Why in news? Government decided to observe 26th December every year as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ to mark the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh  and Sahibzada Fateh Singh .

Highlights

• ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ is celebrated at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi
• The Government is organising interactive and participative programmes all over the country to inform and educate the citizens, especially the young children, about the story of exemplary courage of the Sahibzades

Why this day is celebrated ?

• To mark the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji (7 years old) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji (5 years old), martyred in Sarhand by prisoning them alive by bricking them in the walls on 26th December, 1704.

What is the story of martyrdom ?

• A combination of Mughals and Hindu hillmen besieged Anandpur Sahib on the orders of emperor Aurangzeb.
• The Mughals promised to leave the Sikhs alone if they would hand over the fortress of Anandpur Sahib.
• Guru Gobind entrusted his both sons Jorawar Singh, Fateh Singh and his mother (Mata Gujri), to his household named Gangu
• Gangu brought Mata Gujri and the two boys to his native village of Sahedi.
• Bribed by the Mughals, he turned over the three members of Guru Gobind Singh’s family to the faujdar of Morinda.
• They were then brought to Sirhind in the presence of Wazir Khan, the Nawab of Sirhind.
• Both sons were offered safe passage if they became Muslims. Both refused, and so Wazir Khan sentenced them to death. They were bricked alive
• The place where the two children of Guru Gobind Singh were bricked alive is today known as Fatehgarh Sahib

Post war story

• After Guru Gobind Singh’s death, Banda Singh Bahadur, took revenge on deaths of the children.
• After defeating the Mughals in the Battle of Samana and Battle of Sadhaura conquered Samana and Sandhaura, he moved towards Sirhind and after defeating the Mughal forces in the Battle of Chappar Chiri, the Sikh army conquered
• In the battle, Wazir Khan (Sirhind) was beheaded.

About Fateh Singh

• Fourth and youngest son of Guru Gobind Singh
• According to Sikh tradition, Fateh Singh was the first Nihang warrior and inspired the traditions of the Nihang sect.

About Guru Gobind Singh

• Tenth Sikh Guru, a spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher.
• After his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, execution by Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Singh was formally installed as the leader of the Sikhs at the age of nine, with tenth and final human Sikh Guru.

Notable contributions to Sikhism are

• Founding the Sikh warrior community called Khalsa in 1699
• Introducing the Five Ks, the five articles of faith that Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times.
• Credited with the Dasam Granth ,hymns are a sacred part of Sikh prayers and Khalsa rituals.
• He is also credited as the one who finalized and enshrined the Guru Granth Sahib as Sikhism’s primary scripture and eternal Guru
• Slogan : Bole So Nihal
• Zafarnama: Guru wrote a defiant letter in Persian to Aurangzeb
• Battle of Chamkaur: Killed Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh by Mughals