The Punj Hathaa Jarnail – Sardar Nidhaan Singh

Though Sardar Nidhaan Singh jee had only two hands but he was called “Punj Hath Jarnail” meaning General with 5 hands. Sher-e-Punjab Raja Ranjit Singh gave him this title after the Nashaura war with Pathaans. Here is the story on how he got this title.

It was the battle of Nashaura where one of the greatest Sikh leader – Akali Phoola Singh jee got shaheed. Akali jee was the jathedaar of Akali army of Khalsa Panth. He was also the jathedaar of Siri Akal Takhat Sahib.

When Akali jee moved forward with handful of his Akali Singhs, despite pleas from Raja Ranjit Singh to stop, the Khalsa army was having hard time standing there watching their Akali veers fighting the enemy with much greater strength on their own. Actually Akali jee had performed ardaas to proceed to the battlefield but right after the ardaas, Raja Ranjit Singh got news from his spy about the real strength of the enemy. Raja Ranjit Singh at that time thought it was more prudent to hold on till he got more soldiers from Lahore. But Akali jee refused to wait as he had performed the ardaas and wanted to honour the ardaas at all costs.

Akali jee moved forward without caring for his life. His few thousand men were nowhere near the size of the tens of thousands of enemy army. Akali jee had firm faith in Vaheguru and wanted to fulfil his ardaas. As they were galloping ahead, the enemy opened fire and Akalis started falling. The Khalsa army that was waiting for the order of Raja Ranjit Singh, was getting increasingly impatient at the slaughtering of their Akali veers.

Raja Ranjit Singh could not hold himself back anymore and he ordered his general, Sardar Nidhaan Singh to move forward behind the Akalis. Sardar Nidhaan Singh jee’s happiness knew no bounds when he got signal from Raja Ranjit Singh to move forward. With full force he moved forward with his brave men. He fell on the enemy like lightning. They successfully opened the enemy encirclement around the Akalis. So strong was their attack that the enemy had to back off.

The enemy came back soon with reinforcements and a fierce fight started there. From behind the mountains, the enemy was raining bullets. One of the bullets hit Sardar Nidhaan Singh’s horse and his horse died on the spot. Before he could move to a new horse, the enemy from all sides surrounded him and started attacking him. Such moments in the battlefield result in sure death but Sardar jee was not an ordinary soldier. He was an amritdhaari tyaar bar tyaar Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh jee. Before they could kill him, Sardar jee quickly took out his sword to defend himself.

At this time, he was surrounded by dozens of Pathaan warriors. We should realize that Pathaans too are very brave soldiers. They are known for their valour. The Singhs were trying to get to their general but he had gone too deep into the enemy force. Sardar jee fought with such splendid war skills and bravery that the enemy had to take a step back. Raja Ranjit Singh who was watching this fight from a hilltop was very pleased at Sardar jee’s performance.

As he was fighting, five Gaazees (Muslim veteran fighters) challenged him. It seemed that Sardar Nidhaan Singh had become the embodiment of the angel of death for the Pathaans. His movements in this battle reflected the Taandav dance (Taandav is the dance that Shiva plays before destroying the world) of Shiva. Sardar jee with a loud jaikaara accepted their challenge. The battlefield became still to watch the battle between Sardar jee and the 5 Gaazees.

Sardar jee was blocking their attacks very diligently and swiftly; at the same time attacking them. He killed the first Gaazee and placed his sword near his feet. Then he cut of the wrist of the second gaazee and placed that along with his sword too near the previous sword. This way, Sardar jee seized swords from all Gaazees and killed all of them.

After killing the 5 great gaazees of the Pathaans, Sardar jee challenged the other pathaans to a fight. No one moved forward. By this time the Khalsa army reached him and he was taken back to a safe spot. Khalsa won this battle but the price it paid was very heavy. Akali jee got shaheed in this war.

Sardar jee’s status in the Sikh army elevated greatly after this battle. He was given the title of “Punj Hatha Jarnail” meaning General with 5 hands.

Today, it is hard to find warriors of Sardar jee’s level. The Khalsa Panth is known for it martial skills and if we lose these skills, I am afraid we will lose our distinctiveness.

Daas,
Kulbir Singh