Begumpura

In the early 18^th  century, General Banda Singh Bahadur declared Lohgarh as the capital of the Sikh state Irfan Habib,( JS Grewal Sikh History from Persian Sources). He officially implemented the concept of Begumpura in the region under Sikh rule, issuing official orders. There is also a village called Begumpura, adjacent to Lohgarh, inhabited by Bhagat Ravi das under-mission Halimi Raj. Throughout history, monarchs have held dominion over nations, and their reigns have given rise to a robust feudal system that left farmers , artisans and labourers exploited. Feudalism granted kings absolute control over land, while farmers and labourers were relegated to the status of tenants with limited rights to cultivate the land(James Tan, Power and Public Finance at Rome, 264-49 CE, page 48). They were often required to give up a significant portion of their produce as revenue and taxes levied by the king. Designated authorities have significantly worsened the financial well-being of farmers, leading to extreme poverty, hunger, and an unbearable weight of excessive taxation. Consequently, this fostered substantial economic disparities among the general public, the nobility, and the clergy. In these circumstances, the blatant violation of fundamental human rights is largely unaddressed, creating an atmosphere of fear for ordinary individuals and a lack of opposition.

General Banda Singh Bahadar made history by transferring land ownership from the state to the farmers and tillers, marking the first instance of such a practice in human history(Dhavan, Purnima (3 November 2011). When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799. Oxford University Press, USA, page 51). This move effectively eradicated the exploitative feudal system that had endured for centuries. Additionally, farmers were granted exemption from paying blood-sucking land taxes to the state.

Bhagat Ravi Das and Guru Nanak identified global issues of poverty, unemployment, slavery and hunger all increased while begging became prevalent in society. The masses became highly fearful and cowardly. The intertwined powers of politics and priests strongly reinforced this division of society into isolated segments. The inequalities regarding class, creed, caste, religion, region, gender, food habits, clothes, colour, etc., reached the pinnacle (Jon D. Wisman and James F. Smith ,Legitimating Inequality: Fooling Most of the People All of the Time, page 34). Masses were not allowed to keep arms for self-protection, for fear of rebellion against the monarch. Bhagat Ravi Das indeed brought attention to various societal issues and introduced the concept of Begumpura-Halimi Raj, which represents a benevolent and just rule. This idea was not only theoretical but also implemented in practice through the establishment of Lohgarh. The implementation of such a concept is aimed at fostering a harmonious and equitable society and promoting fairness and positivity among its inhabitants.

The capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans in the 15^th  century marked a significant turning point in European history, as it symbolized the decline of the Byzantine empire and the rise of Islamic hegemony in the region(Foster, Charles (22 September, 2006). The Conquest of Constantinople and the end of empire”. Contemporary Review. Archived from the original on 11 June, 2009: It is the end of the middle Ages). The Ottomans garnered a military advantage by securing access to gunpowder, a technology they had acquired through trade connections with the Indian subcontinent, facilitated by Lubana/Banjara Sikhs .( Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom: A Challenge to Medieval Society” by Joseph Hamarneh.) Sikhs. This newfound dominance threatened the Christian Church, spurring the Renaissance(God And His Coexistent Relations To The Universe, page 400, George D. Shollenberger. Open University, Looking at the Renaissance: Religious Context in the Renaissance (Retrieved May 10, 2007)), a period characterized by a resurgence of religious values along with art, learning and cultural exploration.

However, contrary to popular belief, the Renaissance did not oppose. ( Christian doctrines of inequality and oppression Joan Kelly-Gadol, “Renaissance Notion of Woman: A Study in the Fortunes of Scholasticism and Medical Science in European Intellectual Life). Therefore, the masses endured hardships, culminating in revolutions against oppressive states during the 18^th  century. Additionally, the Renaissance prompted European expeditions to secure alternative sources of gunpowder from the Indian subcontinent to counter the Ottoman threat. During the 15^th   century, European societies possessed limited knowledge of this technology to make gunpowder from saltpetre. The land passage to India was nearly obstructed by the expanding Islamic empires, leaving Europeans largely unaware of the navigational techniques required to traverse the sea route towards India. Portuguese state, under the guidance of the Church sponsored a voyage to India to explore the Sea route.   The Renaissance propelled them to colonize and enslave a major part of the globe during the 18^th  century after the Sikh Mughal wars, which created a vacuum in Policia and trade power. Consequently, this expansionist agenda led to the worsening of poverty, hunger and widespread human rights violations across colonized territories and even in Europe.

The Renaissance, while beneficial for the elite classes of Europe, proved detrimental to the rest of the world. As the Christian world emerged in positions of power, they also engaged in genocidal acts against other races and cultures, like Muslim rulers. Overall, this shift in global power dynamics further resulted in the loss of humanity and the erosion of fundamental human values. Adding to the oppression was a powerful priestly class that played a significant role in perpetuating the Monarch’s cruelty. They propagated false religious teachings to justify the king’s actions as divinely ordained and unchangeable, effectively stifling dissent among the population and leaving the majority of individuals vulnerable to the whims of an elite ruling class(Levene, Mark (2005). Genocide in the age of the nation-state, Vol. 2: The rise of the west and the coming of genocide. New York: I.B. Tauris, pages 73, 84. ).

In the 15^th  century, the arrival of Guru Nanak patshah and Bhagat Ravi Das patshah marked a ground-breaking turning point in the socio-cultural fabric of society, igniting a mighty revolution. This revolution talked about the oneness of God and living beings, as social, gender and economic equality. These distinguished figures introduced a paradigm-shifting concept, challenging the prevailing beliefs of a fragmented divine presence, and instead advocated for the recognition of a singular, omnipotent deity. Gurbani embodies the ideal form of monotheism, where God is not only singular but every individual is also regarded as a manifestation of God, with no distinction among human beings(God is within – see Him outside as well there is no one other than Him. As Gurmukh, look upon all with the single eye of equality; in every heart, the Divine Light is contained. Guru Granth sahib ang 96, 272, 446 and 599.). The concept of superior Hebrew blood in Christianity(The superiority of the blood of Jesus Christ is emphasised in the book of Hebrews, specifically in chapter 9) and Kafir (concept of Islam) as inferior (Sevinç, Kenan Coleman, Thomas Hood, Ralph W. (25 July 2018). Non-Belief An Islamic Perspective. Secularism and Nonreligion. 75 doi 10.5334/snr.111)both rejected and treated every human as equal in the eyes of God. Bhagat Ravi Das’s teachings resonated deeply with the masses as they passionately espoused the principles of truth and equality, instilling a sense of fearlessness among the people and prompting them to question and confront entrenched social norms.

This revolutionary mindset extended beyond the realm of political injustices, transcending into a profound transformation of ideological dogmas perpetuated by the Hindu and Muslim priestly classes. As part of this Sikh revolution, the marginalized communities were called upon to reject the shackles of enslavement and instead embrace entrepreneurial endeavours, effectively breaking free from the clutches of beggary. Furthermore, individuals were encouraged to exercise their inherent right to self-defence, safeguarding their rights and those of others, as they devotedly served humanity by raising their collective voice.