Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, sacrificed his life for the welfare of people on November 24, 1675. It is on this day when he was beheaded by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Every year on November 24, Sikhs celebrate Shaheedi Divas to remember Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the day is observed as his Martyrdom Day.
The Mughal ruler Aurangzeb wanted to convert all Indians into Muslims. He wanted everyone to either take up Islam or else be prepared for execution. After this announcement by Aurangzeb, a group of 500 Kashmiri Pandits led by Pandit Kripa Ram went to seek help from Guru Tegh Bahadur at Anandpur Sahib.
On hearing the atrocities of Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Rai, the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, declared that it is only his father who can solve this problem. The ninth guru of Sikhs readily agreed to help the pandits. He asked them to inform the Mughal ruler that if he is able to convert his father, then all people would follow the suit.
After Aurangzeb came to know about this, Guru Tegh Bahadur was summoned, but when he arrived, he was asked "to abandon his faith, and convert to Islam". Guru Tegh Bahadur refused, and he and his associates were arrested.
Guru Tegh Bahadur was tortured for many weeks while being asked to abandon his faith and convert to Islam; he stood by his convictions and refused; he was then executed on 24 November 1675 in public in Chandni Chowk, Delhi.
The associates of the Guru were also tortured for refusing to convert: Bhai Mati Das was sawn into pieces and Bhai Dayal Das was thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, and Bhai Sati Das was burned alive, while Guru Tegh Bahadur was held inside a cage to watch his colleagues suffer.
India's President Ram Nath Kovind paid tribute to Guru Teg Bahadur on his Martyrdom Day.
The President said that his sacrifice inspires all of us to unite for the true service of humanity. Kovind also said, Guru Tegh Bahadur's teachings and his work will continue to spread the spirit of love and patriotism among all of us.
Source: Sheikh News
