Follow the course of history south to Fatehgarh Sahib, 6 kms from Sirhind, a prominent Mughal garrison. Fatehgarh Sahib is 68 kms from Chandigarh. Gurdwara Fatebgarh Sahib is where the two younger Sahibzadas – nine-year-old Zorawar Singh and seven-year-old Fateh Singh – were given the choice of embracing Islam or being put to death. They, along with their grandmother, Mata Gujri, had been separated from the Guru during the evacuation of Anandpur. Betrayed by an old retainer, they were sent to Sirhind and kept in a small dank room, Thanda Burj, to be produced before their captor, Wazir Khan on 9 December when he returned after the battle of Chamkaur. They spumed the inducements offered and were sentenced to be bricked alive.
The wall is a sacred relic in the basement of the imposing Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib which was erected over it later.
Gurdwara Jyoti Swaroop was constructed by Maharaja Karam Singh of Patiala in memory of Mata Gujri at the spot she was cremated, along with her grandsons. It is about 3 kms away from the main gurdwaras of Fatehgarh Sahib (as Sirhind was renamed).
The Guru Granth Sahib is seated under a star spangled green canopy and the richly decorated gold palki is festooned with flowers. Mirror work mosaic adorns the walls of the ground floor, in blue, bright green, gold and red while the walls of the second floor are covered in shiny glazed tiles with floral motifs. Inscribed on the arch behind the granthi is a couplet from Guru Gobind Singh’s Dasam Gromui referring to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s ultimate act of sacrifice. His grandsons were no less:
Dharami het saaka jinh kiya
Sisu diya par sirra na diya
Acting to uphold the dharma of religious freedom; he gave up his life but not his convictions.