‘ Gatka ’

Is Gatka Not A Real Weapon?

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

(Read The Meaning of Word Gatka for explanation of term ‘Gatka’).

Sometime, a few persons try to say that ‘Gatka’ is not a real weapon. It seems that their only intention is to establish themselves as experts of Sikh martial arts. They even sometime succeed to establish themselves as experts, but only in circles of ignorants of Indian and Sikh traditions.

Before we reach the conclusion if Gatka is a real weapon or not, we need to understand what a weapon is.

A weapon is an instrument of attack or defense in a combat. I would rather say that any thing, which is designed, or can be used for inflicting bodily harm, is a weapon.

Is a wheel of chariot a weapon? One would say, “No, not at all”. Lord Krishn used a wheel of a chariot as his weapon in the battle of Mahabharat. It was the ability of a warrior (Krishn) that he used a wheel effectively as a weapon. If a person is sufficiently not expert and courageous, then even a sword or spear is but a toy, not a weapon for him. Otherwise, a few self-styled Nihangs would not have sought Police protection in Punjab, though such Nihangs keep many weapons. There is no use of such exhibition of weapons, if one cannot use them to protect himself.

Let me permit quoting Sarbloh Granth. The word Kutka has been mentioned along with other weapons in this book: -

Phari As Dhhaar Kutka Lohaangi Chhuri Saihathi.

And,

Barchhi Bhasudi Garheeya Bhairav Chakti Chaprha As Saang Sipar.
Tomar Sail Chhuri Bichhuya Gun Baan Khatang Shamsher Tabar.
Kaati KutKa Mungra Sota Taral Taal Bisaal Khanda Charam.
Dhan Saayak Chaap Silimukh Ghoch Jamdaarh Sipar Bichhuya Balam.

Not only Kutka, but Sota (club) too is mentioned in stanza given above.

‘Kutka’, ‘Sota’, ‘Lashtika’ and ‘Laathhi’ (stick) are mentioned with other weapons in Sarbloh Granth. Sarbloh Granth mentions mighty warriors using even Gulel (catapult), Brichh (tree), stones and mountains as their weapons in different battles: -

Garha Bajr Gulel Chhauti Chhipri.
Gada Grisht Chakr Naal Triselang Mandri.
Sahithi Sool Kuthhaar Jambuya Bhangri.
Moosal Brichh Pahaar Lashtika Mudagri.

And,

Kaheen Sota, Kaheen Laathi, Kaheen Chakti Chale Bheekham.

And,

Mer Mudgar Taal Paathar Vage Kotan Kot.
Sail Prabat Guraj Gophan Gadaa Jamdhar Sot.

We have a historic reference, when Kutka was used in a battle. It was battle of Bhangaani, the first battle fought by Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself. Kripal Das took part in this battle and used Kutka as his weapon. He hit Kutka on head of Hayat Khan and killed him on the spot. Description of this battle is found in Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji, where we find these lines: -

Kripaal Kopeeang Kutko Sambhaaree.
Hathhee Khaan Hyaat Ke See Jhaaree.
Uthhee Chhichh Ichhang Kadhha Mejh zorang.
Mano Maakhang Matkee Kahn Phorang.7.

(Catching hold of Kutka, Kripal got full of wrath. He hit it {Kutka} on head of Hayat Khan. The brains of Hayat Khan erupted from his skull in such a way, as if Krishn breaking the pitcher have brought the butter out of it). (Chapter 8, ‘Apuni Katha’, Bachitra Natak, Sri Dasam Granth Sahib).

It is clear from the quotes given above that ‘Kutka’, ‘Sota’, ‘Lashtika’ and ‘Laathhi’ (stick) and ‘Gulel’ (catapult) etc are real weapons, which had been used in various battles.

Actually, a few self-styled experts of Sikh martial arts follow Mahan Kosh without considering other facts. When they find that Mahan Kosh says that Gatka is used to teach; they think it is used to teach only. They accept views given in Mahan Kosh that Gatka is used to teach, but they then go further and ‘to teach’ becomes ‘training with sword and shield’. At last, they reach on conclusion that ‘Gatka’ is merely a training system or so.

