IMMORTAL RAJPUTS -RAJA DULLA BHATTI ( ROBIN HOOD OF PUNJAB )

https://youtu.be/U7kB7agr8dY

 "No honourable son of Punjab will ever sell the soil of Punjab" - Dullah Bhatti Final Words

सभी देशवासियों को लोहड़ी पर्व कि हार्दिक बधाई ।

लोहड़ी का पर्व एक मुस्लिम राजपूत योद्धा दुल्ला भट्टी कि याद में पुरे पंजाब और उत्तर भारत में मनाया जाता है ,

लोहड़ी की शुरुआत के बारे में मान्यता है कि यह राजपूत शासक दुल्ला भट्टी द्वारा गरीब कन्याओं सुन्दरी और मुंदरी की शादी करवाने के कारण शुरू हुआ है. दरअसल दुल्ला भट्टी पंजाबी आन का प्रतीक है. पंजाब विदेशी आक्रमणों का सामना करने वाला पहला प्रान्त था ।

ऐसे में विदेशी आक्रमणकारियों से यहाँ के लोगों का टकराव चलता था .दुल्ला भट्टी का परिवार मुगलों का विरोधी था.वे मुगलों को लगान नहीं देते थे. मुगल बादशाह हुमायूं ने दुल्ला के दादा सांदल भट्टी और पिता फरीद खान भट्टी का वध करवा दिया.दुल्ला इसका बदला लेने के लिए मुगलों से संघर्ष करता रहा. मुगलों की नजर में वह डाकू था लेकिन वह गरीबों का हितेषी था. मुगल सरदार आम जनता पर अत्याचार करते थे औरदुल्ला आम जनता को अत्याचार से बचाता था.

दुल्ला भट्टी मुग़ल शासक अकबर के समय में पंजाब में रहता था। उस समय पंजाब में स्थान स्थान पर हिन्दू लड़कियों को यौन गुलामी के लिए बल पूर्वक मुस्लिम अमीर लोगों को बेचा जाता था।दुल्ला भट्टी ने एक योजना के तहत लड़कियों को न सिर्फ मुक्त करवाया बल्कि उनकी शादी भी हिन्दू लडको से करवाई और उनकी शादी कि सभी व्यवस्था भी करवाई।सुंदर दास नामक गरीब

किसान भी मुगल सरदारों के अत्याचार से

त्रस्त था. उसकी दो पुत्रियाँ थी सुन्दरी और

मुंदरी. गाँव का नम्बरदार इन लडकियों पर

आँख रखे हुए था और सुंदर दास को मजबूर कर

रहा था कि वह इनकी शादी उसके साथ कर दे.

सुंदर दास ने अपनी समस्या दुल्ला भट्टी को बताई.

दुल्ला भट्टी ने इन लडकियों को अपनी पुत्री मानते हुए नम्बरदार

को गाँव में जाकर ललकारा. उसके खेत जला दिए और लडकियों की शादी वहीं कर दी।जहाँ सुंदर दास चाहता था. इसी के प्रतीक रुप में रात को आग जलाकर लोहड़ी मनाईजाती है.!!

दुल्ले ने खुद ही उन दोनों का कन्यादान किया। कहते हैं दुल्ले ने शगुन के रूप में उनको शक्कर दी थी। इसी कथा की हमायतकरता लोहड़ी का यह गीत है, जिसे लोहड़ी के दिन

गाया जाता है :

सुंदर, मुंदरिये हो,

तेरा कौन विचारा हो,

दुल्ला भट्टी वाला हो,

दुल्ले धी (लडकी)व्याही हो,

सेर शक्कर पाई हो।

दुल्ला भट्टी मुगलों कि धार्मिक नीतियों का घोर विरोधी था। वह सच्चे अर्थों में धर्मनिरपेक्ष था.उसके पूर्वज संदल बार रावलपिंडी के शासक थे जो अब पकिस्तान में स्थित हैं। वह सभी पंजाबियों का नायक था।

आज भी पंजाब(पाकिस्तान)में बड़ी आबादी भाटी राजपूतों की है जो वहां के सबसे बड़े जमीदार हैं।

जय राजपुताना।

The wiki entry talks about his legend but for some reason makes him a Muslim, but he was a Hindu Rajput as per told by old resident's of the village sheikhpura. So wish to add or correct here some facts about Lohri that most Punjabis today don’t remember at all. This song he mentioned:

“Sundari Mundari Hoye, Tera Kaun Vichara,

Dulla Bhatti Wala,

Dulhe do dhi vyaayi,

Gud Shakkar Payi...”

