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The Print
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Haryana govt ‘Veer Banda Bairagi' ad on his martyrdom day invites backlash from SGPC, Akal Takht
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib condemned the label as a 'grave insult' to Sikh history and identity, alleging a deliberate attempt to distort the legacy of the Khalsa general who led a historic campaign against Mughal tyranny. The controversy erupted after the Haryana government's Department of Information and Public Relations published advertisements in leading dailies and made social media posts 25 June, marking Banda Singh Bahadur's martyrdom day. The social media posts have since been modified. Gurugram: A Haryana government advertisement on the martyrdom day of revered Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Wednesday ignited a firestorm of controversy as it referred to him as 'Veer Banda Bairagi'. In a strongly worded statement issued from Amritsar Wednesday, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami described the advertisement as a 'violation of Sikh principles' and a 'misrepresentation' of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's life and martyrdom. 'Calling him 'Veer Banda Bairagi' hurts Sikh sentiments and distorts historical truth,' Dhami said in the statement. He emphasised Banda Singh Bahadur, born Lachhman Dev in 1670, renounced his Bairagi identity after he met Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 and became a baptised Sikh. Under the Guru's guidance, he led the Khalsa Army to defeat Mughal forces at Chappar Chiri in 1710, captured Sirhind, and established the first Sikh rule, naming the site Sri Fatehgarh Sahib to honour the martyred Sahibzadas, the four sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Bairagi, in the context of Hindu traditions, are Vishnu devotees. It refers to someone free from worldly desires and attachments. They are often associated with ascetics or those who have renounced worldly life. Dhami highlighted Banda Singh Bahadur's revolutionary reforms, including abolishing the Mughal zamindari system and granting land ownership to farmers, a landmark step toward social equality. 'He was a devout Sikh, not a Bairagi, and his martyrdom in 1716, alongside his four-year-old son Ajay Singh, remains a symbol of Sikh sacrifice,' Dhami said. He demanded the Haryana government apologise, retract the advertisement, and take action against officials responsible for the 'deliberate' misrepresentation. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the acting jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, echoed Dhami's sentiments, calling the advertisement part of a 'conspiracy to erase Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's Sikh identity'. Paying homage to the martyr, Gargaj recounted his leadership in uprooting the Mughal rule from Punjab, his prolonged resistance at Gurdas Nangal, and his son's brutal execution before his own eyes. 'Referring to him as 'Veer Banda Bairagi' is an insult to his legacy and the Sikh community,' Gargaj said, urging Sikhs in Haryana to 'educate the government' about Banda Singh Bahadur's true identity. Also Read: Why BJP wants to make Sikh icon Banda Singh Bahadur its own — 'defender of faith against Mughals' 'Objections unwarranted' Ashok Chhabra, the media coordinator for Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, defended the advertisement, calling the objections 'unwarranted' and politically motivated. 'The BJP admires Banda Singh Bahadur's courage and valour. He was originally born a Bairagi, also known as Banda Bairagi. The SGPC's protest is for political reasons,' Chhabra told ThePrint. Bairagis are listed among 72 castes in Haryana's Backward Class 'A' block, alongside Kamboj, Bhat, and others. CM Saini and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh belong to the BC 'B' block, which includes Ahir and Saini castes. Political analysts see the BJP's use of 'Veer Banda Bairagi' as a strategic move to appeal to both Sikh and OBC voters in Haryana, where caste dynamics play a significant role. 'Mentioning Banda Singh Bahadur as Bairagi serves a dual purpose for the BJP, wooing Sikhs while reinforcing its OBC push,' said Kushal Pal, a professor of political science who is posted as principal at Indira Gandhi National College, Ladwa, in Kurukshetra. About Banda Bahadur Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's legacy, as documented in Sikh historical texts and Sikhiwiki, remains a cornerstone of Sikh pride. Born in a Minhas Rajput family in Rajouri, he became an austere after a transformative encounter with a dying doe, adopting the name Madho Das Bairagi. His meeting with Guru Gobind Singh in Nanded in 1708 marked a turning point, as he embraced Sikhism and was tasked with punishing Mughal oppressors, including Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind. His victories laid the foundation for the Sikh Misls and Maharaja Ranjit Singh's kingdom, ending centuries of Mughal dominance in Punjab. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's journey through Haryana in 1709 saw him ignite a rebellion against Mughal oppression. It started in Narnaul where he crushed dacoits amid the Satnami massacre, followed by rallying support in Hisar, summoning Malwa Sikhs in Tohana, plundering treasuries in Sonepat and Kaithal, and conquering Samana—infamous for its executioners of Sikh Gurus—before devastating Kunjpura, Ghuram, Thaska, Damla, and Shahbad Markanda, setting the stage for his historic victory at Sirhind. He met a brutal end 9 June 1716, when Mughal forces, after torturing him and martyring his four-year-old son Ajay Singh before his eyes, executed him in Delhi, dismembering his body after he refused to renounce his Sikh faith. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: YouTuber Dhruv Rathee takes down video after backlash over AI depiction of Sikh guru
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
2 injured in fire at Jindal Poly Films warehouse in Igatpuri
