BEDAVA, lit. disclaimer (be = without + dava = claim). The term came to be used by Sikh chroniclers in reference to an episode relating to the last days of Guru Gobind Singh’s battle at Anandpur during the winter of 1705. As, in consequence of the protracted siege of Anandpur, the hardships of the besieged Sikh garrison increased, a few of the Sikhs wavered in their resolution and asked the Guru’s permission to leave the fort.
The Guru told them that they could go if they were prepared to disown him. A few of them, it is said, recorded a statement disowning him and left. This statement came to be termed as bedava. Sikhs who had deserted Guru Gobind Singh reached their homes; their womenfolk charged them with pusillanimity and chided them for betraying their Guru in the hour of need. They offered to go and take to arms if the men would not rejoin the Guru. One of the ladies, Mai (mother) Bhago, of the village of Jhabal, in fact, donned a warrior’s dress and weapons and exhorted them to follow her if they still had any sense of honour left.
The men became remorseful. They were preparing to return to the Guru when news spread in the countryside of the evacuation of Anandpur. When they learned that Guru Gobind Singh had himself survived the holocaust and was reorganizing the Khalsa somewhere in the Malva region, they at once set out in search of him, Mai Bhago still with them. They caught up with the Guru just when he faced a strong force led by the Mughal faujdar of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, in hot pursuit of him.
They challenged the invading host at Khidrana, now Muktsar — at that time a small pond, the only water reservoir in that vast desert. They fell fighting almost to a man but forced the enemy to retreat. As quiet prevailed over the battlefield at sunset, Guru Gobind Singh came down from the high ground from where he had been raining arrows on the enemy to find all the Sikhs lying dead except one, Mahan Singh, at his last gasp. The Guru sat beside him and, placing his head on his lap, asked him for his last wish. Mahan Singh’s only desire was that the Guru should annul the bedava he and his companions had written at Anandpur. As if the Guru had anticipated the return of the truants, he had kept that deed of renouncement with him throughout those troublous days and months since leaving Anandpur. He now pulled out of his pocket the bedava and tore it up to the immense satisfaction of Bhai Mahan Singh, who then died in peace.
References:
- Kuir Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi 10. Patiala, 1968
- Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Sura/ Granth. Amritsar, 1926-37
- Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1909
The Courage of Sikhs & The Tale of Bedava
The tale of Bedava is one of the most poignant episodes in Sikh history—a story that captures both moments of human frailty and the extraordinary capacity for redemption and courage among the Sikh warriors.
The Context: Siege of Anandpur
During the winter of 1705, as Guru Gobind Singh led his followers in a grueling battle at Anandpur, the protracted siege brought unbearable hardships to the Sikh garrison. Under dire circumstances, some Sikhs began to waver in their resolve. Overwhelmed by the suffering of being surrounded and starved, they sought the Guru’s permission to leave the fort.
The Guru, in his wisdom, offered them a stark choice: they could depart—but only if they formally disowned him. Their decision to sign a disclaimer—a document known as the Bedava (lit. “disclaimer” or “without claim”)—marked a dramatic moment of desertion. This act signified taking responsibility for abandoning their commitment to the Guru and, by extension, the Khalsa.
The Consequence: Shame and Repentance
Once the deserters reached home, they were met with harsh rebuke. Their families, embodying the spirit of uncompromising honor, chastised them for what they saw as an act of deep cowardice. The very idea of renouncing the Guru in the face of adversity struck at the heart of Sikh identity, where sacrifice and valor stand as pillars of communal pride.
In a powerful turn of events, the women of the community—most notably Mai Bhago—rose to the occasion. Outraged by the betrayal, Mai Bhago, a courageous and resolute figure, donned a warrior’s dress and arms, urging the deserters to reclaim their lost honor. Her impassioned call not only stirred the men’s consciences but also inspired a collective return to the righteous path.
The Redemption: Return to the Guru
News soon spread that Guru Gobind Singh had not only survived the catastrophic events at Anandpur but was also reorganizing the Khalsa in the Malva region. Struck by remorse and driven by a rekindled sense of duty, the remorseful deserters—with Mai Bhago leading the way—set out in search of their Guru. Their determination culminated in rejoining him on the battlefield at Khidrana (presentday Muktsar), where, despite suffering heavy casualties, they managed to force the enemy into retreat.
In the aftermath of the fierce clash, a lone Sikh warrior, Mahan Singh, lay dying. As the calm of dusk settled, Guru Gobind Singh approached him. In a moment of profound human connection, the dying warrior’s only wish was that the Guru annul the condemnatory Bedava—a document that had once marked his desertion. Having kept the Bedava with him through those troubled times, the Guru retrieved it from his pocket and, in a symbolic gesture of forgiveness and understanding, tore it to pieces. This act of clemency restored honor to the repentant warriors, allowing Mahan Singh to pass away in peace.
Reflections on Courage, Redemption, and Honor
The story of the Bedava exemplifies the dual nature of Sikh history—the interplay between moments of weakness and the capacity for moral revival:
Human Frailty and Moral Awakening:
Even the most stalwart among us may falter under extreme conditions. However, the true test lies in the willingness to acknowledge one’s errors and return to the path of honor.
Women as Catalysts for Change:
The bold intervention of Mai Bhago highlights the critical role that courageous leadership—regardless of gender—plays in inspiring collective redemption.
The Magnanimity of the Guru:
Guru Gobind Singh’s act of tearing up the Bedava is not just a physical removal of paper but a profound assertion of the possibility for forgiveness and transformation. It underscores that while the path of the Khalsa demands unwavering commitment, the spirit of the community remains merciful and inclusive, ever ready to welcome those who sincerely repent.
