  sword shape which thereafter put under roller wheel to sharpen the sword’s edges. After these fabricated swords were tempered in the vinegar solution kept at a different temperature to make it tough and non brittle. Canons and Muskets were also fabricated here, in anticipation  to meet the requirements of Sikh army. However initially these weapons were sold to the Mughal army, for raising funds to be used  for the construction of fort.

Revolutionary movement of Right to Equality, was started by the saints of Bhagati Movement (Bhagat Ravi Dass ji, Bhagat Kabir ji, Baba Farid, Bhagat Namdev ji etc) and all the 10 Guru Sahibans. This right to equality movement was executed in such a fashion by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur that it became world’s largest revolution even larger and earlier than the French Revolution. It is very unfortunate that these facts has never been highlighted in Indian and World history.

Gurumat tradition against the varna system of caste was now challenged with full authority and depressed and oppressed were given equal opportunity to prove their capabilities. In Sikh rule of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur this war became the first war of independence not only from the foreign rule but also from indiscrimination of caste system prevailing in Indian society. The basic cause of disunity and disintegration in India purely the outcome of caste system. Most of the other rulers who fought against the Mughals, failed, due to lack of co-ordination in Indian society because of caste system.  Baba Banda Singh Bahadur united Indian society by recruiting all people especially form all caste who were poor and down-trodden. As a result of which the strongest empire of the world of seventeen century was uprooted by general public.

In all the paragnahs occupied by the Sikhs, “says lrvine, “the reversal of the previous customs was striking and complete. A low scavenger or leather dresser, the lowest of the low of Indian estimation had only to leave home and joined to Banda Singh Bahadur, In a short time he would return to his birth-place as its ruler with his order of appointment in his land. As soon as he set foot within his native land special escort lead him to his home.  The men who received him on his way to his home as escort stood before him with joined palms, awaiting his orders to be implemented  not a even a single soul dared to disobey an order, so Mughal men who had faced them  in battle-fields, became so cowed down that they were afraid even to remonstrate.

Banda Singh Bahadur was enemy of cruel ruler, chieftains and landlord who treated general public as slave. By starting currency in the name of guru Nanak and Guru Gobind, he won successful war of freedom from slavery of Punjab from Mughal rule. He abolished the Zamindari system of land prevailing under the Mughals and declared the actual cultivators as owners of land.

Banda Singh Bahadur took upon himself the duty of serving the people and protecting the weak and helpless. He meant to tell the people at large that welfare state of their dreams had been established to the exclusion of the tyrannical government of the Mughal governors. He tacitly meant to convey to them that unjest officials have been substituted by the just deserving and competent. He wanted to make them alive to the consciousness created in the masses for their rights and awaken them to strong sense of resistance and defiance to oppression.

Thus he was not only a great warrior but also an able administrator. He dismissed Muslim officers because they had become very cruel and corrupt. In their place, able Hindus, Sikhs appointed who h ad ever become the victims of the tyranny of the Mughals. He had great compassion for the administration and gave them right to equality. This awakened in them a new sense of self-confidence. He was known for his impartial and prompts justice. While dispensing justice he never discriminated between the high and low. He always respected women, even though they belonged to the enemy camp. He had given orders to his soldiers not to molest women and gave them full respect.

Banda Bahadur followed the footsteps of Guru Sahibans and gave complete freedom of expression to his subject in his polity though he was born and brought up in Sikh faith. But he did not proclaimed Sikhism as the religion of the state. He did not make any conscious efforts to propagate it. His broad religious outlook was reflected in his according due respect to all religions. He was known for religious tolerance, social harmony, justice and equality. He gave grants irrespective of religion and caste.

In his administrative jobs there was no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and religion. Beside the Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus were also given equal opportunities. He allowed men from religion other than their own to rise to commanding positions of authority. So in his state, he gave right of religion and equality to all people without any discrimination. In the Khalsa kingdom the ideals and duties of the ruler were to serve the people selflessly. He holds steadfastly to the values of justice, quality, freedom and human dignity through action and deeds. Thus the Sikhs established their rule in the name of Guru Nanak in 18^th century in northern India.

The Khalsa flag was hoisted on the ramparts of Lohgarh fort and a coin was struck in the name of Guru Nanak – Guru Gobind Singh to commemorate the setting up of first Khalsa Raj in North India .Baba Banda Singh Bahadur established a mint a Lohgarh and issued first Khalsa Raj Coins . Sikh coins like coins anywhere else were both a commercial necessity and a symbol of sovereignty. Coin, derived from the Latin cuneus, a wedge, through Old French coing and cuigne, “is properly the term for a wedge  shaped die used for stamping money and so transferred to the money so stamped : hence a piece of money.” The Punjabi word for coin, sikka, is borrowed from Persian where it means both “a die for coining” and “rule, law, regulation” (implying sovereignty). Traditionally, coins struck under the orders of various sovereigns had embossed or inscribed on them the name and/or bust of the ruler and the year of that ruler`s reign.

