The Untold Narrative

Since my childhood and later after the advent of various social media platforms, one piece from the Mughal History has been extremely popular. The story of the brutal execution of The 9th Sikh Guru – Tegh Bahadur Singh Ji. Undoubtedly, this act was barbaric and inhuman in nature. His decapitation was ordered by Aurangzeb and was executed at the Chandani Chowk in Delhi.

Sikh holy premises Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi, mark the places of execution and cremation of Guru Tegh Bahadur. His martyrdom is remembered as the Shaheedi Divas every year on 24 November.

9th Sikh Guru – Tegh Bahadur Singh Ji

What intrigued me was the fact that there are two more Sikh Gurus who were executed on the Orders of Mughal Emperors in different eras. Unfortunately, this isn’t known to many of us and also is not a part of any narrative and also not much seen on social media platforms, for reasons unknown!!

5th Sikh Guru – Arjan Dev Ji

Guru Arjan Dev Ji , the 5th Sikh Guru, a poet and compiler of the Adi Granth , was patronised by Akbar. But, when, after the death of Akbar, inevitable war of succession broke out between Salim and Khusro, Arjan Dev Ji allegedly sided with Khusro. Later, Jahangir ordered to confiscate the properties of Arjan Dev Ji, imprisoned him and then got him killed in Lahore.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji rests in peace at Gurudwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.

This act of Jahangir is equally unjust and highly condemnable.

10th Sikh Guru – Gobind Singh Ji

Gobind Singh Ji, 10th and last of the Sikh Gurus was camped on the Banks of Godavari, along with his Army. This military movement was part of the War of Succession between Bahadur Shah I, (official successor to Aurangzeb), and his brothers.

While he was stationed near Nanded, two Afghans, Jamshed Khan and Wasil Beg, who were believed to be employed by Wazir Khan, gained access to the tents of Gobind Singh Ji and stabbed him to death. Both the killers were grabbed and killed on the spot. However, it isn’t perfectly known if Wazir Khan acted upon the orders of Bahadur Shah, neither can it be denied because he was Nawab of Sirhind which was a Mughal Subah and he was also commander of the Mughal Army. This looks unlikely that Bahadur Shah would not be aware of such a conspiracy being hatched.

But what astonished me was that these two unfortunate killings are not much talked about in the public domain. What we know is part of the popular culture on various platforms. Before making opinions, we must curiously dig deeper into the past from all possible angles. Be assured, treasure is waiting to be unearthed!

Let’s try to be a student of History and not the Judge of it.

Hazur Sahib – Nanded

Hazur Sahib is also known as Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, is one of the five takhts in Sikhism. The gurdwara was built between 1832 and 1837 by Nasir-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jah IV upon the request of his friend Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji to build the Gurudwara. It is located on the banks of the River Godavari at Nanded in Maharashtra.

The J Factor

Grant Medical College – 1845

First batch of would-be Medical Practitioners was inducted into this prestigious college in 1845. The college was a fructification of the efforts of the Governor of Bombay Presidency – Stuart Grant and financially aided by the 1st Baronet and Philanthropist – Sir Jamsetjee Jinibhoy.

Sketch of Sir J J Bart.

The Grant Medical College & Hospital was set up in the premises of Sir J J Hospital in Buyculla in South Bombay. Sir J J donated Rs 1 Lac for the project of Grant Medical College. It must be noted that the efforts to set up a world class College started during the regime of Governor Elphinstone.

Dr Jal Ratanji Patel

Dr Jal Patel was Indian physician; he was Jinnah’s friend, and attended to him for his tuberculosis and other health problems. Dr Patel was a professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and was later the Dean at the Grant Medical College in Bombay. Dr Patel was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1962 by Govt. of India.

In my all time favourite Book – Freedom at Midnight, Dominique Lapierre claimed that Dr Patel had handed over a confidential file pertaining to Jinnah’s Tuberculosis, and that Dr Patel kept his patient’s condition a secret on the patient’s advice. It is widely argued even today, that if the Indian National Congress would have known that Jinnah’s condition was serious in nature, INC would have changed it’s stand on Partition. INC would have never agreed to the Partition. But now it remains a hypothesis.

