"Sab Sikhan ko hukam hai Guru manyo Granth." (All Sikhs are commanded to accept the Granth as Guru.)

— Guru Gobind Singh Ji

This final commandment from the Tenth Master established a revolutionary principle: eternal leadership vested in sacred scripture. Today’s stories reflect this enduring spirit—from the very moment this edict was given, to the generations of Sikhs who lived and sacrificed for the values enshrined within the Guru’s Word.

👑 1708 — The Light Merges: Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Final Commandment

The Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, passed the eternal Guruship to the Guru Granth Sahib before departing the world.

In 1708, a profound transition took place that would forever define the Sikh faith and its future.

Following an assassination attempt in Nanded, Guru Gobind Singh Ji knew his earthly journey was concluding. He gathered the Sikhs, placed a coconut and five coins before the Adi Granth, and bowed to it, formally passing the mantle of leadership. He declared the sacred scripture the eternal Guru for all Sikhs, henceforth to be known as the Guru Granth Sahib.

This act was revolutionary. It ended the line of human Gurus and democratized spiritual authority, ensuring the Guru's wisdom was accessible to all and preserved for all time. The Guru Granth Sahib became the living embodiment of the Ten Gurus' light and teachings.

This moment wasn't an end, but a new beginning, entrusting every Sikh with direct access to the Guru's divine guidance.

💥 1923 — A Revolutionary's Final Stand: Dhanna Singh Behbalpuri

Babbar Akali revolutionary Dhanna Singh made the ultimate sacrifice fighting colonial police in the village of Mannanhana.

When cornered by an overwhelming police force, one Babbar Akali revolutionary chose a path of explosive defiance.

Dhanna Singh of Behbalpur was a key member of the Babbar Akali movement, an armed group resisting British colonial rule. Tracked down to the village of Mannanhana, he found himself surrounded. Rather than surrender, he detonated a bomb he had concealed, taking his own life and several officers with him in a final, defiant act.

Dhanna Singh's sacrifice became a powerful symbol of the fight for freedom and the refusal to submit to tyranny. His story highlights the intense commitment of those who believed that liberty sometimes demanded the ultimate price.

His final act serves as a stark reminder of the diverse forms of sacrifice made in the long and arduous struggle for India's independence.

🛡️ 1922 — The Pensioners' Protest

Babbar Amar Singh led a jatha of military pensioners in the non-violent Guru Ka Bagh Morcha, a key protest for Gurdwara reform.

What happens when retired soldiers apply their renowned discipline to a non-violent protest?

During the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha (struggle), Sikhs peacefully protested to reclaim a Gurdwara from a corrupt custodian backed by the British. Babbar Amar Singh, a military pensioner, organized and led the very first jatha (procession) of fellow ex-soldiers. They faced brutal police beatings with stoic courage, never once retaliating.

This display of disciplined, non-violent resistance from former soldiers captured the imagination of the nation. It demonstrated that strength lies not just in fighting, but in the unshakeable resolve to endure suffering for a righteous cause.

Their bravery showed the world that a warrior's spirit can fuel peace just as powerfully as it can fuel a battle.

📜 1710 — The Empire Takes Note

Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah received alarming news that the Khalsa army was advancing near Sonepat.

Just two years after Guru Gobind Singh Ji's passing, news from Punjab sent a shockwave through the Mughal court.

Banda Singh Bahadur, blessed by the Guru, had rallied the Khalsa and launched a campaign to establish Sikh sovereignty. After a series of stunning victories, word reached Emperor Bahadur Shah that this formidable new army was advancing near Sonepat, uncomfortably close to the capital, Delhi.

This was no minor rebellion; it was a direct challenge to Mughal authority in its own heartland. The news confirmed that the Khalsa spirit, ignited by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, had transformed into a potent political and military force ready to reshape the region.

The Emperor's concern was a clear signal: a new power had risen in Punjab, and the old order would never be the same.