Every year on 26 December, Indians observe Veer Bal Diwas (translated as “Brave Children’s Day”). This day commemorates the courageous martyrdom of the young sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Govind Singh Ji, resisting forced religious conversions and religious intolerance. The younger two were martyred on 26 December and the elder two on 22 December. Overall, all the four Sahibzadas were martyred in December of the year 1704 by the forces of the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
The elder two, Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh (17) and Sahibzada Baba Jujhar Singh (14), were martyred in the Battle that took place at the Punjab town of Chamkaur with Mughals. The two younger sons, Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh (9) and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh (6), were captured by the Mughals and bricked alive in the town of Sirhind. They were entombed alive as a punishment for refusing to be converted to Islam. Both towns are situated in the Indian state of Punjab.
Mughal ruler Aurangzeb is widely known for his barbaric cruelty and indiscriminate massacres in the name of Islam. He was also responsible for killing the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Singh ji who was beheaded in 1675 by his order. Aurangzeb had imprisoned own father, Shahjehan, the builder of the iconic Taj Mahal. Aurangzeb is also known for destroying thousands of Hindu temples, disfiguring and breaking priceless carvings, looting their wealth and killing priests and devotees.The tyrant Aurangzeb had ordered soldiers to kill even his own elder brother Dara Shikoh. His severed head was presented literally on a plate to Aurangzeb, as a proof of the job done. Dara Shikoh being older, was the legitimate first contender to the power. In addition, Dara was a scholarly person who translated from Sanskrit to Persian and could have become a noble ruler if was not brutally murdered by his brother..
Sikh Gurus had fearlessly resisted Aurangzeb’s foray into Kashmir and had valiantly faced the violence unleashed against Kashmiri Hindus, better known as Pandits (Translated, ‘Scholars’). This resistance had brought the 9th and 10th Sikh gurus in the cross hair of Aurangzeb. Sikhs consider helping the weak from oppressors as their holy duty and religious commitment.
Sikh boys and girls are raised by their parents to be brave, proud and generous and inspire them to uphold rights of the weak, not hiding in a crowd as a faceless entity but standing up and being counted when oppressed calls for help. The “Veer Bal Diwas” would inspire every child in the world to be meaningfully brave and proud, never yielding to injustice and oppression and be ever-ready to help a needy person. History has witnessed many oppressors, but far fewer who dared to stand against them.
When the news of martyrdom came to the mother, when her eyes swell with tears, Guru Govind Singh ji consoled her bravely as only he could say: “Chaar mooye to kya hua, jeeveet kaie hazaar”, translated, Four(sons) have died but thousands are alive (sons have been saved).
Veer Bal Diwas is therefore not only a remembrance of historical sacrifice, but also a universal message. It encourages young people everywhere to stand firm and resist injustice with courage and to defend those who are vulnerable. The sons of Guru Govind Singh Ji remain shining examples of unwavering faith and extraordinary bravery, deserving to be remembered and commemorated every year as “Veer Bal Diwas” - Brave Children Day.
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