COLD OPEN

The bags have been packed. The swords have been sharpened. The horses have been saddled. The group of 41 was almost ready to set out – 40 men, and one woman. That woman’s name was Mai Bhago, and today? She’s in charge. She’d rallied the men gathered here together . Now it was time for her to lead them into battle.

She waved to the soldiers and they mounted their horses, getting ready to ride. As she settled into her own saddle, she turned her spear in her hand, almost without thinking about it. She’s carried it for so long now, it’s almost a part of her. A winter wind blew through the air – luckily Mai Bhago didn’t have to worry about her long hair blowing in her eyes. She kept it bound up inside a keski, or small turban, just like the men’s. She and her group were proud Sikhs, followers of the teachings of the Guru – teachings of equality, justice, and community. The word Sikh means, “disciple” or “student.” The principles of Sikhism have guided Mai Bhago throughout her life, and they were guiding her in this important moment, too. Their Guru and their way of life were under attack. But Mai Bhago wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Mai Bhago assessed her 40 men on horseback. They were attentive, waiting for her signal. With a squeeze of her legs, she urged her horse into a gallop. As the 41 riders picked up speed, Mai Bhago let loose a Jakaara, a mighty battle cry. They were racing towards an uncertain fate, but it was one she was sure they had to face. Little did Mai Bhago know that this ride would echo down through the ages.

I’m Ajuni. And this is Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls.

A fairy tale podcast about the real-life rebel women who inspire us.

On this episode, Mai Bhago – woman, warrior, and Sikh leader.

Mai Bhago didn’t start out life as a warrior, but it had seemed like the path she was destined for. She was born in the late 1600s near a city called Amritsar, in the northwestern part of India. Mai Bhago’s name at birth was “Bhag Bhari,” which means, “one who is full of good fortune.” No one could have guessed just how true that name would turn out to be!

Mai Bhago grew up alongside her brothers, with a father who was a dedicated member of the Guru’s army.

V1: In Sikhism, the Guru is a title reserved for the enlightened masters and spiritual teachers of the Sikh faith.
V2: In Sikhism, the Guru is a title only for the enlightened masters and spiritual teachers of the Sikh faith. Through all the centuries of Sikhism, there have been ten human Guru’s. After the tenth, the book of holy Sikh scripture became the eternal, living Guru.

Mai Bhago’s family’s dedication to Sikhism went back for generations. She’d grown up hearing the family legend of how her great-uncle had converted to the faith after a traveling Sikh helped cure him of an illness. Her great-uncle went on to become a trusted advisor during the time of the fifth and sixth Gurus, and even got appointed as a commander within the army. Mai Bhago was fascinated by her family’s legacy, and she wanted to be a part of it.

When she was just a girl, her parents took her to the beautiful city of bliss: Anandpur Sahib. This city shimmered with devotion to the Sikh religion. Her family hoped for a darshan, or sighting, of the Guru Himself…and they got one! The Guru recognized her devotion, and gave her a blessing. Legend has it that this moment confirmed for Mai Bhago w hat she had felt was right – she wanted to commit herself to the Guru’s teachings. She begged her parents to let her stay. She wanted to join the Khalsa, the historic order of Warrior-Saints dedicated to living out the highest values of Sikhism. The Khalsa wear five symbols of their commitment: a small sword, an iron bracelet, special undershorts, a wooden comb, and uncut hair. Most exciting for Mai Bhago? They were trained in martial arts!

Mai Bhago’s parents weren’t so sure. In those days, mainly men served in the Khalsa Army. Her parents insisted she return home. But as a compromise, her father agreed to teach her the tools of the trade that he had learned in the Sikh army: horseback riding, archery, and spear-throwing. Spear throwing was her favorite. Soon, her neighbors saw her carrying her barsha, or long spear, around with her throughout the village. She practiced all the time, even using bushes as target practice! Mai Bhago knew she was destined for something bigger. Whether or not she joined the Khalsa, she was committed to being the best Sikh she could be.

As the story goes, Mai Bhago grew up, unwavering in her commitment to her faith, and her community. She married a member of the Guru’s army. The two moved to his nearby village with the hopes of starting a life together… Until rising tensions in the country made that impossible.

For more than one hundred years, the northern region of what we now call India had been under the control of the Mughal Empire. The rulers were followers of Islam, not Sikhism, like Mai Bhago and her family. In the beginnings of the Mughal Empire, its leaders had encouraged religious tolerance – they thought people of all faiths could coexist happily and peacefully. They’d even appointed people of different faiths to important places in government!

But by the time Mai Bhago was growing up, all that had changed. The Sikh religion had grown and grown, and Mughal leaders felt threatened by its new popularity. They abandoned the value of faiths peacefully coexisting, and began insisting that Sikhs convert to Islam. When the fifth Guru refused to convert, the Mughal emperor had him executed. So began a tumultuous relationship between Sikhs and the Mughal Empire.

Mai Bhago had felt this tense dynamic between her religion and the rulers of the land all her life. Mai Bhago’s father and other close relatives had fought in the Guru’s army against the Mughal Empire’s mistreatment. She grew up listening to stories of their courage, and imagined what she would do if she needed to fight.

