ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>MAT&#256B SI&#7748GH</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="MATB,SIDGH"> <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">&#65279MAT&#256B SI&#7748GH or Maht&#257b Si&#7749gh (d. 1745), eighteenth-century Sikh warrior and martyr, was born the son of Har&#257 Si&#7749gh, a Ja&#7789&#7789 Sikh of Bha&#7749g&#363 clan of the village of M&#299r&#257&#7749ko&#7789, 8 km north of Amritsar. He grew up amidst the most ruthless persecution Sikhs suffered under the later Mu<u>gh</u>als, and like many another spirited youth joined one of the several small guerilla bands into which they had organized themselves after the capture and execution, in 1716, of Band&#257 Si&#7749gh Bah&#257dur. N&#257dir Sh&#257h's invasion, while it violently shook the already crumbling edifice of the Mu<u>gh</u>al empire, so emboldened the Sikhs that they attacked and robbed-even the invader's rear on his way back. Zakar&#299y&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257n, the governor of the Punjab from 1726 to1745, further intensified his campaign against the Sikhs, forcing them to seek safety in hills and deserts beyond the central Punjab. Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh, entrusting his family to the care of a village elder, Natth&#257, a Khahir&#257 Ja&#7789&#7789, went, according to his grandson, Ratan Si&#7749gh Bha&#7749g&#363, the author of <i>Pr&#257ch&#299n Panth Prak&#257sh</i>, to Jaipur in R&#257jasth&#257n, where he took up employment under the local ruler. It was at Jaipur that he learnt how Masse <u>Kh</u>&#257n Ra&#7749gha&#7771, the new <i>kotw&#257l</i> of Amritsar, had occupied the holy Harimandar and converted it into a pleasure-house. Resolved to avenge the sacrilege, Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh left forthwith for Amritsar, accompanied by another bold warrior, Sukkh&#257 Si&#7749gh of M&#257&#7771&#299 Kambo. They disguised themselves as tax-collectors carrying on their backs bags seemingly filled with money. "It was a scorching noon of the month of Bh&#257do&#7749," narrates Ratan Si&#7749gh Bha&#7749g&#363. "A strong wind raised a lot of dust, giving the two an excuse to cover their faces. Mass&#257 [inside the sacred sanctuary] was enjoying music appropriate to the rainy season. The guards were either resting under shelters or listening to the songs of the dancing-girls. The two [Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh and Sukkh&#257 Si&#7749gh] got their God-given chance. They hid their horses and spears outside the main entrance, one at either side, concealed their swords under their armpits, and advanced as if some soldiers were come with their collection of tax. Walking smartly, they reached where the <i>m&#7771da&#7749g</i> [Indian double-sided drum] was being played. One of them immediately drew his sword and severed Mass&#257's head like a gourd is plucked off the plant, while the other removed the ornaments from the body. There arose an instant tumult, but the two rode away on their horses and vanished into the forest." This happened on 11 August 1740.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh's ancestral village, M&#299r&#257&#7749ko&#7789, was raided by a strong military contingent under Faujd&#257r N&#363rd&#299n. Natth&#257, the village elder, and his son, nephew and two servants were killed while attempting to escape with their ward, R&#257i Si&#7749gh; the young. son of Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh. R&#257i Si&#7749gh was also grievously wounded and was left for dead. But of Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh there was no trace, until five years later, on receiving the news of the arrest of Bh&#257&#299 T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh, he surrendered himself voluntarily to die by his side. Harshest torments were reserved for both. Bh&#257&#299 T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh had his scalp scraped with lancets and Mat&#257b Si&#7749gh was broken on the wheel in the Na<u>kh</u>&#257s square in Lahore.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Bha&#7749g&#363, Ratan Si&#7749gh, <i>Pr&#257ch&#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> <li class="C1"> Gandhi, Surjit Singh, <i>Struggle of the Sikhs for Sovereignty</i>. Delhi, 1980<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Gurdev Si&#7749gh Deol<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>