The Kashmiri Pandits Plea

Dadi: "Guddu, come here beta. Tonight I'll tell you about one of the bravest people in our history - Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji."

Guddu: "Guru Tegh Bahadur? Was he a king?"

Dadi: "He was a Guru - a great spiritual teacher of the Sikhs. But beta, his sacrifice was greater than any king's. Listen carefully, because this story is very important for all Indians to remember."

Guddu: "I'm listening, Dadi."

Dadi: "Long ago, there was a cruel Mughal emperor named Aurangzeb. He wanted everyone in India to follow only his religion. In Kashmir, his governor was forcing Hindu pandits - priests and scholars - to give up their faith."

Guddu: "But that's not fair! Everyone should be free to pray to their own God!"

Dadi: "*nodding sadly* Exactly, beta. But these were dark times. The Kashmiri Pandits faced terrible choices - either change your religion or die. Hundreds of families were suffering, temples were being destroyed, holy books were being burned."

Guddu: "That's so cruel, Dadi. What did they do?"

Dadi: "One night, a pandit had a dream. In the dream, Lord Shiva himself said - "Go to the Ninth Guru of the Sikhs at Anandpur. He can help you." So five hundred Kashmiri Pandits traveled hundreds of miles to meet Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji."

Guddu: "Five hundred people walked that far?"

Dadi: "They were desperate, beta. They fell at the Guru's feet, tears streaming down their faces. "Save us, Guru Ji! Save our faith, our families, our children!""

Guddu: "What did the Guru say?"

Dadi: "The Guru sat quietly, thinking deeply. His young son Gobind, just nine years old, saw his father troubled and asked, "Pitaji, why are you sad?""

Guddu: "A nine-year-old asked that?"

Dadi: "Yes. And when the Guru explained the situation, young Gobind said something remarkable: "Who better than you to sacrifice for them, Father?""

Guddu: "*gasping* He asked his own father to sacrifice himself?"

Dadi: "*wiping a tear* Even at that young age, Gobind understood what his father must do. So Guru Tegh Bahadur made a plan. He told the Pandits: "Go to the Emperor and tell him - if Guru Tegh Bahadur converts to Islam, all of us will follow.""

Guddu: "But Dadi, the Guru never converted, right?"

Dadi: "Never, beta. He was arrested, brought to Delhi, and asked to either show a miracle or change his religion. He refused both. They tortured him. They killed his three companions in front of his eyes in the most terrible ways."

Guddu: "*clutching Dadi's hand* That's horrible, Dadi..."

Dadi: "*holding him close* I know, beta. On November 11, 1675, in Chandni Chowk, Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed. He gave his life so that others could keep their faith."

Guddu: "Why did he do it, Dadi? He could have just stayed quiet."

Dadi: "Because some things matter more than our own life, beta. Freedom to pray, freedom to believe - these are precious. The Guru became a shield for people who weren't even from his own religion. That's why we call him "Hind Di Chadar" - the Shield of India."

Guddu: "He protected everyone, not just Sikhs..."

Dadi: "*smiling through tears* That's true courage, Guddu. True strength isn't about fighting others - it's about standing up for what's right, even when it costs you everything. Today, whenever we see Sikhs, we should remember this sacrifice that protected our Hindu faith."

Guddu: "Dadi, I want to be brave like that. Not running away when others need help."

Dadi: "You can be, beta. Start small - stand up for the kid being bullied at school, speak truth even when it's hard, help those who are different from you. That's how ordinary people become extraordinary."

Guddu: "I'll try, Dadi. I promise."

Dadi: "That's my brave grandson. Now let's light a diya together, and remember all those who sacrificed so we could live freely. Their light still guides us today."