Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji shines in Sikh history like an eternal guiding star. He was born on 15 Maghar (30 November 1696 CE) at Sri Anandpur Sahib to the Tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and Mata Jito Ji. According to history, when Guru Sahib had to leave Sri Anandpur Sahib, the family faced great hardships near the banks of the River Sirsa, during which the entire family became separated. Mata Sundar Kaur Ji reached Delhi under the protection of Bhai Daya Singh, and Mata Gujri Kaur Ji along with the two Sahibzadas — Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh — reached the house of the family cook, Gangu Brahmin. Gangu took them to his village Saheri, but soon his intentions turned evil. Historians state that on seeing money and valuables with Mata Ji, greed overtook Gangu. He also desired reward and recognition by betraying Guru Sahib’s family. Thus, he handed over Mata Gujri and both Sahibzadas to the officials of Sirhind. The two young Sahibzadas were then imprisoned in the Cold Tower (Thanda Burj) of Sirhind. After horrifying intimidation and the torture of the freezing tower, they were produced in the court of Wazir Khan, the governor of Sirhind. He consulted the Qazis to decide their punishment. The Qazis issued the judgment: 👉 Either accept Islam, or be prepared to die. When the Sahibzadas refused to abandon their faith, the Qazis ordered that they be bricked alive inside a wall. The Nawab of Malerkotla, who was present in the court, protested saying: “Your conflict is with Guru Gobind Singh, not with these innocent children. Punishing them is utterly unjust.” Wazir Khan was momentarily convinced, but the wicked courtier Sucha Nand stood up and said: “Nawab Sahib, you forget — the thorns of a plant are sharp even when young; the offspring of a snake is still a snake. Showing mercy to the sons of our enemy is foolish. If they are spared today, they will unite and rebel tomorrow.” With Sucha Nand’s support, the Qazis reaffirmed the verdict: 👉 Islam or death. The Sahibzadas answered with fearless dignity: “We are the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. We do not fear death. You may inflict all the torture you want, but we will never bow to oppression. We do not care for life — our faith is dearer to us than our lives.” At that time, Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji was only 9 years old.
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