Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji — Hind Di Chadar

It was the year 1675. Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, had issued a decree that the Kashmiri Pandits — Hindus living in the Kashmir valley — must convert to Islam or face death. Thousands of Pandits were terrified, their temples destroyed, their sacred texts burned.

A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits, led by Pandit Kirpa Ram, walked hundreds of miles to Anandpur Sahib to seek the help of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru. They wept before him, describing their helpless situation.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji listened with deep compassion. He knew that standing up for the Pandits would certainly lead to his own arrest and execution. His young son Gobind (who would become Guru Gobind Singh Ji) was present. The boy, sensing the gravity of the moment, said: "Father, who else is more worthy than you to make this sacrifice?"

The Guru smiled and accepted the mission. He sent word to Aurangzeb: "If you can convert Guru Tegh Bahadur to Islam, then all Hindus will follow. Come — convert me first." He was immediately summoned to Delhi.

In Delhi, the Guru and three of his devoted Sikhs were subjected to terrible torture for days, designed to break their will. One companion was sawn alive. Another was boiled in hot water. Another was burned alive. None renounced their faith. The Guru watched this with steadfast calm, praying and chanting Waheguru.

On 24 November 1675, at Chandni Chowk in Delhi, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was publicly beheaded. He died protecting the religious freedom of those not even of his own faith — he was called "Hind Di Chadar" — the Shield of India. The place of his martyrdom is now the sacred Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi.