Chamkaur and Sirhind
Disguised as the Pir of Uchch
Two Pathan horse dealers carried Guru Ji in a palanquin, disguised as a Muslim holy man.
The Encyclopaedia says Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan were Pathans of Machhiwara who had sold horses at Anandpur and admired Guru Ji. Hearing that Guru Ji had come alone to Machhiwara after Chamkaur, they dressed Guru Ji in blue and carried Guru Ji in a palanquin, telling anyone who asked that this was the holy man of Uchch.
They escorted Guru Ji as far as Hehran, near Raikot, where Sikhs took over. Guru Ji sent them home with a letter of commendation, which their descendants preserved. Rai Kalha, a Muslim chief of Raikot, then sheltered Guru Ji, and it was his messenger who, the Encyclopaedia says, brought the terrible news from Sirhind.
How do we know?
Several traditional accounts tell this story, without close independent support.
Sri Gur Sobha's account of this journey is brief and treats it mainly as a spiritual passage.
- Later traditionNames Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan and the disguise in blue as the Pir of Uchch, and says their house at Machhiwara is now a gurdwara.[EoS]
- Later traditionTells of the litter borne by the two brothers, who said they were escorting the holy man of Uch. (pp. 192-193)[Macauliffe]
- Later traditionSays Rai Kalha of Raikot then received Guru Ji warmly, and sent a messenger to Sirhind for news of the family.[EoS]
