Brief History
Amritsar, literally Pool of Nectar, derives its name from
Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the fabulous Golden Temple. First
time visitors to Amritsar could be forgiven for the impression that Amritsar
is like any other small town in northern India. But Amritsar stands head and
shoulders above any other city, its status elevated and sanctified by the
presence of the venerable Golden Temple.
Located in the heart of Amritsar, the temple complex is
surrounded by a maze of narrow lanes, or katras, that house one of the busiest
markets in India. But the Golden Temple is a serene presence, radiating a calm
that makes people bow their heads in reverence. The gurudwara, as Sikh temples
are called, is the holiest of Sikh shrines. It is not just Sikhs who travel to
the Golden Temple to pay homage, the sacred shrine is equally revered by
Hindus and people of other faiths who, too, make the pilgrimage to offers
prayers at Harmandir Sahib.
There's more to Amritsar than that - amongst other sights
is Jallianwala Bagh, site of the gruesome massacre of unarmed Indians by
British troops. A major tourist attraction these days is the Indo-Pakistan
border crossing at Wagah, just a short distance from Amritsar, with its
elaborate change-of-guards drill with a lot of strutting and intimidatory
showing off by both sides.
If you are 'doing' north India, Amritsar is a city you
should not miss. It's easy to travel there from Delhi by road and by rail. It
is easy to navigate through the city; few guides bother you as tourism is not
the most important commercial activity here. Ask them in Amritsar, and they
will tell you that if for nothing else you must travel here for the roadside
chhola-bhaturas.
Origin
The Origin of the city of Amritsar lies hidden in the mists
of time due to the scanty evidence available in its early history .On the
development of the city, the generally accepted view is based on the Amritsar
District Gazetteers, the authoritative works of reference on local history.
The various Opinions that the land was granted by emperor
Akbar to Guru Amar Das (later on transferred to Guru Ram Das), or was acquired
by Guru Ram Das before the grant was actually obtained, or the land was
purchased by the Guru on a payment of Rs.700 from the zamindaar of the village
at tung at the instance of Emperor Akbar, or presented by the people of
village Sultanwind out of regard and reverence for the Guru are all versions
based on popular tradition .There are no documentary evidences to support or
contradict these views. But the version regarding the purchase of the land by
Guru Ram Das is in keeping with the tradition of Sikh Gurus who never took any
land grants from the rilers.
It seems that originally the site of Amritsar was a
community land lying between the village of Sultanwind, Tung, Gumtala and
Gilwali, and later it was acquired by the Sikh Gurus either on payment or was
received by them free of cost. Opinions may vary on the question of
acquisition of the site, but it is certain that the selection of the site was
planned and not accidental. It was the choice of the Gurus themselves, and the
site of Amritsar was revenue free land.Even the early name of the city chak
Guru,bears testimony to the nature of the settlement as detached or revenue
free. Probably, Chak Guru was granted exemption from land revenue by the
Mughal government during the reign of Emperor Akbar,Whose policy of religious
toleration and religious grants even to non-Muslims centres is a well known
fact.
The original plan of the new project was chalked out by
Guru Amardas and Conveyed to Ram Das for execution .Guru Ram Das was given
guidelines for the location of the site and was instructed to found a
village,to build a House for himself, to big a tank and to develop the centre
gradually into a city . Arrangements were made for money and assistance .some
intelligent, experienced and elderly Sikhs were instructed to assist Ram Das
to implement the project .The project was thus executed by Guru Ram Das.
First of all a boundary line of the settlement was drawn.
The foundation was laid by Guru Ram Das and the village was named Ram Das Pura
.Opinions vary on the date of the founding of the city. Probably the
foundation was laid in 1573 AD but the popular view is that it was done in
1577.
The construction of the new centre was started with great
enthusiasm.Some huts and houses were built and then excavation of the tank was
startad . when a portion of the project was completed, Bhai Jetha went to
Goindwal to report the progress of the work.This time Guru Amar Das directed
Ram Das to dig another tank at the low level area near the site of the tank
under construction.On his return, Guru Ram Das selected the site for the
second tank surrounded by a large number of Jujube trees.
The construction of the second tank commenced on Nov.6,1573
and Guru Ram Das personally supervised it.Many Sikh devotees came to
participate in the Sewa. Simultaneously with the construction of the tank all
care was taken to develop the village Chak.52 types of caste groups from
Patti,Kasur and Kalanaur were called to settle her for ensuring regular supply
of essential commodities to the settlers. A market called Guru ka bazar which
exists now also was established Some wells were dig for water supply .A number
of rich bankers and traders also settled down in the town.
The construction of the tank and the town was going on
smoothy .But Guru Ram Das had to rush back to Goindwal at the call of the
dying Guru Amar Das, while the work was in progress.The work was resumed on
his return in 1577 and the construction of the tank and town was completed in
the same year.