It’s a story which has very different origins And even the other songs..about....Jodi Jeeve

दे माई लोहड़ी, तेरी जीवे जोड़ी

दे माई लोहड़ी, तेरी जीवे जोड़ी’ , ‘दे माई
पाथी तेरा पुत्त चढ़ेगा हाथी
हुल्ले नी माइ हुल्ले
दो बेरी पत्ता झुल्ले
दो झुल्ल पयीं खजूर्राँ
खजूराँ सुट्ट्या मेवा
एस मुंडे कर मगेवा
मुंडे दी वोटी निक्कदी
ओ खान्दी चूरी कुटदी
कुट कुट भरया थाल
वोटी बावे ननदना नाल

पा नी माई पाथी तेरा पुत्त चढेगा हाथी हाथी

पा नी माई पाथी तेरा पुत्त चढेगा हाथी हाथी 
उत्ते जौं तेरे पुत्त पोत्रे नौ! 
नौंवां दी कमाई तेरी झोली विच पाई
टेर नी माँ टेर नी
लाल चरखा फेर नी!
बुड्ढी साँस लैंदी है 
उत्तों रात पैंदी है
अन्दर बट्टे ना खड्काओ
सान्नू दूरों ना डराओ! 
चारक दाने खिल्लां दे
पाथी लैके हिल्लांगे 
कोठे उत्ते मोर सान्नू
पाथी देके तोर

 etc were what were the blessings given to Sundari and her husband...it’s sad to see fellow Punjabis not even knowing the origins. Some call it harvest festival (despite a separate Baisakhi)

Dulla Bhatti was a famous legendary Rajput hero of Punjab

who led a rebellion against the famous Mughal king Akbar. There is a kind of epic in Punjabi language called Dulle di var, which narrates the battle events of Dulla Bhatti. Still there is a famous region in Punjab, Pakistan, called Dulle Di Bar means the forest of Dulla Bhatti. This legendary Punjabi hero is buried at Miani Sahib Qabristan (Graveyard) in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. There is a town Dullewala (Bhakkar District) in the name of legendary Dulla Bhatti where he had a stay with his allies.

Dulla Bhatti was born in a Punjabi Rajput family to mother Ladhi and father Farid Khan in the area of Sandal Baar, near Faisalabad now in Pakistan (Sandal Bar is also related to the legend of Mirza Sahiba). 

He belonged to the warrior rajput clan of Bhattis.

He following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, waged a guerrilla warfare against the Mughal Empire.He refused to accept the legitimacy of Mughal King Akbar and refused to pay any tax.Such was the level of resistance put up by the rebels that Akbar had to shift his Imperial Capital to Lahore for nearly 20 years. 

When Akbar came to Lahore, he ordered the execution of the rebels.Legend has it that to instill fear into the hearts of the common man, Akbar got their skins stuffed with wheat hay (toori) and hung the dead-bodies on the main door.Dulla wasn’t even born yet. For some reason, huirre was never told of the cause of his father’s and grandfather’s death until hewas a young man. One theory has it that Dulla was born at the same time as Akbar’s son Salim (who would later become Emperor Jahangir); 

but Salim was a weakling and on doctors’ suggestions Akbar brought in Ladhi (Dulla’s mother and a strong rajput woman) to his palace in Delhi and made her to breast feed Salim. So both Dulla and Salim were practically brought up by Ladhi. As adolescents, these two had a good friendship. Dulla and his mother went back to their homeland.

Dulla bhattithe Robin Hood...who helped H’s of Punjab from tyranny of Mughals...during Akbar’s reign...Lohri is the celebration of his victory and Sundari’a wedding The story is from the village Shekhupura, near Lahore (my grandpa stayed here as a child & legend of Dulha Bhatti wala (DWB) was famous in the area). Dullaah Bhatti would attack Akbar’s royal treasure and use it for villagers in helping them pay jaziya or get their daughter’s married Frustrated with DWB and his growing influence, Akbar sent one of his most trusted fort guards Asif Khan to catch Dullah Bhatti (dead or alive). Asif Khan went to the village where he had got tip about Dullah Bhatti and camped in the village mosque with his regiment. It was winter and cold. 

