RSS hails Guru Tegh Bahadur’s sacrifice, calls for emulation of his teachings

The RSS, the mother organisation of the ruling BJP, on Saturday hailed Guru Tegh Bahadur as a shining star of Indian culture and traditions and asked everyone to imbibe his teachings. In a statement issued at the end of the three-day RSS executive meeting in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Sangh general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale recalled the supreme sacrifice of life that the ninth Sikh guru made when he was dared by Aurangzeb to accept death or convert to Islam. He said Guru Sahib’s sacrifice triggered a wave of rebellion against the brutal Mughal rule.

RSS appealed to everyone to participate in programmes to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. “Propagating the teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the shining star of Indian culture, and living by his ideals would be a real tribute to him,” the statement read.

Hosabale also saluted the sacrifices of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s disciples, Bhai Dyala, Bhai Satidas, and Bhai Matidas, who were subjected to extreme brutalities by Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.

Hosabale’s statement spoke of how Guru Tegh Bahadur decided to lead from the front when approached for help by a group of Kashmiri Pandits led by Pt Kriparam Das, who urged Guru Sahib’s help to protect their faith.