Jalandhar: On the occasion of 350th birth anniversary year of the 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh, Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh (RSS) has decided to create more awareness about his life, sacrifices and role in creating national awakening. RSS cadre and affiliate organizations will work across India for this programme.
Issuing a detailed statement recently, extolling Guru Gobind Singh’s ‘larger than life persona,’ RSS general secretary Suresh ‘Bhaiya Ji’ Joshi gave a call that the message about valour inculcated by the Guru and his sacrifices be spread across the country so that enthusiasm and faith could be transmitted in the ‘national life.’ Joshi underlined how the 10th Guru organized and fought against “cruel and intolerant” regime of his time.
Meanwhile, RSS affiliate Rashtariya Sikh Sangat general secretary Avtar Singh Shastri said that in the yearlong celebrations they would also focus on increasing awareness about the role and life, principles and role of the 10th Sikh master. “While Sangh has always been remembering the role of the Sikh Gurus in its Shakhas and discourses, now there would be renewed focus on spreading awareness during his 350th birth anniversary,” he said.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has already announced in his budget speech that Rs 100 crore were being earmarked for yearlong celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary.
‘Bhaiya Ji’ Joshi said while the Guru sacrificed his entire family after founding Khalsa Panth for the protection of country and religion (deshdharma), the way he united and organized the society and inculcated valour in people to stand up and fight against the cruel and intolerant regime of the time was unparalleled.
While mentioning noted Sikh martyrs and heroes, Joshi also mentioned that Sikh generals like Nawab Kapur Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia blocked the foreign invasions forever. “The people faced the brutality of the ‘anti-religious’ regime with unprecedented valour and did not give up their faith,” he said.
The RSS general secretary also said with the formation of Khalsa, the Guru brought the concept of collective leadership and decisions. “He established the supermacy of ‘spiritual content and philosophy’ by passing on the ‘Gurta Gaddi’ (spiritual succession) to Guru Granth Sahib and through the message of protecting the spiritual and worldly protection through five Kakars (five symbols of Khalsa),” Joshi said while asking the colleagues in the Sangh and the people to spread this message in every home of the country.
