PM Modi, Amit Shah pay tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur on 350th Martyrdom anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday paid solemn tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur on his 350th martyrdom anniversary, recalling the ninth Sikh Guru’s unparalleled courage and supreme sacrifice for the protection of religious freedom.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi shared a tribute video and said Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom for the “protection of faith and humanity will forever illuminate our society.” He noted that the Guru’s teachings on compassion, fearlessness and service to humanity remain profoundly relevant today, especially at a time when the world grapples with rising intolerance and conflict. The Prime Minister said the Guru’s life continues to inspire a path of harmony and moral strength for future generations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid homage, describing Guru Tegh Bahadur as a spiritual beacon who “struggled for the Kashmiri Pandits, challenged the tyrannical Mughals, and sacrificed everything for the sake of religion.” Calling him Hind Ki Chadar the Shield of India Shah said remembering the Guru’s valor, restraint and devotion strengthens the resolve for national defence and unity.

Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhism, is revered for his spiritual depth, poetic compositions and steadfast defence of the oppressed. Born in 1621, he emerged as a symbol of resistance against forced conversions during the Mughal era. His teachings emphasized equality, freedom of conscience, inner strength and universal human rights principles that are cornerstones of Sikh philosophy.

Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed in 1675 in Delhi on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after he refused to convert to Islam and stood firm against religious persecution. He offered himself as a protector of Kashmiri Pandits who were being coerced into conversion, making his sacrifice one of the earliest documented fights for human rights and freedom of belief. His martyrdom is remembered as an act of unparalleled moral courage, placing him among the greatest champions of religious liberty.

Meanwhile, the three-day Gurmat Samagam, which began on November 23, concludes today (November 25). Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the 350th martyrdom anniversary is being marked across the country with devotion and enthusiasm, reflecting the enduring impact of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s legacy.

As India commemorates this historic milestone, leaders and citizens alike have echoed the sentiment that Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings rooted in fearlessness, righteousness and the defence of the vulnerable remain a guiding light for contemporary society.