“The story of sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur for protection of his religion and unity will be spread to every citizen including school children,” announced Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, on Sunday. He was speaking at the programme marking the 350th martyrdom anniversary of ‘Hind Ki Chadar’ Guru Tegh Bahadur at the Sureshchandra Suri ground in Nara. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways; Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister of Revenue; Girish Mahajan, Minister of Water Resources; Manikrao Kokate, Minister of Minority Development; Madhuri Misal, Minister of State; Sant Gyani Harnam Singh, Dr Babusingh Maharaj; Sant Baba Balvindar Singh; Baba Sukhinder Singh Maan, and others were prominently present for the programme.

 

Devendra Fadnavis, in his address, outlined the scale of Mughal oppression on Indian faith, culture, and language, and placed Guru Tegh Bahadur’s stand as the defining shield that preserved both Kashmiri Pandit traditions and the broader Hindu civilisational fabric. He stressed that the Sikh community’s diverse strands, from Sikligar to Banjara, collectively demonstrated a culture of unity reflected in the tradition of langar, and that the Guru’s message of humanity remains unmatched in its moral depth. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari characterised Guru Tegh Bahadur’s role as a reaffirmation of the Bhagavad Gita’s principle that dharma would always find protection in moments of crisis. He recalled that the Mughal onslaught three-and-a-half centuries ago was aimed directly at India’s cultural and spiritual foundations, and that the Guru’s execution reversed that assault.

 

Gadkari noted that the Maharashtra Government’s initiative to organise commemorative events had enabled younger generations to grasp the historical significance of the martyrdom. He added that the occasion had drawn together devotees from across the State, creating a shared space of remembrance. Sant Giani Harnam Singh, in his remark, underlined that the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur must be recalled alongside the resistance mounted in Maharashtra and Punjab, which, he said, ensured the continuity of Indian civilisation. He referenced the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj while emphasising that coercion has no place in any faith and that adherence to one’s religion must remain an act of free conviction.

 

Earlier, dignitaries offered their respects to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and the Sikh Gurus. The devotees poured in huge numbers from the morning. They were provided with drinking water, biscuits, and tea at stalls on the way to venue. The parking spaces were full with vehicles and langar halls were overflowing with devotees. The main pandal was jam-packed with devotees listning to ‘Gurukirtans’ peacefully and middle isle was filled with devotees arriving to pay tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur.