• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an event from the Red Fort to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur on April 21.

• Modi became the first Prime Minister to deliver a speech at the Red Fort after sunset.

• The PM released a commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark the occasion. The programme was focused on highlighting the teachings of the ninth Sikh Guru who sacrificed his life to protect religion, human values, ideals and principles.

• The fort was chosen as the venue for the event as it was from here that Aurangzeb had given orders for the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675.

• Close to the Red Fort, is the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is built at the spot where he was beheaded, and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj is his cremation site.

Who was Guru Tegh Bahadur?

• The Sikh faith revolves around the sacred bond of teacher and learner —  Guru the remover of darkness. For Sikhs, the Guru refers to a succession of ten spiritual guides, the founding fathers of the Sikh faith. Guru Tegh Bahadur is the ninth Sikh Guru.

• He was popularly known as ‘Hind di Chadar’. 

• He was born in Amritsar. He was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind. His mother was Mata Nanaki. His wife was Mata Gujri. He was the grandson of the first Sikh martyr, Guru Arjan Dev. His son was Gobind Rai who later became Guru Gobind Singh.

• Like the first five Sikh Gurus, Guru Tegh Bahadur had mystical experiences of the Shabad and shared his experiences through the medium of songs. Like Guru Nanak, he travelled far and wide – establishing new communities and nurturing existing communities that had not been visited by any of the Sikh Gurus since the time of Guru Nanak.

• Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed for supporting the religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits on the orders of Aurangzeb.

• Guru Tegh Bahadur’s death anniversary is commemorated as ‘Shaheedi Divas’ every year on November 24.

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