Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!
Governor of Haryana Ashim Ghosh ji, popular Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ji, my colleagues in the Union Cabinet Manohar Lal ji, Rao Inderjit Singh ji, Krishan Pal ji, President of Haryana SGPC Jagdish Singh Jhinda ji, other distinguished personalities, ladies and gentlemen!
Today is a remarkable confluence of Bharat’s heritage. I was in Ayodhya, the city of the Ramayana, in the morning and now I am here in Kurukshetra, the land of the Gita. Here, all of us are paying homage to Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji on the occasion of his 350th martyrdom day. I bow with reverence to all the revered saints and the respected sangat present here.
Friends,
Another wonderful coincidence occurred about 5–6 years ago, and I must mention it. I was in Dera Baba Nanak for the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor when the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the Ram Temple on 9th November 2019. On that day, I prayed that the path for constructing the Ram Temple be cleared and the aspirations of crores of Ram devotees be fulfilled. And our prayers were answered as the verdict came in favour of the Ram Temple on that very day. And today, when the ‘Dharma Dhwaja’ has been unfurled in Ayodhya, I am once again receiving blessings from the Sikh sangat.
Friends,
A short while ago, the Panchajanya Smarak (memorial) was also inaugurated here on the land of Kurukshetra. From this very soil, Lord Shri Krishna taught that protecting truth and justice is the highest dharma. He said, स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः। that is, giving one’s life for truth and for one’s duty is noble. Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, too, considered it his duty to protect truth, justice, and faith, and he upheld this duty by sacrificing his life. On this historic occasion, the Government of Bharat has had the privilege of dedicating a commemorative postage stamp and a special coin to Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. It is my wish that our government continues to serve the sacred Guru tradition in this manner.
Friends,
This sacred land of Kurukshetra is an important centre of the Sikh tradition. Observe the good fortune of this land! Almost all the revered Gurus of the Sikh tradition visited this place during their holy journeys. When the Ninth Guru, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, arrived on this sacred land, he left the imprint of his deep penance and fearless courage here.
Friends,
Personalities like Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji are exceedingly rare in history. His life, his sacrifice, and his character are tremendous sources of inspiration. Guru Sahib established the highest example of bravery during that era of Mughal aggression. We all know what happened before the martyrdom of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. Kashmiri Hindus were being forcibly converted during that period of Mughal atrocities. During that crisis, a group of persecuted people sought Guru Sahib’s support. At that time, Guru Sahib told them: “All of you tell Aurangzeb clearly that if Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur accepts Islam, then we will also accept Islam.”
Friends,
These words reflected the pinnacle of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji’s fearlessness. And then, what was feared, happened. The cruel Aurangzeb ordered that Guru Sahib be arrested, but Guru Sahib himself declared that he would go to Delhi. The Mughal rulers tried to lure him with temptations, but Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur remained steadfast. He did not compromise on religion or principles. And to break his spirit, to shake his resolve, three of his companions, Bhai Dayala ji, Bhai Sati Das ji, and Bhai Mati Das ji, were brutally killed right before him. Yet Guru Sahib remained firm, his resolve unwavering. He did not leave the path of Dharma; and in a state of deep meditation, Guru Sahib sacrificed his head for the protection of faith.
Friends,
Even that was not enough for the Mughals. They also attempted to dishonour the sacred head of Guru Maharaj. But Bhai Jaita ji, with great valour, carried the Guru’s head safely to Anandpur Sahib. That is why Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji wrote: “तिल्कजन्जू राखा प्रभ ता का,तेग बहादुर सी क्रिया, करी न किन्हुं आन। It means that to protect the dignity of faith, to prevent atrocities on people’s beliefs, Guru Sahib gave up everything.
Friends,
Today, Delhi’s Sis Ganj Gurudwara stands as a living source of inspiration for us in the form of the land of that very sacrifice. Anandpur Sahib is the sacred ground of our national consciousness. And whatever form Bharat retains today carries within it the sacrifice and dedication of great souls like Guru Sahib. And because of this unparalleled sacrifice, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji is revered as Hind Di Chadar.
Friends,
The tradition of our Gurus is the foundation of our nation’s character, our culture, and our core spirit. And I am satisfied that in the past 11 years, our government has established these sacred traditions, every celebration of the Sikh tradition, as national celebrations as well. Our government had the fortune of celebrating the 550th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the 400th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib ji, and the 350th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji as festivals of Bharat’s unity and integrity. People across Bharat have participated in these events rising above their own beliefs, traditions, and customs.
