![]() ![]() ![]() Jujhar Singh depicted in the Battle of Chamkaur. These two gave their lives in battle, fighting against the Mughal army that had tried so hard to end the legacy of the Sikhs, only adding more fuel to the fire with the martyrdom of these young souls. Yet, all the Sikhs with Guru Gobind Singh knew it was in the best interest of the panth to sacrifice themselves for a chance for the Guru to escape and join the rest of the Sikhs. ![]() Seeking permission from their father to go into battle, they knew that there was only one possible result. As they were severely outnumbered, Guru Gobind Singh’s two older sons, Ajeet Singh and Jujhar Singh, watched as Sikhs gave their lives to protect those inside. 2 While resting in a fort in Chamkaur, the Sikhs were suddenly attacked by the Mughals. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had put a price on the head of Guru Gobind Singh, hoping to end the existence of Sikhs once and for all if he could kill their Guru. The two older sahibzaade were with their father at Chamkaur, where a terrible battle was waging between Sikhs and Mughals. For, if the other stories of sacrifice seemed great or impossible, what could one say to the stories of children ages five, eight, fourteen, and eighteen giving their lives for the protection of the Sikh panth? 1 As a young Sikh, the stories of the chaar sahibzaade were told to me countless times to inspire bravery and resilience, courage and humility. ![]() While shaheedi (martyrdom) is a theme that peppers most of Sikh history, highlighted by the remembrance of these sacrifices that allow us to practice our faith and discipline to this day, some of the most inspiring stories come from the chaar sahibzaade (four young, beloved ones), the four sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. As they convinced us, the weekend was one of reflection and awe as we engaged with our history of sacrifice. This time, a good portion of the counselor team chose to highlight the story of the Chaar Sahibzaade and Mata Gujri, significant stories of martyrdom that they felt would inspire the children to connect with their faith. It is always a fraught conversation as each person has their own strong opinions about what the children should learn that camp. Each camp, we engage in a discussion with the counselor team to determine our theme. This Memorial Day weekend, I spent my time in Wisconsin at the youth camp that I organize biannually ( which I previously reflected upon here). ![]()
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