Haqiqat Rai
Encyclopedia
Haqiqat Rai Bakhmal Puri , commonly known as Haqiqat Rai, was born at Sialkot
(1724 AD) to Durga and Bhag Mal, Khatris of the Puri
subcaste. It was common then for boys to study Persian
under Maulvis (Muslim scholars).
The people of Punjab, Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus, rose against the terrorist rule of the Nawab (Governor) of Sirhind. The Nawab was killed in 1710, i.e., just half a decade after he murdered the two innocent sons of Guru Gobind Singh. This brought a rule of peace and justice in the area of Punjab, east of Amritsar.
To again take over the control of Punjab from Banda, a strong army was sent from Delhi. The army generals feared to fight a battle with Banda, hence they tricked him with the pretension of having a dialogue with him for peace. They unarmed him and arrested him. His 700 men were also made prisoners along with a teenage boy, Hakikat Rai. All of them were taken to Delhi and asked to surrender to the Emperor. They refused bluntly. The government ordered the murder of everyone. About 100 Sikhs were murdered every day near Chandni Chowk.
The mother of Hakikat Rai, whose only support and hope of life was her son, submitted a petition to the government to save the life of the boy. She narrated that her son was not a Sikh but was there in the Sikh camp when he was arrested. The Emperor ordered the release of the boy if the boy himself denied being a Sikh. The mother dashed with the release orders to the place where the Sikhs were being murdered. Her son was still waiting for his turn to be killed. Presenting the Farman - the order of the emperor - to the Kazi (Judge) supervising the murdering of the Sikhs, she requested the release of her son.
The Kazi called Hakikat Rai and asked him if he was a Sikh. The boy replied that he certainly was a Sikh. His mother intervened and told the Kazi that the boy was her son and she knew that he was not a Sikh. The boy emphasized that he was a committed Sikh. The son and the mother started arguing with each other. Khafi Khan, a Muslim historian, an eye witness who recorded these horrifying killings, was very surprised to hear those arguments.
The mother again asserted that her son was not a Sikh. However, the boy raising his voice retorted immediately that his mother was telling a lie in order to save his life. His father was dead, and he was the only support for her. Being a Sikh, he wanted to be murdered without further delay so that he may not be left behind by his Sikh associates already murdered. Before another word could be said by his mother, the boy was standing with his head bent before the butcher. The sword in the hand of the butcher lowered and Hakikat Rai attained his martyrdom.
Haqiqat Rai was born at Sialkot in 1724 to Mata Durga Devi and Bhag Mal ji. Haqiqat Rai was very sharp in studies as well as in his bravery. In those days of Muslim rule Hindus used to read Urdu and Persian from Muslim maulvis. Haqiqat Rai used to go to local school and was the only Hindu in a class while his other classmates were Muslims. He used to pass with top rank and so was dear to everyone. One day, some of his Muslim classmates who were jealous of his studies ridiculed Hindu goddess Devi Ma. Haqiqat Rai first remained silent but after repeated abuses the brave boy dared his classmates and tried to stop them but as he was alone he was overpowered. They did not stop using abusive languages for Hindu Goddess and he responded finally by ridiculing Fatima, daughter of Prophet Muhammad.
The Muslim boys complained to the maulvis about Haqiqat Rai blaspheming the prophet and Islam, which enraged the maulvis. Maulvis first punished Haqiqat Rai and then had him arrested by the local police. Haqiqat Rai was arrested and sent to Amir Beg, the administrator of Sialkot. Those were the days of Muslim rule, Hindus were frequently targeted by Muslims and they were having inferior status in society. There was no one to listen to this young Hindu boy. Amir who was known for his cruelty immediately ordered killing of innocent Hindu boy. He did not even spare time to hear the pleas of Haqiqat Rai. Haqiqat Rai’s parents started weeping and asked for sparing his life. Amir said Haqiqat Rai had committed a sin and he can be pardoned only if he accepts Islam as punishment for blasphemy. Haqiqat Rai refused conversion to Islam. Haqiqat Rai’s parents tried to change his mind. They said, if he accepts Islam, his life will be saved. The Brave boy Haqiqat accepted death but not Islam. He was then sent to Zakaria Khan, the Governor of Lahore. But Haqiqat Rai did not agree to convert even under further torture. His 10 year old wife Laxmi Devi also arrived and pleaded for his life but no one under the Muslim rule listened to Hindus. Haqiqat Rai was executed on 20 January, 1735 at the age of 12 by the orders of the Governor. The day of his execution used to be marked by a 'mela' (fair) on Vasant Panchami day in Lahore, around his 'samadhi' (Baway di marrhi), before India's partition. It appears his 'samadhi' was wrecked during riots in Lahore.
The young boy died for his religion.
One of the objections to celebration of Vasant Panchami (called Basant in Lahore) by Muslim scholars is because it coincides with the memorial day for Haqiqat Rai.
There is a memorial to Haqiqat Rai at Batala
at the spot that marks the samadhi of Sati Lakshmi, the wife of young boy Haqiqat Rai.
