If you would read the history of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his four sons (better known as Chaar Sahibzade), you would definitely get to know about the act of bravery and religious faith performed by Diwan Todar Mal. Here is brief introductory biography of him.
Diwan Todar Mal Early Life
Diwan Todar Mal was a wealthy businessman in the Sirhind region of Punjab. His richness can be determined from his big haveli named as “Jahaz Mahal”. Situated just outside the Wazir Khan’ palace, the haveli boasts a unique architecture and a grand reception area. He was a keen follower of Sikhism and the Sikh gurus’ teachings.
It is not strange that he passed his exam of being a true sikh by cremating the bodies of two younger sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his mother- Mata Gujri. It was in 1704 when the Nawab Wazir Khan incarcerated the younger Sahibzadas- Baba Zorawar Singh (5) and Baba Fateh Singh (7) and bricked them alive because they refused to renounce their faith in Sikhism and to change their religion. After listening to this shocking news, their grandmother also died.
His Contributions
In the rule of Wazir Khan, no one has the courage to cremate the three bodies. Then Diwan Todar Mal put his life at risk and took possession of the bodies. Worsening the situation further, it was announced not to cremate the bodies on the Mughal land. As Todar Mal wanted to perform the last rites with full respect, he bought a piece of land which cost him all his wealth. There was a demand that the buyer can take only that much space which could be covered with the gold coins. As per estimation, it required at least 7800 gold coins to purchase the required land.
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Soon after the cremation, Toder Mal and his family left the haveli which is his only palpable testimony. Later, a gurudwara named Jyoti Saroop at Fatehgarh Sahib has been built at that place where bodies were cremated. As a respect to Diwan Todar Mal, a Memorial Hall has also been built after his name, at this Gurudwara.
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