This event was held on holy ground in Kurukshetra, where the newly constructed ‘Panchjanya’ Memorial commemorates Lord Krishna’s divine conch from the Mahabharata.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday commemorated the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji by unveiling a commemorative coin and releasing a special postal stamp.
This event was held on holy ground in Kurukshetra, where the newly constructed ‘Panchjanya’ Memorial commemorates Lord Krishna’s divine conch from the Mahabharata.
During his speech to the assembly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that Guru Tegh Bahadur ji stood for the sake of truth, justice, and religious freedom, and ultimately made the ultimate sacrifice for these values. He added, “Guru Tegh Bahadur ji viewed the safeguarding of truth, justice and faith as his duty, and so, he died for it…Our Government will also adhere to and follow the spirit of Guru Parampara.”
As he noted that Kurukshetra is an outstanding spiritual centre for both Sikh and Sanatan heritage, he shared his spiritual connection to the day, stating, “I was at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Shri Ram’s Ramayana, and now I pay respects to the sacred soil of Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna spoke the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.”
The Prime Minister noted similarities between India’s security policy and current attitudes about India’s national security, citing Operation Sindoor as an example. “As we pursue peace as a nation, we will not sacrifice our security. May’s attack showed the entire world that New India does NOT fear or bend down to terrorism,” he stated.
In addition to visiting the newly inaugurated Panchjanya Smarak and the Mahabharata Experience Centre (the “Mahabharata Experience” at Jyotisar), the Prime Minister has also opened the Rs 206 crore (or approximately $29 million) investment to create an experiential hub for learning about the spiritual, ethical and philosophical teachings of the Mahabharata and the Gita using state-of-the-art technology.
The conch shell (panchjanya) set up at this site, which symbolises Dharma, pureness, righteousness, and victory, also contains 18 verses from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita etched into its walls.
The Prime Minister was joined by several notable political leaders, including Ashim Kumar Ghosh (Governor), Nayab Singh Saini (Chief Minister), Manohar Lal Khattar (former Chief Minister and Union Minister)and Naveen Jindal (Kurukshetra MP), all of whom were seen wearing saffron and yellow rumalas (traditional Indian scarves), in honour of the Prime Minister’s visit.
The Prime Minister also took a moment during his speech to express his gratitude to the Sikh community and reaffirmed the government’s pledge to protect the culture and spiritual heritage of the Sikh community.
