New Delhi, December 26, 2025:
The Delhi Government on Thursday observed Veer Bal Diwas with a large-scale national commemoration at Thyagraj Stadium, paying tribute to the unparalleled courage, unwavering faith and supreme sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Sahibzadas. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led the observance, describing the day as not merely an occasion of remembrance but a commitment to instilling values of courage, self-respect, patriotism and moral strength among future generations.
Participating in the event, the Chief Minister said Veer Bal Diwas symbolises India’s enduring tradition of valour and sacrifice. She noted that the Sahibzadas displayed extraordinary bravery and spiritual resolve at an age when most children are engaged in play, choosing instead to stand firm against fear, oppression and injustice. Their sacrifice, she said, remains a unique example in world history. Gupta also observed that for a long time, the Sahibzadas did not receive the recognition they truly deserved, but the declaration of December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas by Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic and visionary step towards restoring their rightful place in national memory.
The Chief Minister underlined that a nation’s future depends on the courage, confidence and ethical strength of its youth. With this belief, she said, the Delhi Government is using education, culture and history-based initiatives to connect young people with India’s glorious past, enabling them to draw inspiration from the ideals of the Sahibzadas and grow into fearless, responsible and nation-centric citizens.
The programme at Thyagraj Stadium was attended by Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood, Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, senior officials, school students and a large number of citizens. On the occasion, a special booklet dedicated to the Sahibzadas was released along with a commemorative postal envelope in collaboration with the Department of Posts. The event featured Gatka performances by students, a 270-degree projection themed on Veer Bal Diwas, screenings of student-created reels, and powerful musical renditions by the Shillong Chamber Choir celebrating patriotism and heroism.
Veer Bal Diwas was marked across Delhi through a wide range of activities at the national, school and college levels. Government, aided and private schools, as well as higher education institutions, organised drawing and painting competitions, sports events, storytelling, essay writing, poetry recitation, debates and digital presentations. Themes focused on nation-building, tales of valour, courage and the vision of a developed India. Colleges and universities hosted debates, knowledge-based activities, slogan writing, rallies, group discussions and fitness programmes. Select schools also undertook professional documentation of reel-making and story-writing initiatives, while special podcasts featuring students were organised in the presence of the Chief Minister and the Education Minister to bring the Sahibzadas’ inspirational stories to a wider audience.
A major highlight of the day was the laser and light show organised at Purana Qila, where the heroic saga of the Sahibzadas was brought alive through an immersive combination of sound and visuals. The Chief Minister said such presentations are powerful tools to emotionally connect the younger generation with defining chapters of history and strengthen feelings of national pride, moral courage and civic values.
Addressing the gathering, Education Minister Ashish Sood said Veer Bal Diwas represents a public acknowledgment of India’s civilisational consciousness that had long been ignored or sidelined. He emphasised that the bravery and martyrdom of the Sahibzadas are not the story of any single community, but the story of India’s soul—one that stands with truth and refuses to compromise with injustice. He questioned why generations of young Indians were kept away from these heroic narratives after Independence, calling it a result of ideological conditioning rooted in a Macaulay mindset. Sood said the declaration of Veer Bal Diwas by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 9, 2022, during Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Prakash Purab, was a clear ideological statement that India would now draw strength from its history rather than shy away from it. He also cited initiatives such as the Kartarpur Corridor and the return of sacred Sikh relics as reflections of a consistent vision based on respect and duty.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the decision to accord national recognition to Veer Bal Diwas would guide future generations in the right direction. He described the martyrdom of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh as a guiding light for India’s children and youth, instilling values of courage, sacrifice and protection of faith. Sirsa said the sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s family, from Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to the four Sahibzadas, form an immortal chapter in India’s moral and spiritual history that will be remembered for centuries. He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi Government remains committed to taking this legacy to every section of society through meaningful and dignified initiatives.
