Revolt of the Sikhs during the reign of Shah Jahan took place due to several reasons and is an important part of the medieval history of India. The relations of the Sikhs were spoiled with the Mughals just in the beginning of the reign of Shah Jahan. The discord began with a minor incident. Shah Jahan was camped near Amritsar for the purpose of hunting. One of his hunting hawks flew into the camp of Guru Har Govind and was captured by his disciples. When the Mughals asked the Guru to return it, he refused and foiled several attempts of the Mughals to recover it by force. However, a few friends of the Guru who were in Mughal service pleaded in favour of him to Shah Jahan who left the matter as it was.
Another quarrel between the Sikhs and the Mughuls arose when Guru Har Govind started constructing the city of Sri Govindpur near the bank of the Beas River. The Mughals attacked but were defeated. The Mughals came in conflict with the Sikhs for the third time when Vidhi Singh, one of the disciples of the Guru and a famous dacoit, stole two fine Imperial horses and presented them to the Guru. The Mughals demanded them back but the Guru refused. A strong Mughal force attacked the Guru in 1613 A.D. but was defeated. Another force of the Mughals was defeated by the Guru near Kartarpur. But the Guru realised the futility of constant fighting against the Mughals. He feared that it might result in the extinction of the nascent Sikh religion. Therefore, he left and settled down at Kiratpur in the hills of Kashmir where he died in 1645 A.D. Thus, the relations between the Mughals and the Sikhs became strained during the reign of Shah Jahan.
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