Journalism of Courage
The animated Punjabi movie ‘Chaar Saahibzaade’, based on the life of four sons of Guru Gobind Singh and their sacrifices during Mughal regime, is garnering applause from people of all backgrounds in Punjab.
Now the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has given its nod for displaying merchandise related to Sikh history in the gurdwaras of Punjab, and Ludhiana has been chosen as the first city for the initiative.
Incidentally, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, also the excise and taxation minister of the state, on Sunday announced that the movie would be ‘tax free’ across Punjab as well.
The four sons of Guru at a tender age were killed by the ruling Mughals for protesting against the religious conversions. The movie depicts the Sikh history in 3D form and now Delhi-based company has collaborated with the SGPC to promote Sikh history in gurdwaras of Punjab. Even a special stall will be put up at Fatehgarh Sahib during Jor Mela in December this year, where an annual fair is held in the memory of two youngest sons of Guru who were alive when walls were built around them.
Talking to Newsline, Rajiv Sawhney, who is manufacturing products for children on Sikh history, said, “The merchandise starts from Rs 15 and goes up to Rs 30,000 so that all can buy them. We met SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar today and we are starting with Model Town gurdwara, Sarabha Nagar gurdwara and Hot Breads on Friday where various things like key chains, calenders, pen drives, games, T-shirts and water sippers related to four Sahibzaadas will be put on display.”
The exclusive of all products is a 24-carat gold-plated kirpan (sword) mounted on a wooden panel. The calenders have an inscription from the Guru Granth Sahib on each page with an English translation of the same.
The movie has recorded good collections overseas as a large number of Sikhs are settled in Canada and the US. “We are getting overwhelming response for these products as children have got new superheroes in the form of four Sahibzaadas. Earlier, they were not even aware of their sacrifices and great Sikh history,” Sawhney said.
He added that ‘replicated swords and bow-arrow of four Sahibzaadas are getting great response from children and also the pendants made for women”.
“A lot of research went into making products to avoid any controversy and we studied Sikh history literature for a month to learn the details,” he added.
SGPC head Makkar said, “It is a noble cause and we will happily allow this venture in gurdwaras starting from Ludhiana.”
Raman Singh, a city resident, said, “It is time that new generations in Punjab were made aware of great Sikh history and sacrifices of Chaar Saahibzaade, and there is no better platform than gurdwaras to begin with.”
