Commemorative Silver Coin released on Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s 300th Martyrdom Anniversary

NEW DELHI, Punjab—A commemorative silver coin to mark tercentenary martyrdom anniversary of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was released by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on June 21. The coin was facilitated by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.  

The commemorative coin was released to mark the martyrdom anniversary, it has no denomination power.  The coin was presented to Arun Jaitley by Manjit Singh GK as the members of the DSGMC shouted the Sikh jaikara of ‘Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley referred to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur as a mahapursh and said, “Baba Banda Singh Bahadur established the first sovereign rule in Punjab.  He showcased how to run a secular Government.  Baba Ji was martyred 300 years ago near the Qutab Minar.”

“The coin is the replica of the original coin issued by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.  Along with the coin, if a documentary can be made on Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, that will be great.  The Khalsa’s history is full of courage and sacrifice.  Baba Banda Singh’s history has a great place in the Sikh history.  I am happy that large scale programs are being organized in Delhi.  A program is also being organized in Punjab which will be attended by the Prime Minister,” he said.  

Along with the commemorative silver coin, Jaitley also released a CD of songs paying homage to the Sikh warrior, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.  DSGMC committee members said that a documentary is currently being worked upon.

Addressing the media on this occasion, DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK said that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur had released the coins on the name of first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.  These coins were later abolished by the Mughal emperors.

Dr. Jaspal Singh (Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University), MP Prem Singh Chandumajra (Member Parliament from Sri Anandpur Sahib), S. MPS Chadha (Senior Vice President of DSGMC) and former Rajya Sabha member Tarlochan Singh were also present on this occasion.

Incidentally, the coin was launched on June 21, which coincided with the International Yoga Day.  Several media outlets in India have referred to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur as a great Yogi.  Baba Banda Singh Bahadur practised yoga before he met Guru Gobind Singh Ji.  He gave up his previous lifestyle and adapted a martial way of life before conquering Punjab. 

5 COMMENTS

  1. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur released sikka in the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. These people who do not want to say him Guru da khalsa instead a yogi. Do they are releasing this sikka to confuse the sikhs in future that this sikka was released by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur?

  2. Looking at the photograph on top in which one official surrounded by so many turbanised persons for a second I thought the official is apologizing for the 1984 sikh genocide. What are these so called sikhs happy about ? Celebration of distorted history as mentioned in the above letter.I understand we have to live in that country but that doesn’t mean we have to sell our soul.We don’t have to make these officials as part of our celebrations. How many of the persons photographed above have spent any time or energy for protecting our human rights ,or assisted in hunting down the killers of the innocent , these people haven’t even made lists of how many sikhs were victims of the genocide. One can deal with the enemy from outside but what can one do when the enemy is insider.

  3. Once again they are confuse sikhs as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur as “great yogi” He was great sikh not Yogi – Yoga has no connection with Sikhism. He took Amrit from Guru Gobind Singh and blessing to be able to fight the moghuls and bring first Khalsa rule. Bhai Jee you are too right to say that handling coins suits these hinduvata so called sikhs likes GK and the rest of them……..

  4. Instead of releasing commemorative silver coins India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley should spend the money on making giant sized twenty foot Kirpans that can be installed prominently in Ambala and Chandigarh so that Indian bureaucrats and police there learn to recognise and respect the kirpan and stop telling Sikhs to remove them before entering exams, courts and Indian sponsored yoga day. But I suppose central Government is too used to handing out coins to certain Judas types who dress up in turbans (I won’t call them dastars as that would confer an honour such persons do not deserve) and portray themselves as Sikhs so now think that the rest of the Sikh Sangat also will settle for thirty pieces of silver in order to betray our faith.

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