In the morning he sent his soldiers in all directions to catch Dulla Bhatti, while he himself lay on the terrace of the mosque in the sun. Few village girls came to the well outside the mosque to get water. Sundari was one of them. He lusted for the girl and called her. She understood his intentions and ran away. On inquiring the maulvi told that she was local brahmin’s daughter. Brahmin dad was called, threatened, given monetary incentive to give the girl to Asif Khan. Finding no way out, the Brahmin made an excuse that it’s “Poos” now And Hindus don’t have marriages in Poos...not auspicious. Asif Khan gave him money to buy jewellery & clothes for the girl and promised to come back after “poos”. Not finding Dulla Bhatti for several days, Asif Khan went back with his men, promising to come when ‘poos’ was over The Brahmin knew if anyone could save his daughter and village from Asif Khan, it was Dulla Bhatti so he went in his search and when he found him, told him of his ordeal. Dulla Bhatti promised to help & found a suitable Brahmin guy from another village for Sundari. On last night of ‘poos’ Dulla Bhatti came and got them married. It was a low key affair else Maulvi would know & inform Asif Khan. 

They couldn’t cook a feast so for sweets managed with Gur, Shakkar & Rewari. The fire was lit to perform the wedding rituals. Dulla Bhatti performed the kanyadaan himself By morning she was sent off with her husband away from the village. When Asif Khan came he found the girl gone. 

The song says “ Sundari Mundari Hoye...Tera Kaun Vichara” meaning ‘Sundari who will help u/ care for you now?” and then answers “Dulla Bhatti Wala” “Dulhe di dhi vyaahi”...”Daughter of Dulla got married” (coz he adopted her and performed her kanyadaan). “Gur Shakkar Payi”. Today most Punjabis don’t know this story...not realising they are celebrating Sundari’s wedding and in a way a small victory in those bleak times Dulla Bhatti was caught and killed few months later. 

The story of Dulla has been poetically treated by many, and hasbeen written in style known as Saddaan (similar to Mirza by Peelu and Bhagwan Singh). The above incident is thus narrated:

Tera saandal dada maareya,
ditta bhore vich paa,
Mughlaan puthhiyaan khallaan
laah ke bhariyaan naal hawaa.

In the Chardah (East) Punjab-now India-during the Lohri bonfires that mark the end of the deep winter and the start of 

spring (Capricorn Constellation-Makar appears over the horizon) all the 

Sikh and Hindu families mark Dulla Bhatti's 

social and humanitarian contribution made to rescue and then 

reintegrate the abducted children and girls from the Moghul 

forces. The Lohri Song is sung upon the birth of a baby boy- for

the agricultural community this marks continuation of the

 family land occupation.

The version of Lohri Song that best describes this contribution of Bhatti and the immense respect with which this rebel is held

In the eyes of all Punjabis is:

Sunder mundriye hoe!

Tera kaun wicahara hoe!

Dullah bhatti walla hoe!

Dullahe di dhee vyayae hoe!

Ser shakkar payee hoe!

Kudi da laal pachaka hoe!

Kudi da saalu paatta hoe!

Salu kaun samete!

Mamhe choori kutti!

 zamidara lutti!

Zamindaar sudhaye!

bade bhole aaye!

Ek bhola reh gaya!

Sipahee pakad ke lai gaya!

Sipahee ne mari eet!

Sanoo de de lohri te teri jeeve jodi! (Cry or howl!)

Paheenve ro te phannve pit! 

”(Rhyming: beautiful one like a ringlet one!)

Who will save you poor one (to a rescued girl)

Dullah Bhatti is here for you (He rescued the girls who were 

abandoned and rejected after kidnap!)

The Duallah married off his daughter (the rescued girls were 

adopted by him as his daughters)

He gave a measure (sher about a kilo)of sugar!

The girl is wearing bridal red dress!

But her shawl is torn (poor and soiled-girl has been raped?)!

Who will stitch her shawl(repair her reputation)?!

