Most of the Sikh gurdwaras are connected with Gurus and their families. These are referred to as historic gurdwaras and fall in the jurisdiction of the SGPC in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee in Delhi. Then, there are gurdwaras by Singh Sabhas or other such bodies. These have no historical significance but fulfil the need of the local community for congregation, holding marriages and other such functions. There are a few notable gurdwaras not related to the Gurus or their families but to other saints and important followers of the Gurus. These include Gurdwara Baba Farid in Punjab, Gurdwara Nadha Sahib near Panchkula and Gurdwara Baba Banda Bahadur.
Banda Bahadur is one of the most important personalities in Sikh history. Born as Lakhsman Das, he became an ascetic and changed his name to Madho Das. He lived on the banks of the Godavari, about 15 miles from Nanded Sahib where the tenth Guru once camped. After their meeting, Madho Das surrendered himself to the Guru and became his ‘banda’.
Even while the Guru was away from Punjab, he kept himself in touch with the goings-on there. Realising that his negotiations with the Mughal emperor might not succeed, he wanted to rouse the peasantry. He chose Banda for this purpose, and gave him five of his arrows and one sword. Five important Sikhs and 20 others were asked to go with him to Punjab and fulfil his mission. He also gave him hukumnamas to be given to the Sikhs, urging them to volunteer service under him.
Thirtyfive miles from Delhi, Banda Bahadur planted the Guru’s standard and started forwarding Guru’s hukumnamas to Sikhs. He issued a proclamation offering protection to anybody threatened by thieves, robbers or bigots. The message spread like fire and people flocked to him. For seven years, he consolidated his position and after organising people from Malwa and Majha, attacked troops of Wazir Khan, Governor of Sirhind. In a fierce battle, he defeated the Mughal army and razed Sirhind.
He was the first to establish Sikh rule, struck coins in the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh and his seal had the words, ‘Degh’ and ‘Tegh’, the hallmarks of Sikh philosophy.
Banda Bahadur was finally captured at Gurdas Nangal in Gurdaspur district and was brought to Delhi on February 29, 1716, along with 740 followers. They were given the option of conversion to Islam or death. Not a single person agreed to the conversion. Every day for seven days, 100 Sikhs were put to sword. Finally on June 9, 1716, Banda Bahadur and his remaining 40 followers were put to death. Banda Bahadur was killed brutally. His four-year-old son Ajay Singh was also killed in front of him.
Till the early 1950s, no attempt was made to identify the spot where Banda Bahadur was martyred. The killing took place at the dargah of Qutubdin Bhaktyar Kaki in Mehrauli. Some parts of the gate are still intact. Only in the late 1950s, one Shamsher Singh from Chandni Chowk formed a committee of five Sikhs to identify the place. He was supported by the late Nirlep Kaur, an MP. The move gathered momentum and a big meeting was held, with Jathedar Santhokh Singh as the prime mover. Around 1960-61, the Guru Granth Sahib was installed on the upper storey of the gate, below which Banda Bahadur was martyred. A temporary staircase was built to go up to the Prakash Asthan. Then 500 sq yd. of land was acquired around the gate. The gurdwara in the present shape was constructed by Baba Harbans Singh in 1990-91.
The gurdwara, on the first floor, rests on stilts. In due course, the ground floor is proposed to be converted into a langar hall. Gurdwara Banda Bahadur is a small structure, partly built with marble. It has a simple dome on a cube. There is a parikrama around it, which links it to the gate where the original prakash was done. The temporary staircase has now been made pucca. A school in the name of Banda Bahadur has also been set up. The gurdwara comes under the management of the Delhi Sikh Management Committee.