On the completion of the project, the Guru called the local
business community and told them to take charge of the holy place but they
humbly pleaded their inability to perform religious duties and requested the
Guru to engage some Brahmins and mendicants for the job.
The Guru and his disciples were thrilled at the completion
of the new pilgrimage centre.Guru Ram Das composed beautiful verses in
glorification of the sarowar,making an injunction upon his followers to take
bath in the holy tank and meditate the name of God.The tank acquired a
reputation fo sanctity and became the head-quarters of the Sikhs.The Amrit
Sarowar remained un-bricked till Guru Arjan Dev ascended the Gur Gaddi in
1581.The tank was made pacca and its side stairs were bricked. The tank was
named .Amar sarowar or Amritsar .Gradually the fame of the sacred tank led to
its identity with the latter appellation and the city got its final name of
Amritsar.Guru Arjan Dev also settled in the new city artisans and craftsmen of
diverse calling and inculcated in his followers keen interest in horse trade.
Early Period
It has been established now that the whole of Amritsar
district was a part of the vast area covered under Indus valley Civilization
during the early period of history. This civilization developed prior to the
Aryans civilization in this region. These evidence for the prevalence of this
ancient civilization in this district of Punjab has been furnished by the
discovery of certain sites by the archaeologist. The important sites
pertaining to Indus valley civilization in Amritsar district are as under:-
- Vadalol
- Chhina
- Gharinda
- Har
In addition to above, several sites also lie in a row in
the Ravi, Beas , Doab.
Even in ancient times, trade was a primary factor in the
urban development of societies. The Indus valley civilization also flourished
with the growth of trade by overland as sea/ routes. It has been proved by the
discovery of various seals the ancient sites.
Ever since the discovery of the Indus Civilization,
attempts have made to decipher the Indus script. In this respect, many
theories have been propounded about the use of the seals, and the language
used therein has been taught to be Sanskrit or Dravadian or an ancestors or an
ancestral form thereof, depending largely on the initial approach of the
scholars concerned. However, it has been mow established that the direction of
writing of Indus script is from right to left. Many effect about Indus
civilization will come to light as soon as Indus script is deciphered. During
the vedic period, the area now belonging to Amritsar district is believed to
be abode of many Saints and Sages. According to a legend, It was at Ramtirth
that Sita took shelter in the Ashram(Cottage) of Rishi(Saint) Balmiki during
her exile. Both love and Kush received there education at Ramtirth through the
learned Sage Balmiki.
The area of the Amritsar district also came under the Greek
influence when in about 326 B.C., the area of Punjab up to the bank of river
Beas was conquered by Alexander. Later on, it became part of Maurya and Gupta
empire.
After the overthrow of Greeks, the area of Amritsar
district became a part of the Mighty Mauryan empire which extended up to
Afghanistan. The most enlighten ruler of the Mauyar was Ashoka, the great, who
during the reign of his father Chandergupta Mauyara was the Viceroy of the
principality of Taxila which included the area of present Amritsar district.
Subsequently from the beginning of the 4th century to the end of
the 6th century, it had the privilege of being under Gupta
administration, which because of its efficiency is known as the golden age of
Hindu period. Chandergupta was the most famous emperor of Gupta dynasty. Later
on, it came under Kushan rulers and Kanishka was the most important ruler of
this dynasty. With the rise of Rajputs, it began to be ruled by Rajputs till
it became a part of the Shahi Kingdom of Punjab. It is believed that brave
people of Majha formed a significant part of the armies of Mauyar, Gupta,
Kushan and Shahi rulers.
Medieval Period
During the last quarter of 10th century, Raja
Jaipal of Shahi Dynasty ruled over Punjab including the present area of
Amritsar district. His son and successor, Anangpal was finally defeated Sultan
Mahmmod of Ghazni in A.D. 1008. From that time, until the final overthrow of
the Muhammdan Supremacy, The Amritsar district was attached to the Suba or
Provinceof Lahor. The Important Muhammdan dynasties were the slave dynasty,
the Lodhi dynasty and the Mughal dynasty. During the medieval period, the
people of Amritsar district were influenced much by the teachings of the Sikh
Gurus who were contemporaries of the Mughal rulers. Before the people of
Amritsar district came under the benign influence of the Sikh Gurus, there
were not big cities or towns in this district. However, Fatehabad( in Tarn
Taran Tahsil) was an important town which lay on the old Delhi and Lahore
road. It had an imperial serai for the halting of armies and carvanas. As most
of the Mughal rulers were fanatics, the Sikh Gurus and their disciples were
bound to come in conflict with them. The impact of the Sikh Gurus on the
people of Amritsar district and their conflicts with the Mughals are briefly
given as under:
Amritsar and the sikh gurus
The People of Amritsar District came under the influence of
teachings of Guru Nanak in the beginning of 16th century, Bhai
Lehna (later known as Guru Angad Dev), a residence of Khadur Sahib became a
devoted follower of Guru Nanak.He preached people on the lines of Guru
Nanak.He preached people on the lines of his Guru.He converted Takhat Mal, the
headman of the village, and many others to his faith. A community kitchen (langer)
was also initiated and men from far and near started pouring in to receive
spiritual instruction from him. Even Guru Nanak visited him at khadur Sahib
twice and on his second visit, seeing his never-failing devotion to god and
man took him back to kkartarpur and anointed him as his successor on 14 july
1539 and called him angad.
