Peer Buddhu Shah Gurudwara
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
A true Hussaini will never tolerate oppression and resist a tyrant with all might. Peer Buddhu Shah who is revered by Sikhs is one such example. He was born on June 13,1647 and executed in 1704 by a predecessor of the mercenaries who are bent upon shattering world peace by slaughtering innocent people in countries like Syria, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the name of Islam. He belonged to a prosperous Syed family of Sadhaura in Ambala district of Haryana. His real name was Badruddin but he earned the nickname of Buddhu in his early childhood due to his extreme simplicity and silent nature. At 18, He was married to a pious lady, Nasirari who is more famous as Bibi Naseera,- a sister of Said Khan a high ranking Mughal Official. Buddhu Shah had four sons from Bibi Naseera namely, Syed Ashraf, Syed Muhammad Shah, Syed Muhammad Baksh and Syed Shah Hussain.
He was an admirer of Guru Gobind Singh and he never relished the oppressive policies of Aurangzeb or his fanatic tendencies. He visited the Guru regularly and once even offered him over 500 soldiers to put up a spirited fight against his enemies. In 1688, Guru Gobind was attacked by a combined force of hill chiefs led by Garhwal King Raja Fateh Shah during the battle of Bhagnani. However, when these soldiers faced battle against the Hill chiefs, they deserted the Guru's army. The Guru conveyed the news of the treachery to Buddhu Shah. Being aware of the fact that Guru's fight was not for any kingdom but against the persecution of poor people and religion was being used as an excuse to commit tyranny, he rushed to the battle field with seven hundred of his own followers, four sons and two brothers. Guru was very happy to see Peer Buddhu Shah's followers fighting against hill chiefs as they were not professionally soldiers but ordinary people. Guru felt very happy seeing the devotion of peer Buddhu Shah and his followers. Many of the Peer's disciples as well as two of his sons, Ashraf and Muhammad Shah, and his brother, Bhure Shah lost their lives in action.
With the timely aid of Buddhu, Guru was able to defeat Hill Chiefs. After the victory, Guru offered rich presents to the Peer but he politely declined to accept on the pretext that he had simply performed his duty as a faithful follower of Imam Hussain who had given the most powerful message from Karbala that oppressors must be opposed even in the most trying circumstances without any fear . The Guru however persuaded him to accept two articles and small Kirpan (sword) .His descendants kept these relics in the family until Maharaja Bharpur Singh of Nabha (1840-1863) acquired them in exchange for a jagir.
While his action deeply touched and impressed the Guru, his action infuriated the Mughals who were convinced by the defeated hill chiefs that Guru was emerging as a threat to Mughal Emperor with the help of Buddhu Shah who was helping Sikhs due to anti Imami actions of Aurangzeb Alamgir. They sent numerous letters to Emperor seeking his intervention against the Guru. At the instance of royal court, Faujdar of Sirhind, under whose jurisdiction Sadhaura then fell, directed a local official, 'Usman Khan', to kill the peer. The latter marched on Sadhaura, arrested Buddhu Shah, tortured him and executed him. The local people mourned his death for several months but they could not raise voice against the dastardly killing of a Hussaini being much scared of Usman Khan who was notorious for his barbarism.
However, the martyrdom of Peer did not go unnoticed. When Banda Bahadur came to know was apprised of Buddhu Shah’s fate, he avenged Peer’s death by storming Sadhaura and killing Usman Khan. After partition, Buddhu Shah's descendants migrated to Pakistan in but Sikhs did not forget Peer and converted his ancestral house in Sadhaura into an impressive Gurudwara and named it after him. Sikhs not only revere Peer Buddhu but also visit Gurudwara built in his memory in large number for fulfillment of their wishes.( Referencs available on request)
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