ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>MASSE KH&#256N RA&#7748GHA&#7770 (d. 1740)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="MASSE"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279MASSE <u>KH</u>&#256N RA&#7748GHA&#7770 (d. 1740), a Ra&#7749gha&#7771 R&#257jp&#363t landlord converted to Islam, belonged to the village of Ma&#7751&#7693&#299&#257l&#299, 8 km south of Amritsar. He was appointed <i>kotw&#257l</i> of Amritsar by Zakar&#299y&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257n, the Mu<u>gh</u>al governor of Lahore (1726-45), after the death of Q&#257z&#299 'Abdur-Rahm&#257n who had met his end at the hands of the Sikhs. Masse <u>Kh</u>&#257n's specific charge was not to allow Sikhs to visit the Harimandar or have a dip in the tank around it. He stationed himself in the Harimandar, the <i>sanctum sanctorum</i> in the middle of the <i>sarovar</i>, the sacred pool. There he caroused and indulged in revelry with women of ill repute. Most of the fighting bands of Sikhs had already been driven out by Zakar&#299y&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257n's drastically harsh measures to seek refuge in hills and deserts outside the central Punjab, and Mass&#257 had a free rein until the news of the sacrilege reached the <i>jath&#257</i> or band of Sard&#257r Shi&#257m Si&#7749gh camping in Jaipur, in R&#257jasth&#257n. Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh, one of the <i>jath&#257</i>, vowed to avenge the desecration of the holy Harimandar and, accompanied by another brave warrior, Sukkh&#257 Si&#7749gh, he forthwith left for Amritsar. The two, finding all approaches to the city strongly guarded, took recourse to a stratagem. Disguised as revenue officials come to deposit their tax collections, they entered the Harimandar, cut off Massa's head, and made good their escape before the Mu<u>gh</u>al soldiers knew what had happened. This occurred on 11 August 1740.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Bha&#7749g&#363, Ratan Si&#7749gh, <i>Prach&#299n Panth Prak&#257sh</i>. Amritsar, 1914<BR> <li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u> Gur&#363 <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257</i> [Reprint]. Patiala,1970.<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Gurdev Si&#7749gh Deol<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>