KIRPA RAM, PANDIT or Kripa Ram (d. 1705), was the son of Bhai Aru Ram, a Sarasvat Brahman of Matan, 65 km east of Srinagar, in Kashmir. Aru Ram had met Guru Har Rai and sought his blessing at the time of the latter`s visit to Kashmir in 1660. In May 1675, Kirpa Ram led to Anandpur a group of Kashmir! Pandits driven to dire straits by Slate persecution. Iftikhar Khan, governor of Kashmir (1671-75), was a harsh man and was making forcible conversions to Islam. Guru Tegh Bahadur whose help the visitors sought asked them to go and have it communicated to the Emperor that, if he (Guru Tegh Bahadur) was converted, they would all voluntarily accept conversion.
Kirpa Ram and his companions sent to Emperor Aurangzeb a petition to that effect through Zahm Khan, governor of Lahore. Then followed the imperial summons, and Guru Tegh Bahadur`s arrest and his martyrdom in Delhi. Kirpa Ram returned to Anandpur. According to some chronicles, he helped Guru Gobind Singh in his Sanskrit studies. In 1699, he received the holy amrit and entered the fold of the Khalsa. He fell a martyr in the battle of Chamkaur on 7 December 1705.
References :
1. Kuir Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi 10. Patiala, 1968
2. Trilochan Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur: Prophet find Martyr. Delhi, 1967
3. Harbans Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Delhi, 1986
Pandit Kripa Ram Dutt, a Kashmiri Hindu of Mattan , District Anantnag , Kashmir
Worst type of persecution started visiting the inmates at the start of 14th century and Mugal emperor, Aurangzeb who ascended the throne of Delhi by deceit in 1658 had a strong desire to convert whole of India for which he hit upon a calculated plan to get rid of scholars, particularly in Kashmir, as he believed without Hindu scholars, his task would become easy. Hence he appointed 14 atrocious subedars as administrators and Governors of Kashmir for total proselytizing. The Chief among them was Iftikar Khan (1617-75), who was appointed as Governor of Kashmir. He was also called Afghani Sher.
The nature and the extent of barbaric brutality and mass persecution, unleashed against the indigenous inmates, being heart rending, needs not to be elaborated here. In addition to virtual series of consistently executed massacres, pretty girls were being seized and were sent as “gifts” to Royal harems.
Under such excruciating circumstances, a few Pandits decided to go to Shree Amar Nath Ji and invoke divine mercy to rid them of an unending persecution aiming at forcible proselytizing at the hands of the zealot Iftikar. The Jatha was led by Pandit Kripa Ram who possessed excellent leadership qualities which remained undaunted in the severest odds, humps, under looming threats of executions and even when reduced to penury and facing starvations.
At the Holy cave, one of the victim pilgrims saw a divine dream in which Pandits were asked to go to Guru Shree Teg Bahadur , the ninth Sikh Guru and request him for help to salvage the intensely beleaguered community . This dream, he shared with others in the pilgrimage and about 500 of them under the leadership of Pt. Kripa Ram Dutt proceeded towards Aitsar and thence to Chak Nanki or Anandpur Sahib, where Guru Maharaj was living.
The vagaries of weather, the arduousness of journey, thirst, hunger, and absence of any support from the Holy cave in Kashmir up to the Durbar of Guru Maharaj, can well be imagined than described in words. On reaching, they narrated the terrible atrocities committed on them by the Kashmir Governor. The respected Guru Sahib was deeply touched which made his mood pensive. At that time, Shree Guru Gobind Singh, who was then a child of 9 years only and was playing outside, saw the group of Kashmiri Pandits sitting in miserable condition and enquired from his father, all about the matter. Guru Ji told his son that they were Kashmiri Pandits and were forced to renounce their religion and were facing perpetual persecution and that they could be protected only if some Holy person offered himself to be sacrificed for them. Guru Sri Gobind Singh, with folded hands said,” Respected Father, Who else is a holier man than your good self for this cause.’ The worthy father addressed his worthy son, ”I have absolutely no hesitation but I am thinking about you , a child of 9 years only , who would take your care after me ?” Guru Gobind Singh Ji prophetically replied, ”Almighty God would take care of me.” Guru Maharaj Ji was very much pleased to hear the brave, courageous and divine words of his worthy son and advised the Pandits led by Pt. Kripa Ram Dutt, to go to Aurangzeb and tell him that they, along with the remaining Brahmins of Kashmir, were ready to get converted if Guru Maharaj, who was the Guru of all of us, would first be converted. The Guru Maharaj was kind enough to dictate to the Pandits, a petition ( in Persian) in this regard which was presented to Nawab Zalim Khan the then Gvernor of Lahore who was pleased to endorse it , returning the same to Pandits for onward presentation to the zealot Emperor at Delhi who was overjoyed seeing his evil design, getting accomplished by conversion of just one person. He directed Iftiqar Khan to suspend the exercise of forcible proselytizing for some time.
Aurangzeb then invited Guru Maharaj, who along with his five attendants was in Agra, to come to Delhi. Guru Maharaj reached Delhi on Nov 15, 1675, spurning the demand of the Emperor which enraged him. Bhai Dyal Ji and , Bhai Mati Dass were tortured, boiled and sawn alive respectively, to pressurize Guru Ji but in vain. However, on Nov 27, 1675, Guru Maharaj Ji attained martyrdom. In the turban bound round his Glorious Shesh, the following words were found written:-
“Sar-i- Khud dadam
Sar-i- Khuda na dadam. “ Which means, that He had given His Shish but not God’s secret, (ie; religion).
Gurudwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib is in Chandni Chowk , Delhi; exactly at the spot of the Mahan Ataman’s attaining martyrdom. There is hardly any matching example to be found any where in the world
Where to uphold the righteousness, protecting religious values, fighting for the cause of the oppressed and the sufferers, the way the Great Guru did. The mankind shall always with reverence remember Him and a grateful Kashmiri Pandit community shall for all times to come, remain highly indebted to the Great Guru Ji.
Pt. Kripa Ram Dutt was a highly learned man but with a visionary zeal who led his fellow community members even in the most difficult odds. He was deeply moved with the martyrdom of Guru Sri Teg Bahadur Ji, eventually he took up arms and kept himself at the disposal of Guru Sri Gobind Singh Ji who had taken a solemn vow to free the country from the cruel Mughals. Kripa Ram learned warfare techniques and under the esteemed command of Sri Guru Maharaj, took part in the valiant battle of Chakmaur and attained martyrdom in 1705 A.D.
