Shaheedan nu Pranam

In Guru Granth Sahib there are 60 hymns written by Guru Teg Bahdur ji and they are all in Brij bhasa – a language spoken in eastern parts of the country like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After Guru Nanak Devji major missionary work to spread Sikhism in far off places (out of greater Punjab) was done by Guru Teg Bahadur ji. He took up the missionary work on the trails of Guru Nanak in UP and Bihar and went from Assam and other sister states up to now Bangladesh. In Punjab the fear of Moghul and their tyranny had become lesser and people were getting ready to face them. According to the new policies of Islamization, Aurangzeb had started demolishing temples and the fear factor in east was so strong that all the Sikhs established by Guru Nanak there started coming to Guruji. Guru Teg Bahadur ji left for the east and spent 5 years in infusing spirit of chardi kala in those people. That is why all his hymns are in Brij bhasha. Guru ji was in Dacca when the news came that arbitrary islamisation now starts by first converting Brahmins to Islam. The idea was that if the Brahmins were converted first it will be easier to convert other castes. This task was first started by Subedar of Kashmir. So Kashmiri Pundit who knew about Sikh Gurus because of the missionary work and battles of Guru Hargobind ji that only they can save us. They came to Guruji at Anandpur sahib and asked for a solution. After contemplating on this matter Guru ji thought of the great sacrifice of his Grandfather Guru Arjun Devji and his convictions to remain a true Sikh of house of Nanak. So even if he was not a votary of Tilak and janeyu he resolved to give his life to save humanity from the tyranny of Auranzeb. It was the plight of fellow human beings that his resolve to sacrifice his life was taken and he declared if the Emperor can convert Sikh Guru to Islam others will follow. If he is not successful in converting the Sikh Guru he will stop the tyrannical dictate of forcible conversions. On hearing this declaration the Emperor ordered his arrest. Guru Teg Bahadurji was prepared for this heroic task by his father Guru Hargobind ji. He was left alone for meditation in Bakala at his grandmother’s house. 13 years of secluded life for meditation and contemplation a great soul, a master was ready to take up the heroic and supreme task that has no parallel in the history of the world. A self sacrifice for own religion and convictions is heard of but for the sake of humanity and plight of fellow human beings was never heard of before. He saved Hindus from ghastly conversion dictates of the Emperor and for that reason he is known as Hind di chadar.

On this day of his martyr’s day let us all pray for him and pay our tributes.