NEW DELHI/NEW YORK (TIP): The Centre in coordination with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) will be holding a two-day commemoration event at Red Fort in New Delhi on April 20 and 21, to celebrate the 400th Parkash Purb (birth anniversary) of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh guru. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah would be attending these events. PM Modi will release a commemorative coin and a postage stamp dedicated to the birth centenary of the ninth Guru on April 21.

As per the sources privy to the development, the commemorative coin will be of Rs 400 denomination, which will have the picture of Guru Ke Mahal, Amritsar, the birthplace of the ninth Guru on its one side and the writings dedicated to the birth centenary. The coin will also have a line from the writings of Kavi (poet) Senapati, a contemporary poet to the tenth Sikh Guru,

‘Pragat Bhae Gur Teg Bahadur Sagal Srisht Pai Dhapi Chadar

‘ (Guru Teg Bahadur came forward and saved the entire world from atrocities).

As per the letter written by Atul Kumar Mishra, deputy secretary (Special Cell/C&M) of the Union ministry of culture to DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka on Monday, April 4, HM Amit Shah will inaugurate the event on April 20, followed by a light and sound show, participation in Shabad Kirtan to be organized by children followed by his address. The letter reads that it has been decided to organize two day closing ceremony.

Similarly, PM Modi will inaugurate the event on April 21, followed by the release of commemorative coin and postage stamp, 400 raagis will participate in Shabad Kirtan and PM will also address the gathering.

The ministry of culture hoped for cooperation from DSGMC President Kalka in organizing the commemoration.

However, it is yet unclear that whether the GOI would be officially inviting the SGPC President or not.

Sources told that the GOI for deciding and approving the design and details of commemorative coin of Rs 400 with regards to marking this commemoration, roped in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar, and the same would be released as per the approval given by the Sikh body (SGPC).

Following a meeting of the SGPC’s Sikh Itihas Research Board on January 23, 2021, the then SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur had demanded from the GOI to issue a commemorative coin and postage stamp dedicated to the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Guru.

SGPC had celebrated the 400th Parkash Purb on the ninth Guru on May 1, 2021.

Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was born in 1621 at Guru Ke Mahal, Amritsar and he was executed on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at Delhi’s Chandni Chowk in 1675, and presently, historical Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is situated in Delhi at the same spot where the Guru was martyred.