Honouring the Punjab Boy, Sharvan Singh, is
Honouring the Mankind, Velour and Patriotism
Jag Mohan Thaken
History repeats itself; but a few are fortunate to
get the recognition. The spiritual world, especially the Sikh world, is proud
of the act of kindness, humility and service to mankind exemplified by Bhai
Kanhaiya Ji, who is widely known for his water seva during Sri Guru Gobind
Singh Maharaj Ji's time in the battlefield. Once again in the History, a
10-year-old Sikh boy, Sharvan Singh, resident of a village hardly 2 kilometres
from India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Ferozepur District, has earned national
recognition for his act of compassion, exceptional courage and sense of patriotism
by serving ‘Milk-Lassi and Water’ to the Military Persons deployed near his
village during operation Sindoor.
Akal Takht’s former Jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh
in a tweet on 26th December, 2025, said, “Even on the battlefield,
the spirit of selfless service and fearless courage, as exemplified by Bhai
Kanhaiya Ji and Sikh history, has always continued to inspire our younger
generations.
During the war-like situation with Pakistan,
10-year-old Sharvan Singh from Firozpur, Punjab, displayed remarkable selfless
service by providing tea, water, and ice to our soldiers. In recognition of
this noble act, he has been honoured with the ‘National Child Award’ by the
Honourable President of India, Mrs. Droupadi Murmu. I commend Sharvan Singh
and, while appreciating his spirit of service, courage, and humanity, appeal to
the people of Punjab to connect their children with the teachings of Sikh history—values
of service, compassion, and bravery”.
While presenting the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal
Puraskar to Sharvan Singh and other children for their exceptional achievements
in the fields of Bravery, Social Service, Environment, Sports, Art &
Culture and Science & Technology at a ceremony held in New Delhi on
December 26, 2025, on the occasion of ‘Veer
Baal Diwas’, the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, said that about
320 years ago, Guru Gobind Singh Ji—the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith and
revered by all Indians—and his four sons made supreme sacrifices while fighting
in support of truth and justice. She said that the bravery of the two youngest
Sahibzadas, is honoured and respected both in India and abroad. She remembered
with reverence the great child heroes who laid down their lives with pride for
truth and justice.
Terror of Mughal Rulers was on such a dreadful,
scary, spooky and fearsome pitch that after the martyrdom of the younger
Sahibzadas and Mata Ji, when no one dared to perform their last rites due to
fear of the tyrannical government, Diwan Todar Mal Ji bought land by laying
gold ashrafis and cremated the holy bodies of the Sahibzadas and Mata Ji. In
this way, Diwan Todar Mal Ji became the hero of Saka Sirhind, due to this
unique act, his name was recorded among the respected personalities of the Sikh
Panth. Still the people bow to the good-hearted personality of Diwan Todar Mal
Ji, who had immense devotion towards the Guru Ghar.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sikhism is the
religion which always keeps humanity as its serving motto. It had not only
given the religious Gurus, who preached equality without any discrimination of
caste and creed, service to humanity, compassion and a deep sense of spirituality, but
also gave the brave heroes, who martyred their lives for protection of
religious freedom and the rights of the oppressed. History can never forget the
unparalleled, supreme and extraordinary sacrifice of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Guru
Teg Bahadur Ji, Mata Gujri Ji and the younger Sahibzadas -- Baba Zorawar Singh
Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. The brave heroes like Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sardar Udham
Singh and others, who fought against the tyranny of the English rulers for the
sake of the country, are and will also remain the lighthouse for the present
and coming generations.
Bravery, humanity, kindness and
fearless actions are the main elements in Sikhism. Presently
also these elements can be noticed even in the children of the sect. The story
of Ten-year-old Shravan Singh, amidst the risks associated with war during
Operation Sindoor, who regularly delivered water, milk, and lassi to the Indian
soldiers stationed at the border near his home, reflects the ‘Bravery,
Humanity, Kindness and Fearless actions’.
