Do you know why the youngest son (and not the eldest one) of the Seventh Sikh Guru succeed him as the Eighth Guru ?
Aurangzeb asked the eldest one, "Why did Guru Nanak wrote this hymn (as it seemed derogatory to Muslims) : Mitti Musalman ki, pere pai ghumiar, Ghar bhande itan kian, jahdi kale pukar"?
You know this piece of history? Here it is :
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We have read about the bitter struggle and fierce battles between Darashikoh and Aurangzeb for the Mughal throne. ShahJehan favoured his eldest son Darashikoh who was also loved by the people but Aurangzeb won the battle of succession and became the emperor. Darasikoh was eventually captured and executed. Aurangzeb got to know that during his retreat Darashikoh was given shelter by Guru Har Rai, the seventh Sikh Guru. After he became the emperor, Aurangzeb summoned the Guru to his court to seek his explanation about his support. Guru Har Rai sent his eldest son as his representative. All of 11 years, the young boy was said to be very wise and intelligent. He answered all the questions of the emperor and made a good impression on him. Aurangzeb then asked the 'boy' to explain the exact meaning of the below hymn by Guru Nanakji. He considered it derogatory and insulting to Muslims.
mittee musalamaan kee paerrai pee kumihaaar, gharr bhaanddae eittaa keeaa jaladhee karae pukaar
Loose translation would be that the clay of the Muslim's grave becomes the clay of the potter's wheel and the pots and bricks that are made of it cries out loud when they burn in fire. (the context in which Guru Nanakji had said that, it was a different and it was in no way derogatory to Islam or Muslims)
In an effort not to cause any offence to the emperor or other Muslims in the court, Guru's son changed the wordings of the hymn and told the emperor that it is not 'mitti musalman ki' but 'mitti beimaan ki' and then explained the meaning of the distorted version. Aurangzeb became very happy with that explanation and the 'boy' stayed in the palace for a few more days before he was sent off with gifts and rewards. Now even before he could reach back to his home, the news about his deliberate mistranslation of Guru Nanakji's words reached his father who became furious for the sacriligiois and blasphemous act of his son. He expelled his son from Sikhism and vowed never to see his face. He also forbade all the Sikhs to follow him. When Guru Har Rai died, his youngest son, Har Krishanji became the 08th Guru at a tender age of 5 (he was 11 years younger than his expelled brother). Guru Har Krishan tragically died due to small pox before he turned 8. He is known as Bal Guru (Bangla Sahib Gurdwara of Delhi is much revered because Bal Guru had visited it on the invite of Raja Jai Singh and it is said that there was Cholera and smallpox epidemic in Delhi and he had helped many sufferers. At that time it was the residence/Bangalow of Raja Jai Singh and therefore the Gurudwara is names as Bangla Sahib Gurudwara). After Guru Harkrishan his uncle Guru Tegh Bahadur became the 09th Guru who was later executed by Aurangzeb (Shish Ganj Gurudwara in Old Delhi is the place where he was executed). The expelled son had his own small following and throughout his life he had cordial relations with Aurangzeb. In 1776 when he went to Doon Valley in Garhwal, Aurangzeb asked the king of Garhwal Raja Fateh Shah to make suitable arrangements for his visit. The king donated three villages to him. As he had put his DERA (camp) in the Doon valley, the city came to be known as DERAdoon (later became Dehradun).
The name of the expelled son of the seventh Sikh Guru is :
SHRI GURU RAM RAI
The follower of the Guru are called Ramraiyyas and like many other sects of Sikhism which are shunned by Khalsa Sikhs (Udasi, Nirankari, Namdharis, Sanatan,Nirmala, Masand, Mina and many more), they do rever the Sikh Gurus but have a different belief about the line of succession of the Gurus.
Every year, Jhanda Mela is organized here to commemorate the arrival of Shri Guru Ram Rai in the city. Shri Guru Ram Rai trust runs several schools, colleges and is involved in many philanthropic activities in the Garhwal region.
I was born and brought up in Dehradun but visited the Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara for the first time now. Built on an Indo-Islamic architecture (domes, minarets and mini gardens) it looks more like a mosque than a Gurudwara and is indeed a beautiful historical monument.
It is a pity that Uttarakhand govt has not promoted it well else it could be a popular attraction for the tourists. Very well maintained and looks magnificent. Please do visit Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib (or Shri Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara) whenever you visit Dehradun or should I say DERAdoon !
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