On the contrast the first Sikh coins issued by Baba Banda Singh Badadur were dedicated to all Sikh Gurus from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh. For every Sikh the coins were not only a symbol of sovereignty of their rulers but also of their Gurus.

Coins have been crucial in deciphering history .Back side of coin , a word ‘Takht’ is incripted. In Sikhism its refect seat of power. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur calls it as Khalsa–Takht. Guru Har Gobind sahib established Akal –Takht, at Amritsar and after that nominee of Guru Gobind Singh Sahab , calls Lohgarh as Kalsa Takht and inscripted it  in on the first  Khalsa Raj coin .The involvement of Sikh Gurus in construction of Lohgarh as discussed earlier and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, after establishing Sikh Raj from Yamuna to sutlej , declared it as Khalsa Raj Capital and further declared it Khalsa Takht.

Weapon industries & Sikh Armories were establish in the revenue estate of village Vansantoor & Shahjadwala ,pargana Khizrabad , Sakar Sarhind, Suba Delhi(presently in District YamuanaNagar). Sikh Tandas brought here iron and copper ores from Orissa mines. Damascened steel swords were fabricated here by Siklighars. Sikligars Sikhs were the lohars (ironsmiths/blacksmiths) who once specialized in the craft of making and polishing weapons. Kirpal Kazak in his book, Sikligar Kabile Da Sabhyachar, says the history of the Sikligar tribe, in the context of Punjab, can be traced back to 1595-1644. That was the time when the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind, fought wars with the Mughals and espoused the concept of ‘Piri (spiritual) -Miri(temporal)’. As discussed above as per the new research , the construction of  Fort Lohgarh was started by Guru Har Gobind sahib. The story goes like this. The need for arms made Guru Hargobind look for artisans who could forge weapons. Kehar Singh was the first one to offer his services. Impressed with his skill, the guru ordered Kehar Singh to bring more Rajput ironsmiths, along with their families, from Marwar (now in Rajasthan) to Punjab. When Guru Sahib sent Bhai Jetha and Bhai Bidhi Chand to look for artisans, Bhai Kehar Singh Rajput was the first one to offer his services. Men brought by him made weapons that were used by the Sixth and Tenth Gurus in all their battles with the Mughals and the Pahari Rajas. In between, during the period of non-violence when the need for weapons waned their occupation was affected adversely. The residents of Chittaurgarh did not behave well with their forelorn brothers and so they returned to Marwar. Marital relationships were formed within the tribes and tradition of exchange also began due to the needs of the times.

These Marwar ironsmiths and their successive generations served Guru Hargobind and later Guru Gobind Singh. They were initiated into Sikhism. Impressed with their skill, Guru Gobind Singh named them Sikligar. The word Sikligar is derived from an Arabic word sikal which means an act of polishing weapons.

Some Sikligars associated with Guru Teg Bahadur also went with him to Assam and continued to supply weapons for royal armies. Their fate took a turn towards the positive when the Tenth Guru took over. He called upon his followers to bring weapons. Sikligars also contributed their mite. First of all came Bhai Veeru who provided the details of his brethern. The Guru asked him to exhibit weapons. He ordered Bhai Nand Singh and Bhai Chaupa Singh to check the exhibited weapons. Guru Sahib too paid a visit to the exhibition.

He would clean the weapons with much dedication. Once when he was cleaning a Tegh by putting it under his feet a group of Sikhs chided him, “Why are you touching the sacred weapon with feet?” They went away saying this but all Sikligars kept sitting with the weapons on their heads. When Guruji noticed this he asked Ram Singh the reason for the strange act. As Ram Singh told him (Guru) of the comments made chiding him and his companions, Guruji laughed and said, “Just as a sculptor makes a sculpture pressing it under his feet so that people may worship it, likewise you also cleaning the weapons with much dedication and honour. So you are excused from the ill effects of such actions. (Giani Gian Singh Twarikh Khalsa, part 3, p. 931).

Sikligars was bestowed on these men who fashioned iron by Guru Gobind Singh who turned Lohgarh (the Iron fort at Anandpur Sahib) into the Sikh Armory. The word is derived from the Persian – saqi/sakli, lit. polishing, furnishing, making bright (a sword), the term saqlgar means a polisher of swords. In medieval India, Sikligars were in great demand for manufacturing spears, swords, shields and arrows. What the world knows as Damascus steel, used in making some of the finest swords known to man, was manufactured by Sikhligars and shipped to Damacus as layered iron pellets.

