RSS to observe Guru Teg Bahadur's 350th martyrdom day

The ruling BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) will commemorate the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur with yearlong events starting November 24.

RSS communication chief Sunil Ambekar today said a special resolution and statement would also be issued to mark November 24, the 350th anniversary of Guru Teg 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 would participate in Guru Teg 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 said.

He was speaking to reporters about the upcoming all-India executive committee meeting of the RSS in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur. The meeting from October 31 to November 1 will see 407 Sangh leaders from its 47 organisational units, called 'prants', participate. The meeting will discuss the ongoing RSS centenary year celebration plans and finalise the way forward.

As part of these celebrations, the major upcoming events of the RSS will be -- dialogue with intellectuals in Bengaluru (November 8 & 9), Kolkata (December 21) and Mumbai (January 7 & 8, 2026); Hindu seminars at district level, and a 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 the RSS along with general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and six joint general secretaries.