Guru Angad And Hemu Bania

Hemu Bania, also known as Himu, was a ambitious hindu who rose to prominence under the Suri Dynasty. Hemu was very clever, deceitful, crafty and cunning. Hemu heard about the greatness of Guru Nanak and his Sikhs from his servants. Hemu's servants told him that Guru Nanak's successor was Guru Angad who lived in the village of Khadoor Sahib.

The servants also informed Hemu that village Khadoor was near the main road, almost near Lahore. One of Hemu's servants who belonged to Punjab said, "Guru Angad provides good fortune to those he blesses." Hemu felt very happy and he said, "It is not very difficult to please the Pirs and Faqirs. I will offer the Guru some villages as a gift and in return he can bless me so I can become emperor. When he receives a great piece of land he will be under my control."

Arrival in Khadoor Sahib

Hemu took his men and arrived in Khadoor Sahib. He had covered a long distance and so was feeling tired and hungry. When Hemu saw the langar of the Sikhs he called a Sewak and asked him to prepare fresh meals for them. Hemu asked the Sewak to prepare special vegetables. He informed the Sewak that he would pay for the cost of the meals and offered a few gold coins but the head of the langar intervened and said, "This is langar of the Guru, it is not a hotel. This is a freely provided kitchen and special meals are not prepared for anyone here. All are treated equally. If you would like a meal please sit in line and we will be happy to serve you and your men."

The arrogant Hemu was outraged and thought he deserved more respect. He rudely ordered the Sikhs to take him to Guru Angad at once. The Sikhs calmly explained that Guru Angad was praying inside the Darbar Hall and would come out in due course. Hemu loudly cried, "You don't know I am! I am a rising officer in the service of the emperor. I can do whatever I like. There are many under my command." But Sikhs did not care about the greatness of Hemu.

Gifts Rejected And Blessings Denied

At the proper time when Guru Angad came outside, the Sikhs informed Guru Sahib about the visit of Hemu. Though Hemu had come to seek the blessings of Guru Agad he was so conceited that he did not bow before Guru Sahib. Instead he talked about his greatness and said, "I am an officer in the service of the emperor and had come to offer you ten villages as a gift for the running of your free kitchen in exchange for your blessing to make me victorious."

But Guru Angad replied, "These free kitchens do not depend on grants given by feudal lords. Please keep these lands with yourself, such properties never accompany a man in the next world. God knows who will be master of this land tomorrow. Praise God and always obey his orders to get true honour in this world and the next."

Hearing the Guru Angad's words, Hemu became calm and said that he had brought a local revenue officer with him to transfer ten villages to the ownership of Guru Angad. But Guru Angad respectfully declined and Hemu returned back to Delhi without Guru Sahib's blessing. Hemu Bania could not win over Guru Angad although he still wanted to be emperor. Hemu wanted to rule at any cost and to fulfil his mission he left no stone unturned. First, Hemu converted and became a muslim then, deceitfully, he became a hindu again.

The Fall Of Hemu

Hemu claimed royal status after defeating Akbar's mughal forces on 7 October 1556 in the Battle of Delhi and assumed the ancient title of Vikramaditya (or Bikramjit) that had been adopted by many hindu kings in the past. A month later, Hemu was wounded by a chance arrow and captured during the Second Battle of Panipat. Akbar's regent, Bairam Khan beheaded him just like a dog shortly thereafter. The land which he wanted to handover to Guru Angad became the property of emperor Akbar.

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