Dr Patel did what his profession demanded. Keeping patient’s condition secret!!

Trivia – The Anatomy Hall of Grant Medical College was used for shooting of the cult Bollywood Movie – Munnabhai MBBS.

2003 cult film – Munnabhai MBBS

4 Lessons from the Battle of Panipat

It was a Winter Solstice. 14 January 1761. About 4 years after the decisive victory of the East India Company at the Battle of Plassey. EIC was on the dream-run in the East. On North West Frontier, Marathas were staring at the biggest battle of the entire clan. In the History, it’s known as the Third Battle of Panipat.

Artillery & Cavalry of the Marathas in action at Panipat

It’s always easy to judge an event retrospectively, but that’s what History is about. Learning from the past! I have compiled 4 lessons that we all can learn. Read on.

Lesson No 1 – Choose your Battles

Ahmed Shah Abdali ( Durrani )

Ahmed Shah Abdali, founder of the Durrani Empire and modern day Afghanistan, was 50 years of age when he came to the NW Frontier. In his mind, looting and controlling Delhi was the only objective. Pune was not even in his distant thoughts. It was the Marathas, who were stationed at Pune, decided to travel all the way to Delhi and take head on with Abdali.

In my opinion, it was a decision, far too fetched, and untimely. The bigger enemy was still in the neighborhood and not at the NW front – The British.

Lesson No 2 – Don’t Count your Chicken before they are Hatched

Vishwasrao Peshwa

Initially, it was decided that Sadashiv Rao Bhau will lead the Panipat campaign, along with Shamsher Bahadur (Son of Mastani). At the last moment, Vishwas Rao’s mother interferred. She thought that in the able leadership of Sadashiv Rao and Shamsher Bahadur, the Marathas are all set to win the battle against Abdali. And after they won, Delhi would be under direct control of Sadashiv Rao. This was not acceptable to Gopika Bai. And, here comes the intervention of Maratha ladies in the matters of warfare and polity. She insisted that 19-year old Vishwas should lead the campaign and join along with Shamsher Bahadur and Sadashiv Rao. That was being over ambitious and over confident. Blunder!

Lesson No 3 – Sunk Cost Trap

Sadashiv Rao Bhau

The young and energetic general at the age of 40, was at his peak in 1761. He led a military of 45,000 + Marathas to Delhi, and to Panipat subsequently. However, he could not manage rasad well. At a stage, the Army had to feed themselves on the ration meant for Horses and Elephants.

After spending a year or so after leaving Pune, and waiting long for enemy contact near Yamuna, was a tiring journey. The cost involved in material, the consumption of energy in Men, was a Sunk Cost Trap.

Retreating for a larger cause is also a sign of able Leadership. One doesn’t need to fight all battles that we chose. Retreat is not Defeat!!

It’s easier said than done, but one needs to be extremely courageous to take the call at the right time, before reaching a point of no-return.

Lesson No 4 – Attack is not the best Defence, always!

Ibrahim Khan Gardi served Nizam before joining the Peshwa

At one point of time, during the stand-off between the forces of Abdali & Marathas, Abdali was contemplating return to Afghanistan. He wasn’t in a great mood of battle and/or attack.

It was the Maratha Artillery, under the leadership of Ibrahim Khan Gardi, that opened attack on Abdali, of course after consultations with Sadashiv Rao Bhau.

Sometimes, not choosing to Attack could also be a great startegy!!

I hope we can learn and implement these lessons in our lives. Do share your feedback as to how you found this Article. You may add any other lesson that I might have missed.

Disclaimer – I am no one to judge what happened in The Battle of Panipat. But I believe, we must learn from the history. As a history enthusiast, I have only tried to put forward the lessons that I learnt. I have deep regards for Sadashiv Rao Bhau and believe that he did what best suited at that point in time, for the Marathas. Salute!!

Taliban takes control of Presidential Palace in Kabul in 2021

See the painting in the background? It’s depicting the coronation of Ahmed Shah Abdali in 1747. He is highly revered King of Afghanistan. He rests in peace in a Tomb at Kandahar.

Sketch of the Tomb

Temple of Heritage

An iconic structure which stands tall even today, after over a 100 years is the Central Museum.