The word Gatka is considered a synonymous with Pata. Now, please allow me to quote Sarbloh Granth, in which Pata has been mentioned being used as a weapon in various battles. The word Pata has been used in this Granth many times. Here are only a few examples: -

1. Pata Phekant. Bichhuya Khedant.

2. Sela Daarat. Hreh Hakaarat. Pata Bhramaavat. Saang Pathhaavat.

3. Kaheen Bichhuya, Kaheen Naavak, Kaheen Pata, Gulel, Moosar.

4. Banaiti, Pata, Lastik, Bhind, Chharh, Bhaala, Kaat, Sooya Dhhallam.

5. Lakut, Saif, Pata, Banaiti, Sool Tichh Kripaan He.

In Mahan Kosh, where the term Gatka is explained, Phari also is mentioned. In Sarbloh Granth, even Phari is mentioned among weapons used in battles: -

Phari As Dhhaar Kutka Lohaangi Chhuri Saihathi.

In Indian and Sikh tradition, when even Gulel (catapult), Brichh (tree), stones and mountains are considered weapons, there is no reason to believe that Gatka is not a real weapon.

Posted in Gatka | No Comments »

The Meaning of Word ‘Gatka’

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

According to ‘Mahan Kosh‘ edited by Kahan Singh Nabha, ‘Gatka – a three-hand span stick, used to teach the first part of club fighting. It has a leather covering. In the right hand holding a Gatka and in left hand a ‘Phari‘, two men play with each other. Persian – Khutka. (See ‘Mahan Kosh‘).

Thus, Kahan Singh Nabha believes that the words ‘Khutka‘ and ‘Gatka‘ are used for same meaning.

When we seek advice from ‘Urdu-Punjabi-Hindi Kosh‘ published by the Language Department, Punjab for word ‘Khutka‘, we find these meanings with other: – ‘Kutka‘, ‘Mota Danda‘ (motw fMfw) (cudgel), ‘Thhosa‘ (Tosw) (thumb) etc.

Therefore, according to this ‘Urdu-Punjabi-Hindi Kosh‘, the word ‘Khutka‘ is synonymous with ‘Kutka‘.

The word ‘Kutka‘ has been translated into ‘short cudgel‘ by ‘Punjabi English Dictionary‘ Published by Singh Brothers, Amritsar.

According to ‘Mahan Kosh‘ edited by Kahan Singh Nabha, ‘Kutka‘ is ‘Chhota Ate Mota Sota‘ (Cotw Aqy motw sotw) (short thick stick).

Let us again consult ‘Punjabi English Dictionary‘ Published by Singh Brothers, Amritsar, this time for word ‘Gatka‘. According to this dictionary, the word ‘Gatka‘ stands for ‘a leather covered club used in fencing‘.

According to ‘Standard Illustrated Dictionary of The Hindi Language‘ compiled and edited by Prof. R. C. Pathak, the word ‘Gatka‘ means ‘a leather-covered club used in fencing, a truncheon, a mace, a club.�

According to ‘Standard Illustrated Dictionary of The Hindi Language‘ compiled and edited by Prof. R. C. Pathak, the word ‘Gadaa‘ means ‘a club, an Indian club, a mace‘.

Thus, comparatively the terms ‘Khutak‘, ‘Khutka‘, ‘Kutka‘, ‘Gatka‘, ‘Gadka‘, �Gadd� and ‘Gadaa‘ are close to one another, if not completely the same. These words are translated into ‘Mota Danda‘, ‘Chhota Ate Mota Sota‘, cudgel, truncheon and club.

There could be many kinds of ‘Kutka‘ or ‘Gatka‘ depending on their size or shape.

This can be compared to ‘Khanda‘ and ‘Talvaar‘. Both words have been used for sword. At the same time, the word ‘Khanda‘ is used for a particular kind of double-edged sword also. In the same way, ‘Saif‘ is a sword, but of a different kind.

Well, after this discussion given above, we reach conclusion that the word ‘Gatka‘ stands for cudgel, club or short thick stick.

Comparatively the terms ‘Khutak‘, ‘Khutka‘, ‘Kutka‘, ‘Gatka‘, ‘Gadka‘, �Gadd� and ‘Gadaa‘ are closer to one another, if not completely the same. These words are translated into ‘Mota Danda‘, ‘Chhota Ate Mota Sota‘, cudgel, truncheon and club. The word Gatka is of Indian origin. The martial art, in which Gatka is used as a weapon, is called Gatkabaazi. Because the main weapon used in this martial art is Gatka, so people often call this martial art Gatka itself, instead of Gatkabaazi.

Now, it is very common in Sikh circles to use word Gatka for all traditional martial arts, in which traditional weapons are used.

Posted in Gatka | Comments Off

The Word ‘Gatka’

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Many scholars believe that the word ‘Gatka‘
is originated from Persian word ‘Khutka‘.

