Situation was ‘tense and nearing breaking point’, General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) says in his memoir, recounting the stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh, and the events of end-August 2020

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The Agnipath scheme, launched in June 2022 for the recruitment of soldiers, sailors and airmen for a four-year period, had surprised the Indian Army, while it was a “bolt out of the blue” for the Navy and Air Force, former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane writes in his upcoming memoir, Four Stars of Destiny.

“We in the army were taken by surprise by this turn of events, but for the navy and air force, it came like a bolt from the blue,” Gen. Naravane writes, stating that it took him some time to explain to the Navy and Air Force chiefs that the initial proposal he had made in 2020 — a model titled ‘Tour of Duty’ which eventually became the changed format of the Agnipath scheme — had only been for recruitment in a limited manner for the Army, and that he had been equally surprised by its unexpected broader implementation.

“Having become a tri-service matter, it now fell on Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat to take the proposal forward, albeit with the Army remaining the lead service,” Gen. Naravane writes in the advance copy of the book, which was reviewed by the news agency, the Press Trust of India (PTI).about:blank

On June 14, 2022, the Union government announced the Agnipath scheme, terming it “transformative” for the recruitment of soldiers into the armed forces for four years, and doing away with the earlier process. In its first Agnipath intake, the Indian Army inducted 40,000 Agniveers in two batches — the first batch in the first half of December, 2022, and the second batch in the first half of February, 2023. On the completion of four years, 25% of Agniveers may join the regular cadre after their selection through another recruitment process.

While stating that the first year’s starting salary for Agniveer recruits was initially an all-inclusive ₹20,000 per month, Gen. Naravane writes: “This was just not acceptable. Here, we were talking about a trained soldier who was expected to lay down his life for the country. Surely a soldier could not be compared with a daily-wage labourer? Based on our very strong recommendations, this was later raised to ₹30,000 per month.”

The book also details the behind-the-scenes events at the height of the stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh in 2020. The Defence Minister told him, ‘Jo ucchit samjho woh karo’ (do whatever you deem appropriate) on the night of August 31, terming the situation as “nearing breaking point” as both sides had moved tanks near Rechin La on the south bank of Pangong Tso, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Gen. Naravane says in the book.

He notes the flurry of phone calls between the Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister, the National Security Advisor, and the Chief of Defence Staff as the situation unfolded that night. “I conveyed the criticality of the situation to the RM (Raksha Mantri), who said he would get back to me, which he did, by about 2230 hours,” Gen. Naravane writes.

“I was in my den at Army House, with the map of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on one wall, Eastern Command on another. They were unmarked maps, but as I looked at them, I could visualise the location of each and every unit and formation. We were ready in all respects, but did I really want to start a war?” he writes, elaborating on his thoughts as the two nuclear-armed neighbours faced their biggest crisis in decades following the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) ingress into areas held by India.

“The country was in bad shape, reeling under the Covid pandemic. The economy was faltering, global supply chains had broken down. Would we be able to ensure a steady supply of spares, etc., under these conditions, in case of a long-drawn-out action?” Gen. Naravane writes. “Who were our supporters in the global arena, and what about the collusive threat from China and Pakistan? A hundred different thoughts flashed through my mind.”

“This was no war game being played in a sand model room of the Army War College, but a life and death situation,” Gen. Naravane writes, and after a few moments of reflection, he called up the then Northern Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Y. K. Joshi. “’We cannot be the first ones to fire,’ I told him, as it would provide the Chinese with an excuse, a casus belli, to escalate and paint us as the aggressors. Even at Mukhpari (on the Kailash Range) the previous day, it had been the PLA who had fired first (being only two rounds by the PLA and three rounds by us, it had escaped the attention of the media),” the former Army chief recounts.

“Instead, I told him to move a troop of our tanks right to the forward slopes of the Pass and depress their guns so that the PLA would be staring down the barrels of our guns,” he writes. “This was done forthwith and the PLA tanks, which had by then reached within a few hundred metres of the top, stopped in their tracks.”

