The Impressive TimesAshish Sood stated that Veer Bal Diwas is not merely a day of remembrance; it is a public acknowledgement of India’s civilizational conscience that was ignored or deliberately sidelined for decades. The bravery, sacrifice, and martyrdom of the Sahibzadas are not the legacy of any single community but the story of India’s soul—an आत्मा that stands with truth, refuses to compromise with injustice, and draws strength from righteousness. This tradition, he said, flows directly from the vision of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, where nation, faith, and morality move together towards a shared purpose.
He questioned why, for decades after Independence, India’s youth were kept away from these heroic narratives. Why did the education system reduce the ideals of courage, sacrifice, and standing for dharma to footnotes? He asserted that this was not an oversight but a result of ideological slavery rooted in the Macaulay mindset that attempted to sever Indians from their ancestors and reduce society to a rootless neutrality. The Sahibzadas’ sacrifice was inconvenient for such thinking because it inspired faith, selflessness, and the courage to stand against injustice—qualities that uncomfortable power structures often fear.
Sood said that the grand observance of Veer Bal Diwas today is proof that, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has decisively moved beyond this colonial mindset. On 9 January 2022, the Prime Minister declared 26 December as Veer Bal Diwas on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Prakash Purab. This was not a symbolic gesture but a clear ideological statement that India will now draw strength from its history rather than shy away from it. From the Kartarpur Corridor to the safe return of sacred Sikh relics, these decisions reflect a consistent vision of respect and duty.
He further said that commemorations such as the 550th Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the 350th Prakash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and the 400th Prakash Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji were not political events, but the fulfilment of responsibility towards the Gurus, society, and the nation. Veer Bal Diwas, he emphasized, reminds us of this very sense of duty.
In this spirit, Sood highlighted that the Delhi Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta formed after a gap of 27 years believes that respect is not shown merely through speeches, but through policy. Over the past ten months, her government has worked sensitively and institutionally with all communities.
He concluded by stating that Veer Bal Diwas is not just an event but a medium to teach Delhi’s children that history is shaped not by dates alone, but by values. Today, students in Delhi schools are learning from the Sahibzadas’ martyrdom the meaning of courage, justice, and civic responsibility. This, he said, is true education and true nation-building, and he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister for this inspiring initiative.
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