Final Answer:
Gruesome punishment did Subeg Singh and Shahbaz Singh endure, involving a wheel with slashing knives turned around them is death.
Thus the correct option is (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
Subeg Singh and Shahbaz Singh endured the gruesome punishment of death involving a wheel with slashing knives turned around them. This method of execution was a brutal form of punishment inflicted during a period of religious persecution, particularly in the 18th century under the rule of the Mughal governor Zakariya Khan. The Sikh martyrs faced this agonizing fate due to their steadfast commitment to their faith and refusal to renounce Sikhism.
The wheel with slashing knives, known as the Charkari, was a horrific instrument of torture and execution. It consisted of a large wheel with curved blades or knives attached to its periphery. The condemned individuals, in this case, Subeg Singh and Shahbaz Singh, were tied to the wheel, and it was set in motion. As the wheel rotated, the slashing knives caused severe injuries and eventually led to the death of the victims. The Charkari was a brutal means employed by persecutors to instill fear and suppress religious dissent.
In summary, the answer "a. Death" accurately reflects the fate that Subeg Singh and Shahbaz Singh met, enduring the brutal punishment of the Charkari wheel with slashing knives as a consequence of their unwavering commitment to Sikhism during a period of religious persecution.
Thus the correct option is (a).