NEW YORK, N.Y.: A large number of Sikhs attended a function to commemorate the martyrdom of the two young children of Guru ‘Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, It was held at the Sikh Cultural Society here on December 25.
Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singht the two young sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, were betrayed by their servant and arrested by the Mughal governor of Sirhind in Punjab. They were offered a choice of either reneging their faith or converting to Islam, thereby to live like princes, of facing death.
The nine year old Zorawar Singh and seven year old Fateh Singh stood steadfast in their beliefs and were bricked alive in a ‘wall at Sirhind on the orders of the Mughal satrap. Sahibzada Ajit Singh (18) and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh (16), the two elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, had earlier lost their lives bravely fighting the enemy during the battle of Cham‘kaur (December 7, 1705).
At the Sikh Cultural Society Function, Sant Makhan Singh spoke on Sikh philosophy and the martyrdom of the Sahibzada, Kittan at the occasion was rendered by the jatha of Bhai Daya Singh. Earlier, Giani Gurdeep Singh the Garnthi of the Gurdwara in his katha stressed the steadfastness of the young sons of the Guru and the importance of their martyrdom.
Jagjit Singh Mangat, the president of the S.S.C., told the World Sikh News, that the Gurdwara would celebrate the New Year’s Eye by holding a Kirtan Darbar from 9 pm to midnight.
There would be a Kavi darbar on January 6 to mark the Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, he added.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 30, 1988