The maternal uncle made sweet ghee bread (choori)! (maternal 

uncles were responsible to vouch for chastity of the girl)

The landlords ravished it (meaning the girl kidnapped by rich 

moghul landlords!)!

He made the landlords eat a lot!

Lots of innocent guys came (poor grooms)

One innocent boy got left behind (the poorest of poor!)

The soldiers arrested him! (Indicated that he was in collusion 

with Bhatti the rebel)

The soldiers hit him with a brick! (tortured him)

Cry or howl!Give us lohri (gifts) ..

long live you couple!”

Rise of Dulla

As Dulla grew up he became a real fighter and warrior learning the art with his keen eye from here and there, unknowingly in the foot-steps of his father and grandfather. When he was young enough, his mother told him the about the past and from then on Dulla pledged that his only purpose in life was to defeat Akbar and kill him. In the meantime, Salim had a fall out with Akbar over Salim’s love affair with Anarkali. Salim rebelled and came up North-west and met up with Dulla. Salim instigated Dulla further to achieve his own motive as well. With Salim’s support, Dulla built up a small army of dacoits which made loots from the imperial treasure and merchants in the area of Sandal Bar. The famous loots among them being stealing horses from a merchant who was supposed to be working for the Akbar, then robbing Akbar’s gifts sent from the Middle East. His loots were distributed among the poor and this made him a popular and a heroic rebel. His compassion for the poor and hishelp in getting poor girls married is still remembered, especially during the times of celebrating the festival of Lohri (mostly falls on 13 January). Although different versions of the festive song are sung in different regions, it sounds something like:

Sundar munderiye

Tera kaun vichaara

Dulla bhatti waala

Dulle ne dhii vehaayi

Ser shakkar paayi

Kudi da saalu paata

Kudi da jeeve chacha

Kudi de maame aaye

Gin gin paule laaye

Ikk paula khus geya

Te zimiindaar russ geya

Aayiin aayiin chachi

Tera putt chadhu ga haathi

Haathi de kann vich jaunNi 

tere putt hon ge nau

Nau(h)aan di kamaayi

Ni tere dar dar chadh di aayi

("On Lohri, remembering Dulla Bhatti, the landlord who stood upto the mighty Akbar, Legend goes that the rebel chieftain saved two Brahmin girls from the emperor and married them off on the day of the winter festival.")

Seeing so much support for his nephew, Dulla’s uncle Jalaludin,got envious and complained to Akbar against the mischievous 

Dulla.In the meantime, Dulla kidnapped two of Akbar’s wives who were going for the Haj pilgrimage. This infuriated Akbar and he ordered immediate capture or killing of Dulla and the safe release of his queens. A huge army was sent for the task, and Dulla would not binge. People of that area wanted to save Dulla and tried to distract the army; so much so that one girl tried to lure the army chief.Anyway, Dulla fought bravely and for once the mughal army had to call for reinforcements because the rebels and the publicsupport were too hot to handle. Dulla's son was killed in the war. Dulla was deceitfully captured and brought to emperor’s court in Delhi. He was hanged to death.

Surrounded by thousands of others, there is nothing remarkable about the grave of Dulla Bhatti, on a raised platform, plastered with cement underthe shade of an old tree. There is no mark on the grave but a board next to it identifies its occupant. Occasionally, an odd visitor brings flowers or places a new chadar on it.

The grave is situated in the historical graveyard of Miani Sahib in Lahore, the city to which Akbar moved his capital from Fatehpur Sikri during the peak of Dulla Bhatti’s rebellion against him. Some assert that Akbar made the shift to counter the insurgency of this zamindar from Pindi Bhattian, a town about 140 km from here. It was under Akbar that Lahore transformed from a provincial town to a metropolis city, attracting traders, artisans, musicians, dancers, jogis and Sufis from across the Mughal Empire. One such Sufi was Shah Hussain, the mystic who spent his days dancing and singing on the city’s streets, holding a flask of wine in his hand.

Dulla Bhatti and Shah Hussain

Maulvi Noor Ahmad Chishti narrates an incident about Shah Hussein Lahori in his Tehqiqat-e-Chishtia say that 

Shah Hussain was present outside the Delhi Darwaza the day Dulla Bhatti was assassinated by the kotwal (police chief) on the orders of the Mughal emperor. . 

