Today, 30 million Sikhs around the world are celebrating the birth anniversary of the 9th Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He was given the title ‘Hind Ki Chaddar’, (Shield of India).

The tread will tell you why he was given the title. This is my tribute to Guruji.

17th century & the Mughals ruled India. They called it ‘Hindustan’. Aurangzeb was the emperor & his mission was to convert Hindus & spread Islam. His 1st targets were the Kashmiri Hindu Pandits. He believed if the Pandit's were converted then the other Hindus would follow suit.

Two options were given – covert or die. The Pandits knew that they would probably meet death far worse as the Mughals had become masters of torture who could extend a person's agony and death for days. So they decided to meet Shri Guru Tech Bahadur ji at Anandpur Sahib.

Seeing the Pandits the curious 9-year-old Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji questioned his father Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, what was happening? Guru ji shared the news with his son, & said: "it would take a holy man laying down his life to intercede and stop the Mughal Emperor."

On hearing this, the young Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji responded, "well who would be a more Holy and worthy man than you, my father?". On hearing this, and a bit shocked with Shri Gobind Singh ji’s maturity, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji decided to challenge the Mughals.

He told the delegation to tell the Mughal Emperor that if he could convert Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, then they would all convert as well.

On hearing this the Mughal Emperor invited Guru ji to his court to discuss. When Guruji reached the court along with his companions, they were arrested. Riches and fame were offered to him and his companions to convert, but refused.

On hearing the decision, the Mughals started torturing and killing the companions before the Guru’s eyes. But Guru ji did not blink.
The Mughals then started torturing Guru ji to convert. But Guru ji refused to convert.

No amount of torture could bend his resolve and finally, Guru ji was beheaded at Chandni Chowk where Gurudwara Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is built in his memory.

He and his companions laid their lives to protect the freedom to practice one's own faith.

This was the first time that anyone in 'Hindustan' was known to have laid down his own life for the protection of another's religion. This is the reason that Guru Tegh Bahadur is still remembered as - "Hind Ki Chaddar", (Shield of India).

You may be a Sikh, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, or a Buddhist, if you visit Chandni Chowk, do go and take Guru ji's blessing who fought for the right of all religions. That would be the greatest honour to his sacrifice.
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