The Government of India (GoI) has decided to proclaim December 26th of every year from 2022 as the Veer Baal Diwas to honour the sacrifice of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the 3rd and 4th sons of the 10th Sikh Guru, “Guru Gobind Singh”, to defend the dignity and honour of Sikhism.
- Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi made the announcement regarding the observance of Veer Baal Diwas on 9th January 2022, the 355th birth anniversary (Parkash Purab) of the 10th Sikh Guru, “Guru Gobind Singh”.
The first ever Veer Baal Diwas will be observed on 26th December 2022.
Background:
i.On 26th December 1705, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh were executed, after being sealed alive in a wall.
ii.Wazir Khan, the Governor of Sirhind territory of the Mughal Empire ordered the execution after they refused to convert to Islam.
- Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, the elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh, were killed in the Battle of Chamkaur against the Mughal Army led by Wazir Khan.
Birth anniversary of “Guru Gobind Singh”:
i.Guru Gobind Singh was born on 22nd December 1666(Gregorian calendar) in Patna, Bihar.
ii.According to the Nanakshahi calendar, his birth anniversary, also known as Prakash Parv, is annually observed between December and January.
- In 2022, the Prakash Parv falls on 9th January 2022.
- In 2021 the Prakash Parv was observed on 20th January 2021.
iii.At the age of 9, he was installed as the tenth and final leader of the Sikh.
iv.He was well known for founding the Sikh warrior community called Khalsa in 1699 and introducing the Five Ks((Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a wooden comb), Kara (a iron bracelet), Kachera (cotton underpants) and Kirpan (an iron dagger)), the five articles of faith that Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times.