There are a few words, which are used to name
weapons of a particular category. These words belong to different languages,
but they clearly look similar. In the list of such words, include ‘Gadd‘, ‘Gada‘,
‘Gadka‘, ‘Gatka‘,
‘Khutka‘, ‘Khutak‘
and ‘Kutka‘. The word ‘ class=SpellE>Gada‘ belongs to Sanskrit

language, which is used in Braj, Hindi
and Punjabi as well. It has been used in Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji: -

Greebi Gadaa
Hamaari.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji,
page 628).

The word ‘Gadd‘
has been used for ‘Gada‘ in Sri Dasam Granth Sahib. Khutka‘ and ‘Khutak‘
are Persian words. The Word ‘Kutka‘ has
been used in Sri Dasam Granth

Sahib and other Sikh texts, like Sri Sarbloh Granth. ‘Gadka‘
is a Hindi word. Punjabi form of word ‘Kutka‘
or ‘Gadka‘ is ‘Gatka‘.

All of these words belong to a same origin.
Passing through hundreds of years, these words have taken their present shapes.
One word in this list seems older. It is ‘Gada‘,
which has been used in ancient literature of Sanskrit
language.

The Turkish form of word ‘Khutka‘ is ‘Kutka‘.
I think word ‘Gatka‘ is nearer to the word ‘Kutka‘
than ‘Khutka‘. The word ‘Kutka‘ itself is used in Punjabi and Braj Bhasha. We
find this word in Sri Dasam Granth

Sahib and Sarbloh Granth
as well. Other Sikh writers have used this word.

If a few words belong to same origin, there must
be a few similarities as well in them. The words ‘Gadd‘,
‘Gada‘, ‘Gadka‘,
‘Gatka‘, ‘Khutka‘, ‘Khutak‘ and ‘Kutka‘
are not an exceptional case.

The consonants in Devnagari
and Gurmukhi scripts are divided in ‘Vargs‘, like ‘Ka-varg‘,
‘Cha-varg‘, ‘Ta-varg‘,
‘Ta-varg‘ and ‘Pa-varg‘. Each ‘Varg‘
contains five letters. Many a time, the first letter of a ‘Varg‘
changes to the third letter of same ‘Varg‘,
when other language adopts a word.

For example, Arabic word ‘Gaff‘ becomes ‘Kaff‘ in
old Punjabi. ‘K‘ (k) is the
first and ‘G‘ (g) is the
third letter of a same ‘Varg‘. Here, ‘G‘
is changed to ‘K‘.

Another example is Sanskrit word ‘Pitr‘, which becomes ‘Pidar‘
in Persian. The letters ‘T‘ and ‘D‘ belong to a
same ‘Varg‘, where ‘T‘ is the
first and ‘D‘ is the third letter. Same rule applies, when ‘Sanskrit’
word ‘Maatr‘ becomes ‘Maadar‘ in Persian.

Similarly, the letter ‘K‘ is changed to ‘G‘,
when the word ‘Kutka‘ adopted a new
form and became ‘Gatka‘ in Punjabi. ‘K‘
is the first and ‘G‘ is the third letter of a same ‘Varg‘.
Here, ‘G‘ is changed to ‘K‘.

The words change their forms when they go to
other languages. There are many rules and other reasons behind it. Sanskrit
word ‘Pitr‘ becomes ‘Pidar‘ in Persian and ‘Father‘ in
English. It is a vide subject, so discussion on this topic is not possible
here.

Posted in Gatka | Comments Off

Gatka Section

(This section contains concise English form of Punjabi work by Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’. It will be updated in near future).

Articles

History

  • Sikhs and Shastrastra Vidya
  • Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, Bhai Budhha Ji and Shastravidya
  • Rajput Kings, Sikhs and Shastravidya

Sikh Warriors

Gatka Websites

Gatka Akharhas and Gatka Instructors

  • Khalsa Sewa Dal

    • Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Phase 11,
    Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, India.
    Jathedar Onkar Singh
    International Gatka Instructor
    Mobile Phone: +91-98724-57576, +91-93579-57576

  • Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara

    • (Damdami Taksal, Jatha Bhinderan-Mehta)
    Toronto, Canada

    Jathedar Bhai Jasdev Singh Khalsa
    Ph:416 835 1909

Note: If you are a part of any Gatka Akharha or if you are a Gatka instructor, please contact us
with your details (Name, phone number, address etc). We would share this information on this page.

Posted in Gatka | 2 Comments »