“Their light tanks would have been no match for our medium tanks. It was a game of bluff and the PLA blinked first,” Gen. Naravane writes, noting that the PLA moved troops from Moldo to the area of Chuti Changla towards the south bank of Pangong Tso on the intervening night of August 29-30. “The PLA reaction was not long in coming. On the 30th evening itself, they moved forward some troops in the area of the Kailash Range, stopping about 500 metres short of our locations and started digging in.”

He adds that PLA locations were at lower heights and directly under Indian observation. “As such, they were of no threat to us, but if they were to come up in strength and try to outflank or surround our localities, then we would have to take action. The situation was tense and nearing breaking point,” Gen. Naravane writes. He further recounts the series of events on August 31, which saw moves and counter-moves by both sides.

Gen. Naravane was the Army chief from December 31, 2019 to April 30, 2022.

6 min read Updated: 20 Dec 2023, 07:30 AM IST

Former army chief General MM Naravane said that India’s military recruitment policy, ‘Agnipath’ put the armed forces in surprise.

As reported by PTI, General Naravane in his memoir ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ elaborates on the birth of the ‘Agnipath’ recruitment scheme, considered India’s most radical military recruitment policy.PROMOTEDLife cover of  

Shortly after assuming the role of Army Chief, General MM Naravane discussed the ‘Tour of Duty’ scheme with the prime minister in a meeting in early 2020. Originally proposed for the Army and involving short-term soldier tenures, the scheme’s scope was later expanded to encompass all three services when the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) introduced a broader formulation months later, the report said.

Also Read: Agnipath is only one pillar of a grand goalabout:blank

General MM Naravane, the 28th Army Chief from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022, mentioned that during his tenure, discussions took place regarding different models of the ‘Tour of Duty’ scheme.

Initially, the Army’s perspective was that 75 per cent of the recruited personnel could be retained, while the remaining 25 per cent should be released.

In June 2022, the government introduced the Agnipath recruitment scheme, focusing on the short-term enlistment of individuals to lower the age demographic of the three services. The initiative allows for the recruitment of individuals aged between 17.5 and 21 for four years, with the option to retain 25 per cent of them for an additional 15 years.

What does Naravane say in his book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’?

In his book published by Penguin Random House India, Naravane also remembered that the initial monthly salary for the recruits in the first year was set at only ₹20,000 (inclusive of all components), a figure he deemed as “unacceptable.”

Naravane said, “This was just not acceptable. Here, we were talking about a trained soldier, who was expected to lay down his life for the country. Surely a soldier could not be compared with a daily wage labourer?”

He stressed, “Based on our very strong recommendations, this was later raised to ₹30,000 per month.”

Also Read: Agnipath scheme: What benefits will Agniveers enjoy after 4 years of service? Centre explains

After the new formulation of the scheme, Gen Naravane said that the Army was “taken by surprise by this turn of events, but for the Navy and Air Force, it came like a bolt from the blue.”

“When I had first sounded out the PM about the Tour of Duty scheme, it was more on the lines of a short-service option at the soldier level, similar to the Short Service Commission scheme for officers that was already in vogue.”

“Just as a limited number of SSC officers are taken each year, likewise a limited number of jawans would be similarly enrolled and released after the completion of their ‘tour’ with the option of re-enlisting for another tour, if found to be fit,” he writes.

According to Naravane’s account, the subsequent months were relatively uneventful as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic became the primary focus, closely followed by the conflicts in Galwan in eastern Ladakh.

Also Read: Agnipath scheme: Govt releases fact sheet as protests erupt across country

“However, the prime minister’s office (PMO) was considering this proposal but with a much wider scope and applicability. In the PMO formulation, not only should the complete intake of the year be short-service based, but it would also apply to all three services,” he writes.

“Having become a tri-service matter, it now fell on the CDS, Gen Bipin Rawat, to take the proposal forward, albeit with the Army remaining the lead service.” He said adding, “We in the Army were taken by surprise by this turn of events, but for the Navy and Air Force, it came like a bolt from the blue.”

Naravane explains that he needed some time to clarify to the other Chiefs that his initial proposal had been specific to the Army and that he, too, was taken aback by these unforeseen developments.

