PM Modi to address the nation on 400th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Red Fort on 21st April
PM to release commemorative coin and postage stamp
on the occasion
Guru Tegh Bahadur stood up to the atrocities of the Mughals to protect the
freedom of Dharmic faiths such as Sikhs and Hindus: Shri G.Kishan Reddy
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will address the nation on
the 400th Parkash Purab of
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at the historic Red Fort on 21 April 2022. Prime
Minister will release a commemorative coin and postage stamp on the auspicious
occasion. Four hundred ragis will perform in the Shabad Kirtan on the
occasion. The
Union Minister for Culture, G.Kishan Reddy announced this at a press
conference today in New Delhi. Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram
Meghwal and Secretary, Culture , Govind Mohan were also present at the
media briefing.
Addressing the media,, Reddy said that Guru Tegh Bahadur
stood up to the atrocities of the Mughals by protecting the freedom of
Dharmic faiths. He fought for the rights of Sikhs and Hindus, especially
Kashmiri Pandits, to practice their faiths by opposing forcible
conversions
He further added “This event, that is being organized, will see
participation from Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 21st April
who will release a stamp and a commemorative coin and Hon’ble Minister for Home
Affairs and Cooperation, Sri Amit Shah ji on 20th April”
Union Minister also said “I have personally invited Chief Ministers of
various states and prominent Sikh leaders including those from Harmandir Sahib
in Amritsar, Patna Saheb and other leaders from prominent gurudwaras across the
nation”
The programme shall be organized by the Ministry of Culture in
collaboration with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Chief
Ministers of different states, many prominent personalities from across the
length and breadth of the subcontinent and abroad, will be part of the
celebrations. This programme is being organized under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM),
The Sikh faith revolves around the sacred bond of teacher and learner,
Guru – the remover of darkness. For the Sikhs, the Guru refers to a succession
of ten spiritual guides, the founding fathers of the Sikh faith. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is the
ninth Sikh Guru. He was popularly known as ‘Hind di Chaddar’, Jagat
Guru. He was born in Amritsar and breathed his last in
Delhi. He was the youngest son of Sri Guru Hargobind Ji. His mother was Mata
Nanaki Ji. His wife was Mata Gujri Ji. He was the grandson of Sri Guru Arjan
Dev Ji and his son was Gobind Rai who later became Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
From the time of his youth, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji had a deeply
meditative nature where his wife was also an active participant. Like the first
five Sikh Gurus, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji had mystical experiences of the Shabad and
shared his experiences through the medium of songs. Like Sri Guru Nanak Ji, he
travelled far and wide – establishing new communities and nurturing existing
communities that had not been visited by any of the Sikh Gurus since the time
of Sri Guru Nanak Ji.
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was the grandson of first Sikh Martyr, Sri Guru
Arjan Dev Ji. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was executed for supporting the
religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits on the orders of Aurangzeb. His death
anniversary is commemorated as Shaheedi Divas every year on 24 November. The
latter was beheaded in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and
Gurdwara Rakab Ganj in Delhi are associated with his sacred sacrifice. His
legacy serves as a great unifying force for the nation.
On the first day of the celebration on 20th April 2022, Home Minister Amit Shah will take part in the commemorative event. Around 400
children will participate in the Shabad Kirtan on 20th April
2022. He will also inaugurate the Multimedia show ‘The Life and Sacrifice of
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’ at the Red Fort.