History taught in schools is an agreed version of truth and legend but the fact surfaces all the times. No history book in India tells us that India was under foreign rule for about 800 years. First under Mughals and last 300 years under British. Official version of foreign rule is confined to British Rule.
Today is martyr day. It is celebrated with lot of extravaganza and show. Sikhism, what it became, is due to this martyr day. Sikhs were warriors for protection of the population from Aurangzeb and his minions who were Muslim fanatics.On this day (as per sikh calender called Nanakshahi Calender otherwise on 11th Nov. 1645) Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur was publicly beheaded in Delhi. He had been representing his followers for their welfare seeking to stop conversion and oppression. The places where his head and body fell, both has a Gurudwara built thereon. So the legend tells.
However Guru Teg Bahadur was not the only sikh martyred in defiance of oppressive/conversion methods of Muslim rulers in 15th to 18th century. The year will fall short of days if everyday was to be dedicated to one sikh.
So this day is a remembrance of fundamentalism, which was the result of religious arrogance of the oppresser. The question which arises is:
‘Have we forsaken the Religious Arrogance?’ Or we have merely built up our own arrogance to match every one else’s.

© Sandeep Bhalla