Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara
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Greatest Sikh Hero Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara |
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| Born | 4 July 1580 Kherpur sadat, Tashil Muzzafapur,District Alipura, Pakistan. |
| Died | 7 June 1680 New Delhi |
| Monuments | Lohgarh-Khalsa Rajthani,Red fort, Sarai Vanjara,Gurudwara Rakabganj |
| Occupation | Transporter, trader and civil contrator |
| Known for | Cremation the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji |
| Partner(s) | Bhai Makan Shah Lubana |
| Children | (eight sons)Bhai Nagaiya, Bhai Hema,Bhai Harhi, Bhai Pandara, Bhai Bakshi,Bhai Bala &Bhai Jawahar & daughter Bibi Seeto(Basant kaur) |
| Parent(s) | Naik Godhu |
| Relatives | Bhai Mani Singh (son-in- law) |
Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara was born at village Kherapur Sadat,Tahsil Muzzafarpur, District Alipura, Pakistan, on Saravanbadi Ashtami samat 1637 (04-07-1580). He died on Jethi Sudi Akadshi Samat 1737 (07-06-1680AD) total age 99 year 10 months at New Delhi in his palace called Malcha Palace. He had 8 sons, 17 grand sons and 24 great grand sons, all martyrdom with Guru Gobind Singh and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.
Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara was a rich trader of Delhi. He was the owner of four villages in Delhi named Malcha, Raisana, Baharkamba & Narela. He was a Sikh trader, contractor and a supplier for the Mughal Army and supplied them with saddles, limes, stone, bridles(rakabs) and reins. He also traded in cotton, lime powder(chuna). He had four trading tanda, each tanda having more than 50000 Bulk carts, 1 lacs armed men for protection and management of tanda. He used to import and export goods from central Asia to India. His Grand father Nayak Thakur was one of the main suppliers of the Mughal Army, during the reign of Akbar. He was the main contractor for the construction of Redfort, Delhi.He was employer of more than 4 lacs employees.
The family of Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara was associated with Guru Nanak to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, in the struggle against the Mughals for removing oppressions. Bhai Banjara and his brother Bhai Gurdas was close associate of Guru Hargobind, Guru Har Rai, Guru Har Krishan, Guru Tegh Bahadur & Baba Gurdita. Later on after his death his sons Bhai Hema, Bhai Naghaiya (latter on becomes Jawahar Singh), Bhai Haria and his daughter Bibi Seeto, later on becomes Basant Kaur, the family remain closed associate of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, the tenth Sikh Guru. Bhai Hema, Bhai Naghaiya and Bhai Haria embraced martyrdom, fighting against Mughals along with Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib in 1700-1704. Latter on his grand sons Bhai Agraj Singh and Bhai Faraj Singh, who were among the main generals of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and were also incharge at the battle of Lohgarh and SadhauraSadhaura. Both of them were martyrdom on 09-06-1716, along with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Delhi.He contributed almost 80 years of his life for flourishing Sikhism. He sacrificed his wealth and family members on the sake of Sikhism.
Lohgarh Fort- Sikh State Capital, established by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, is spread in almost 7000 acres and is situated in the old state of Nahan, now in District Yamuna nagar of Haryana and District Sirmour of Himanchal Pradesh. The fort Lohgarh is in the revenue estates of Lohgarh (HP), Haripur (HP), Jhil (HP), Mehtawali (HP), Palori (HP), Sukron (HP),Maharonwala (HP), Bhagwanpur Nathauri(Haryana), Dhanaura (Haryana), Nagli (Haryana) and Mohindinpur (Haryana). The circumference of the fort about 30 km. Archaeological evidence and engineering formulas (time and motion study) depicts that, it took almost 70 to 80 years for making fortifications in such a huge area. (This research has been conducted by Lohgarh Trust, YamunaNagar.) Presence of these archeological structures related to Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara near Lohgarh Fort, clearly indicates that Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara contributed to construction of Lohgarh Fort around 1630 to 1675. Moreover, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara was a rich trader and had good relationships with Mughals, as he used to pay heavy taxes. His movement in the vicinity of Lohgarh, therefore never came under the suspicious radar of Mughals and he continued to supply construction material, arms, horses and food items to the men, indulged in the construction of the Fort Lohgarh. He inhabited more than 80 villages having Sikh population in the vicinity of lohgarh, which was later destroyed by the Mughal.
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