Dulla Bhatti never approved of Mughals and remained active against them. It is suggested that he was an admirer of Dulla Bhatti’s armed struggle against the Mughal authority.  Mughal King Akbar got hold of him and ordered to death. Dulla Bhatti was to be hanged publicly near Nela Gumbad or some place around Landa Bazaar in Lahore. 

Lahore Kotwal (Police Chief) Ali Malik was supervising the execution where Lahorites had flocked in large number. Shah Hussein had affiliations with Dullah Bhatti and agued with the Police Chief. Ali Malik threatened Shah Hussein saying, 

“I will get you nailed before evening.”

Shah Hussein responded, 

“You will be nailed before causing any trouble to me.”

Ali Malik had to report to Akbar and tell him last words of Dulla Bhatti after it was over. 

“Dulla Bhatti kept calling names and abusing you,” 

Ali Malik reported to Akbar who was infuriated with Ali Malik on repeating every thing exactly. Akbar ordered Ali Malik to be nailed.Order of the King was implemented the same evening.

Shah Hussain approved Dulla's revolt against Akbar, In fact, it is in honour of Dulla Bhatti that Shah Hussain is believed to have uttered the line:

“Kahay Hussain Faqeer Sain Da Takht Na Milday Mungay.”

(Says this lowly faqir, thrones are not gained by merely asking)

Dulla Bhatti's grave at the Miani Sahib Qabristan in Lahore. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Dulla Bhatti’s rebellion

As the stature of Dulla Bhatti grew after his death, so did the legends about him. Some claimed he was bornon the same day as Prince Salim, the oldest son of Akbar. The story goes that soothsayers told the emperor that Salim would grow to be a brave and strong man, worthy of his father’sthrone, if he were fed by a Rajput woman who had given birth to a child on the same day the prince was born. Ladhi, Dulla Bhatti’s mother, was identified as that woman and she raised Dulla Bhatti and Salim in the same household.

For many who accept this apocryphal tale as true, this was also a political manoeuvre by the emperor to win over the rebellious chieftain family of Pindi Bhattian. For years, Dulla Bhatti’s grandfather Sandal Bhatti andfather Farid Bhatti had fought the mighty Mughal Empire, opposing the taxation system introduced by Akbar and crafted by the emperor’s finance minister, Todar Mal. Under the new system, an estimation of the yearly crop value was determined for the past few years and the zamindar had to pay a fixed amount. Earlier, the tax was collected from the zamindar as a tribute.

Further weakening the authority of these local chieftains, a faujdar or Mughal administrator, whose job was to coordinate with the zamindars and collect taxes, was appointed. The faujdar was allowed to raise a small force and undertake development projects. The new system seriously compromised the economic and political independence of the zamindars and resulted in a rebellion that saw the death of three generations of the Bhatti clan.

A few months before Dulla Bhatti was born, his grandfather and father were captured and executed. Fearful for herson’s fate, Ladhi did not tell Dulla Bhatti about the rebellion of his ancestors and locked away their weapons in a room. Dulla Bhatti finally confronted his mother when hewas mocked by a village woman whose pitcher he had broken with his catapult. The woman told him that instead of exhibiting his bravery on these defenseless pitchers, he should avenge the deaths of his grandfather and father.

The lock to the secret room was opened after this incident and Dulla Bhatti distributed the weapons among his friends and followers. Thus began the legendary rebellion ofDulla Bhatti against Akbar, the mightiest Mughal emperor, songs of which were to be sung by bards for centuries to come. There are legends about how, on two occasions, Dulla Bhatti humbled the emperor and the prince when they were captured by his soldiers. In one incident, Prince Salim crossed over into Dulla Bhatti’s territory during a hunt. Releasing him,the chieftain argued that his conflict was with the emperor, not his son. On another occasion, it is stated that Akbar, separated from his guards, was caught by Dulla Bhatti’s soldiers. When presented before Dulla Bhatti, Akbar pretended to be the jester of the Mughal court and secured his release.

Lohri legacy

In Punjabi folk tradition, Dulla Bhatti’s role in rescuing innocent girls from the clutches of lecherous men is enshrined in folk poetry that is sung during the winter festival of Lohri –