Emphasising the need to get free from the narrow interpretation of the past in order to move forward, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Monday declared that the country has taken the pledge of removing all traces of slave mentality in the ”Azadi ka Amrit Kaal”.

Any country with such a glorious history must be full of self-confidence and self-respect, he said but lamented that concocted narratives were taught and a sense of inferiority created in the country.

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The new India, he said, was correcting the mistakes of the bygone decades by restoring its long-lost legacy. ”The values of a nation can be preserved only when the present generation has clarity about the history of the land,” he added.

He was participating in a historic programme marking the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here. On 9 January, the day of Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh, the PM had announced that 26 December would be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’, to mark the martyrdom of sons of the tenth Sikh Guru–Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Modi observed that ”Veer Bal Diwas” would remind the people that age did not matter when it came to extreme valour and sacrifice. ”Veer Bal Diwas will remind us of the immense contribution of ten Sikh gurus and the sacrifice of the Sikh tradition for protecting the honour of the nation. Veer Bal Diwas will tell us what is India and what is its identity and every year, Veer Bal Diwas will inspire us to recognise our past and make our future. This will also remind everyone about the strength of our young generation”, he added.

The PM pointed out that the thousand-year-old history of the world was filled with chapters of gruesome cruelty. ”Wherever we come across the violent faces of cruelty, it is the character of our heroes that overshines them throughout the pages of history,” he said.

He recalled that whatever happened in the wars of Chamkaur and Sirhind could never be forgotten. He further added that these incidents occurred only three centuries ago on the soil of this land. “On one hand there was the mighty Mughal Sultanate blinded by religious fanaticism, while on the other hand there were our Gurus gleaming in the knowledge and living by the ancient principles of India.”

The PM continued, “On one hand there were heights of terror and religious fanaticism, while on the other hand, there was the pinnacle of spirituality and kindness to see God in every human being.”
In the midst of all this, the Mughals possessed an army of millions, while the Veer Sahebzades of Guru had their courage. They did not bow down to the Mughals even though they were alone. This was when the Mughals walled them in alive. It was their bravery that has been a source of inspiration for centuries, the PM said.

He also highlighted the importance of the determination and bravery of Veer Sahibzade as they showed the tyranny of Aurangzeb and his people that the young generation was not ready to buckle under the cruelty and stood firm to protect the morale of the country. ”This establishes the role of the young generation in the destiny of a nation,” he added.

The PM said today’s young generation was also taking India forward with the same determination. This made the role of Veer Bal Diwas every 26 December all the more important.
Paying tribute to Sikh Guru Parampara. Modi said it was not just a tradition of spirituality and sacrifice but also a source of inspiration for the concept of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. The biggest example was the cosmopolitan and inclusive character of Sri Guru Granth Sahib where preachings and commentary of saints from all over India were included.

The PM said, “Resolution of ‘Rastra Pratham’ (country first), was the unshakable resolve of Guru Gobind Singh Ji”. Modi corroborated the point by recounting the immense personal sacrifice of his family. “This tradition of ‘Nation First’ is a huge inspiration for us”, he stressed.