Chhote Saahibzaade: After PM’s announcement, SAD, SGPC object to ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ renaming

SAD spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said, “We appreciate PM’s move to honor sacrifice of Chhote Saahibzaade but the name of the day should be decided after consultation with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to do justice with the history behind this unparalleled sacrifice in Sikhism. The Sikh religious literature and gurbani should be consulted to name this day.”

Zorawar Singh (9) and Fateh Singh (7) were bricked alive on the orders of Mughal faujdar Wazir Khan of Sirhind after they had refused to convert to Islam and had instead chosen death. SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur tweeted, ‘ I strongly oppose naming Shaheedi Diwas of Sahibzade Veer Bal Diwas. Babas are being reduced to children. Govt has no business reinterpreting our beliefs in a reductionist way.’

Paramvir Singh, professor, department of encyclopedia of Sikhism, Punjabi University, Patiala, said that even though Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were aged 9 and 7 respectively at the time of their martyrdom, they are referred to as ‘Baba Zorawar Singh’ and ‘Baba Fateh Singh’ because according to Sikh faith, they were not merely ‘children’. “Their actions and wisdom were beyond their age and hence they are referred to as ‘Babas’, not children. We consider them our revered elders who made supreme sacrifice for Sikh faith so limiting them to the word ‘Baal’ might be objectionable,” he said.