The Third Sahibzada: Nine-Year-Old Martyr of the Sirhind Foundations
Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji (1696–1704) was the third son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Captured following the evacuation of Anandpur Sahib, the nine-year-old prince was incarcerated in the freezing Cold Tower (Thanda Burj) before boldly spurning imperial bribes of wealth and status from Nawab Wazir Khan. He was martyred by live masonry entombment on December 26, 1704.
At the age of nine, Baba Zorawar Singh stood unyielding before the imperial court of Sirhind. Refusing conversion to save his earthly life, he chose martyrdom, inspiring generations with the inviolability of conscience.
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Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji (1699–1704) was the youngest son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. At seven years of age, his refusal to capitulate before the threats of the Subedar of Sirhind remains an unmatched triumph of human spiritual dignity.
Mata Gujri Ji (1624–1704) occupies an unparalleled station in Sikh history as the spouse of the ninth Guru (Guru Tegh Bahadur), mother of the tenth Guru (Guru Gobind Singh), and grandmother of the four Sahibzadas. Incarcerated in the open-air Cold Tower of Sirhind, her steadfast fortitude prepared the young princes for their legendary martyrdom before she passed into eternity in divine equanimity.
Diwan Todar Mall was a wealthy, benevolent merchant of Sirhind who liquidated his family fortune to purchase the land required for the cremation of the younger Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji. Forced to cover the requested ground vertically with 7,800 gold coins, his sacrifice remains unmatched in philanthropic courage.
