Demographic Settlements in Attock to Bareilly

Under the leadership of Guru Nanak, the Lohgarh region flourished with more than 1,000 villages inhabited by people. This period also saw the construction of hundreds of strong, gunpowder forts, designed with specific architectural features, to safeguard the area and its residents. However, it is the intricately designed three parapets designed to use firearms that genuinely stand out. These parapets are specifically crafted to facilitate the firing of muskets, incorporating ingenious features to enhance their effectiveness. Positioned strategically, the parapets provide an exceptional advantage point from which Sikh soldiers can survey the approaching enemy forces. At the same time, the design ensures that those inside the fort remain entirely concealed from the enemy’s view. This tactical advantage allows for surprise, catching the enemy off guard. What sets these parapets apart is the clever arrangement of three compactly designed parapet holes. This design enables a single Sikh soldier to operate multiple muskets simultaneously, maximizing firepower and increasing the effectiveness of the defence. This innovative approach to weaponry showcases the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the Sikh soldiers.

This achievement is remarkable because the state or a king typically establishes demographic settlements, so the reference to Guru Nanak as patshah or the King of two worlds. This title emphasizes the role of Guru Nanak as the leader who initiated the founding of Sikh settlements in the region. Establishing densely populated villages and constructing prominent forts would have required a strong and organized leader with a sound strategy and technique. Guru Nanak patshah‘s initiation of this process is evidence of his visionary leadership and marks a significant milestone in developing the Sikh faith. Furthermore, the construction of numerous forts in the area attests to the threat of external forces, including enemy attacks, which required significant protection measures. Sikhs from all parts of the globe flocked to settle in the Lohgarh Khalsa Rajdhani, while the natives also adopted the Sikh ideology. Large Sikh settlements were made during the time of Guru Nanak sahib to Guru Gobind Singh and Baba Farid sahib , Bhagat Namdev sahib, Bhagat Sadhana sahib, Bhagat Sain sahib, Bhagat Ravi Das sahib & Bhagat Kabir sahib also played a significant play in Sikh population settlement between Yamuna doab to Ganga Doab. The cities of Lohgarh zone that became famous were Sadhaura, Naraiangarh, Buria, Jagadhari, Abdulapur, Chhchhrauli, Khizrabad, Damla, Saha, Mullana, Mustafabad, Bilaspur, Mani Majra, Pinjore etc due to trade activities. Trade in cloths on an international level was conducted from here. There was also the trade in metals like brass, copper, lead etc; the toys and utensils of clay were made. The wooden articles were made in Khizrabad, now Asia’s biggest timber market(Irfan Habib’s ,Atlas of Mughal Empire, Punjab Sheet, Sheet 4). The caravans of Banjaras carried the trade articles to far-off places.

Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara played a significant role in all this, and a large population, especially of Banjaras, Bhils, and Sikligars Sikhs , has inhabited the Lohgarh zone since the time of Guru Nanak sahib in the early 16^th century. This trend further increased with the later Nanaks. This Sikh demographic settlement in the Lohgarh zone was knowledgeable about the area’s physical and geographical conditions the area. Besides, they were well-versed in robust fortification techniques, as they had made war preparations for more than two centuries.

Following the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadar, the Mughal forces embarked on the challenging mission of dismantling and rendering the Lohgarh fortifications inoperable. This endeavour was challenging due to the harsh and challenging geographical terrain surrounding the area. Post the Mughal forces’ actions, Sikhs established new demographic settlements in the Lohgarh region which killed by Mughals after battles of Lohgarh and Mughals settlement in Lohgarh zone comprising mainly of Rangars who belonged to the Hindu and Muslim faith(Revenue records in the District Yamuna nagar endorsed this fact.). The Banjaras, Siklighars, Lubanas, Sufis, Bhomias, Jats, Leather Dressers and Bhils Sikhs, who were primary inhabitants of the Lohgarh zone, faced massacre. At the same time, rumours of locating the Lohgarh zone hidden treasure led to the systematic destruction of the fort by Gurjar labourers who were made to convert to Islam and remained loyal to the Mughals. The Sikhs of the Lohgarh region sought refuge in the upper hills, while those who stayed were eventually eliminated and replaced by the Mughal soldiers and labourers. Over the subsequent twenty years, a brutal genocide was carried out by the Mughal army and their allies against the Sikhs.