It is situated on the very famous Temple Road in Civil Lines, Nagpur. During my college days, I was mesmerized by the greenery of Civil Lines and was extremely proud of that. Temple road boasts of some huge sprawling plots, probably biggest in size in the city of Nagpur.

Central Museum – Nagpur

I was always curious to know why the Temple Road was called so, as I couldn’t find a Temple on that road. But then one fine day, the facts surfaced accidentally, while I was scanning some old reading material.

Sir Richard Temple

Temple Road in Nagpur is named after Sir Richard Temple. Before becoming the Resident of Hyderabad, he served as the Chief Commissioner of Central Provinces and Berar until 1867. His services were rewarded by bestowing Baronetcy in 1876. And a year later, he was made the Governor of Bombay.

Sir Richard Temple played an important role in setting up the Central Museum at Nagpur in 1863. To collect antiques and artefacts for this Museum, a special Durbar was called upon by Sir Temple, the then Commissioner. Some top British Officers serving in Nagpur and some distinguished residents of Nagpur were invited to attend the special Durbar. Sir Richard Temple requested them to donate antiques and rare artefacts to decorate the museum. Later, in 1866-67, some artefacts were brought from an Exhibition at Jabalpur.

There was no full time Curator to look after this beautiful Museum until 1916 when the post of a Curator was created. Interestingly, my maternal uncle, Ramesh N Chaudhary served as a Curator from 12 July 1990 to 31 Oct 2001. It was then, when I first visited this museum, and couldn’t resist visiting again and again!!

Coat of Arms of the 1st Baronet, Sir Richard Temple

Today, the Museum has divided it’s treasures in 10 beautiful Galleries. A few of unique artefacts in its possession, such as Coins, Weapons, Paintings etc are put on display. One gallery has been specially dedicated to the articles recovered during the archaeological excavations at various locations in Central India.

The museum is truly a de facto Temple of Heritage and Antiquities in Nagpur. If you are an antiquity buff, it’s a treat to your eyes.

Tilak & Jinnah

Rare photograph of Tilak in Mandalay Prison Cell

Nation is in remembrance of one of its greatest freedom fighters, Lokmanya Tilak, on his death centenary year 2020-2021. In his constant endeavour to achieve freedom, Tilak fought many battles. This was one of them.

Tilak was convicted for sedition in 1908 in a fiercely fought legal battle at the Bombay High Court for his two articles published in his daily newspaper “Maratha” The Lawyer who represented Tilak was a dashing & fearless Barrister M A Jinnah. Little did we know that Jinnah & Tilak enjoyed a great chemistry and friendship. Tilak was sentenced to 6 years of Rigorous Imprisonment and was sent to Mandalay to serve the same. The Judge was Dinshaw Davar. The Judge seemed to follow the wishes of his Masters ( The Brits ). The British Raj was so pleased that they conferred Knighthood upon Justice Davar.

Plaque at the Bombay High Court

Justice Chagla, as a young Lawyer served as an intern with Jinnah in his Chambers. He mentions in his Memoirs that Jinnah had utmost respect and regards for both Tilak & Gokhale. Tilak was childhood hero of Chagla. He idolised Jinnah and was also a member of the Muslim League, although Justice Chagla quit the League after it started espousing the cause of Pakistan as a separate Muslim Nation.

M C Chagla, who served as a Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from 1948 to 1958 and later served as an Education Minister in Nehru’s Cabinet and an External Affairs Minister in Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet, later wrote about it in details in his Memoirs !!

Mohammadali Currim Chagla ( 30.11.1900 – 09.02.1981 )

M C Chagla writes in his Memoir – the Bar Association of the High Court of Bombay wanted to give Davar a dinner. A circular went around asking those who wanted to join the dinner to sign it. When the circular came to Jinnah, he wrote a scathing note that the Bar should be ashamed to want to give a dinner to a judge who had obtained a knighthood by doing what the Government wanted, and by sending a great patriot to jail with a savage sentence. It seems that Justice Davar came to know about this, and sent for Jinnah in his chambers. He asked Jinnah how he thought Davar had treated Jinnah in his court. Jinnah replied that he had always been very well treated. Davar asked him next whether he had any grievance against him [Davar]. Jinnah said he had none. Davar then asked: ‘Why did you write a note like this against me?’ Jinnah replied that he wrote it because he thought it was the truth, and however well Davar might have treated him he could not suppress his strong feeling about the manner in which he had tried Tilak’s case. All this goes to demonstrate the great regard which Jinnah had for Tilak, and also the courage and the spirit which Jinnah displayed as a young man.”

