Under the rule of Lahore's governor Zakariya Khan, Sikhs faced intense persecution. They were forced to hide in forests, and public gatherings like Diwali or Vaisakhi at Amritsar had not happened for years. Bhai Mani Singh Ji negotiated with Zakariya Khan to allow a Diwali gathering, offering to pay a tax. Zakariya deceitfully agreed, hoping to gather all Sikhs in one place and have them massacred. He demanded a 5000 rupee tax. Bhai Mani Singh sent out letters to summon the Khalsa for the gathering. But as Diwali neared, intelligence revealed Zakariya’s true plan — to attack. Remembering past betrayals at Anandpur Sahib, Bhai Sahib cancelled the gathering by sending new letters urging everyone to stay away. The plan failed, and Zakariya, enraged, demanded the unpaid tax. Bhai Sahib refused, arguing no fair allowed, no tax owed. He was arrested along with fellow Sikhs and subjected to brutal torture. Offered to convert to Islam or pay a ransom, he refused both. On 25 Haadh 1734, Bhai Mani Singh Ji was martyred limb-by-limb in Lahore’s Nakhas Chowk. Many others were tortured and killed. He was 90 years old, took Amrit from Guru Gobind Singh Ji, transcribed the Dasam Granth, and wrote many important texts. His family saw 52 members martyred for the Panth.
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