Jammu, Nov 13: Minister for Planning, Development and Monitoring, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, Mir Saifullah on Friday highlighted the timeless relevance of the supreme sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, describing it as an enduring symbol of religious freedom, human dignity, tolerance and universal brotherhood.
The Minister was speaking as the Chief Guest at “Shristi Di Chadar – A Supreme Sacrifice for Faith and Freedom of Religion”, a ten-city nationwide academic and interfaith commemorative initiative marking the 350th Martyrdom Year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, organised at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu.
Mir Saifullah said that the supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji transcended religious and geographical boundaries and represented one of the greatest examples of standing up for the rights, beliefs and freedom of others.
He observed that Guru Sahib’s unparalleled courage and commitment to protecting freedom of conscience continue to inspire humanity and hold immense relevance in contemporary society.
Emphasising the importance of preserving and promoting the country’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage, the Minister said that the teachings of great spiritual personalities must reach younger generations so that the values of compassion, mutual respect, communal harmony and peaceful coexistence remain deeply rooted in society.
He appreciated the organisers for bringing together academicians, scholars, writers, students and representatives of different faiths on a common platform to deliberate upon the life, philosophy and extraordinary martyrdom of Guru Sahib. He said such initiatives strengthen social harmony and encourage meaningful dialogue across communities.
The Jammu chapter of the initiative was organised by IHA Foundation, with the support of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and 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 graced the occasion and addressed the gathering, paying rich tributes to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and highlighting the significance of his sacrifice in defending religious freedom and human dignity.
Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Harvinder Kour; Chairman, IHA Foundation and Convenor, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji 350th Martyrdom Commemoration Committee, Satnam Singh Ahluwalia; President, DGPC Jammu, Ranjeet Singh Tohra; Vice President, DGPC Jammu, Balvinder Singh; and General Secretary, DGPC Jammu, Surjit Singh, were among the dignitaries present.
The academic deliberations featured eminent academicians, scholars, writers and interfaith representatives, 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 Cmde. D. S. Sodhi, NM (Retd.), who explored the historical, spiritual and contemporary relevance of Guru Sahib’s life and philosophy.
Student participation and debate competitions further enriched the programme, encouraging young minds to engage with Guru Sahib’s extraordinary legacy and the principles of justice, religious freedom and human rights.
Addressing the gathering, Satnam Singh Ahluwalia emphasised the need to take Guru Sahib’s universal message beyond religious and geographical boundaries, inspiring generations to stand against injustice and uphold the freedom and rights of every human being.
In a significant development, Ahluwalia informed that a resolution was unanimously adopted 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.” The proposed initiative seeks to honour Guru Sahib’s unparalleled sacrifice in defence of religious freedom, freedom of conscience and the fundamental human rights of all.
Students from Government MAM PG College, Jammu, and Government College for Women, Parade, Jammu, who secured first and second positions respectively in the debate competition, were also felicitated on the occasion.
Having successfully traversed Amritsar, Ludhiana, New Delhi and Jammu, Shristi Di Chadar continues its ten-city nationwide journey, creating a platform for academic discourse, interfaith engagement and cultural participation.
The programme concluded with a reaffirmation of the universal ideals embodied by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, with the message that his greatest tribute lies in upholding humanity, justice, religious freedom and universal brotherhood.