Nashik: A fire broke out at Jindal Poly Films' warehouse in Igatpuri, Nashik district, during the early hours of Wednesday. Two employees sustained leg burns in the incident and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The fire brigade department of the Nashik Municipal Corporation confirmed that while there were no fatalities, there were a couple of injuries. Nine fire engines responded to the emergency, with three from Nashik Municipal Corporation and others from various other agencies. Despite combined efforts of the NMC's fire brigade, and fire tenders from Mahindra & Mahindra, Bosch Ltd, Igatpuri Municipal Council, and other authorities, the blaze continued to spread due to combustible raw materials in the company's warehouse. According to NMC's fire brigade chief Sanjay Bairagi, they received the fire alert at 1.55am on Wednesday. "We immediately sent three fire tenders to the godown of Jindal Poly Films in Igatpuri to douse the blaze. The fire brigade teams from all the authorities, including NMC, continued their efforts to bring the fire under control," said Bairagi. While the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, Bairagi said the warehouse materials suffered extensive damage. NMC fire officer Kishore Patil, who was present at the scene, confirmed that two employees sustained leg burns and were transferred to a Nashik city hospital for treatment. "We tried to bring the fire under control, but could not until the evening. It will take time to extinguish the fire completely," said Patil. This was the second fire incident at the company's Igatpuri facility, following a Jan 2023 blaze that claimed three lives. On May 12, the company announced plans to expand capacity with new Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP), PET, and CPP lines at its Igatpuri plant, with a planned investment of Rs 700 crore over the next two to three years.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Flamingo with injured leg rescued, released at NRI wetland in Nerul
A nature lover and wildlife photographer, Abhijit Chattopadhyay, helped rescue a flamingo with an injured left leg from the NRI wetland in Nerul Sector 58A on Monday. His distress call led to the rescue of the migratory bird by the forester, Vikas Bairagi, who admitted it to veterinarian Dr Kartik Iyer in Vashi for treatment. However, as recommended by the vet, the bird was released at the same spot as no artificial limbs could be provided and fixed. Operation Sindoor Amid flare-up hours after thaw, officials say things will settle down with time Ceasefire on, but pressure stays: Key decisions by India against Pak that still stand 'Will work with India & Pakistan to seek solution on Kashmir': Trump The injury affected the bird's flight, as well as its ability to run and take off. Many have expressed concern over the hurdles the pink birds are facing here. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Abhijit first photographed the lone flamingo five days ago in the vast wetland while the bird was standing in one place, busy preening itself. During successive visits, hoping to spot more flamingos, he noticed on the third day that the flamingo had not moved. The bird was released at the same spot on 6 May evening after a brief stay at the hospital. The bird was trying to walk, limping, using the force of its outstretched wing with each step. On the fifth day, Chattopadhyay was convinced that the bird was in distress and shared its photograph with others. He sought the assistance of the forester, Bairagi. The bird had no claws on its left leg when sighted initially. The flamingo was solo and almost a permanent member in the first left-hand side of the water body when someone enters the NRI wetland behind the NRI complex high rises. Initially, Chattopadhyay sought help from a flamingo catcher to ensure its leg was treated properly before releasing it to its natural habitat. The image taken by Chattopadhyay clearly shows that the bird lost its left foot/claw, which is why it was limping, putting pressure on its wings to take a step forward. The bird is suffering, and bird lovers hope it survives the odds in the absence of proper medical care. Chattopadhyay said, 'I don't know what kind of accident caused the injury, but imagining its struggle to walk is unbearable. An artificial claw seems like the only solution, yet feels like a distant dream in our country. I pray the Almighty brings some relief to this brave suffering soul.' Bairagi said, 'The bird lost part of its leg to an injury, but not naturally by birth. Hence, it was released as no artificial limbs can be provided.' A number of flamingos flock to the city wetlands, giving them a pink picturesque beauty, thereby attracting wildlife photographers from across the globe. The visitors watch and take photographs. Some of these photographs have been featured and awarded in international events. A major part of the city wetlands houses the migratory birds, with their presence adjoining the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. The city wetlands now face encroachment from the builders' lobby. Meanwhile, the recent sightings of injured flamingos have once again brought into sharp focus the urgent need for a veterinary hospital in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) area, according to local environmentalists and animal welfare activists. The NMMC concrete structure for the animal hospital at Juinagar has been ready for about four years but the facility is yet to start, NatConnect Foundation pointed out. As a result, currently, wildlife enthusiasts must either seek assistance from charitable veterinarians or travel to facilities in Thane or Mumbai. NatConnect director B N Kumar pointed out that 'we keep coming across injured birds and animals, but unfortunately there is no veterinary hospital in the NMMC area.' He recalled that during the January-May period, close to 20 flamingos died around DPS and NRI wetlands. Some of them crashed into the huge signboard built for the Nerul jetty, while others got disoriented apparently due to light pollution in the area, Kumar said. Following public protests, CIDCO ultimately dismantled the hoarding. BNHS Deputy Director Dr Rahul Khot suggested to the NMMC engineers to change the lights in patches off Palm Beach Road toward DSP School and then near the Nerul Jetty road. The shade over the bulbs should be at a 45-degree angle so that the light flows downward and not sideward, which can impact the vision of the migratory birds, Dr Khot said. A forest official said the birds could be getting hurt when they crash into fishing nets, tree branches, or wires. Or big crabs could be hurting them when the birds cross their paths. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
