Modern-day resonance of Hind di chadar

The country is commemorating the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, in the midst of the most uncertain and challenging times at home and abroad. Issues of human rights and freedoms are among the most contested concerns in contemporary times, with states assuming absolute powers to control people, their freedoms and rights.The Guru’s martyrdom is an unparalleled event in human history. He sacrificed his life to protect the religious freedom and dignity of the then persecuted minority, Kashmiri Pandits, during the tyrannical regime of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1675. His sacrifice made him the saviour of religious freedom and forced conversions. Guru Tegh Bahadur was given the title of “Hind di chadar”, the protector of the marginalised and powerless people of Hindustan.The voluntary sacrifice of the Guru as well as his three devout followers, namely Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayala Das, is the greatest symbol of peaceful resistance to the atrocious and nefarious regime of the brutal ruler of that time, Aurangzeb. The Guru’s devotees kept faith in their leader and suffered for a larger cause, that is, individual freedoms and the dignity of marginalised human beings.The Guru’s martyrdom laid the foundation of the right of religious freedoms of individuals as an inseparable part of their dignity and lives. It also reminds us of the then prevailing conditions in society when the people had lost the will to resist the oppressor and oppression.It was Guru Tegh Bahadur who showed a new path of freedom from fear. He determined to resist the mightiest on the earth in the most peaceful and calm way. The Empire and its instruments failed to threaten Guru Tegh Bahadur and his followers, nor persuade them to deviate from the path of truth and righteousness.The 57 sloks religiously believed to have been written by the Guru during his imprisonment in Aurangzeb’s Delhi Darbar were later incorporated at the end of the Guru Granth Sahib. These sloks have become an integral part of the daily life of Sikhs. Their central themes are spiritual truth, courage, supreme importance of religious freedom, freedom of faith, fight against injustice and oppression and the readiness to sacrifice for a noble and just cause.The relevance of the Guru’s martyrdom has become even more important in contemporary times, as a powerful symbol of resistance against present-day rulers who seek to impose their will on marginalised and excluded communities and sections of the society.Guru Tegh Bahadur’s slogan of “fear none, frighten none” evokes the universal principle of seeking to establish a fearless and non-discriminatory social, economic and political system. It is based on justice and symbolises the essence of equality — which in the modern day has taken the shape of universal human rights.The Guru’s slok "bhai kaahu ko deh nahee, nahee bhai maanith aan," means, “one who does not frighten anyone, and what is not afraid of anyone”.Today, people face and confront many pressures, particularly from governments and corporates, who use all the instruments at their disposal to intimidate and crush the genuine demands and aspirations of the people.The large-scale human rights violations of those who challenge the illegitimate actions of governments and refuse to bow to injustice is apparent every day. Many newly emerged and not-so-democratic regimes around the world routinely seek to impose their will. Present-day India is not an exception.The response of the Delhi Darbar towards adivasis, students, farmers, workers, minorities and marginalised sections as well as all those who do not toe their line is clear. State power is being used to impose a particular ideology and way of life on people in different ways. This has emerged as a major challenge to the philosophy of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur.Meanwhile, political parties as well as governments both at the Centre and states are commemorating the Guru’s martyrdom day in order to derive maximum political mileage.The recent tussle between the SGPC and the Punjab government has exposed the agendas of both. The SGPC says it will not participate in the commemoration organised by the government because, it says, it is not the job of the government to organise religious ceremonies. The AAP government has gone ahead and done so in Anandpur Sahib— according to reports, it is a grand affair. Once the government’s celebrations end in Anandpur Sahib, the SGPC will take over.But instead of adhering to the teachings of the Guru, it seems as if both political parties, the Shiromani Akali Dal, which controls the SGPC, as well as the ruling AAP, are competing with each other to take credit for the commemoration — thus outrightly disregarding the legacy of Guru Tegh Bahadur.At the end it can be said that although 350 years have passed since the martyrdom of the Guru, the issues that he fought against — injustice, religious freedom, atrocities on minorities and weaker sections of the society — continue to haunt the people. His teachings and the act of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur make him even more relevant today.

Modern-day resonance of Hind di chadar

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s slogan of “fear none, frighten none” seeks to establish a fearless and non-discriminatory political system.

JAGRUP S SEKHON

Modern-day resonance of Hind di chadar

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s slogan of “fear none, frighten none” seeks to establish a fearless and non-discriminatory political system.

JAGRUP S SEKHON

Unlock Premium Insights in This Article