Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Wednesday said that Veer Bal Diwas, initiated by the Modi government, has become a powerful source of inspiration for sacrifice and patriotism, not only for children in India but for young people across the world.
Addressing the state-level Veer Bal Diwas programme organised by the Haryana government in Panchkula, Shah said the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s Sahibzadas continues to send “shivers down the spine” even today. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and several other dignitaries were present at the event.
Shah said recalling the brutal sacrifice of the Sahibzadas fills the heart with sorrow as well as pride — sorrow for the cruelty inflicted on children who had barely begun life, and pride that India is the land where Guru Gobind Singh Ji dedicated his father, mother and all four sons for religion and the nation. He said no other figure in world history has made such an unparalleled sacrifice, which is why Guru Gobind Singh Ji is revered as ‘Sarbansdani’.
The Home Minister emphasised that it is the responsibility of every citizen to educate the country’s youth about the life of Dasham Pita Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzadas. He said the courage, devotion and spirit of martyrdom shown by them must reach every corner of the country.
Highlighting the legacy of the Sikh Gurus, Shah said Guru Nanak Dev Ji united the country and guided society away from superstition, while Guru Angad Dev Ji preserved Guru Nanak’s teachings in Gurmukhi script. Guru Amar Das Ji, he said, strengthened social reform through the tradition of langar and by championing respect for women. Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled the Adi Granth, preserving the spiritual essence of India by including teachings of saints from multiple faiths.
Shah said Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji introduced the concept of Miri and Piri, combining spiritual authority with the responsibility of security, and secured the release of 52 imprisoned kings, an event remembered as Bandi Chhod Divas. He added that Guru Har Rai Ji embodied compassion and harmony with nature, while Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji set an enduring example of selfless service during the smallpox epidemic.
Paying tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Shah said that without his sacrifice, neither Hindus nor Sikhs would have survived, which is why he is honoured as ‘Hind Di Chadar’. He said the nation would remain indebted to the ninth Guru for thousands of years, adding that Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi continues to inspire patriots even centuries later.
The Home Minister described Guru Gobind Singh Ji as a scholar, poet, archer and visionary leader whose legacy continues to inspire millions. He also questioned the non-inclusion of Kartarpur Sahib in India at the time of Partition.
Shah said that after Independence, the sacrifices of the Sahibzadas were not adequately highlighted, a gap the Modi government sought to address by declaring December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas in 2022. He said that today, the biographies of the Sahibzadas are being read in schools across the country on this day, with active participation from state governments.
Highlighting the government’s initiatives for the Sikh community, Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi oversaw several historic milestones related to the Sikh Gurus during his tenure. He cited the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, construction of the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, reopening of cases related to the 1984 Sikh riots, and granting citizenship to Sikh refugees.
Shah said Sikhism stands as a shining example of ‘Sarva Dharma Sambhava’ and that the Modi government has made sustained efforts to present the legacy of the Sikh Gurus to the world.
