Images: details from painting, "Mai Bhago" by Kanwar Singh [www.ArtOfPunjab.com]
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Mai Bhago: The Guru's General
A Poem by MICHELE GIBSON
She settled at Jinvara when He died
Whispering satnam as the day begins
A simple meal, and prayer many times a day,
And a chunni dancing wildly in the wind
***
At the tip of her blade the stunned deserters,Her friends and neighbours, having fled his side
She unleashed a torrent of indignation
And they were suitably chastised
But as her words were streaming from her sword point
To pierce their weakness and their sin
She rose slowly on her mount, head above them
Chunni cast wide around her in the wind
Her straight frame stiffened in the restless stirrups
Her focus broadened as her goal appeared
Her only motivation narrowed to her task
She ceased to see them as her intention cleared
They parted sharply as she flew past them all
Frozen sick from their careless self-protection
She was destined for Khidrana, thinking only of the Guru
And to split the army off from their direction
Leaning into a rising run, dust dared not move
The stallion never touched the shifting earth
Mahan Singh knew that he must follow,
And then every rider flew to charge his worth
Their fortitude ignited and the cause restored
By the banner of the 40, chunni wiping wildly in the air
They set a thundering pace for Khidrana
She moved the very ground to get them there
They landed by a pool, near the battlefield
And cut the Mughal forces off their track
A wave of fury they unleashed, as the Guru
Sent a rain of arrows down to hold the Mughals back
But the 40 died in battle
The dust alone allowed the Mughal remnant then to flee
There on the field the wounded Mai Bhago
And Mahan, alive enough to hear the Guru's plea
The Guru hurries her away to find her aid
And rewards her steady discipline
She is martialed by her faith and sword
With her chunni dancing wildly in the wind
***
She settled at Jinvara when he died.
August 7, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), August 07, 2010, 8:10 AM.
There must be some strange prescience at work. Just a moment ago, I mentioned Mai Bhago when commenting on the Sikh Youth meeting President Obama, and there you are, Michele, transporting us to the battlefield and the poignant description. I am tempted to quote the whole shabad about the Guru's wrestler but for the sake of brevity, shall quote just two lines. But, I do urge you, gentle readers, to read the full shabad that would add more colour to Michele's gentle outpouring. "Ha-o gosai-I da pahivanra mai gur mil uch dumalra sabh ho-I chhinjh ikth-a da-yu baitha vekhai ap ji-o" [GGS:74.4] - 'I am a wrestler; I belong to the Lord of the World/ I met with the Guru, and I have tied a tall, plumed turban/ All have gathered to watch the wrestling match/ and the Mericful Lord Himself is seated to behold it'. Bless you, Michele.
2: Zorawar Singh (Richmond Hill, New York, U.S.A.), August 07, 2010, 11:11 AM.
Today I feel proud to be a Sikh, thanks to great Sikhs of the past like Mai Bhago. My humble request to all Sikhs male or female to try to have these great Sikhs as your role models, not some singer or actor, etc.
3: N. Singh (Canada), August 07, 2010, 12:12 PM.
Michele ji: Wonderful and very inspiring! One question: how long ago did she live and die? Any other women in Sikhi we could highlight to make ourselves feel better, despite the discrimination against women, and their own 'lack of will' to better their circumstances?
4: N. Singh (Canada), August 07, 2010, 12:52 PM.
Okay, one more comment at the risk of becoming 'unpopular' on this site. I have never been much of a conformist and don't abide by the popular or majority perspective on things. Would Mai Bhago have worn a 'chunni'? Would not Sikh women in battle at the time (and I believe there were numerous) have dressed like men (i.e., with dastaar and matching clothes) so that they could not so easily be identified on the battlefield by the enemy? Also, how can a woman fight wearing a 'chunni'... I have noticed that most women at the gurdwara have trouble keeping it on when they are going about mundane tasks?
5: Jaimal Singh (Scotland ), August 07, 2010, 6:24 PM.
N. Singh ji: Michele Gibson is a poet and she has offered HER vision of Bhai Bhago in HER own way, in the form of a POEM. The chunni signifies many things - like everything else she refers to in the poem. Interpret it as you will. And try to enjoy it rather than tear it apart, based on your personal, current, limited view of things. I simply loved the poem, especially the chunni - whether historical or not, it wove a wonderful mental image for me. Thank you, Michele, for all your gifts - please keep on writing and sharing your exquisite creations!
6: N. Singh (Canada), August 07, 2010, 6:37 PM.
Jaimail Singh ji: point taken.