DAULAT KHAN LODHI, NAWAB, an Afghan noble, was, during the last quarter of the fifteenth century, governor of Jalandhar Doab with Sultanpur, a town in present day Kapurthala district, as his capital. One of his officials, Jai Ram, was married to Guru Nanak`s sister, Nanaki.Jai Ram secured young Nanak employment as keeper of the Nawab`s granaries and stores at Sultanpur. Nanak applied himself to his duties diligently, and impressed everyone with his gentleness and openhanded generosity.
Yet there were some who felt jealous of his growing repute. Complaints were carried to the Nawab that Nanak was squandering his stocks ; but checks made on two different occasions found the stores full and accounts correct.Some time later accusations were laid before the Nawab about what was described as an heretical pronouncement made by Guru Nanak.The reference was to the Guru`s pronouncement: “There is no Hindu and there is no Musalman.”The Nawab dismissed the complaint saying that Nanak was a faqir whose words they did not easily understand.
On the insistence of the Qazi, Guru Nanak was summoned to the court. As reports P^iratanJanam Sakhi, the Nawab finally said, Qazi, Nanak hath arrived at the truth. Any further questioning will be futile.” Likewise, Daulat Khan refused to intervene when Guru Nanak`s father in law, Mul Chand, petitioned him to stop his son in law from leaving his home and family and launching upon his journeys abroad.
Nawab Daulat Khan later became the governor of the entire Punjab with Lahore as his capital. He however fell out with Ibrahim Lodhi, the emperor of Delhi, and, conspiring with the latter`s uncle, `Alam Khan, invited Babar, the ruler of Afghanistan, to attack India. As Babar led his armies into the country, Daulat Khan realized that he had come more like a conqueror and new master than like an ally, and turned against him, but he was no match for Babar and suffered a defeat at his hands. Babar stayed to establish his rule in India, whereas Daulat Khan died in obscurity.
References :
1. Vir Singh, Bhai, ed., Puratan Janam Sakhi. Amritsar, 1982
2. McLeod, W.H., Early Sikh Tradition. Oxford, 1980
3. Harbans Singh, Guru Nanak and Origins of the Sikh Faith. Bombay, 1969
Daulat Khan Lodhi was a prominent Nawab in the Punjab region during the last quarter of the fifteenth century. Serving under the Lodi dynasty, he held governorship over key areas—most notably Sultanpur Lodhi, a town that would become an early epicenter of Sikh spirituality and cultural exchange .
Within Daulat Khan Lodhi’s administration, Sikh tradition recounts that the young Guru Nanak found meaningful employment—a connection that would profoundly influence his later teachings. One of Daulat Khan’s own officials, Jai Ram, who was married to Nanak’s sister Nanaki, secured a post for young Nanak as the keeper of the Nawab’s granaries and stores at Sultanpur Lodhi. His diligent work, marked by honesty and generosity, not only earned him respect among the local community but also helped shape the character and early reputation of the future founder of Sikhism .
There are also compelling narratives about how this environment nurtured Guru Nanak’s formative spiritual insights. Early accounts mention controversies sparked by Nanak’s bold spiritual pronouncements—most famously encapsulated in the phrase, “There is no Hindu and there is no Musalman.” When such allegations of heresy reached Daulat Khan, he is said to have handled the matter with remarkable discernment. Instead of reacting with harsh retribution, he investigated the claims and, finding no evidence of wrongdoing, chose not to interfere with Nanak’s journey. This measured response is emblematic of the pluralistic and inquisitive spirit that characterized Sultanpur Lodhi at the time .
While Daulat Khan Lodhi later expanded his political career by governing Lahore and even engaging in the turbulent politics of his era—such as inviting Babur to challenge the reigning emperor—his early role in the life of Guru Nanak remains a particularly significant chapter in South Asian history. The experiences secured in Sultanpur Lodhi not only provided Nanak with a practical foundation but also laid the early markers for a spiritual movement that would emphasize the unity of humanity beyond rigid religious divides. Today, Sultanpur Lodhi is remembered with reverence through numerous gurdwaras and historical commemorations that celebrate this legacy .
This overview underscores how administrative patronage—even from figures who might later be caught in the crosswinds of political ambition—can inadvertently foster monumental spiritual and cultural change. By providing a supportive yet curious environment, Daulat Khan Lodhi’s court played a crucial role in facilitating the early experiences of Guru Nanak, whose teachings continue to resonate with millions around the world.
