Homage to Courage | J&K schools set to commemorate sacrifice of Sikh heroes on Dec 26

Srinagar, Dec 23: The School Education Department (SED), on the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), would observe December 26 as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’.

As per the official documents, “The day will be commemorated to pay homage to the great valour and supreme sacrifice of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the younger sons of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Ji.”

The decision has been taken by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), Ministry of Education (MoE), wherein it was conveyed that the MHA has decided to commemorate December 26 every year as Veer Bal Diwas.

“Appropriate interactive and participative programmes should be conducted during the run-up to the day in all schools to inform and educate students about the contextualised story of the exemplary courage of the Sahibzadas,” read an official communication addressed to all Chief Education Officers (CEOs) across Jammu and Kashmir.

“Special assemblies dedicated to the theme may be held, short films on Veer Bal Diwas may be shown, and stories recounting the valour of the Sahibzadas may be narrated,” it reads.

The official communications have been issued from the Administrative Department and Project Director J&K Samagra Shiksha to commemorate Veer Bal Diwas in schools on December 26.

The CEOs have been asked that activities aimed at encouraging students to come up with ideas for shaping the future trajectory of the country may also be organised in the schools.

The CEOs have been asked to ensure the participation of all schools and stakeholders in the commemoration of Veer Bal Diwas.

“The activities are to be started from December 23, 2023, and the action taken report should be submitted to the Administrative Department,” the official communication reads.

Notably, the Ministry of Education (MoE) in a communication addressed to J&K SED has said that appropriate interactive and participative programmes should be conducted during the run-up to the day in all schools across J&K to inform and educate students.

“As part of this endeavour, courageous feats of students of the local area may also be thought of and celebrated. This will serve not only as a source of inspiration but also create local role models for our students,” the communication reads.