Guru Angad Dev settled at Khadur Sahib, his native village
and made it his headquarters. He began to preach and spread gospels of Guru
Nanak with great devotion.
He allowed one of his disciples-Gobind to build a township
on the bank of the river Beas, but refused to call the new settlement after
his own name and called it Gobindwal (now Goindwal) to commemorate the memory
of the disciple.It was on 29 March 1552 Amar Das Ji, the most devoted follower
of Guru Angad Dev, was anointed by Baba Buddha as the third Guru of the Sikhs
in the benign presence of the Guru. It may be stated here that Humayun also
visited Khadur Sahib and received the blessings of Guru Angad Dev.
Guru Amar Das guided the Sikhs from Goindwal from
1552-1574.In the year 1567, when Akbar visited Lahore, he made a call on the
Guru at Goindwal.On being told that the Guru would see no one, high or low,
till one had partaken of the food from the langar (community Kitchen), Akbar,
a man of broad sympathies and high culture, welcomed the Idea and partook of
the food distributed there, sitting in a row with his subjects of humble
origin.
Guru Amar Das established 22manjis (dioceses) in many parts
of the country to popularise Guru Nanak’s message.Many people came to the Guru
to listen to his precepts.The Guru also got constructed a baoli at Goindwal
and fixed the first of Baisakh as the day of the annual gathering of the
Sikhs.He introduced several new ceremonies on occasions of birth and
death,replacing the chanting of Sanskrit Shiolokas by the recitation of
Gurbani.He preached against the purdah system, the seclusion of women,
encouraged inter-caste alliances and remarriage of widows.The Guru condemned
the practice of sati (burning of widow on the pyre of her husband’s dead
body).
In 1573, Guru Amar Das deputed Ram Das ji to start
excavation of the tank later known as Santokhsar and to found a new town later
known as Amritsar.Arrangements and control of funds for the purpose were
entrusted to Baba Buddha.A number of intelligent, experienced, devoted and
elderly Sikhs were instructed to join Ram Das in accomplishing the task. The
inauguration of the work was made in the traditional Indian style.Paid
labourers were engaged. The visiting Sikh devotees were exhorted to lend a
helping hand. Before regular excavation work of the tank (later on named ‘Santokhsar’),started,
the boundary line of the new settlement was marked and it was named chak Guru
or simply the chak. Later on it began to be called, variously, as Guru ka Chak,
Chak Guru Ram Das, or Ram Das Pura. Kilns were laid and a number of hutments
were built. The Guru also took abode in a hut near the site (later named Guru
ke Mehal)
After the portion of the project was completed, Ram Das
went to Goindwal to pay his homage to Guru Amar Das and report the progress to
him. This time, Guru Amar Das instructed Ram Das to dig another tank at a
lower level near the site of the tank that was already under construction. On
his return to the Chak, Ram Das made a search for the beri, the covered site
for the second tank as instructed by Guru Amar Das .The site having been
selected, the construction of the second tank (later on named Amrit sarowar )
commenced under the personal supervision of Ram Das assisted by Baba Buddha.
According to Gian Singh Giani (Tawarikh Guru Khalsa, p.344), the digging of
the tank commenced on 7 Kartika 1630 BK (6 November 1573).A large number of
labourers were engaged . Many Sikh devotees came to the chak to participate in
the work of the digging of the tank.The digging continued for many
months.Simultaneously with the construction of the tank, every care was taken
to develop the chak also .A large number of traders and businessmen from the
neighbouring areas were induced to settle in the new township. In due course a
market, called Guru ka Bazar, also sprang up there. Some wells were dug for
supplying drinking water. A number of rich sarafs (bankers) and banjaras
(traders) found their way to the town. A considerable number of the disciples
of the Guru shifted to the town.
In 1574, when Guru Amar Das saw his end approaching, he
summoned Ram Das to Goindwal and made him his successor on 1 september
1574.Guru Ram Das ascended the spiritual throne of Guru Nanak at the age of
about forty years in 1574.During his brief period of seven years, he achieved
considerable progress in expanding the activities of the Sikh religion. He
sent out many of his disciples called Masands even to neighbouring countries
like Afganistan to spread the gospel and also to collect offerings of the
devotees which he needed more than ever not only to run the community kitchen,
but also to complete the excavation of the sacred tank later called Amritsar
and to expand the activities of the city of Ramdaspur he had founded in the
life time of Guru Amar Das .