Also Read: Agnipath is a game changer scheme for armed forces: Rajnath Singh

“And it took them some time to reconcile with the fact that they were very much part of the new proposal, dubbed the ‘Agnipath’ (Walk of fire) scheme by the PMO, with the soldiers, sailors and airmen recruited under this scheme to be known as ‘Agniveers’ (Fire Warriors),” he notes.

During the initial talks about ‘Agnipath,’ Naravane notes that the primary matter for consideration was the retention of inductees. The Army’s standpoint was in favour of a 75 per cent retention and 25 per cent release policy.

In contrast, the Department of Military Affairs suggested a 50-50 per cent split, and the proposed term was five years.\

Also Read: After BSF, ex-Agniveers will now get 10% reservation in CISF

PTI reported citing Naravane that this was the model that was presented by the CDS to a full panel comprising “the prime minister, ministers of home, defence and finance, the NSA, service chiefs, PS to the PM and the secretaries of the relevant departments in November 2020.”

“In fact, it was during this meeting that the terms ‘Agnipath’ and ‘Agniveer’ were used for the first time. Assuming an intake of 50,000 soldiers each year, then after each ‘tour’, 25,000 soldiers would revert to civil society,” he noted.

“It was felt that this was too little to bring about any significant change in the population since one of the aims of the scheme was to give back to society disciplined manpower, who would be in a position to contribute much more in the workplace due to the values and ethos they would have imbibed while in service.”

Also Read: Agnipath Scheme: Govt tweaks rules, here’s what has changed

Naravane explains that the percentages were subsequently inverted, leading to a decision to retain only 25 per cent and release 75 per cent. This development prompted a reevaluation of the plan, and the next point of discussion revolved around determining the procedures for retention.

“It was taken for granted that this would be like the SSC scheme, with the retention or release after the contracted period of five years. On this account, the PMO view was that there should be a two-step retention process; 50 per cent after three years and another 25 per cent after five years, effectively making it only 25 per cent retention,” he says.

‘Four Stars of Destiny’ will hit the stands next month.

“This was just not practical. Six to eight months would go into basic training and deployment, and the process for the selection of personnel to be released would also take about six months, meaning that any given jawan would be effective for just about two years,” he adds.

Also Read: Supreme Court dismisses pleas challenging Delhi HC judgment on Agnipath scheme

Naravane mentions that the deliberations continued for an extended period, highlighting a specific challenge faced by the Air Force. For them, the allocated three years proved insufficient to adequately train individuals in the technical skills essential for tasks such as repairs and routine operating and maintenance procedures for sophisticated platforms like aircraft.

“Ultimately, a middle path was agreed upon, a one-step retention after four years of service,” he says.

After the introduction of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, various regions in India experienced turbulent protests characterized by violence, as demonstrators called for its withdrawal due to the absence of a job guarantee for 75 per cent of the recruits in the new model

Trains were set on fire, railway tracks blocked and protests were witnessed on Thursday against the new military recruitment system. However, these protests gradually subsided within a few weeks.

Also Read: Agnipath Scheme faces backlash: Protests break out, trains burnt in UP and Bihar

“When India faces threats on two fronts, the uncalled-for Agnipath scheme reduces the operational effectiveness of our armed forces. The BJP govt must stop compromising the dignity, traditions, valour & discipline of our forces,” Rahul Gandhi had tweeted.

Bihar and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh saw protests over the recruitment process for railway jobs in January this year, underlining India’s persistent unemployment problem.

(With inputs from PTI)

Gp Capt JS Boparai (Retd)

SOON after the terror attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001, troops were rushed to the border. I was tasked with moving a mobile radar unit to a field location close to the border and making it operational as per the timeline. Packing technical equipment and administrative apparatus at an unbelievable speed, the unit personnel ensured that the convoy was on a dark, isolated and bumpy road at 3 am in the biting cold.

