Veer Bal Diwas is observed across India on December 26 to mark the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas- Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s 4 sons of the 10th Sikh guru- Guru Gobind Singh Ji in the 17th century.
- 26th December 2022 marks the 1st observance of Veer Bal Diwas.
Background:
On 9th January 2022, on the occasion of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, PM Narendra Modi announced ‘Veer Bal Diwas’.
Event 2022:
i. On 26th December 2022, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi attended the ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ programme held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi, as a tribute to the martyrdom.
ii. The PM attended a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by about 300 Baal Kirtanis.
iii. India’s 1st, Resolution of ‘Rastra Pratham’, was the unshakable resolve of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. PM backed up his point by recounting his family’s immense personal sacrifice.
Dignitaries:Â
Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Eknath Shinde, CM of Maharashtra, and Union Ministers, Hardeep Singh Puri, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Meenakshi Lekhi were present on occasion among others.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s 4 sons:
- Sahibzada Ajit Singh (1687 – 1705)
- Sahibzada Jujhar Singh (1691 – 1705)
- Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (1696-1705)
- Sahibzada Fateh Singh (1699-1705).
About Guru Gobind Singh Ji & the 4 Sons:
i. Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh leader in Punjab during the Mughal era, had four sons. They were known as the four Sahibzade Khalsa.
ii. In 1699, Gobind Singh established the Khalsa, the purified and reconstituted Sikh community.
iii. Khalsa was comprised of devout Sikhs who sought to protect the innocent from religious persecution. Guru Gobind Singh’s 4 sons from 3 wives were all a part of Khalsa.
iv. All four of them were executed by Mughal forces before the age of 19.
v. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb attacked Sikh Guru’s Anandpur (Punjab), which was under siege, and Sikh Guru later agreed to give up the fort for the safety of his people when supplies began to run low.
vi. Guru Gobind Singh’s youngest 2 sons, Zorawar and Fateh were taken captive. Eventually, they were buried alive in a wall at ages 8 and 5 respectively.