Sikhligars first heated bars of steeled iron to a red hot state in crucible heated furnish with constant working of the bellow then hammered it heavily to shape it into thin bars. These thin bars were then moulded into a  sword shape which thereafter put under roller wheel to sharp the sword’s edges. After these fabricated swords were tempered in the vinegar solution kept at a different temperature to make it tough and non brittle. Canons and Muskets were also fabricated here, in anticipation  to meet the requirements of Sikh army. However initially these weapons were sold to the Mughal army, for raising funds to be used  for the construction of fort. They adopted the profession of manufacturers of arms and took it upon themselves to supply these to their fellow Sikhs in their fight for survival against their Mughal attackers. These Marwari ironsmiths (Sikligars) not only repaired and polished weapons, but also fought at the front against the Mughals, writes Kazak.

Sikligarhs along with Banajars  gave company to the Tenth Guru till Nanded and after the they fought at front with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.  They played a significant role in the battle of Lohgarh . After the execution of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Sikhs became leader less and could n’t defend the Logharh Fort against the Mughals .  Sikligars and Banajars , therefore left Lohgarh fort and moved to upper hills of Nahan. As per new survey there are ample amount of population of these sikh tribes in Nahan/ District Sirmour.

Coins have been crucial in deciphering history .Back side of coin , a word ‘Takht’ is incripted. In Sikhism its refect seat of power. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur calls it as Khalsa–Takht. Guru Har Gobind sahib established Akal –Takht, at Amritsar and after that nominee of Guru Gobind Singh Sahab , calls Lohgarh as Kalsa Takht and inscripted it  in on the first  Khalsa Raj coin .The involvement of Sikh Gurus in construction of Lohgarh as discussed earlier and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, after establishing Sikh Raj from Yamuna to sutlej , declared it as Khalsa Raj Capital and further declared it Khalsa Takht.

Unreported in history Battle of Lohgarh is largest and longest expedition made by the Mughals against any opponent in their regime of 500 years and after the battle of Lohgarh Mughal empire gradually decline.

The first news of the Sikh outbreak was brought to Bahadur Shah on the 2^nd Rabi II. 1122 (30^th May. 1710). When he was approaching Ajmer on his return march from the Daccen. A peace was forthwith patched up with the Rajputs and attention was turned to the new trouble. Some difference of opinion seems to have arisen between Bahadur Shah and Munim Khan, his Wazir. The emperor wished to make a rapid march with such troops as could keep up with him. Munim Khan, arguing that it would be derogatory to the emperor’s dignity thus to rush in haste to suppress an enemy that had never been heard of before, preferred a more deliberate advance. But the uprising of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, caused a major threat to Mughal Empire and this created panic  on the side of Emperor  Bahadur Shah and he ignored the advise of Munim Khan.

On the 28^th of August 1710, in the court of Bahadur Shah, a news reader read out a letter, saying: “What to talk about the secret treasures of Sarhind, the bankers have looted that no money has come even from Doaba.  It is only the Khalsa which collects the money and cart-loads of this money          are being carried to Dabar (Lohgarh) which they have                                 established as their capital. On one day, they took (wealth in) three  hundred carts. Up to Lahore there is none who can stop them.”

The scenario in the Punjab was very frightening for the Mughal and Afghan elite; five provinces of the Mughal Empire had been captured by the Sikhs; from Delhi to Lahore, it was all Sikh supremacy; the hills too had accepted the Sikhs suzerainty. Mohammad Hashim Khafi Khan (in Muntakhab-ul-Lubab) narrates the situation:

“Here, between a couple of encampments before the capital Shahjahanbad (Delhi) and there up to Lahore territory, all the towns and prominent cities had been plundered and crushed under the feet of the unholy Sikhs. The world (zone) had been destroyed by the onslaught of the Kafirs (Sikhs) and innumerable number of people (Muslims) had embraced ‘martyrdom’ (died). Most destroyed were the towns of Sadhaura and Karnal as well as villages  around them, where their army chiefs along with innumerable number of Muslim companions had drunk nector of martyrdom (had died).” 
                After making unpleasant settlements with Rajisthani’s Rajput Rajas, the Emperor after returning from Deccan, moved towards Lohgarh without visiting Delhi and he also order that no Mughal army personal shall visit Delhi, before the battle of Lohgarh. Emperor was so frightened of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, that he took many precautionary measure, such as or Hindu’s employed in the imperial offices to shave off their beards.

On 10 November 1710, Emperor reach Lohgarh with mammoth Mughal army of 5 lacs, to face the brave and determined Sikh army. As per Mohammed Kasim Aurangabadi the Sikh army was more than 1.5 lacs.

Coins have been crucial in deciphering history .Back side of coin , a word ‘Takht’ is incripted. In Sikhism its refect seat of power. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur calls it as Khalsa–Takht. Guru Har Gobind sahib established Akal –Takht, at Amritsar and after that nominee of Guru Gobind Singh Sahab , calls Lohgarh as Kalsa Takht and inscripted it  in on the first  Khalsa Raj coin .The involvement of Sikh Gurus in construction of Lohgarh as discussed earlier and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, after establishing Sikh Raj from Yamuna to sutlej , declared it as Khalsa Raj Capital and further declared it Khalsa Takht.