Hardly 20 to 30 km from our parent base, one of the Tatra trucks developed a snag. In the dark, it was difficult to locate the fault and undertake on-road rectification. Calling the parent base for assistance just an hour after departure was not a good idea; it could have invited both opprobrium and ridicule, sullying the reputation of the unit. Overcoming the dilemma, it was decided to try out a bizarre option — towing the huge vehicle with another loaded Tatra till daybreak. As luck would have it, the experiment worked and the convoy didn’t really fall behind schedule despite the unforeseen delay.

But the relief was short-lived. One of the MTDs (mechanical transport driver) was found running high fever, but he was unwilling to leave the wheel. The only other officer in the convoy, with less than two years of service, briefed me about the contingency. With no spare Tatra driver available, he volunteered to drive it himself, much to my consternation as well as admiration. Disregarding rules but floored by the josh of the young officer, I hesitatingly consented, nonetheless customarily advising him to be very careful.

The convoy moved ahead uneventfully. It was given right of way by civilian drivers, even as children waved or saluted. After covering around 400 km, we halted for dinner at a roadside dhaba. Around 70 of us had food; we then intended to move on quickly and reach our ‘op location’ as early as possible.

But the dhaba owner refused to accept payment for the meal. Perplexed, I asked him the reason for his generosity. I was taken aback by his reply in Gujarati, the translation of which went something like this: ‘Sir, you please move on… it is a very small gesture… Yours is a noble mission. But this time, don’t spare those scoundrels so that they don’t again dare to cast a bad eye on our motherland.’ All of us were left speechless and overwhelmed. This small but significant gesture electrified the entire convoy. It proved to be a source of inspiration and josh for us throughout our deployment, and remains so for me even today.

Parivar Vichora is a Gurdwara situated on the bank of the river Sirsa in India. This is where the 10th Guru of Sikh, Guru Gobind SIngh Ji’s, family got separated.

This Gurdwara Sahib signifies the tragic happenings that followed the evacuation of Anandpur Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh during the night of 5–6 December 1705 after agreement was reached between the Sikhs and the Mughal authorities. The Mughal army commander had promised to allow the Sikhs to leave the fort unharmed. On the morning of 6 December 1705, the Guru arrived at this place by the river Sirsa and decided to make a brief halt for the morning religious congregation. However, chaos soon ensued on religious grounds, and the Sikhs and Mughals engaged in battle. The Sikhs found that the Sirsa river was flooded and swollen by the monsoon rains.

Afterwards, Guru Gobind Singh divided his columns into two. While the part of the force was to engage against the enemy, the others were ordered to get across the river. The Guru followed by a small party of Sikhs, rode their horses into the swollen stream with swords in their hands. The Guru along with his four sons and 50 followers and ladies of the home reached the other bank. Many Sikhs died crossing the river. In the chaos two younger sons of the Guru along with their grandmother, got separated.

Though some Sikhs got safely across the river, Guru Gobind Singh’s family got split and were no longer together. There was no time to look for the missing as the army was close by. The Guru with his two elder sons and 40 Sikhs marched towards Chamkaur. Mata Sahib Kaur escorted by few Sikhs reached Delhi, while his aged mother and two younger sons were escorted by a servant Gangu to his village in Morinda. Later, Sant Baba Kartar Singh Ji Bhairomajre Wale divulged this place and initiated the kar-sewa.

At this holy spot Gurudwara Parivar Vichhora, was built by grateful devotees of the great Guru. It marks the place where the Guru’s family was separated from the main body of the Sikhs. The Gurdwara is on a hill top, and commands a panoramic view of the surrounding valley.

It is situated near the bank of river Sirsa in the village Majri, Rupnagar, Punjab 140114.^[1]

Tribune News Service

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, December 21

Terrorists’ financiers are not just transferring small amounts into bank accounts, dropping money with the help of drones, inflating invoices in export-import businesses and using hawala channels to fund terror activities, but are also leveraging the network of gangsters in Punjab and Kashmir.

These findings stem from the examination of several cases related to terror funding and the Khalistan movement, investigated by the Punjab Police following the dismantling of 41 terror modules in the past two years.

