The Union Home Ministry on Sunday announced that December 26 will be observed as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ as a tribute to the 10th Sikh guru Gobind Singh’s four sons who were executed by the Mughals. The ministry’s formal announcement came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the day will be observed beginning this year.
Paying rich tributes to the tenth Sikh Guru on the occasion of Parkash Purab on Sunday, the Prime Minister said: “Today, on the auspicious occasion of the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, I am honoured to share that starting this year, 26th December shall be marked as ‘Veer Baal Diwas.’ This is a fitting tribute to the courage of the Sahibzades and their quest for justice.”
The Prime Minister also greeted people on the Parkash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh and said, “His life and message give strength to millions of people. I will always cherish the fact that our government got the opportunity to mark his 350th Parkash Utsav.”
The Prime Minister also shared on Twitter some glimpses from his visit to Patna at that time.
Earlier, the Prime Minister had announced the decision to repeal farm laws on November 19, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Punjab is due for Assembly elections and will vote on February 14 to elect a new government.
“‘Veer Baal Diwas will be on the same day Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji attained martyrdom after being sealed alive in a wall. These two greats preferred death instead of deviating from the noble principles of Dharma,” Modi said in another tweet.
In 2018, BJP parliamentarian from West Delhi Parvesh Sahib Singh, along with 133 MPs, submitted a memorandum to Modi, requesting that Children’s Day should be celebrated in the name of the sahibzades on December 26.
Children’s Day in India is observed on November 14, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday.
“The day (Children’s Day) is about the children and their well-being. Thus, it is important to look into India’s rich past and find stories of those children who braved the most difficult circumstances and made history,” the 2018 memorandum said. “26th December, when Chhote Sahibzades were martyred, should be celebrated as Children’s Day in India.”