Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that Sikh gurus have taught Indians to live for the glory of their land and served as an inspiration to make the country better and developed.
Speaking at a “Veer Bal Diwas” event to commemorate the martyrdom of two sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Modi said their sacrifices are not only being remembered in India but also globally through programmes in countries like the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Modi said his government has a clear vision and roadmap to fulfil the unlimited dreams of India’s youngsters, irrespective of the region and society they were born in. “The government has a clear policy and no flaw in its intentions,” he said, citing the increase in the size of the Indian economy.
The prime minister exhorted youngsters to give top priority to their health, saying when they are fit, they will be “super hit” in their careers and life. He asked them to stick to a good diet, opt for digital detoxification and shun the use of narcotics.
Modi appealed to religious leaders and social organisations to launch a movement against drugs.
“Veer Bal Diwas” is a symbol of the resolve to do anything to protect Indianness, the prime minister said in his tributes to the two “Sahibzadas”.
Remembering their unmatched valour, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said the sacrifice will continue to inspire generations to come. Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday remembered the sacrifice of last Sikh guru- Guru Gobind Singh’s four sons on the occasion of ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ and mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spread the saga of their sacrifice to every corner of the country and the world.
Remembering their unmatched valour, Shah also said the sacrifice will continue to inspire generations to come.
“On Veer Bal Diwas, I bow to Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s four Sahibzade and Mata Gujri Ji. With supreme courage they stood against the brutal Mughal rule and chose martyrdom, refusing to convert. Their unmatched valor will continue to inspire generations to come. Proclaiming their Martyrdom Day as Veer Bal Diwas, Prime Minister Modi Ji has spread the saga of their sacrifice to every corner of the country and the world,” Shah posted on ‘X’, formerly Twitter.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also paid tribute to the valour of the Guru’s sons
“I join members of the Sikh Sangat in India & around the world to thank PM Sh @narendramodi
Ji for honouring the sentiments of our entire community to honour the valour, courage & shahadat of our Chaar Sahibzaade at a young age, & declare 26 December as #VeerBaalDiwas” the Minister posted on X.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid obeisance at Tila Sahib Gurdwara in New Tehri on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised on Tuesday that Veer Bal Diwas serves as a reminder of the profound sacrifice made by Sikh Gurus. “All four sons of Guru Gobind Singh happily sacrificed their lives for the protection of religion and country,” Chief Minister Yogi said.
Speaking at a special programme held at the CM residence, Yogi Adityanath said, “The tales of this historic sacrifice need to be imparted to the younger generation so that they know about the glorious story of their martyrs.”
A digital exhibition detailing the life story and sacrifice of the Sahibzades will be displayed in schools and childcare institutions across the country. A film on ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ will also be screened nationwide.
Various online competitions, including interactive quiz shows, will be organised through the MYBharat and MyGov portals. On the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, on January 9, 2022, Prime Minister Modi announced that December 26 would be marked every year as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’, to mark the martyrdom of his sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. Sikh community across the World thanked PM Modi for taking “historical” steps to celebrate Veer Bal Diwas.
ABOUT
India celebrates Veer Bal Diwas annually on December 26, 2023; this day honours and pays tribute to young martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the country; they were the sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. On January 9, 2022, on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, Modi had announced that December 26 will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ to mark the martyrdom of the Sikh guru’s sons.
HISTORY
Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Shahibjada Jujhar Singh, Sahibjada Zorawar Singh, and Sahibzada Fateh Singh are the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh guru.
Guruji and his army were attacked by the Mughal Army. Anandpur Sahib Fort was the starting point of the conflict. The family was split up after a protracted battle on the Sarsa River’s bank. Later, the Sahibzaades were asked by Nawabs to convert to Islam, but they refused and affirmed their love for Sikhism. This fearless attitude of the young lads left the Mughal emperor furious, and as a result, they were immediately buried between the walls.
And in history, this event later got etched as a supreme sacrifice made by Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. On Veer Bal Diwas, their supreme sacrifice is remembered.
WHY IS VEER BAL DIWAS CELEBRATED?
As mentioned earlier, Veer Bal Diwas is celebrated to honour the sons of Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were the youngest of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh and are considered to be the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism; they had lost their mother at a very young age and were raised by their grandmother.
Anandpur, where Guru Gobind Singh’s family lived, was under siege in around 1704 and attacked by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and after holding the fort for months, food and other essential supplies started to diminish and Guru Gobind Singh and his family accepted an offer by Aurangzeb of safe passage out of Anandpur. During this time, Guru Gobind Singh’s two sons- Zorawar Singh, Fateh Singh-were taken in captivity. Eventually they were buried alive into a wall at a young age of 8 and 5 respectively.
Veer Bal Diwas is an example of exemplary patriotism shown by the young children.
The celebration of this day aims to inform and educate the citizens, especially young children, about the story of exemplary courage of the ‘sahibzades’, the children of the last Sikh guru Gobind Singh, who laid down their lives while defending their faith and country.