Susheel Kanwar
Rajkumari of Chamba
BornChamba State, Punjab Hills
(present-day Himachal Pradesh, India)
Died20 June 1716
Delhi, Mughal Empire
(present-day Delhi, India)
SpouseBanda Singh Bahadur
IssueAjai Singh
HouseMushana (by birth)[1]
FatherMaharaja Udai Singh of Chamba
ReligionSikhism

Sardarni Bibi Susheel Kanwar also referred to as Mata Susheel Kanwar (died 1716) was the wife of Sikh military leader Banda Singh Bahadur, who established the first Sikh raj and the mother of his son, Ajai Singh.[2] She was the only daughter of Maharaja Udai Singh of Chamba.

Early life and marriage

Susheel Kanwar was born as Rajkumari Susheel Kanwar to Maharaja Udai Singh.[1] Like the princesses of her time she was trained in sword fighting, equestrianism, as well as arts and craft; she was skilled in embroidery handicraft of the Chamba Rumal.[3] Her known physical and personal attributes describe her as being extremely beautiful, graceful and delicate.[4] Max Arthur Macauliffe describes her as a "Goddess of Love".[5][4]

Udai Singh invited Banda Singh to Chamba and following his brother Lakshman Singh's advised, proposed a wedding alliance to him.[4] Banda Singh agreed and the wedding took place in March 1711.[6] Brought up as a Sahajdhari upon her marriage to the Banda Singh.[7][8] In 1712, she gave birth to his son, Ajai Singh.[9]

Siege of Gurdas Nangal and Confinement

Susheel and her infant son accompanied Banda Singh when he marched with his army to Gurdas Nangal.[10] The Sikhs defended the fort for 8 months but on December 7, 1715, the mughal army under, Abd al-Samad Khan sieged the fort and took the Sikhs along with Banda, Susheel and Ajai captive.[11][12] Banda Singh was paraded in an iron cage while the remaining Sikhs were chained and brought to Delhi.[13] In Delhi, she was separated from her husband and son and taken to the royal harem.[3] Just like the other Sikh prisoners she remained unmoved on giving up her faith no matter what riches were promised to them. Every day for 7 days, 100 Sikh soldiers were brought out of the fort and murdered in public.[14] On June 9, 1716, her four-year son, Ajai and husband, Banda Singh were cruelly executed. Ajai Singh's heart was cut out, and thrust into his father's mouth. Ajai Singh died in his father's lap while Banda Singh's limbs were severed, his skin removed, and eyes were gouged out, and then he was killed.[15] Recent research and the record present with the Royal Chamba family state that Susheel Kanwar killed herself on 20 June 1716 after the cruel execution of her husband and son. According to the court reporter, Mohammad Suffi, she stabbed herself to death.

References

  1. 1 2 Rathore, Abhinay. "Chamba (Princely State)". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  2. ↑ Singha, Dr H. S. (2005). Sikh Studies. Hemkunt Press. ISBN 978-81-7010-258-8.
  3. 1 2 Dhillon, Harish (2004). The Legend of Banda Bahadur. UBS Publishers' Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7476-458-4.
  4. 1 2 3 Gandhi, Surjit Singh (1999). Sikhs in the Eighteenth Century: Their Struggle for Survival and Supremacy. Singh Bros. ISBN 978-81-7205-217-1.
  5. ↑ "Bibi Shushil Kanwar - Gateway To Sikhism". 2014-01-27. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  6. ↑ Dhillon, Harish (2013-05-01). First Raj of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Banda Singh Bahadur. Hay House, Inc. ISBN 978-93-81398-39-5.
  7. ↑ Sangat Singh (1994). The Sikhs In History.
  8. ↑ Singh, Sawan (2005). Noble & Brave Sikh Women. B.Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh. ISBN 978-81-7601-701-5.
  9. ↑ VSM, D. S. Saggu (2018-06-07). Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64249-006-0.
  10. ↑ Jawandha, Nahar (2010). Glimpses of Sikhism. New Delhi: Sanbun Publishers. p. 82. ISBN 9789380213255.
  11. ↑ Jacques, Tony (2007). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood Press. p. 421. ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5.
  12. ↑ Pletcher, Kenneth (2010). The History of India. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 200. ISBN 9781615302017.
  13. ↑ Team, YCT Expert. History Of Ancient & Medieval India. Youth Competition Times.
  14. ↑ Jawandha, Nahar (2010). Glimpses of Sikhism. Sanbun Publishers. p. 89. ISBN 9789380213255.
  15. ↑ Singh, Kulwant (2006). Sri Gur Panth Prakash: Episodes 1 to 81. Institute of Sikh Studies. p. 415. ISBN 9788185815282.
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