Tilak shared stage at Shegaon with St Gajanan Maharaj

Before Tilak was sentenced to R I, he had visited Akola and shared stage with St. Gajanan Maharaj to address his followers. Later, when Gajanan Maharaj learnt about the case being tried before the Bombay High Court, his disciples sent holy offerings in the form of Jhunka & Bhakari, with a team of Lawyers who were going to Bombay to assist Jinnah.

It is believed that because of the blessings of Gajanan Maharaj, Tilak could write a Magnum Opus in Mandalay – Geeta Rahasya.

Badruddin Tayabji

About 11 years ago, in a similar case, Barrister Davar was defending Tilak, as his Lawyer, and the Judge then was Justice Tayabji who granted bail to Tilak, after hearing the arguments made by Davar. Considering this as a precedence, in 1908, Jinnah was hopeful that Davar who was the Judge, would grant bail to Tilak. But destiny had something else in store for Tilak. Here, the precedence didn’t work in his favour, unfortunately. And this left Jinnah disheartened to the core.

This conviction is possible the first on the charges of sedition.

Trivia

1) A PIL was submitted in the Bombay High Court seeking removal of photographs and statues of the Judges who convicted Freedom Fighters. Among others Judges, a photograph of Justice Byram Davar is also mentioned.in the PIL.

2) MC Chagla’s grand daughter – Rahiqa Mistry is wife of Late Cysrus Mistry.

8 Banks through Postage Stamps in India

Bank of the Banks

The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935. The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Kolkata but was permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937. Though originally privately owned, since nationalisation in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by the Government of India.

RBI was conceptualised as per the guidelines,working style and outlook presented by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, in his book titled “The Problem of Rupee – Its origin and its solutions” and presented to the Hilton Young Commission. Eventually, the Central Legislative Assembly passed these guidelines as the RBI Act 1934. The bank was set up based on the recommendations of the 1926 Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance, also known as the Hilton Young Commission. The original choice for the seal of RBI was the East India Company Double Mohur with the sketch of the Lion and Palm Tree. However, it was decided to replace the lion with the tiger, the national animal of India.

The India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp in 2016 to mark its 75th Anniversary.

The roots of State Bank of India lie in the first decade of the 19th century when the Bank of Calcutta (later renamed as Bank of Bengal) was established on 2 June 1806. All 3  Presidency Banks (Calcutta,Madras & Bombay) were incorporated as Joint Stock Companies by virtue of Royal Charter. The Presidency banks amalgamated on 27 January 1921, and the re-organised banking entity took as its name Imperial Bank of India. On 1 July 1955, the Imperial Bank of India became the State Bank of India.

India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on State Bank of India in 2005 to mark its Golden Jubilee.

Bank was incorporated on March 5, 1907 with an Authorized Capital of Rs.20 lakhs and commenced its business on August 15, 1907. In the year 1907, the Indian Bank Ltd. had the tree ‘Banyan’ as a part of its emblem denoting an all around progress, growth and an ever increasing prosperity.

The Bank was founded at the confluence city of Allahabad by a group of Europeans. In 2014, it entered 150th year of its operations. It was merged with The Indian Bank.

In the city of Nagpur, where I live, Allahabad Bank has a heritage building in its main branch at Civil Lines. It’s a red stone marvellous building, right next to another majestic Bank – R B I.

India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp to mark its 125th Anniversary.

Established in 1911, Central Bank of India was the first Indian commercial bank which was wholly owned and managed by Indians. The establishment of the Bank was the ultimate realisation of the dream of Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala, founder of the Bank. Sir Pherozesha Mehta was the first Chairman of a truly ‘Swadeshi Bank’. In fact, such was the extent of pride felt by Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala that he proclaimed Central Bank of India as the ‘property of the nation and the country’s asset’. He also added that ‘Central Bank of India lives on people’s faith and regards itself as the people’s own bank’.

