Question. If Bachittar Natak is the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, then why there is no mention of Vaisakhi 1699 (Amirt Sanskar), battle of Chamkaur Sahib, and martyrdom of the younger Sahibzades?
Answer. This is an amusing question.
Bachittar Natak is a voluminous work and includes Apni Katha, the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh ji. This is the fifth composition in Sri Dasam Granth Sahib.
Sri Dasam Granth Sahib has fifteen compositions. The first is Jaapu Sahib and the last is Zafarnamah. Except for the Zafarnamah, the letter written to Aurangzeb, the rest of the compositions were completed by 1696 A.D. (bikrami 1753).
It was a brilliant idea to record the date, time, place and year of the completion of this work. This is evident from the closing lines of Chritropakhyan, the fourteenth composition. It says:
“On the banks of river Satluj the granth was completed on Sunday, Bhadro Sudi Eighth 1753 bikrami (1696 A.D). This closes the dialogue between the King and his ministers and with this the four hundred and four episodes come to a good end”.
ਸੰਬਤ ਸਤ੍ਰਹ ਸਹਸ ਭਣਿਜੈ। ਅਰਧ ਸਹਸ ਫੁਨਿ ਤੀਨਿ ਕਹਿਜੈ।।
ਭਾਦ੍ਰਵ ਸੁਦੀ ਅਸਟਮੀ ਰਵਿ ਵਾਰਾ। ਤੀਰ ਸਤੁਦ੍ਰਵ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸੁਧਾਰਾ।।405।।
ਇਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਪਖਯਾਨੇ ਤਿਆ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰੇ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੀ ਭੂਪ ਸੰਪਾਦੇ
ਚਾਰ ਸੌ ਚਾਰ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਮਾਪਤ ਸਤੁ ਸੁਭਮ ਸਤੁ।।404।।7555।।ਅਫਜੂੰ।।
Autobiography, unlike biography is obviously written during the lifetime of the author and has the incidents mentioned up to that period of time.
Now the Order of the Khalsa was initiated on Vaisakhi, 1699 A.D. (1756 b.) and Sri Dasam Granth was completed three years earlier, in 1696 A.D. (1753 b.)
Battle of Chamkaur Sahib was fought on 7 Poh, Samvat 1761 (1704 A.D.) and younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh ji attained martyrdom during this period.
It is thus obvious that the autography penned by Guru Gobind Singh ji years ahead could not include the events and incidents that took place later on.
Leave a Reply