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We Create History
They wield their kirpan for “... kindness to the needy and the downtrodden as well as for aan- to protect your honour as well as that of the others...” Their fight is as much for their identity, autonomy and dignity as it is for a worthy cause. Inspired by legendary heroes like Banda Singh Bahadur, they are fearless in the face of overwhelming odds and brave death at every turn. Labelled baaghis they have giant targets painted on their backs and are hunted men. Even a random act of kindness to a wounded Arjun becomes a death sentence for his benefactor Abu as the subedar's henchmen kill Abu and blame the baaghis. Abu’s son Mansoor swears to avenge his father's death but soon realises who the real villains are and joins forces with Arjun, Satya, Kishan and Gurpal. The book takes the reader back to 18th Century Punjab and history pages come alive with the experiences of those people. Jaziya and sati blight the existence of the masses whose fearful submission in hope of a quiet existence worsens their lot and a handful of oppressors easily scare the majority into submission. It engenders a better appreciation of the struggle and strife endured by many unsung heroes who created history as they fought to challenge the status quo.
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The havoc and devastation of Ahmed Shah Abdali's repeated pillaging forays are the brutal reality of Arjun's daily life. Toiling hard to eke out a living and obeying the exploitive dictate of Subedar Jahan Khan does not spare his family destruction and devastation and he loses many beloved ones to senseless violence and rampant greed. He can no longer be a passive bystander and must take action no matter what the consequences. Unable to tolerate the atrocities being committed around him both by the sanctimonious custodians of social order and blatantly abusive government officials, Arjun joins a band of rebels fighting for justice. He is trained and mentored by the valiant Kishan and Gurpal who draw strength from their deep abiding faith and values of valour, sacrifice and fair play imbibed from the teachings of the Sikh Gurus in their fight against tyranny.
