‘Hind Ki Chadar’: Sufi singer Satinder Sartaaj’s ode to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s supreme sacrifice moves millions

“The 4.44-minute musical offering traces the life and ultimate martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadurji, who laid down his life in defence of religious freedom,” Harjot Singh Bains, Punjab Education Minister, said.

Sartaaj’s lyrics echo the historical moment when Kashmiri Pandits sought the Guru’s help to protect their faith: “Kashmiri panditon ne lagayi vahi guhar/Ek dharam ko bachane ki guru se ki pukar/Bole Guru chalenge shahdat ke raste/Hum sees var denge hinduon ke vaste (The Kashmiri Pandits made the same plea/A cry to the Guru to save their religion/The Guru replied, “We shall walk the path of sacrifice; I will offer my head for the sake of the Hindus.)”

The song goes on to paint a haunting yet luminous image of Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, where the Guru attained martyrdom, invokes the universality of the Guru’s message, and concludes with lines that remind listeners of the Guru’s message of peace, courage, and unity.

“Let’s take Satinder Sartaaj’s song Hind Ki Chadar to each and every household of the country. The song sung in Hindi describes the life of the Guru from his birth to his martyrdom day — this great song must reach everyone to tell people about the supreme sacrifice of the Guru,” Bains said.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also praised the song, writing on X: “Satinder Sartaaj’s Hind Ki Chadar is more than a song — it’s a soulful ode to the unmatched courage and sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Through his voice, Sartaaj brings alive the eternal light of Sikhism — a message of faith, freedom, and compassion that continues to guide humanity.”

The song was released in Mumbai during a function organised by the Maharashtra government to commemorate the 350th martyrdom year of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis formally launched the devotional song on Saturday.

On Monday, Sartaaj met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who listened to the song and lauded the singer’s heartfelt tribute to the Guru’s supreme sacrifice.

Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi are also preparing elaborate programmes to mark this historic occasion on November 25.

Seeking to inspire the youth

This is not the first time that Sartaaj has lent his voice to Sikh spiritual heritage. He earlier became the first singer to render Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s ‘Zafarnamah’—the ‘Epistle of Victory,’ a Persian letter written by the 10th Guru to Emperor Aurangzeb in 1705.

Sartaaj’s other devotional works, such as Aarti and Chaupai Sahib, also reflect his unique blend of Sikh spirituality and poetic grace, aiming to reconnect the younger generation with the wisdom and sacrifices of the Gurus.