New Delhi: Every year on December 26, Veer Bal Diwas (Day of Brave Children) is observed in India. On this day, we commemorate and honour the bravery and sacrifice of the youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru. On this day, we look back at how Guru Gobind Singh and his sons fought against oppressors and how much the Sikhs have sacrificed to keep the honour of their nation intact.
PM Modi has tweeted on the occasion, stating that on Veer Baal Diwas, our country looks back at the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzades, the youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Their courage has inspired generations and they are bright examples of valour and commitment.
Veer Bal Diwas: A history of sacrifice and immense bravery
Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh Guru and also a warrior who fought against the oppression of the Mughal Empire at that time. He became the leader of the Sikhs in 1675 at the age of nine when Emperor Aurangzeb executed his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru. Tragically, Guru Gobind Singh lost all his four sons during his lifetime while fighting the Mughals.
During the battles between the Mughals and the Sikhs led by Guru Gobind Singh, the former laid siege to the Anandpur Sahib Fort in 1704. Aurangzeb sent the Mughal governors Wazir Khan, Dilwaar Kahn and Zaberdast Khan to execute the siege which lasted from May 1704 to December 1704. Its main aim was to capture Guru Gobind Singh and destroy the Sikh army. The Mughal forces were superior, and the Sikhs had to stay in the fort for many months, with all supplies and communications cut off. Emperor Aurangzeb assured them a safe passage, and Guru Gobind Singh and his followers were forced to relent. However, once they came out of the fort, they were treacherously attacked at the Sarsa River.
Guru Gobind Singh, along with his family and disciples, were compelled to flee but during the escape, the Mughal forces captured his youngest sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. At that time, Zorawar was nine years old and Fateh was just six. Once they were captured, the two young boys were offered a safe passage if they converted to Islam. But the brave boys refused the offer, and Wazir Khan ordered them to be bricked alive around December 26, 1705.
The significance of Veer Bal Diwas
In 2022, PM Narendra Modi declared December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas to honour and remember the sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh’s two youngest sons. The day honours the immense bravery of two Sikh warrior who refused to abandon their faith in exchange of safety and decided to lay down their lives instead. This year, PM Modi honoured children and launched ‘Suposhit Panchayat Abhiyaan’ to improve nutrition outcomes and community participation. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to observe the day with ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’ which the President of India, Droupadi Murmu would confer on 17 children.
Veer Bal Diwas, observed annually on December 26, commemorates the unwavering courage of Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, the youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh. These young Sikh warriors, facing Mughal captivity, refused to renounce their faith, choosing martyrdom instead. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
