Question

Which of the following Sikh Guru enjoyed the rank of 5000 zat and 5000 sawar under the Mughals?
A. Guru Gobind Singh
B. Guru Har Kishan
C. Guru Hargobind
D. Guru Tegh Bahadur

Answer 1

Hint: It was only after the death of Aurangzeb that any Sikh Guru accepted a position and land grants in the Mughal rule. But even so, the Sikh Gurus had been viciously against the Mughal rulers, their forced conversions to the Islamic faith of the Hindu subjects especially from lower castes and had existed in their might as sovereigns in the Punjab region to assert their autonomy.

Complete answer: The rank of 5000 zat and 5000 sawar was the highest amongst the noblemen in the Mughal empire. The lowest was that of 10 zats and 10 sawars. The nobleman holding it was a Mansabdar. The number of zats was indicative of the number of troops that a mansabdar was supposed to hold. On the other hand, the number of sawar indicated the number of horses under his command.

Looking at other options;
Option A- Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru had accepted the rank of 5000 zat and 5000 sawar under the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah, after the death of Aurangzeb. After accepting it, he had accompanied the emperor to the Deccan. There are high controversies that surround the exact manner of death of the tenth Sikh Guru.
Option B- Guru Har Kishan Ji was the successor of Guru Har Rai Ji and the youngest Guru with the shortest tenure. He became Sikh Guru at the age of 5 years and died at the age of 8 years of smallpox.
Option C- Guru Hargobind Ji had fought Shah Jahan on his persecution of the Sikh community and had defeated the Mughal Army four times, shortly after which he died and appointed his grandson, Guru Har Rai Ji as his successor.
Option D- Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was ordered to be executed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb based on his political opposition to the emperor.
Thus, the correct option is (A).

Note: Guru Gobind Singh Ji had responded to the plea of Prince Muazzam, who later was crowned as the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah, to help him win the war of succession. On doing so, he offered the position of the highest nobleman to the Guru which was accepted by him.