Veer Bal Diwas 2023 |‘Martyrdom of Mata Gujri Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji & four Sahibzadas inspires every Indian,’says PM Modi

Veer Bal Diwas 2023: 'Veer Bal Diwas' is observed to mark the martyrdom of his sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. Last year on January 9, 2022, on the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Prime Minister Modi announced that December 26 would be marked every year as 'Veer Bal Diwas'.

December 26 also marks the birth anniversary of Udham Singh, a great revolutionary, who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Amritsar on Baisakhi in 1919 by killing General O'Dwyer, who ordered his forces to open fire on peaceful protesters, in March 1940. Shaheed Udham Singh was later hanged by the British in London.

Born on December 26, 899, at Sunam in Punjab, Udham Singh was known as Sher Singh as a child. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, left a life-long impact on Udham Singh.

The people who had gathered to celebrate Baisakhi at Armitsar's Jallianwala Bagh were fired upon by General Dwyer, who blocked off the main entrance and ordered his troops to open fire on the crowd.

The British officer was scheduled to give a speech at Caxton Hall in London on March 13, 1940. Uddham Singh hid a revolver in a book, entered the hall and shot O'Dwyer. He was formally charged with the murder on April 1, 1940. While in custody, he called himself "Ram Mohammad Singh Azad." He was hanged in London on July 31, 1940.

‘Sikh gurus gave us these teachings’: PM Modi on Veer Bal Diwas

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a programme marking 'Veer Baal Diwas' at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on Tuesday, further advancing his idea of 'Sabka Saath'

Addressing the event to mark the martyrdom of the two sons of Sikh Guru Sri Gobind Singh, Prime Minister Modi said, "'Veer Bal Diwas' represents and symbolises a national urge to safeguard and carry forward the idea of Bharatiyata."

"This year, America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE and Greece have organised programmes related to 'Veer Bal Diwas'," PM Modi added.

 "Even as we are taking pride in our national heritage, the world has started looking at us differently. The India of today has more confidence in the confidence, ability, and potential of its people," PM Modi added.

"We don't have even a second to waste. The (Sikh) gurus gave us these teachings. Our life's mission should be to restore and safeguard our nation's pride and glory. We need to live for the betterment of the country," PM Modi said.

The martyrdom of Mata Gujri Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and their four Sahibzadas inspires every Indian, he said.

 
'Veer Baal Diwas' is observed to pay homage to the courage of the 'Sahibzadas'-- the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

While all four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji were martyred, the date is observed as the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas-- Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh who are said to have been martyred at the tender ages of six and nine in Sirhind (Punjab) by Mughal forces on the orders of the then ruler Aurangzeb.

The place where the sons of the last Sikh Guru were buried alive is today's Fatehgarh Sahib. The Sikhs respect the sons of the 10th Guru as warriors who are usually referred to as Sahibzadas.