Not long after she was married, Mughal military forces laid siege to the city she had visited before – Anandpur Sahib, the home of the Guru. The Mughal soldiers had camped outside the city walls, and wouldn’t let anyone in or out. Not even for critical supplies or food!

This was a stressful time for everyone, and especially for Mai Bhago. What could she do to help? In spite of all her training, she wasn’t a member of the Guru’s army. And to make matters worse, her husband and two of her brothers, all of them Sikhs, were trapped in Anandpur Sahib. They couldn’t get out, and she could not get in to help them.

Imagine Mai Bhago’s relief when – finally, after months and months – she saw her husband and brothers, and 37 other men, arrive home. The siege! It must be over! But that relief and joy was short-lived. She soon learned that the siege had not ended at all. Instead, the Mughal army had offered Sikhs in Anandpur Sahid a deal. If they signed a pledge saying that they were no longer disciples of the Guru, the army would let them leave and go home to their families. That is what these 40 men had done. She could understand how difficult it must have been for them in Anandpur Sahib – running low on food and water, with no end in sight. It must have been an incredibly scary time for all of them. But what she couldn’t understand? Was how they could walk away from their Guru, and abandon him and his teachings.

Mai Bhago could not believe it. She was a devout Sikh. She could never imagine turning her back on her Guru, renouncing her faith, even if her own personal safety was at stake. Now, all she knew was that the Guru was in greater danger than ever with his city under siege, and 40 of his followers deserting him. Mai Bhago had to help him. She set off on her own personal mission. She was determined to visit the homes of each of the 40 men, to convince their families of the error of their ways, and protect their Guru.

She travelled around to each of their homes, some in her own village, and some in neighboring areas. She spoke with the women of each household, telling them what the men had done, and asking their families to help hold them accountable, and bring them back to their faith – and their Guru.

There’s no way to know exactly what Mai Bhago said to the families, and to the men themselves. Maybe she was angry with them for betraying the Guru, maybe she appealed to their faith, or maybe she gave a rousing speech. Whatever it was that she said, it worked! When she called the 40 men to return to the Guru’s side, to seek his forgiveness and offer him their help, they came. As for who would lead them in the charge in aid of the Guru? Mai Bhago, of course!

When she was a small child, Mai Bhago dreamt of serving the Guru, and being a part of the Khalsa Army. Now, she led the charge. She was armed with the weapon of the Khalsa, a small sword called a kirpan, with her hair wrapped in a turban, just like the men were.

As she and her group of fighters on horseback approached the city under siege, they realized the situation was more dire than anyone could have imagined. She learned that the Guru and his remaining troops had evacuated the city, and were now trapped by the Mughal Empire’s forces! Even after the 41 fighters in Mai Bhago’s group joined forces with the Guru’s soldiers, they were still far outnumbered by the Mughal Empire’s army. From atop her horse, she looked across the land toward their destination…she knew there was plenty of danger ahead. The Mughal Empire had thousands of soldiers. With a deep breath, Mai Bhago looked to either side, and steeled herself against what was to come. There was no time to lose.

With a battle cry, Mai Bhago and the other Sikh fighters sprung forward, determined to make their way to the Guru’s side.

The battle waged on for hours. Somehow, against all odds, the tide turned in Mai Bhago’s favor. At the end of it all, when the last of the enemy soldiers had given up, Mai Bhago and the Guru were the only Sikh survivors. None of the 40 men she had come with had made it through the battle, including her husband and two of her brothers. But through their final sacrifice, they gained the Guru’s forgiveness, and admiration. The Guru ripped up the document each man had signed renouncing their faith, and named them the Chali Mukte, or 40 Liberated Ones. As a sign of his respect towards Mai Bhago, the Guru gave her a blessing and took her into his care.

There are many stories people tell about Mai Bhago’s life after the battle. Some say she went on to become the Guru’s own personal bodyguard. Others say she devoted herself to meditation, and lived a long long life. However she lived out her days, it’s clear that Mai Bhago’s legacy is one that has stood the test of time. She lived more than 300 years ago, but people all around the world still know her name.

Today, the house where she lived after the battle has been preserved as a sacred place for meditation and reflection. The Punjab government even has a school just for women trainees. Exactly what Mai Bhago always wanted! And they decided to call it the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls.

The name Mai Bhago inspires women to stand for integrity, dedication, and loyalty. Mai Bhago was not afraid to fight for what she believed in, no matter what people expected of her. If you are true to yourself, true to what you believe is right, what kind of impact could you make?

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

This episode was narrated by Ajuni. It was produced by Rebecca Chaisson and directed by Ashton Carter, with sound design and mixing by Carter Wogahn.

The story was written by Rebecca Chaisson and edited by Haley Dapkus. Fact checking by Danielle Roth and Sam Gebauer. Haley Dapkus was our senior producer. Our executive producers were Anjelika Temple and Jes Wolfe.

Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi.

A special thanks to the whole Rebel Girls team, who make this podcast possible! Until next time, stay rebel!