What is the Significance Of Veer Bal Diwas? Know Everything!

Relevance of Veer Bal Diwas for UPSC

Veer Bal Diwas 2022: Veer Bal Diwas is relevant for UPSC Prelims Current Affairs and Indian History, Art and Culture Section + UPSC Mains Exam – General Studies I- Indian History, Art and Culture.

What is in the News about Veer Bal Diwas?

• Today i.e. on 26th December, 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in a historic programme marking ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi at 12:30 PM.

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2022: Significance of Gurpurab

Let’s Know about the Background of Veer Bal Diwas!

• On the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, on 9th January 2022, Prime Minister had announced that 26th December will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’, to mark the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji.
• Guru Gobind Singh attained martyrdom in the 17th Century, particularly his sons Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh who were allegedly killed by the Mughals upon the then ruler Aurangzeb’s order.

Analysis of Sansad TV Discussion: Philosophy of Sikhism

What is the Story of most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism?

• Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were the youngest of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh and are considered to be the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism.
  
• At a very young age, they lost their mother and were raised by their grandmother.
  
• The family of Guru Gobind Singh stayed at Anandpur where he founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699.
  
• According to recorded history, Anandpur was under siege in around 1704 and attacked by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. After holding the fort for months, food and other essential supplies started to diminish and the Sikhs only had one way to get out of this situation – to give up the fortress of Anandpur.
• Guru Gobind Singh gave in to the demands of the Mughals and left the town. However, they had not gone very far when the Mughals broke the truce and went after them.
• Guru Gobind Singh’s sons – Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh – were captured and taken to Sirhind in the presence of nawab Wazir Khan, who demanded that they convert to Islam in return for a safe passage. 
• Both of them did not accede to the demands, and were sentenced to death allegedly by being bricked alive.
• The site where Guru Gobind Singh’s sons were bricked alive is today known as Fatehgarh Sahib.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

How government is celebrating Veer Bal Diwas?

• During the Veer Bal Diwas programme, Prime Minister will attend a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by about three hundred Baal Kirtanis.
• On this momentous occasion, Prime Minister will also flag off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi.
• The government is also organising interactive and participative events all over the country to inform and educate the citizens, especially young children, about the story of exemplary courage of the ‘sahibzades’, the children of the last Sikh guru Gobind Singh, who laid down their lives while defending their faith.

National Monuments Authority- NMA is celebrating Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s martyrdom

Know About Shabad Kirtan

• Shabad kirtan, literally meaning ‘word chant’, is the central communal worship ritual of the Sikhs – a religion based on the realisation of the oneness of God through singing and listening to mystical poetry.
• Sikh dharma is among the youngest of world religions and was founded by Guru Nanak (born in 1469).
• The word shabad relates more to the actual verses in the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scriptures revered as the living eternal Guru) than to the musical style in which they are performed.
• There are numerous ways of singing shabads and any number of musical styles can work well as long as the performers have a good feel for the words – the word being God in this case.
• The shabads have evolved over the past 500 years, absorbing influences from North Indian classical – Dhrupad as well as khayal – and Punjabi folk traditions.

Why the Akal Takht and SGPC are not happy with the nomenclature ‘Veer Bal Diwas’

• The Akal Takht Sahib recommended the nomenclature as ‘Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas’, instead of Veer Bal Diwas. But the Union government didn’t respond to the recommendation.
• Akal Takht and SGPC have said limiting the martyrdom of younger Sahibzadas to ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ is not fitting to the sentiment of their martyrdoms and Sikh traditions.
• In view of Sikh history, doctrines, and traditions, the incomparable sacrifices of the Sahibzadas of the Dasven Patshah (tenth Guru) are like those of great warriors.
• In Sikh history, the Sahibzadas are honoured with the word ‘Baba’ (term of respect for holy men) while referring to them and the criterion for giving nomenclature should be Sikh history, Gurbani, Sikh doctrine, and beliefs, they said.

FAQs on Veer Bal Diwas

Q. Who were Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh in Sikh History?

Ans. Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were the youngest of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh and are considered to be the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism.

Q. Who recommended ‘Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas’ instead of Veer Bal Diwas?

Ans. The Akal Takht Sahib recommended the nomenclature as ‘Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas’, instead of Veer Bal Diwas.

Q. Who are Sahibzadas in Sikh Traditions?

• In Sikh history, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh who were the youngest of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji are known as Sahibzadas.
• Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh and are considered to be the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism.
• The Sahibzadas are honoured with the word ‘Baba’ (term of respect for holy men).

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