RSS Telangana, Gurudwaras mark Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom in Hyderabad; Sikh legacy honoured

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Telangana, in association with All Gurudwaras of Telangana, organised a programme at Jalvihar on December 14 to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari member Indresh Kumar was the keynote speaker at the event, which drew Sikh religious leaders, RSS functionaries and members of the public.

Addressing the gathering, Indresh Kumar underlined that while knowledge, wealth and position are important, character and virtue are equally essential. He said virtue is the strongest force and that society ultimately bows before those who uphold it. Referring to Sikh history, he said Sikhs possess a profound wealth of virtue, which has earned them high esteem in society. He added that virtue may be easy to recognise, but it must be deeply internalised.

Drawing a contrast from Indian epics, he noted that both Bhagwan Ram and Ravana were learned and had studied the four Vedas, and that both possessed wealth and power. “Yet the history of Bhagwan Ram is revered, while the history of Ravana is not accepted as righteous. That is why Ravana lost,” he said, stressing that moral strength, not material abundance, determines legacy.

Indresh Kumar recalled that he had been studying the Sikh Guru tradition since childhood and that his mother often took him to the Gurudwara. He said the Khalsa, bestowed by the Tenth Guru, is sacred and must be preserved. “It is not easy to give the Khalsa to such a large society; it is a great responsibility,” he observed.

Sharing a commonly heard saying from his student days, he said that seeing a Sikh while travelling dispels fear, and that receiving langar brings both happiness and fulfilment. “We have experienced this in full measure. Sikhs have acquired this noble quality,” he said, adding that he had learnt fearlessness from his teachers.

He also referred to Mughal history, stating that Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh were brothers, and that while Dara Shikoh introduced the world to Hindu history and dharma, Aurangzeb imprisoned his own father and pursued a contrasting path.

Speaking on the occasion, Jagbir Singh, a Sikh religious leader, said India had produced many heroes and saints but had suffered foreign domination due to the absence of unity among Hindus. He remarked that unity among Hindus has increased in recent times, but cautioned against divisions. “There was a time when there was one Ganesha in a street; now there is one for every caste. Lack of unity allowed small numbers of foreigners to rule us,” he said.

Jagbir Singh said Sikhism was founded on the three principles taught by Guru Nanak Dev Ji—to remember the Divine Name, to earn through honest means, and to share with the needy. He recalled that Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji stood firmly for the protection of dharma and the nation, invoking the belief that the Divine manifests whenever dharma is threatened.

He recounted that Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji opposed the atrocities and forced religious conversions under Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. When Kashmiri scholars sought his protection, the Guru asked them to convey to Aurangzeb that if he could convert Guru Tegh Bahadur, others would follow. The Guru was subsequently arrested along with Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, Bhai Dayala Ji, Bhai Jaita Ji and Bhai Uday Ji, taken to Delhi and executed, he said.

The programme paid tribute to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and the supreme sacrifices of Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dayala Ji, who laid down their lives for the protection of Dharma. An exhibition showcasing Sikh history and sacrifices was also organised and drew wide appreciation.

The event began with kirtan and ardas and concluded with Guru ka Langar. Telangana Gurdwara Committee President Sardar Sri Gurcharan Singh Bagga and several Sikh dignitaries were present.