Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed displeasure that India, a country with such a brave history, today suffers from narratives of the past that have created a sense of 'inferiority' among the Indian people.
Speaking on the occasion of 'Veer Bal Diwas' (brave children day) at Delhi's Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Prime Minister Modi paid tributes to Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh -- the two young sons of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh -- who sacrificed their lives for their faith.
"Sahibzaades (young princes) are inspiring generations," Modi said, and a country with such a history should be filled with "confidence and self-respect." Still, unfortunately, "in the name of history, we were taught only certain narratives", which have often "revoked a sense of inferiority" in the country."
By Sahibzaades, Modi meant Zorawar and Fateh who were barely nine and seven, respectively when the boys were bricked alive on the orders of Wazir Khan, a military commander of Sirhind, for refusing to renounce their faith and become Muslim.
Pointing out the way a lot of things of the past have been narrated through certain history books, the Prime Minister noted that "if we want to take India to newer heights of success, we have to become free from the narrow perspectives of the past."
He said Guru Gobind Singh Ji stood like mountain against the terror of (Mughal Emperor) Aurangzeb.
"The Mughal emperor and his people wanted to change the religion of Guru Gobind Singh's children by the force of a sword...On the one hand, there was terrorism, and on the other, there's spiritualism, on the one hand, there was communal mayhem while on the other hand, there was liberalism..."
"...on the one hand, there was the force of hundreds and thousands, on the other was Veer Sahibzaade (the brave Sikh princes) who didn't relent at all," Prime Minister reminisced while paying his tribute to the unforgettable sacrifice that continues to inspire Sikhs and Punjabis around the world.