Chali Mukte: The legendary Sikh martyrs of Muktsar

The Sikh history remembers forty souls who conquered not lands but themselves. Known as the Chali Mukte, the Forty Liberated Ones—their journey was more than a battle; it was a soul’s struggle of fall, repentance and courageous return into the Guru’s loving embrace, where the fragrance of martyrdom meets forgiveness and liberation.

It was at Anandpur Sahib, where Guru Gobind Singh and Sikhs were surrounded by sea of Mughal and Hill Chief forces in 1704. Months of starvation and hardship tested even the strongest spirits, until some Sikhs sought permission to depart. The Guru asked them to severe the bond in writing. Thus, they signed the Bedava—the “Letter of Disclaimer”—declaring: You are not our Guru, and we are not your Sikhs.

It was not easy for them to leave Anandpur Sahib. Their feet walked away, but conscience remained bound to their Guru.

Back in their villages in Majha, peace eluded them. Nights were restless and hearts heavy. Their womenfolk refused to forgive the abandonment, reminding them that life without the Guru was a living death.

Among those voices rose Mai Bhago (Mata Bhag Kaur), a beacon of courage and compassion. She awakened the spirits that had forgotten their strength. Her words became a sacred fire, reshaping remorse into fierce resolve. Under her leadership, forty Sikhs rose again to find the Guru to offer their lives.

Fate led them to “Khidrane di Dhab”—present-day Muktsar. There, they stood in the path of Mughal army approaching Guru Gobind Singh. They fought with a ferocity that belied their numbers. It was a battle for reunion. Every wound became an offering; every breath carried an Ardas. Each drop of blood spilled erased the Bedava, word by word. They fought until their bodies were torn apart, ensuring their Guru remained secure.

When the Guru arrived at the battlefield, he saw not fallen bodies, but risen souls. He moved from one warrior to another, tenderly wiping their faces and holding their heads in his lap like a loving father. Over every martyr, he bestowed titles of eternal honour, enshrining their sacrifice.

Finally, he reached Bhai Maha Singh, who lay on the brink of his last breath. The deeply moved Guru offered him anything—life, power, even the heavens. But Bhai Maha Singh prayed only Bedava be torn and their divine bond restored.

Without a moment’s delay, the Guru drew out the paper from his kamar-kassa and tore it to pieces. Thus, he revealed his boundless mercy and readiness to forgive mortals and transform weakness into eternal liberation. No longer the forty deserters, they were now sanctified as the Chali Mukte.

Their heroism echoes through time. Mai Bhago was recognised by the BBC in 2017 as one of the three most badass women in history. The Chali Mukte are remembered daily in the Ardas in all Gurdwaras. Muktsar city was named after them. Lakhs pay tribute to them at Annual Maghi Jor Mela organised at Gurdwara Tuti Gandhi Sahib, Muktsar.

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