Bhai Makkhan Shah Lubana, son of Naik Dasa and grandson of Bhai Artha, was a resident of village Tanda (district Muzzafarabad, Kashmir). He was a rich trader. He served the Sikh Panth from Guru Har Rai to Guru Gobind Singh. When Guru Har Rai visited Kashmir, in 1660, he (Makkhan Shah) escorted and attended the Guru throughout his four months long tour of Kashmir. On October 9, 1664, he, along with his wife Bibi Soljai and three sons (Lal Das, Chandu Lal and Khushal Chand), visited Guru Tegh Bahadur, at Bakala and presented the Guru with one hundred (according to one source 500) golden Mohars. It was on this day, that Makkhan Shah, saying Gur Ladho Re (Guru has been found), announced the presence of the Guru to the Sikhs.
Makhan Shah’s announcement exposed the 22 pretenders who had been claiming themselves as the successors of Guru Harkrishan. Dhir Mall, one of these pretenders, asked Shihan, one of his Masands, to attack Guru Tegh Bahadur’s house. Shihan attacked the Guru’s house in the midst of night and took away all the money offered by the Sikhs as well as several other things. When Makhan Shah Lubana came to know about this, he attacked the house of Dhir Mall and recovered every thing Shihan had taken away from the Gur’s house. In addition, he brought the Adi Granth (the first volume of Guru Granth Sahib). When he presented the same to the Guru, he (the Guru) returned the same to Dhir Mall. Makhan Shah also punished Shihan who had invaded the house of the Guru. Makhan Shah joined the Guru on a visit to Keeratpur Sahib on October 14, 1664, Guru Da Chakk (Amritsar) on November 22, 1664 as well as other places. Makkhan Shah attended Guru Gobind Singh too. Makkhan Shah’s sons got initiation from Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib. One of his sons, Bhai Khushal Singh embraced martyrdom in the battle of Lohgarh (Anandpur Sahib) on September 1, 1700. Makkhan Shah’s great grand children (children of Bhagwan Singh and grand-children of Lal Singh) also got initiation and served the Sikh faith. This family served the Guru and the Sikh nation with dedication. Also see: Khushal Singh, Lal Singh.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)