The Sikh Review

Guru Tegh Bahadur Global Interfaith Harmony Run
In Memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru, holds a special place in the history of India for the stand he took for freedom of conscience and the right of people to practise their faith without fear.
In the seventeenth century, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the Kashmiri Pandits faced pressure to give up their faith. They travelled from Kashmir to seek help and approached Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
He chose to stand with them.
Their beliefs were not his own, yet he believed that they had the right to follow their faith and preserve their way of life. He was willing to give his own life for that principle. In 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was executed in Delhi.
The place where he was martyred at Chandni Chowk is today marked by Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a place of remembrance and pilgrimage.
What makes his sacrifice so remarkable is that he stood up for the freedom of people who were different from him. His example continues to have relevance in a world where people of many faiths, cultures and backgrounds live together.
He is remembered as Hind  Di Chadar/ Srishti Di Chadar—a protector and shelter for all of creation.
About the Run
The Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Global Interfaith Harmony Run is an annual event inspired by this part of his life and legacy.
The idea is straightforward:  to bring people together, across faiths, races, communities and cultures, and to create an occasion for people to meet and participate on equal terms.
The Run is not meant to be a religious event for one community. It is open to everyone.
It is an opportunity to remember Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and, at the same time, to reflect on the importance of freedom of belief and the responsibility we have to respect the beliefs of others.
From India to the World
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's story is part of India's history, but the principle behind his sacrifice is not limited to India.
People everywhere have their own faiths, traditions, cultures and ways of life. Learning to live with these differences—with respect rather than suspicion—is an important part of building peaceful societies.
The hope is that the Run will be held in cities across India and in other parts of the world, giving people an opportunity to learn about Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and to come together in the spirit of interfaith understanding.
Gurudwaras Across the WorldThe vision is for Gurudwaras inu every city to come forward and participate.
A participating Gurudwara can invite people from its local community to join the Run, regardless of their faith or background. Each city can organise the event in its own way while remaining connected to the larger purpose.
There is no need for the event to be owned by any one organisation or community. The strength of the idea lies in people and communities taking part because they believe in its purpose.
Every NovemberThe aim is to make the Run an annual event every November, in remembrance of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom.
With each passing year, more Gurudwaras and communities in India and around the world can take part. What begins in individual cities can gradually become a shared annual observance.
The hope is that November will become a time when people come together to remember Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, learn from his example and reaffirm the importance of allowing every person the freedom to live according to their conscience.
Open to Everyone
The Run is open to all people—irrespective of faith, race, nationality, culture or background.
It is rooted in the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and in an important chapter of India's history, but its purpose is broader: to bring people together and encourage greater understanding between communities.
A shared road provides a simple setting for that meeting.
In memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.For freedom of conscience.For greater understanding between communities.
For further information visit:www.globalharmonyrun.in