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
(1724 AD) to Durga and Bhag Mal, Khatris of the Puri
Puri (Family Name)
Puri , is a Khatri clan originating from the Ancient region Called "Sapta Sandhu" or more recently "Punjab" - Origin and Etymology :...
subcaste. It was common then for boys to study Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
under Maulvis (Muslim scholars).
The people of Punjab, Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus, rose against the terrorist rule of the Nawab (Governor) of Sirhind. The Nawab was killed in 1710, i.e., just half a decade after he murdered the two innocent sons of Guru Gobind Singh. This brought a rule of peace and justice in the area of Punjab, east of Amritsar.
To again take over the control of Punjab from Banda, a strong army was sent from Delhi. The army generals feared to fight a battle with Banda, hence they tricked him with the pretension of having a dialogue with him for peace. They unarmed him and arrested him. His 700 men were also made prisoners along with a teenage boy, Hakikat Rai. All of them were taken to Delhi and asked to surrender to the Emperor. They refused bluntly. The government ordered the murder of everyone. About 100 Sikhs were murdered every day near Chandni Chowk.
The mother of Hakikat Rai, whose only support and hope of life was her son, submitted a petition to the government to save the life of the boy. She narrated that her son was not a Sikh but was there in the Sikh camp when he was arrested. The Emperor ordered the release of the boy if the boy himself denied being a Sikh. The mother dashed with the release orders to the place where the Sikhs were being murdered. Her son was still waiting for his turn to be killed. Presenting the Farman - the order of the emperor - to the Kazi (Judge) supervising the murdering of the Sikhs, she requested the release of her son.
The Kazi called Hakikat Rai and asked him if he was a Sikh. The boy replied that he certainly was a Sikh. His mother intervened and told the Kazi that the boy was her son and she knew that he was not a Sikh. The boy emphasized that he was a committed Sikh. The son and the mother started arguing with each other. Khafi Khan, a Muslim historian, an eye witness who recorded these horrifying killings, was very surprised to hear those arguments.
The mother again asserted that her son was not a Sikh. However, the boy raising his voice retorted immediately that his mother was telling a lie in order to save his life. His father was dead, and he was the only support for her. Being a Sikh, he wanted to be murdered without further delay so that he may not be left behind by his Sikh associates already murdered. Before another word could be said by his mother, the boy was standing with his head bent before the butcher. The sword in the hand of the butcher lowered and Hakikat Rai attained his martyrdom.
Haqiqat Rai was born at Sialkot in 1724 to Mata Durga Devi and Bhag Mal ji. Haqiqat Rai was very sharp in studies as well as in his bravery. In those days of Muslim rule Hindus used to read Urdu and Persian from Muslim maulvis. Haqiqat Rai used to go to local school and was the only Hindu in a class while his other classmates were Muslims. He used to pass with top rank and so was dear to everyone. One day, some of his Muslim classmates who were jealous of his studies ridiculed Hindu goddess Devi Ma. Haqiqat Rai first remained silent but after repeated abuses the brave boy dared his classmates and tried to stop them but as he was alone he was overpowered. They did not stop using abusive languages for Hindu Goddess and he responded finally by ridiculing Fatima, daughter of Prophet Muhammad.
The Muslim boys complained to the maulvis about Haqiqat Rai blaspheming the prophet and Islam, which enraged the maulvis. Maulvis first punished Haqiqat Rai and then had him arrested by the local police. Haqiqat Rai was arrested and sent to Amir Beg, the administrator of Sialkot. Those were the days of Muslim rule, Hindus were frequently targeted by Muslims and they were having inferior status in society. There was no one to listen to this young Hindu boy. Amir who was known for his cruelty immediately ordered killing of innocent Hindu boy. He did not even spare time to hear the pleas of Haqiqat Rai. Haqiqat Rai’s parents started weeping and asked for sparing his life. Amir said Haqiqat Rai had committed a sin and he can be pardoned only if he accepts Islam as punishment for blasphemy. Haqiqat Rai refused conversion to Islam. Haqiqat Rai’s parents tried to change his mind. They said, if he accepts Islam, his life will be saved. The Brave boy Haqiqat accepted death but not Islam. He was then sent to Zakaria Khan, the Governor of Lahore. But Haqiqat Rai did not agree to convert even under further torture. His 10 year old wife Laxmi Devi also arrived and pleaded for his life but no one under the Muslim rule listened to Hindus. Haqiqat Rai was executed on 20 January, 1735 at the age of 12 by the orders of the Governor. The day of his execution used to be marked by a 'mela' (fair) on Vasant Panchami day in Lahore, around his 'samadhi' (Baway di marrhi), before India's partition. It appears his 'samadhi' was wrecked during riots in Lahore.
The young boy died for his religion.
One of the objections to celebration of Vasant Panchami (called Basant in Lahore) by Muslim scholars is because it coincides with the memorial day for Haqiqat Rai.
There is a memorial to Haqiqat Rai at Batala
Batala
Batala is a municipal council in Gurdaspur district in the state of Punjab, India. It is located about 30 km from Gurdaspur, the headquarters of the district....
at the spot that marks the samadhi of Sati Lakshmi, the wife of young boy Haqiqat Rai.
External links
- Can’t we have a nice time?
- Bhai Haqiqat Rai
- Regional Briefs - The Tribune