Donations in name of Jihad Fund

• Donations from people in West Asian and European countries and the US in the name of ‘Jihad Fund’
• Extortion from traders, contractors and affluent people in J&K and hawala (an informal remittance system)
• Funds sent by some Kashmiri businessmen dealing in carpets and handicrafts in Dubai, Mumbai and Delhi
• Zakat (Islamic tax), Haj tours, MBBS seat racket and trans-LoC trade

Promising political asylum

• Small amounts sent through banking system, MTTS and Western Union by terror groups in Canada, the UK and US
• Use of drones to drop money, inflated invoices in export-import businesses, hawala channels, gangster network and drug money
• Terror group members/shooters paid in cash while trader gets money through inflated invoices abroad
• Those caught for writing anti-India slogans and hoisting Khalistan flags confessed they were promised political asylum

Amritsar-Akhnoor sector

• Increased activity of drones in Amritsar-Akhnoor sector by Pakistan-based terrorist groups
• Traders joining hands to divert money for terror activities. Smuggling of opium, heroin and cocaine

A key focal point is Amritsar-Akhnoor sector, which has witnessed heightened drone activity by Pakistan-based terrorist groups. Recently, the Tarn Taran police had exposed hawala channels associated with the import-export business, which inflated invoices to fund drug smugglers and terrorists.

“We have found that terror groups, especially in Canada, the UK and the USA transfer money via the MTTS, an official banking and online transfer system, in addition to hawala. These entities send money in small amounts to the bank or through Western Union to avoid detection,” said a senior police official.

“The funds are meant to carry out targeted killings, influencing individuals about the Khalistan movement and supporting overground workers and sympathisers. Money is also allocated for raising slogans against India,” said the police official.

In a recent incident, the police arrested two individuals from Bathinda for writing anti-India slogans. The arrested individuals received Rs 1.25 lakh through Western Union.

Major attack bid foiled

On October 14, we arrested two members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba with IEDs and handgrenades in Amritsar. This was a major attempt by the terror group to disturb peace in Punjab. —Gaurav Yadav, DGP

Ultras rely on gangsters

In Kashmir, there’s ground support and some politicians are also involved in terror funding. However, in Punjab, due to the lack of ground support, terror groups rely on gangsters. —Dr Abhinav Pandya, Expert on terror funding

“On October 14, we arrested two members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba with IEDs and handgrenades in Amritsar. This was a major attempt by the terror group to disturb peace in Punjab,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav.

Moreover, extortion money collected by gangsters from industrialists and liquor and sand contractors is channelled to terror groups.

Dr Abhinav Pandya, author of a book, ‘Terror Financing in Kashmir’, said there were many parallels between terror funding in Kashmir and Punjab. He emphasised on the Kashmir to Khalistan (K2K) formula of Pakistan.

Amritsar sector in Punjab and Ahknoor sector in Jammu have witnessed increased terrorist and drug smuggling activities in recent years.

Dr Pandya pointed out that Pakistan’s Inter- Services Intelligence (ISI) and diaspora supporting the Khalistan movement work in tandem. He underscored the importance of constant funding, which sustains groups that manipulate young minds.

“In Kashmir, there’s ground support and some politicians are also involved in terror funding. However, in Punjab, due to the lack of ground support, terror groups rely on gangsters,” said Dr Pandya.

5 army personnel were killed and two others injured in a terrorist attack in the area on Thursday

PTI

Poonch/Jammu, December 22

Security forces on Friday launched a massive cordon and search operation in the forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, a day after five army personnel were killed and two others injured in a terrorist attack.

An official said aerial monitoring is also being conducted and sniffer dogs had been pressed into service to track down the terrorists who ambushed two Army vehicles in the area on Thursday afternoon.

“A massive cordon-and-search operation has begun on Friday morning after a night cordon in the area,” an officer told PTI.

He said additional troops had been inducted into area to track down the terrorists involved in the firing.

On Thursday, around 3.45 pm, the two army vehicles carrying personnel to the site of a cordon-and-search operation came under attack at a blind curve at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz under the jurisdiction of the Surankote police station, according to the officials.

The officer quoted above said the Dhera Ki Gali road had been closed for traffic. Top officials of army and police are monitoring the situation at the ground.

