RSS to commemorate Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom day with year-long events starting November 24

The ruling BJP’s ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), will commemorate the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, with year-long events starting November 24.

Top RSS functionary Sunil Ambekar, chief of Sangh communication, today said a special resolution and statement will also be issued to mark November 24, the 350th anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who laid down his life to protect the religious rights of Hindus and stood up to the tyranny of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Ambekar said the RSS will participate in Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom commemoration events and also hold its own programmes for a whole year. Tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary on November 14 will also be marked, Ambekar added.

He was speaking to reporters about the upcoming RSS all India executive committee meeting in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur. The meeting from October 31 to November 1 will see 407 RSS leaders from 47 organisational units of the Sangh called ‘prants’ taking part.

The meeting will discuss ongoing RSS centenary year celebration plans and finalise the way forward. As part of these celebrations, the major upcoming events of RSS will be — dialogue with intellectuals in Bengaluru (November 8,9), Kolkata (December 21), Mumbai (January 7,8 2025); Hindu seminars at district level, and pan India house to house outreach.

Asked if all faith representatives could attend the Hindu sammelan, Ambekar said “The definition of Hindu is comprehensive and means anyone who resides in Bharat and considers themselves the children of Bharat. Hindu is not defined by religious practices. It’s an expression of our cultural cohesion and unity. For us, everyone who lives in India and swears by the nation is a Hindu,” RSS leader said.

Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will attend the Jabalpur meeting of RSS along with general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and six joint general secretaries.