After the arrest of Mata Gujar Kaur and the two
younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Diwan Todar Mal advised Wazir Khan not to
punish Mata Gujar Kaur and her innocent grand sons. He offered him as much gold
coins as he desires. No other but a person of equal rank could make such a
guidance. In fact, Wazir Khan was ashamed for not arresting Guru Gobind Singh
ji alive. A head resembling that of Guru ji was brought to Sirhind and it was
rumoured that Guru ji was killed. The identified head was actually that of
Sangat Singh. On the other hand, Guru Gobind Singh reached Machhiwara making
use of darkness of night. Wazir Khan got an opportunity to execute the innocent
young children in order to impress and please Emperor Aurangzeb. Sher Muhammad
Nawab of Maler Kotala also appealed Wazir Khan to set innocent children and
Mata Gujar Kaur free. Wazir Khan was unhappy with the advice of Diwan Todar Mal
and Sher Muhammad. But he was not able to do anything against them. However, a
poor gentleman Moti Ram Mehra became victim of circumstances. It was alleged
that he served Mata Gujar Kaur and her grand sons with intake of milk.
The innocent children were sentenced to death by
surrounding them with walls. It was no less than a miracle that the children
escaped death but fainted as soon as the walls fell down. Their heads were
chopped off thereafter. That incident occurred when mogul authorities had
executed the younger Sahibjadas for not renouncing their faith and in
consequence thereof their Grand-mother expired due to shock at the news of the
sudden and despicable execution of the innocent youngsters. Diwan Todar Mal was
present at the spot where the children were martyred. He informed Mata Gujar
Kaur of the shocking incident. She could not tolerate it and expired in an
instant. The bodies of Mata Gujar Kaur and the two children were thrown in
Jangle across Hansli River.
The Administration issued orders that no one should
provide a piece of land for their cremation and last rites. Diwan Todar Mal
resolved to buy the land for the purpose. It is said that landowners around
Sirhind Fort would not allow him to hold the cremation in their fields.
However, A Chaudhari Atta agreed to sell him a plot for the purpose. Diwan
Todar Mal bought the land from Chaudhari Atta at any cost. The wealthy merchant
had to cover the required ground for cremation with gold coins. The administrator’s
stipulation was that the buyer Diwan Todar Mal will get as much space as he
would cover with upright gold coins. It is estimated at least 78000 gold coins
weighing approximately 20 grams each were laid out in erect position to buy the
required 4 square metre land. As per current gold rates, it was a record
transaction of purchase of one of the costliest lands in the world.
Diwan Todar Mal and his wife carried the bodies of
Mata Gujar Kaur and the children over their shoulders to the cremation ground.
They brought firewood from their Jahazi Haveli and performed the last rites. He
performed the cremation of the three martyred bodies of Zoraver Singh and Fateh
Singh, the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, and their Grand-mother Mata
Gujar Kaur and put the ashes in an urn which he buried in the land he had
bought. The site is now marked by Gurudwara Jyoti Saroop at Fatehgarh Sahib
near Sirhind.
Wazir Khan annoyed when he had come to know of it.
Wazir Khan and his subordinates began to mistreat Diwan Todar Mal and his
Family. Diwan Todar Mal was disheartened to know that no one stood by him in
need. He was filled with disgust for Wazir Khan. In spite of the act of
humanity, every body kept distance from him for fear of Mogul persecution. In
order to avoid any odd eventuality, He left Jahazi Haveli at Sirhind and
shifted to Machhiwara. He bought a piece of agricultural land in Machhiwara and
built a small accommodation near Shitala Mata Temple at Mohalla Game Shah in
Machhiwara where his successor of 9th generation Shri Balraj Chopra
and his wife Mrs. Bimala Chopra reside. Younger brother of Shri Balraj Chopra,
Shri Balwant Chopra lives in Allahabad. Sodhi Dynasty was administrator of
Machhiwara when Diwan Todar Mal settled in Machhiwara.
In the 10th generation of Diwan Todar Mal,
Shri Shaktiraj Chopra s/o Shri Balraj Chopra lives in Jalandhar and his younger
brother Shri Dwijraj Chopra lives in Allahabad, his elder sister Dr. Rashmi
Chopra (Kapoor) w/o Dr. Sanjay Kapoor lives Samrala near Machhiwara while
younger sister Dipti w/o Shiv Kumar lives in Delhi, Shweta Chopra (Puri) d/o
Shri Balwant Chopra and w/o Yogesh Puri lives in Kanpur while her younger
sister Anupma Chopra lives with her parents in Allahabad. Like their
forefathers, all of them have a great love and respect for Sikhism. Like every
true Sikh, they are also proud of their predecessor Diwan Todar Mal.
Diwan Todar Mal devoted his life in the service of humanity and gained a respectable
status in the society. The Sikh community is
forever grateful to Diwan Todar Mal for his contribution to humanity and act of
kindness.