The terrorists, believed to be three to four in number, initially took position on hill tops and chose a blind curve to target the army vehicles.

After the attack, they reportedly mutilated the bodies of at least two soldiers and have taken weapons of some of them, officials say. The security officials say that investigation of the site is being carried out to know the pattern and use of weapons including steel core bullets in the ambush. 

Was addressing the inaugural of the 20th Subroto Mukerjee seminar organised by the think-tank Centre for Air Power Studies

Tribune News Service

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, December 22

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Friday said the landscape of international relations is shifting and traditional power structures are increasingly being challenged by new players and threat of global conflict looms large, fuelled by ideological divisions, resource scarcity and climate change.

These threats have created interconnected challenges like economic disparity and resource exploitation, ACM Chaudhari said.

He was addressing the inaugural of the 20th Subroto Mukerjee seminar organised by the think-tank Centre for Air Power Studies here.

The IAF chief referred as ‘Global South’ to the countries that were left out of the industrialisation era and were mostly at the receiving end of imperialism and colonial rule, saying India had played a proactive role in international fora to protect the Global South’s interests.

“As we navigate these uncharted skies, air power would undoubtedly play a pivotal role and also serve as a symbol of national strength. The IAF may easily act as a catalyst for progress, fostering strategic partnerships and contributing to the collective advancement of the Global South.

“Our engagements with the countries of the Global South have resonated across the board and allowed us to exchange best practices, improve interoperability and build trust. These engagements are crucial for tackling shared security challenges and ensuring regional stability.”

The IAF has increased the footprint of training and cooperation with these nations and the IAF conducts regular training programmes for these partner nations sharing best practices in the fields of operations and maintenance, ACM Chaudhari said.

He lauded the role played by the Indian Military Advisory Teams saying the courses offered through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme had paved the way for increased cooperation. Such programmes had focused on capacity building and human resource development, he said.

“Over the years, ITEC has trained more than 2 lakh officials in both civil and defence sectors.  The IAF has a long and proud tradition of training AF cadets from nations of this group. This exchange of knowledge and experience has broadened our stature and strengthened diplomatic ties and cooperation. In the past nine years, Indian Air Force alone has trained more than 5,000 foreign trainees from countries of the Global South,” he said.

Beyond long-term training, short-term curated courses on specific areas of expertise for target countries could be formulated and offered on a regular basis, he added.

“India’s growing indigenous defence capability has already opened the doors for partnerships and exports and in future establishing joint ventures with these nations can be mutually beneficial. This could involve co-development of components, sharing production facilities and creating regional maintenance and support hubs.

“Another area that we need to explore is joint research and development projects, defence innovation and technological exchange. The IAF can actively support initiatives that promote sustainable development in the Global South,” he added.

“We must identify contemporary security challenges faced by India and the Global South, and create fora for discussing terrorism, cyber threats, regional conflicts and other shared concerns to create collaborative defence strategies to mitigate these challenges. These fora could be in the form of bilateral or multilateral defence agreements for conduct of joint military exercises, intelligence-sharing and technology collaborations,” he concluded.

A Disaster

“If you wish to display love and devotion
Come to me ready to sacrifice yourself.”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib)Anandpur, the Guru’s town of bliss, was hard pressed by the Mughal armies but the Guru and the Sikhs were determined to hold on. After many months of siege the Mughal Commanders offered peace on condition that the Guru should leave Anandpur. The Guru knew fully well that the enemy could not be trusted. Many of the Sikhs thought that the peace plan and safe conduct offered to them should be given a trial. It was a testing time for them all. The Guru decided to test the enemy’s sincerity. He ordered live cartloads to move out of the town in the early morning. The enemy attacked them in spite of their promises of safe conduct. To their great surprise, the Mughal Commanders found only old rags, broken pots and old shoes in the carts.

After this the Mughal Commanders felt ashamed and sent apologies for what had happened. The Guru had proved his point to the Sikhs that the enemy was not trustworthy. He inspired them to continue their fight to ensure peaceful life in Anandpur. Then came a time, when forty Sikhs came to the Guru and said, “O Guru, we are fighting a losing battle. We are nearly starving. There is no food left and we have even eaten the leaves of the trees. The enemy is making it impossible to survive. How long can we go on like this? Why don’t we leave the fort and make peace with our powerful enemy?”

