On the 400th Prakash Purab (birth anniversary) of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the nation saying his sacrifice gives "strength and motivation" to many. PM Modi visited Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi in the morning and offered prayers on the 400th Prakash Purab of Guru Teg Bahadur. He visited the Gurudwara without a security route and any special security arrangement.
"On the special occasion of his 400th Parkash Purab, I bow to Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. He is widely respected globally for his courage and his efforts to serve the downtrodden. He refused to bow to tyranny and injustice. His supreme sacrifice gives strength and motivation to many," the Prime Minister tweeted.
Prime Minister Modi had on April 8 said that the occasion of the 400th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is a spiritual privilege as well as a national duty.
Who was Guru Tegh Bahadur?
Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life for the sake of people who did not even belong to his community. Every year on November 24, Sikhs celebrate Shaheedi Divas to remember Guru Tegh Bahadur and the day is observed as his Martyrdom Day.
The youngest son of Guru Hargobind, he was publicly killed in 1675 on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi for refusing to convert to Islam.
In Sikhism, his sacrifice is remembered with great reverence. In the words of Noel King of the University of California, “Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom was the first-ever martyrdom for human rights in the world.”
Aurangzeb wanted to convert India into an Islamic nation, hence forcing the Hindus to convert to Islam else be ready to be executed. A delegation of 500 Kashmiri Pandits led by Pandit Kripa Ram went to seek help from Guru Tegh Bahadur at Anandpur Sahib ji.
On the insistence of his son who would eventually be known as Guru Gobind Singh, the ninth guru travelled to Delhi to dissuade Aurangzeb from this religious imposition. He sacrificed his life to protect religion, human values, ideals and principles. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk marks the place of his execution.
