It was today, 339 years ago, that Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Guru of the Sikhs displayed an act that no other prophet had ever done. He sacrificed his life to protect the right of any individual to practice a faith of his choice and to not be pressurized into conversion. His was a sacrifice to protect the right of Hindu Pandits of Kashmir to be allowed to wear Janeau (sacred thread) and Tilak (marking on forehead), even though the tenets of Tegh Bahadur’s own belief laid no importance on these articles of faith.
Background to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s sacrifice : The Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb was on a mad rush to convert entire India to the faith that he followed, and if this meant the people had to be deprived of religious freedom, then so be it. The only choice in front of the people was to convert or loose one’s life! Under Aurangzeb’s order, the viceroy of Kashmir, Iftikhar Khan (1671–1675) carried out the policy vigorously.
A group of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits, approached Guru Tegh Bahadur in Punjab for help. On his advice, they were told to tell Aurangzeb that they would willingly convert if Tegh Bahadur could be convinced of adopt Islam. Under Aurangzeb’s orders, he was arrested in July 1675 and kept in an iron cage in Delhi for over three months, till November 1675. To break his spirit, he was tortured immensely.
To instill the highest element of fear, in front of his eyes, his three disciples were tortured to death in a most inhuman manner. Bhai Sati Das was wrapped in cotton and set to fire. Bhai Mati Das was tied to two poles and sawn alive in two parts, from his head to loin. Bhai Dayala was boiled alive in a cauldron full of water.
Guru Tegh Bahadur’s spirit to stand firm for the cause of freedom could not be weakened and when Aurangzeb failed to persuade him to abandon his faith, he was finally beheaded in public at Chandni Chowk on 24 November 1675.
This event changed the history of Sikhs, as thereafter the community adopted the Turban as a visible sign of defiance against tyranny of the rule. To Sikhs, the turban became a visual display of their internal steadfastness.
At the festive season of Holla Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib, I turned my camera to capture the variety of turbans worn by the Sikhs.
Comments(23)
Vikas Attri says:
November 24, 2013 at 5:00 PMThis is outstanding ..Long live the Khalsa
Tom Bodley says:
November 25, 2013 at 4:56 AMA truly inspirational story and a wonderful set of portraits!
Manpreet Singh says:
November 25, 2013 at 10:18 AMExcellently worded. Thanks
Jasbir Chawla says:
November 25, 2013 at 1:18 PMसारी दुनिया का बोझ हम उठाते हैं
Surupa Chatterjee says:
November 25, 2013 at 1:29 PMTruly informative read and allowed us to visit history and owe a deep salutation to the lion that Tegh Bahadur was….
dipikasen says:
November 25, 2013 at 2:21 PMThanks…never knew the true story hidden behind Guru Teg Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day…with your permission sharing the story at my wall at fb.
This fact has connected Sikhism with Hinduism forever in the sense that whatever religion we follow does not deter us to help our fellow countrymen at their time of distress, whatever cost we have to bear for that.
Surinder Gujral says:
November 25, 2013 at 9:41 PMDhan Dhan Shri Teg Bahadur Ji
Reached Kabul yesterday from Delhi. I was informed of Shaheedi Diwas function at Karte Parwan Gurudwara in the evening. But could not attend due to security reasons………….but will surely share these photographs with the Gathering on Thursday..
Gaganpreet Singh Kapula says:
November 26, 2013 at 10:19 AMAwesome post!!!
Rick Panesar says:
November 30, 2013 at 4:46 AMThis is a great post…the imagery is amazing too!
Bhupinder SIngh says:
December 7, 2013 at 1:54 PMWhat a great sacrifice it was! Just wanted to add three other great sacrifices made by Guruji’s followers around the same time and place. Bhai Mati Das ji, Bhai Sati Das ji, and Bhai Dyala ji. All three of them were cruelly tortured and killed.
Geetali says:
November 24, 2014 at 12:23 PMThe great Guru’s sacrifices were not in vain. They laid the foundation for our syncretic beliefs and our secular society where religious tolerance is still a way of life.
Really loved this post. Thank you for adding to my knowledge. And of course, your photos are as brilliant as ever.
Ashmeet Sidhu says:
November 24, 2014 at 12:51 PMAmardeep’s passion is truly commendable.
Deepika Shergill says:
November 24, 2014 at 1:17 PMspirit of steadfastness .. and freedom of choice.
thanks for sharing, Amardeep Singh. brilliant portraits.
Binit Tanna says:
November 24, 2014 at 1:19 PMWow ! Respect !!!
Anu Lalli says:
November 24, 2014 at 3:43 PMLove all the pictures clicked by him. He adds life to them. Tremendous skills.
Geetali Tare says:
November 24, 2014 at 6:05 PMI think Amardeep Singh is a brilliant gentleman, not just at photography, but also at thinking and empathizing with the subjects he photographs. My favourite set is the one he’s done of Harmandir saahib.
Mohindra Chadha says:
November 24, 2014 at 8:52 PMSuper stuff, pictures as well as the narrative.
Amardeep, you are so very gifted!!
Raj Mehta says:
November 25, 2014 at 7:26 AMCannot decide which is better…The words or the pics…Compliments Amardeep. Gifted, all round person for sure.
Raj
Ruchika Singh says:
November 25, 2014 at 7:27 AMGood one like always.
Sujinder Singh says:
November 26, 2014 at 7:27 PMLong live the Khalsa ,Panth ki Jeet,Raj karcha Khalsa.
rajdeep singh sabharwal says:
November 28, 2014 at 12:31 AMOsm post
kishore kumar Biswas says:
December 3, 2014 at 3:54 PMFor ages they the tyrants put out the candles of our home , of our hope. The candles became stars , immortal in our sky. The stars show us the way on which we should walk. It happened in the history of mankind in many countries , in many ages . The Truth remain the same. The tyrants went to ashes.But the light they put off with venom still burning for us .Truth is immortal.
Amardeep presents here with brilliant photographs and notes an image of Truth that is still radiating glory for us.
Mustafa says:
December 29, 2014 at 3:21 AMThe pics are amazing!
long live the faith!