“My dear Sikhs,” said Guru Gobind Singh, “You are mistaken It’s a fight for principles. We can’t leave it half won or half lost. Wait patiently and the Khalsa is sure to win. I know that it is a long and tough struggle. But you must see it as I see it. It is a struggle against tyranny, oppression and injustice. It is essential if we are to establish religion securely. As your Guru I must show you the right way to end all evil. We all want goodness to triumph over evil. But such a victory does not come of its own accord. It has to be fought for and won with blood and sacrifices. Come what may, the Khalsa shall always be optimistic and win the war.”

The forty Sikhs refused to agree. They told the Guru that they were going to leave Anandpur at once. The Guru said, “Well, my friends, if you can’t stay any longer, write down your disclaimer (Bedawa) saying that from now on you are no longer my Sikhs.” The Sikhs misled by their instinct, wrote the denial, signed it and handed it over to the Guru. The next night the forty Sikhs left Anandpur in the darkness and hurried to their homes.

The Guru and the rest of the Sikhs held on, till the enemy was weary of this long and fruitless fight. At last the Mughal Commanders tried once more to reassure the Guru. They sent two Ambassadors, one a Hindu and the other a Muslim. The Muslim came with a copy of the Holy Quran, and the Hindu brought with him the image of a cow. They both promised perfectly safe conduct to the Guru if he decided to leave Anandpur. They also apologized for what had happened some months before, when the Mughal soldiers had attacked the five cartloads of rubbish.

Then an emissary brought a letter giving a promise of peace and conciliation from Emperor Aurangzeb. The letter read –

“I have sworn on the Holy Quran not to harm you. If I do, may I not find a place in God’s court. Stop fighting and come to me. If you are afraid of coming, leave Anandpur and let me know where I can come and see you in person. I am told that you are a holy man and I have every regard for holy men. Bear no malice towards the hill chiefs. They have assured me by swearing on their cows that they will never trick another fight with you and your Sikhs. I shall personally ask you to pardon their excesses against your.”

This time the Emperor seemed quite sincere. Hard pressed by the Sikhs and his family, Guru Gobind Singh decided to leave Anandpur. After due preparations, the Guru’s party moved out of the town and marched towards the plains of the Punjab. Next night they camped on the river Sirsa. Everything seemed all right. Everyone thought that the Mughal commanders would keep their word of honour. The Sikhs and the Guru, as usual, held the evening Diwan and said their prayers. As it grew dark, the Sikh guards sensed something wrong in the distance. Soon they began to hear the sounds of the movements of cavalry and occasional war cries of the Mughal armies. The message went round the camp and everybody was on the alert. The Mughal army attacked. The Sikhs drove them back with great losses. But then another wave of Mughal soldiers moved forward. The Guru ordered some of the Sikhs to fight resolutely, and hold the enemy. 

Meanwhile he and the rest of his army would cross the river. A fierce battle followed in which Bhai Sahib Singh, one of the five Beloved Ones, fought daringly and died. A Muslim follower of the Guru, Mian Khan held the enemy until the Guru and his family with a few of his followers, safely crossed the river. In the darkness and confusion people ran in all directions to save their lives. Thousands were killed and many valuable manuscripts were lost. The Guru’s mother and his two younger sons were separated from him. Mata Sundri, the Guru’s wife, lost her way and a faithful Sikh escorted her to Delhi. When he could wait for them no longer the Guru and his two elder sons and about forty Sikhs hurried on while the Mughal army chased them hotly. After a few skirmishes on the way, they spent the second night in an old brick kiln in Ropar. Next morning they continued their journey closely pursued by the Mughal army. At last they reached the village of Chamkaur, where they were able to lodge themselves in a two-storey building. They quickly converted it into a small fortress. Chamkaur is a village in the district of Ropar about 50 miles from Ludhiana. It was there that a shining example of gallantry was demonstrated by the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh.