Guru Tegh Bahadur Dev Ji
(1621 – 1675)
Biography of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji: Defender of Religious Freedom
Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of the 10 Sikh gurus. He was born Tyaga Mal in Amritsar in 1621 and was trained in martial arts and poetry from a young age. After the execution of his father Guru Hargobind, he moved to Bakala with his wife and mother. Following the death of Guru Har Krishan, Tegh Bahadur was discovered in Bakala as the rightful successor and became Guru in 166
He traveled across the Indian subcontinent spreading the Sikh message. In 1675, when Hindu pandits of Kashmir were being forced to convert to Islam, Guru Tegh Bahadur stood up to Aurangzeb and demanded freedom of religion.
He was arrested and brought to Delhi where he was publicly executed for refusing to convert. Before his death, Guru Tegh Bahadur entrusted leadership of the Sikhs to his son Gobind Rai who became Guru Gobind Singh. He is remembered as Hind di Chadar (Protector of Hindus).
