The first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, laid the foundation of Sikhism in the early sixteenth Century in the Punjab region, which is now part of present-day Pakistan. Like Islam, it believes in one God. By the 16th century, the Mughals from Central Asia had conquered vast regions, including Punjab.

During Emperor Akbar’s reign, the Mughal rulers were remarkably tolerant of Sikhism and other religions. Akbar, for instance, showed great respect for the Sikhs by giving them a large tract of land where they could live peacefully. He even met with the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, and held him in high regard. This era of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect led to the Rapid spread of Sikhism, with many Hindus and people of other religions converting to the faith.

However, subsequent Mughal rulers began to see the growing influence of Sikhism as a threat to their empire. In 1606, Emperor Jahangir had the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji, executed for refusing to submit to Mughal authority. This led to a militarisation of the Sikh community, and they took up arms in large numbers. Numerous battles were fought between the Sikhs and the Mughal forces.

In 1675, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb executed the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. This prompted his son, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, to militarise the Sikhs by creating the Khalsa, an armed Sikh community. Men took the surname Singh (lion), and women Kaur (princess), and Sikh men adopted the Five Ks: Kesh (uncut hair), Kara (iron bracelet), Kirpan (sword), Kachera (cotton undergarments), and Kangha (wooden comb).

Guru Gobind Singh continued to lead a resistance against the Mughals, retreating to the mountainous and forested regions of North-West Punjab when necessary.

After Emperor Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, the Mughal Empire began to weaken. Guru Gobind Singh Ji made peace with the Mughal rulers but was assassinated by Wazir Khan, a Mughal official. Before his death, Guru Gobind Singh Ji declared that after him, the Sikh holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, would be the eternal Guru.

In the following years, under the leadership of Banda Singh Bahadur, the Sikhs established their first sovereign state in parts of Punjab from 1710 to 1715. However, this state was short-lived. The Mughals reconquered the region with the siege of Sirhind, and Banda Singh Bahadur was executed in 1716. The Sikhs then retreated to the hills and jungles, continuing a guerrilla war against the Mughals.

By 1730, the weakened Mughal Empire made peace with the Sikhs, allowing them to return to their lands. However, in 1738, the Iranian ruler Nadir Shah invaded Delhi, further weakening the Mughal Empire. The Marathas also launched attacks against the Mughals, significantly diminishing their power.

During this period, the Durrani Empire of Afghanistan under Ahmad Shah Abdali emerged as a new power. The Mughal Empire sought their help against the Marathas, leading to the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, where the Durrani Empire emerged victorious but suffered heavy losses. Despite this, they failed to conquer Punjab completely.

In 1765, Ahmad Shah Abdali left Punjab without governance. The Sikhs gradually formed independent Misls under the command of hereditary chieftains in their respective areas.

On April 16, 1765, the Bhangis, led by Gujjar Singh and Lehna Singh, along with the Kanhaya Misl, led by Sobha Singh, took over Lahore. They gathered the people and declared Lahore as “the Guru’s cradle,” referring to Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru born in Lahore at Chuna Mandi.

The Sikh triumvirate divided Lahore into three parts:

• Lehna Singh took control of the fort and the walled city.
• Gujjar Singh governed the eastern part up to the Shalimar Gardens.
• Sobha Singh controlled the western part up to Niaz Beg.

When Ahmad Shah Abdali returned in 1765 and entered Lahore on December 22, the Sikh rulers withdrew from the city and soon Amritsar too fell to his general. Ahmad Shah attempted to negotiate with Lehna Singh by sending him a basket of Afghan dry fruits as a gesture of friendship. Lehna Singh responded with a basket of dry gram (channay), signifying their unwavering resistance.

The Sikhs were on the rise and unstoppable. In Lahore, the Sikh era had truly begun.

After the death of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Sikhs reestablished control over Punjab, with Maharaja Ranjit Singh becoming the ruler in 1801, consolidating Sikh power and extending control over Kashmir and other regions. Ranjit Singh maintained friendly relations with the British East India Company, which had defeated the Marathas.

After Ranjit Singh’s death, the Sikh Empire struggled to maintain stability due to internal conflicts and the young age of the new Maharaja. The British East India Company took advantage of the situation, leading to the First Anglo-Sikh War. After a series of battles, the British annexed Punjab in 1849.

During British rule, the Sikhs played a significant role in the British Indian Army, and their bravery and skills were highly valued. Today, Sikhs are spread across the world, with a significant population in India, particularly in East Punjab. Other major Sikh populations are in the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, Australia and Pakistan.