Christmas is around the corner, and new year is approaching. So, today I am going to shed light on a less talked topic. You must be wondering who are Sahibzaade and what did they do? Amongst many other martyrs from the community, the sacrifices made by Guru Gobind Singh’s four sons were exemplary. The four brave sons were called ‘Sahibzaadas’. 

So, let me take you through a small ride of December of 1704! The month of December holds a special place in people’s hearts, especially belonging to the Sikh faith and Punjabi community. Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh, the two elder ones- aged 18- and 14-year-old, breathed their last on the battlefield at Chamkaur Sahib while resisting the oppressive tyrants. The younger ones- Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh were bricked to death for upholding their values and beliefs, that too at the age of 9 and 7 respectively! 

There is always something that we can learn from such super heroes. Let us inherit the top 5 qualities from these courageous souls: 

1. Be brave and fearless: One should strike a balance between spiritualism, while having a spirit of fearless warrior. They taught us to be as courageous, fierce, and powerful as a lion while yet being kind, modest, and loving.  
2. Stand by your values and faith: Despite the alluring offers from the tyranny, followed by life threats, and physical torture, the younger Sahibzaadas upholded their faith until their last breath and carried on the tradition of obtaining martyrdom for righteousness. 
3. Get Rid of Your Ego: The Sahibzaadas were constantly eager to learn, practise, and become better people. Therefore, instead of being proud of our accomplishments, we should strive to learn something new every day while simultaneously giving our jobs our all. 
4. Respect your elders and parents: The Sahibzaadas always carried out their father’s orders and father instructed. Let us ask ourselves: How frequently do we still listen to our parents and elders? 
5. Fight for your rights: According to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, “When all other means have failed, it is your right to raise arms and fight for your rights.” We must be both warriors and saints. So, one should practice connecting to the higher power and should not refrain from fighting against the injustice. 

December is the month of remembrance, recollection, and reverence. Let us practise greater awareness throughout this month of gratitude by altering our lives and lives of others by sharing and caring. To instill these values, students at Oakridge Mohali, watched the movie- “Chaar Sahibzaade”, practiced 1 minute silence and also reflected on the learnings. Such class engagements help the students to stay connected to their roots, while practicing acceptance and embracing each others’ beliefs and faiths.

Thoughts by:

Simranpreet Kaur

Communications Manager, Oakridge Mohali