Jammu: Minister for Planning, Development and Monitoring, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, Mir Saifullah, on Friday highlighted the significance of the supreme sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, describing it as a symbol of religious freedom, human dignity, tolerance and universal brotherhood.
The minister was speaking at a programme titled ‘Shristi Di Chadar – A Supreme Sacrifice for Faith and Freedom of Religion’ held at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu, as part of a ten-city nationwide academic and interfaith initiative marking the 350th martyrdom year of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.
Saifullah said the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur transcended religious and geographical boundaries, representing the defence of the rights, beliefs and freedom of others. He said the Guru’s courage and commitment to protecting freedom of conscience continued to hold relevance in contemporary society.
Emphasising the need to preserve the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage, the minister said the teachings of great spiritual personalities should reach younger generations to strengthen values of compassion, mutual respect, communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.
He also appreciated the initiative for bringing together academicians, scholars, writers, students and representatives of different faiths to discuss the life, philosophy and historical significance of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
The Jammu chapter was organised by the IHA Foundation, with support from the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC), Jammu, under the aegis of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Members of Legislative Assembly Vikram Randhawa and Arvind Gupta also attended the programme and paid tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur, highlighting his contribution to the defence of religious freedom and human dignity.
A significant development during the event was the unanimous adoption of a resolution to launch a nationwide petition urging the Government of India to officially recognise the martyrdom day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji as ‘Indian National Human Rights Day’.
Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman of the IHA Foundation and Convenor of the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji 350th Martyrdom Commemoration Committee, announced the proposed initiative. He said the petition would seek recognition of Guru Sahib’s sacrifice in defence of religious freedom, freedom of conscience and the fundamental rights of all human beings.
The academic sessions featured discussions by scholars, writers and representatives of different faiths, including Dr Vaidehi Taman, Dr Harsimran Singh, Khawaja Iftekhar Ahmed, Prof Vijay Bernard, Sardarni Kulwant Kour Chan, Sandeep Jain Sunny, advocate Gurlad Singh, S. Ali Singh and retired Commodore D.S. Sodhi.
The deliberations focused on the historical, spiritual and contemporary relevance of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings, particularly the principles of justice, religious freedom and human rights.
Students also participated in debate competitions aimed at encouraging younger generations to engage with the Guru’s legacy and its relevance to contemporary social and ethical issues. Students from Government MAM PG College, Jammu, secured the first position, while students from Government College for Women, Parade, Jammu, secured the second position. The winners were felicitated during the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Ahluwalia stressed the need to take Guru Tegh Bahadur’s universal message beyond religious and geographical boundaries and encourage people to stand against injustice and defend the rights and freedoms of others.
Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Harvinder Kour, DGPC Jammu president Ranjeet Singh Tohra, vice-president Balvinder Singh and general secretary Surjit Singh were among the dignitaries present.
The initiative has so far covered Amritsar, Ludhiana, New Delhi and Jammu as part of its ten-city nationwide programme, providing a platform for academic discussions, interfaith engagement and cultural participation.
