12 November 2025, 05:18 PM IST
First published on: 12 November 2025 at 05:18 PM IST
This is the 350th year of martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru. Martyrdom is a sacred word, and martyrs are revered in all societies. However, Guru Teg Bahadur is a unique example of voluntarily seeking martyrdom for a cause close to others. There is no doubt that, for many, Guru Teg Bahadur was the initiator of the idea of ​​human rights and, in particular, the right of all people to follow their religious beliefs.
The Kashmiri Pandits, who had been converted by the Mughals, approached the Sikh Guru at Anandpur Sahib, traveled more than 300 km to Delhi and stood at Chandni Chowk offering his head, unwilling to bow down to the unjust acts of forced conversion or perform miracles to prove that he was a man of God. He was martyred on November 11, 1675. Gurudwara Sis Ganj stands at that place.
God’s wrath created a storm that allowed Bhai Lakhi Das to take his body to the village of Raisina and cremate him by burning his house. Gurudwara Rakab Ganj stands at this location today. His head was taken to Anandpur Sahib by Bhai Gaeta and his body was cremated there by his son, Guru Gobind Singh, the next and last Sikh Guru.
This was the second time a Sikh guru was martyred. The fourth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, who built the Harminder Sahib and compiled the Adi Granth, was martyred by boiling him in hot water in 1606. We must not forget the indomitable courage and steadfastness in the religious faith of Mata Gojri, wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur. After seeing her husband martyred in 1704, she witnessed the martyrdom of her four grandchildren, the sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Two of the Sahibzadas, Ajit Singh and Gohar Singh, were killed in the battle, but the two youngest, Zarawar Singh and Fateh Singh, only nine and seven years old, were stoned, kept alive in a wall, and remained faithful to the religion.
During his life, Guru Teg Bahadur displayed exemplary courage as a principled and courageous warrior traveling across the country, especially its eastern parts, including Assam and Dhaka. He was also an able negotiator, helping to resolve disputes between the warring Rajas of northern India and Assam. His son Gobind Singh was born when the family was in Patna. Guru Teg Bahadur was also an ardent follower of music and composed 15 ragas and 116 hymns which are included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He also founded the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa. For Sikhs, he is the giver of spiritual treasures that emphasize compassion, joy, balance and God’s grace. His martyrdom was pivotal in giving Sikhs a unique and distinct identity as defenders of basic human rights for all.
The writer is a former Ambassador of India to the European Union and Nepal
(Tags for translation) Guru Tegh Bahadur
