The Battle of Chamkaur also called 2nd battle of Chamkaur Sahib on the night of 22/23 December 1704 – was one of the most daring fights to finish and catastrophic incidents in Sikh history. Though it culminated as a Mughal victory, the battle is remembered as a symbol of Sikh resilience and exemplifies how a small band of Sikhs, led by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, resisted overwhelming odds, turning a military defeat into a moral triumph.
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, and his small band of followers were surrounded by an overwhelming majority of Mughal soldiers. The battle ended with the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s elder sons, Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, and many other Khalsa soldiers.
Historical Context of the Battle of Chamkaur
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, founded the Khalsa panth to fight oppression and tyranny in 1699. It gave a new identity to the Sikhs as disciplined saint soldiers committed to fight against injustice. His growing influence was seen as an eyesore by the Mughal authorities and the Hindu hill rajas of Himachal.
This led to escalating tensions between the Mughal Empire and the Sikh community. As a result, Anandpur Sahib, the Guru’s stronghold became a focal point of the conflict. Wazir Khan the Mughal faujdar (military commander and governor) of Sirhind a strategically important province between Delhi and Punjab supported by Ajmer Chand, the ruler of Kahlur (Bilaspur) and Fateh Shah, ruler of Srinagar (Garhwal) laid siege to Anandpur – cutting off supplies and testing the resolve of the Sikhs for several months.
Finally, Wazir Khan offered safe passage if the Guru agreed to evacuate Anandpur. Trusting his word, Guru Gobind Singh and his followers left the fort in December 1704, but the promise was broken.
The Sikhs were attacked while crossing the Sarsa River leading to heavy losses.
Guru Gobind Singh and his two elder sons, Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, accompanied by about forty Sikhs moved towards Chamkaur in present‑day Rupnagar district of Punjab where they took shelter in a mud‑fortified house. The Mughal army, numbering tens of thousands, quickly surrounded the site.
Battle of Chamkaur
On the night of 22 December, the Mughal army surrounded Chamkaur and asked the Sikhs to surrender. They were quite confident that the small band of Sikhs would yield. But Guru Gobind Singh and his small band of 40 followers refused and prepared to fight till death against impossible odds.
The battle that followed was not a conventional military engagement but a last stand of faith and defiance.
The Sikhs divided themselves into small groups, launching sorties against the Mughal forces. Each group fought until death, inflicting heavy casualties before being overwhelmed. The mud fort became a symbol of defiance, with arrows, swords, and muskets fired from its walls as the Sikhs resisted wave after wave of attackers.
Martyrdom of the two Sahibzadas
The most heartbreaking moment of the battle was the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s elder sons Sahibzada Ajit Singh, 18, and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, 14.
Both the Sahibzadas Ajit Singh, and his younger brother Jujhar Singh, sought their father’s blessings and fearlessly fought against thousands of seasoned Mughal soldiers till their death. The image of the two teenage sons of the Guru fighting continues to inspire generations of Sikhs that courage is not measured by age or numbers but by conviction.
Heroic sacrifice of the forty Sikhs
Many of Guru Gobind Singh’s closest companions including Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh, and others fought until their last breath. Each sortie from the mud fort was an act of defiance, demonstrating that courage and conviction could challenge overwhelming power.
Guru Gobind Singh himself participated in the defence, firing arrows and inspiring his men. His presence turned the small fort into a symbol of resistance. The Sikhs fought not for survival but for honour, knowing that their sacrifice would strengthen the Khalsa spirit.
By the night of the 22nd, only five Sikhs survived. They exercised their collective authority as panj pyare to “command” Guru Gobind Singh to leave the fortress.
The Guru’s Departure
In the early hours of 23 December, Guru Gobind Singh left the fortress. He did not slip away in silence; instead, he blew his horn, clapped his hands, and shouted, “The Peer of India is leaving!” to alert the enemy. Three Sikhs (Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, and Bhai Maan Singh) accompanied him, while Bhai Sangat Singh remained in the fort, wearing the Guru’s attire to deceive the Mughals and buy time.
Significance of the Battle
The Battle of Chamkaur is remembered not for military victory but for its moral and spiritual triumph.
- Sacrifice: The martyrdom of Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh exemplifies the Sikh ideal of selfless sacrifice.
- Defiance: Forty Sikhs stood against thousands, proving that courage can outweigh numbers.
- Faith: The battle reinforced the Khalsa’s commitment to righteousness, even in the face of certain death.
- Legacy: Guru Gobind Singh Ji later immortalized the battle in his Zafarnama, a letter to Emperor Aurangzeb, where he declared moral victory despite material loss.
The battle is commemorated annually at Chamkaur Sahib, where a gurdwara now stands. Sikh tradition regards the site as sacred, honouring the martyrs who gave their lives to ensure that the memory of Chamkaur continues to inspire generations.
Conclusion
The Battle of Chamkaur was a turning point in Sikh history. Though the Mughal forces claimed victory, the moral triumph belonged to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his forty Sikhs. Their courage, sacrifice, and defiance against tyranny became a beacon for future generations.
In the annals of history, Chamkaur is not remembered as a defeat but as a testament to the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. It reminds us that truth and courage are stronger than power and weapons, and that the legacy of sacrifice can outlast empires.
The battle is a central pillar of the Shaheedi Sabha (Martyrdom Week), observed annually in December. It is documented by the Guru himself in the Zafarnama (Epistle of Victory), a letter written to Emperor Aurangzeb.
“What can forty famished men do when ten lakh (a million) come upon them unexpectedly?” — Guru Gobind Singh, Zafarnama
