Martyrdom of Guru Arjan by Jaswinder Singh Chadha

Much of Guru Arjan's life
passed in Akbar's time
when worship of a faith
was not a crime

Sikhism was doing well
Sikhs were all over Punjab
but the enemy appeared
and closed in to rob

Jahangir became the king
he wasn't liberal or kind
but a zealot and a bigot
Sikh faith troubled his mind

Jahangir wrote in Tuzuk
Arjan fascinates them all
Hindus and even Muslims
are heeding to his call

Jahangir wrote further
that it was his intent
to convert the Guru and
destroy all that he meant

Akbar's policy of neutrality
was forthwith reversed
the pressure was increased
Guru Arjan was coerced

Jahangir needed an excuse
and God provided him one
Khusroo, the rebel prince
came to stay with Guru Arjan

Khusroo was made welcome
as anyone would be
he stayed there and rested
the cooked meals were free

The Guru was summoned
to come to Lahore
where he was charged
on lies and lies galore

The emperor alleged
that the Guru had prayed
for success to the prince
and had offered him aid

Jahangir who had ordered
death sentence on Khusroo
imposed a hefty fine
two lakh rupees on the Guru

An option was offered
to accept the Islamic way
but the Guru won't agree
to convert or to pay

Officer Chandu suggested
he will persuade the Guru
make him see the light
and alter his view

The king agreed
he put the Guru in his care
the man had sinister plans
the king wasn't aware

Chandu Lal was a Hindu
serving the Raj at Lahore
with a grudge against Guru,
he irked to settle a score

Chandu's men had sought
a match for his daughter
it was settled to Guru's son
could it be any better?

Yet Chandu didn't like it
as he was heard to mutter
"what a match- like laying
a royal brick in the gutter"

The news reached the Guru
the Sikhs were annoyed
the match was annulled
Chandu was horrified

With the Guru in his hold
Chandu asked him to savour
revival of the match
and advise in Islam's favour

But Guru Arjan won't agree
on one count or the other
Chandu was most annoyed
and resorted to torture

Guru Arjan was confined
in a dark and dingy dungeon
the heat was oppressing
Lahore was like an oven

The Guru was made to sit
on a red hot metal plate
a picture of endurance
the Guru showed no hate

They poured on the Guru
shovels of burning sand
calmly abiding in His will
he sat through this demand

Then in a pot of water
the Guru was made to sit
the water was boiled
and kept in a boiling fit

he was moved to the river
Blistered and barely alive
they lowered him in the water
but he rose to The High