Punjab govt to restore Jahaz Haveli: The story of Todar Mal, and what he did for Guru Gobind Singh’s sons

Sub : History

Sec: Medieval India

Context:

Jahaz Haveli, a 17th-century structure in Sirhind, was the residence of Todar Mal.
It is being restored by the Diwan Todar Mal Heritage Foundation with support from the Punjab government, SGPC, and the Tourism and Archaeology Department.

Who was Diwan Todar Mal:

Diwan Todar Mal was a wealthy merchant and a prominent figure from Sirhind, Punjab, who lived during the 17th century.
Initially serving as a revenue official under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, he was later removed from his post by the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

Role in Sikh History:

Diwan Todar Mal is best remembered for his pivotal role in the aftermath of the execution of the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh.
Guru Gobind Singh’s sons, aged 9 and 7, were bricked alive in Sirhind on December 13, 1704, under the orders of Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of the region.
When their bodies were left without rites due to fear of retribution from Wazir Khan, it was Todar Mal who stepped forward to claim and cremate the bodies of the young martyrs.
Wazir Khan demanded that Todar Mal purchase the land for cremation by covering it with gold coins, placed vertically. Todar Mal fulfilled this demanding condition, spending a fortune to secure the land, which became the site for their cremation.
Later, Maharaja Karam Singh of Patiala built a gurdwara at this location and the region was renamed from Sirhind to Fatehgarh Sahib in honour of the martyrdom and gurdwara.

Commemoration of martyrdom:

The sons of Guru Gobind Singh were subjected to immense torture and ultimately bricked alive for refusing to convert to Islam.
Six years later, 1710, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur avenged their martyrdom by attacking Sirhind and killing Wazir Khan in the Battle of Chappar Chiri.
In honour of the bravery and sacrifice of Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, the Government of India declared December 26 as “Veer Baal Diwas” in 2022.

Confusion about the date of execution:

There is a confusion regarding the date of execution because historians of the time used the lunar calendar, which is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
The British adopted the Gregorian calendar in September 1752, by which time the difference between the two systems had grown to 11 days.

Jahaz Haveli:

Jahaz Haveli was the residence of Diwan Todar Mal in Sirhind, built in the 17th century.
The structure is notable for its unique design, resembling a ship, and is constructed with Nanakshahi bricks.
In 2009, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) took possession of the haveli.