During the past 106 years of history the Bank has weathered many storms and faced many challenges. The Bank could successfully transform every threat into business opportunity and excelled over its peers in the Banking industry.

India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on it centenary celebrations, in the year 2010.

Opened in 2018, the bank had acquired about 4.0 crore customers by December 2020. The IPPB is a public sector payments bank operated by India Post.

On 17 August 2016, it was registered as a public limited government company. Pilot project started in Raipur & Ranchi. As of now, it has over 600 branches and about 3000 access points, across various post offices across India.

Punjab National Bank was founded in 1894, with its office in Anarkali Bazaar, Lahore in present day Pakistan. After its merger with United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce, it’s 2nd largest Public Sector Bank in India.

Apart from many leaders of the Swadeshi Movement, Lala Lajpat Rai was active for quite some years in PNB’s management.

India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp to mark its 125 years of operations.

Standard Chartered is a British multinational banking and financial services company, headquartered in London, England. It operates a network of more than 1,200 branches and outlets (including subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures) across more than 70 countries and employs around 87,000 people.

The bank began its operations when Queen Victoria granted a Royal Charter to James Wilson in 1853. Chartered opened its first branches in Bombay, Calcutta and Shanghai in 1858. The Standard Bank was a British bank founded in South Africa in 1862 by John Paterson.

The headquarters in Mumbai is a heritage building and India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on the building to mark its 150 years of operations in Mumbai.

Union Bank of India (Union Bank) was registered on 11 November 1919 as a limited company in Mumbai and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1947, it had only 4 branches, out of which 3 were in Mumbai alone. By 1975, it grew to 240 branches, after it acquired Belgam Bank.

In 2019, Andhra Bank & Corporation Bank were merged in UBI. Post merger, it would be 5th largest bank in India.

India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on it centenary celebrations in 2019.

Logo of earstwhile Imperial Bank of India

Classic Murree

That Murree’s Classic is the largest selling Beer in Pakistan, is in public knowledge. But what intrigued me was its tagline – “brewed since 1861”. Having tickled my curiosity quotient, I decided to investigate.

Murree is a himalayan hill station in Rawalpindi district. The mountain town was established in 1851, as a sanatorium for British troops. The town was constructed in 1853, and soon it became popular hill station in British India. In its heydays, Murree was the summer capital of Punjab Province, until it moved to Simla in 1876. Murree was first identified as a hill station by Sir Gen James Abott (infamous Abottabad is named after him).

The Murree Brewery Co. Ltd. was established and founded in 1860 by the British, on the mountain town, near Quetta. Today, this company is run by Isphanyar Bandhara, the third generation Parsi entrepreneur. At the inception, the company was managed by the family of Edward Dyre, father of Gen Dyre, whom we know for gruesome Jalianwala massacre.

The company has faced few major setbacks. First, due to an earthquake in 1935, when the brewery got completely destroyed. Second, during partition, when the factory was burnt in the riots. And third, in 1977, when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto imposed complete ban on alcohol in Pakistan. But, the company has stood the test of time.

In 2007, Murree became Muslim world’s first brewery to produce 20-year-old malt whisky, However, back then, alcoholic beverages could neither be exported nor be consumed in Pakistan, because the local law prohibited Muslims to do so.

The company was listed in Calcutta Stock Exchange, as early as 1902, and it is now the oldest continuing industrial enterprise of Pakistan and among the top 25 performing public companies on the Karachi Stock Exchange. It continues to be a publicly traded company on Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Despite suffering 3 major roadblocks and shrugging of the fact that it is based in a country where religion forbids consumption of booze, Muree stands tall. Perhaps by the blessings (and much to the delight) of connoisseurs!

Currently, the CEO of the Brewery is one Mr. Isphanyar Bhandara, a Parsi businessman, who had a 5-year stint as an elected representative in Pakistan.

Real Classic!!

Trivia – Brg Gen Dyer who ordered to fire on the peaceful gathering at Jallianwala Bagh was born in Murree. His father was a brewer in the Brewery at Murree.

Reginald Edward Harry Dyer

Gen Dyer later moved to Shimla and studied at Bishop Cotton School.

Postage Stamp to commemorate 150 years of BCS, Shimla.