Friends,
Our government has also had the privilege of giving the sacred sites associated with the Gurus a grand and divine form. In the past decade, there have been many such occasions when I personally became a part of events related to the Guru tradition. Some time ago, when three original forms of the Guru Granth Sahib arrived in Bharat from Afghanistan, it became a moment of pride for every Indian.
Friends,
Our government has tried to connect every pilgrimage site of the Gurus with the spirit of modern Bharat. Whether it is completing the work of the Kartarpur Corridor, building the ropeway project in Hemkund Sahib, or expanding the Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum in Anandpur Sahib, we have taken inspiration from the glorious Guru tradition and completed all this work with full devotion.
Friends,
We all know how the Mughals crossed all limits of cruelty even with the brave Sahibzadas. The brave Sahibzadas accepted being bricked alive but did not abandon the path of duty and Dharma. To honour these ideals, we now observe Veer Bal Diwas every year on 26th December.
Friends,
We have also made the history of the Sikh tradition and the teachings of the Gurus part of the national curriculum, so that the ideals of service, courage, and truth become the foundation of our new generation’s thinking.
Friends,
I believe that all of you must have had the sacred darshan of ‘Joda Sahib.’ I remember when my Cabinet colleague Hardeep Singh Puri ji first discussed these important relics with me. He told me that his family had preserved the sacred ‘Joda Sahib’ (footwear) of Guru Gobind Singh ji and Mata Sahib Kaur ji for nearly three hundred years. And now they wish to dedicate this sacred heritage to the Sikh sangat across the country and the world.
Friends,
These sacred Joda Sahib were subjected to scientific examination with full respect and dignity so that this holy relic could be preserved for future generations. Considering all the facts, we collectively decided that these sacred Joda Sahib would be dedicated to Takht Shri Patna Sahib, where Guru Maharaj spent a significant part of his childhood. Last month, these holy Joda Sahib were taken from Delhi to Patna Sahib as part of a sacred journey. There, I too had the opportunity to bow my head before the Joda Sahib. I consider this the special grace of the Gurus, that they gave me the opportunity for this service, this dedication, and the privilege of being connected to this sacred heritage.
Friends,
The memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib ji teaches us how vast, how generous, and how human-centric Bharat’s culture has been. He proved the principle of Sarbat da Bhala (the welfare of all) through his life. Today’s event is not only a moment to honour these memories and teachings, but also an important inspiration for our present and future. Guru Sahib taught: जो नर दुख मै दुख नहीं मानै, सोई पूरन ज्ञानी। meaning, the one who does not waver even in difficult circumstances is the true wise one, the true seeker. With this inspiration, we must overcome every challenge and take our country forward, making Bharat a developed nation.
Friends,
It is Guru Sahib who taught us, ‘भय काहू को देत नय, नय भय मानत आन’ that is, we should neither frighten anyone nor live in fear of anyone. This fearlessness strengthens society and the nation. Today, Bharat too follows this principle. We speak to the world about brotherhood, and we also protect our borders. We desire peace, but we do not compromise on our security. Operation Sindoor is the biggest example of this. The whole world has seen that the new Bharat neither fears, nor stops, nor bends before terrorism. Today’s Bharat is moving forward with full strength, courage, and clarity.
Friends,
On this important occasion, I also want to speak about an issue concerning our society and youth, an issue that even Guru Sahib was concerned about. This issue is that of addiction, of drugs. Addiction has pushed the dreams of many of our youth into deep crisis. The government is making every possible effort to eliminate this problem from the roots. But this is also a battle for society and families. In such a time, the teachings of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib provide both inspiration and solutions. We all know that when Guru Sahib began his journey from Anandpur Sahib, he connected the sangat from numerous villages. He not only strengthened their devotion and faith but also transformed the conduct of the society living in these regions. The people of these villages abandoned the cultivation of all kinds of intoxicants and dedicated their future at the feet of Guru Sahib. If society, families, and youth walk together on the path shown by Guru Maharaj and wage a decisive battle against drugs, then this problem can be eradicated completely.
Friends,
May the teachings of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib become the foundation of peace in our conduct, balance in our policies, and trust within our society. This is the essence of today’s occasion. The way the entire country is commemorating the martyrdom day of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur shows how alive the teachings of the Gurus still are in the consciousness of our society. With the hope that these celebrations become meaningful inspiration for our younger generations to carry Bharat forward, I once again extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
