Sri Anandpur Sahib hosts interfaith conference honouring Guru Tegh Bahadur’s legacy

Ropar: Spiritual and religious leaders from different faiths gathered at the main pandal of Baba Buddha Dal Chhauni for Sarb Dharm Sammelan on Sunday to mark the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The interfaith conference honoured the 9th Sikh Guru as a universal emblem of righteousness and protector of religious freedom.


Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains and tourism and cultural affairs minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond welcomed the gathering, saying the Sammelan served as a powerful platform for leaders to reflect on the Guru's legacy, which they described as a guiding light for all humanity.

Shiromani Panth Akali Buddha Dal's jathedar Baba Balbir Singh, Damdami Taksal head Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa and Baba Sewa Singh Rampur Kherewale were present on the occasion and spearheaded the message of love, harmony, peace and humanity —Naam Japo, Vand Chhako.

They noted that the Guru Granth Sahib embodied the spirit of unity in diversity, embracing all faiths and reflecting India's rich cultural ethos.

Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale; Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas; and Nanaksar Sampada Baba Ghala Singh also attended the Sammelan. They emphasised that the Guru's martyrdom was the ultimate lesson in manukhta (humanity).

Dr Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, chief priest of Judah Hyam Synagogue, New Delhi, commended chief minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab govt for its devout and grand commemoration of the martyrdom anniversary.

"The lives of the 10 Sikh Gurus illuminate the path of sewa (selfless service), simran and courage for the oppressed. This embodies a perfect synergy of bhakti (devotion) and shakti (strength) that the world needs today," said Dr Malekar.

Echoing the sentiment of service, Bhikkhu Sanghsena from the Buddhist community hailed the Sikh community as the pride of the nation. He highlighted the Sikh community's exemplary sewa during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The spirit of Sikhism must be integrated into our educational curriculum to inspire future generations toward selfless service," he urged.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living International Ashram, also paid homage to the Guru's unparalleled sacrifice for dharm, while Father John, representing Bishop Jose Sebastian, defined Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom as a supreme example for the entire world — a rare act of sacrificing one's life for the faith of others.

Haji Syed Salman Chishty, chairman of the Chishty Foundation and Gaddi Nasheen of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, encapsulated the essence of the 9th Guru's teachings as the congregation remembered the great sacrifice of the ‘Hind di Chadar'.

The gathering also held deep emotional significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community, whose representatives expressed profound gratitude, acknowledging the Guru's sacrifice for their ancestors' right to religious freedom.

Other luminaries present in the Sammelan included Acharya Dr Lokesh Muni (Jain community), Rajyogini Dr Binny Sareen (Brahma Kumaris), Syed Afsar Ali Nizami (chairman, Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, New Delhi), Mahant Gyandev (Nirmal Akhara) and Sri Mat Jagadguru Shankaracharya Devadattananda Saraswati Maharaj, Delhi. All of them reinforced the enduring relevance of the Guru's message.

The Sarb Dharm Sammelan resolved that Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom remained a beacon of inspiration, urging humanity to stand against tyranny and champion human dignity and religious pluralism.

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