President Murmu said that the greatness of a
country is certain when its children are filled with patriotism and high
ideals. Ten-year-old Shravan Singh, amidst the risks associated with war during
Operation Sindoor, regularly delivered water, milk, and lassi to the Indian
soldiers stationed at the border near his home.
Smt.
Murmu was happy to note that the
children have showcased their exceptional talent in various fields such as
bravery, art and culture, environment, innovation, science and technology,
social service, and sports. She said that it is because of talented children
such as the seven-year-old Vaka Lakshmi Pragnika that India is considered a
chess powerhouse on the world stage. Ajay Raj and Mohammed Sidan P, who saved
the lives of others with their bravery and intelligence, deserve all the praise
they receive. Nine-year-old daughter Vyoma Priya and eleven-year-old brave son
Kamlesh Kumar lost their lives while saving the lives of others with their
courage.
Whereas,
the differently-abled daughter Shivani Hosuru Uppara has achieved extraordinary
accomplishments in the world of sports, overcoming economic and physical
limitations. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has made a name for himself in the highly
competitive and talent-filled world of cricket and has set many records. She
expressed confidence that brave and talented children like them will continue
to do good work and make India's future bright.
Why Veer
Baal Diwas?
On the
occasion of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on 9th January 2022,
the Prime Minister, Narender Modi, had announced that 26th December would be
observed as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’, to commemorate the martyrdom of Sahibzadas Baba
Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji,
whose unparalleled sacrifice continues to inspire generations.
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, while addressing the national programme marking ‘Veer Baal
Diwas’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, emphasized that on this day, the nation
remembers the brave Sahibzadas, who are the pride of India and represent the
pinnacle of indomitable courage and valour. PM Modi stated that these
Sahibzadas broke the boundaries of age and stage, standing like a rock against
the cruel Mughal empire, shaking the very existence of religious fanaticism and
terror.
The Prime
Minister stated that every year children who achieve remarkable feats in
different fields for the nation are honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya
Bal Puraskar (PMRBP), and this year too, 20 children from across the country
have received the award.
Underlining
that Veer Bal Diwas is a day filled with emotion and reverence, Modi remembered
Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji,
and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, who at a very young age had to confront the
greatest power of their time. He emphasized that their struggle was between the
fundamental ideas of India and religious fanaticism, between truth and
falsehood, with one side led by 10th Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the
other by the cruel rule of Aurangzeb. The Prime Minister noted that although
the Sahibzadas were very young, Aurangzeb was determined to break the morale of
Indians to force conversions, and thus targeted them. He stressed that
Aurangzeb and his commanders forgot that Guru Gobind Singh Ji was no ordinary
man but the embodiment of penance and sacrifice, and the Sahibzadas inherited
this legacy. He declared that despite the entire Mughal empire’s might, not one
of the four Sahibzadas wavered.
Voices Against Naming the Day as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’
Some
voices, though with feeble frequency, are being raised to rename the ‘Veer Baal
Diwas’ as “Sahibzada’s' Balidan Diwas”, to commemorate the exemplary martyrdom of Sahibzadas.
Aman
Arora, State President of the Aam Aadmi Party and Cabinet Minister in the
Punjab Government, on stated that the observance of ‘Sahibzadas' Balidan Diwas’
would be a more appropriate and dignified tribute to the unparalleled martyrdom
of the Chhote Sahibzadas than the term Veer Bal Diwas, as it resonates more
profoundly with the deep-rooted sentiments of the Sikh Sangat.
Delhi
Akali chief Paramjit Singh Sarna has said the demand to rename ‘Veer Bal Diwas’
as ‘Sahibzadey Shahadat Diwas’ was grounded in historical accuracy, ethical
reasoning, and the party’s stated position going back several years.
Emphasizing
on his point, Sarna said that the phrase ‘Veer Bal’, while emotionally
evocative, was broad and imprecise, and risked obscuring the specific
historical event being marked. “This is not a general observance of childhood
courage. It commemorates a recorded shaheedi in which the Sahibzadey were
bricked alive for refusing to renounce their faith. The term ‘Sahibzadey
Shahadat Diwas’ conveys that reality directly, without dilution.”
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