Baba Fateh Singh Ji – The Youngest Sahibzada and the Eternal Symbol of Courage

Sikh history is filled with extraordinary examples of sacrifice, courage and unbreakable faith. Among these, the martyrdom of Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji, the youngest son of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, holds a unique and deeply moving place. Barely six years old, he faced tyranny with astonishing calm and fearlessness, proving that true courage does not depend on age, size or worldly power, but on inner conviction and love for truth.

This story is not just about a child who died young; it is about a soul who chose faith over fear and principles over life itself.

Birth and Divine Lineage

Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji was born in 1699 into a family that stood at the centre of a spiritual and moral revolution. His father was Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, who established the Khalsa and dedicated his life to defending righteousness. His mother was Mata Jito Ji (later known as Mata Ajit Kaur), who herself was a symbol of grace, devotion and strength.

Baba Fateh Singh Ji was the youngest of four brothers: Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji. All four Sahibzadas would ultimately attain martyrdom, each in their own way, standing firm on the path of truth and dharma. In this family, sacrifice was not a coincidence; it was the natural outcome of living by the highest spiritual principles.

The Separation at the Sirsa River

The turning point came during the siege and evacuation of Anandpur Sahib. Surrounded by enemy forces and betrayed by false oaths of safe passage, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Sikhs had to leave the city under extremely difficult conditions. In the chaos of battle, heavy rain and the flooded Sirsa river, the Guru’s family was tragically separated.

At this moment of confusion and danger, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji were with their grandmother, Mata Gujri Ji. As they crossed near the Sirsa, they were separated from Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the elder Sahibzadas. What began as a physical separation soon turned into a test of spiritual strength that the world would remember for centuries.

Shelter at Gangu Brahmin’s House

After the separation, Mata Gujri Ji and the two younger Sahibzadas found temporary shelter with Gangu Brahmin, who had previously served as a cook in the Guru’s household. Recognising them and aware of their identity, he initially appeared respectful and welcoming.

However, when he noticed the small bundle of valuables that Mata Gujri Ji carried with her, greed began to overshadow his loyalty. Instead of remembering the honour of having served in the Guru’s household, he allowed selfishness to take control. This inner fall would soon lead to an outer betrayal.

The Painful Betrayal

Driven by the desire for personal gain, Gangu secretly informed the Mughal authorities about the presence of the Guru’s mother and the young Sahibzadas in his house. He handed over Mata Gujri Ji, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji to the officials, hoping to earn reward and favour.

This act of betrayal is one of the most painful aspects of the story: a trusted figure turning against helpless children and an elderly grandmother, not because of fear, but because of greed. They were arrested and taken to Sirhind, which was then under the rule of Wazir Khan, a powerful Mughal governor.

Imprisoned in the Thanda Burj

On reaching Sirhind, no respect or basic comfort was given to them. Instead of being kept in a proper room, they were locked in the “Thanda Burj” – a cold, open tower exposed to the harsh winter winds. In the chilling nights of December, without warm clothes, fire or bedding, the two young Sahibzadas and their grandmother were made to suffer severe physical discomfort.

They spent three long winter nights in this freezing structure. The “Thanda Burj” became the silent witness to their unshaken faith. While their bodies shivered in the cold, their spirits remained steady and unbroken.

The Court of Wazir Khan

Each morning, after a night in the Thanda Burj, the young Sahibzadas were brought to the court of Wazir Khan. There, the governor, along with his Qazis and courtiers, tried to break their resolve using a mix of pressure, temptation and threats.

They were:

• It offered wealth, luxuries and high status.
• Promised palaces, royal titles and comfort.
• Threatened with death if they refused to convert.

The condition placed before them was simple but cruel: accept Islam and gain worldly rewards, or refuse and face execution.

Despite their tender age, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji replied with absolute clarity and courage. They declared that they were Sikhs of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, members of the Khalsa and that they would never abandon their faith, not for fear, not for greed, not for any worldly promise.

Their fearless words stunned the court. Grown men, rulers and officials could not understand how such young children could show such strength when even adults often faltered under pressure.

The Cruel Sentence – Bricked Alive

When temptations failed and threats did not work, Wazir Khan chose brutality. In anger and frustration, he ordered one of the harshest punishments in recorded history for children: the Sahibzadas were to be bricked alive within a wall.

The idea behind this punishment was not only to kill them, but to do so in a slow and terrifying way, hoping that fear would finally force them to surrender. Yet, even faced with this inhuman command, the Sahibzadas did not bow. Their silence was not of fear but of acceptance and inner strength.

The Wall of Martyrdom

On the following day, the two young Sahibzadas were made to stand while masons began building a wall around them. Brick by brick, the wall rose, closing them into a narrow space. The children’s small bodies were pressed on either side by cold, hard stone, but their faces remained calm.

As the wall reached their chest height, something unexpected occurred: the structure collapsed. People present were shocked. The children were still alive, standing firm amidst the fallen bricks. For witnesses, this moment felt like a sign that no amount of physical force could crush their spirit.

But the collapse of the wall did not soften Wazir Khan’s heart. Instead, it increased his anger.

The Final Execution

Furious that the Sahibzadas had survived and that his plan had not broken their will, Wazir Khan immediately ordered their execution. The task was given to an executioner who then killed the young Sahibzadas by cutting their arteries, ending their physical lives but sealing their place in the eternal story of martyrdom.

This took place around 26 December 1704 or 1705 (historical accounts vary slightly on the exact year), when Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji was only about six years old and Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji about eight or nine.

At the Thanda Burj, Mata Gujri Ji, already weakened by age, cold and grief, received the news of their martyrdom. Hearing what had happened to her beloved grandsons, she calmly recited her prayers and also left her physical body that same night. Three generations of faith – grandmother and grandchildren – accepted death with dignity rather than compromise their beliefs.

The Message of the Chhote Sahibzade

The sacrifice of the Chhote Sahibzade, especially Baba Fateh Singh Ji as the youngest, gives some of the most powerful lessons in Sikh history and human history in general:

• Age does not define courage: A six-year-old child faced rulers, judges and soldiers without fear, showing that inner strength is not measured in years.
• Faith is not for sale: No promise of wealth, comfort or status could make them abandon their Guru, their Sikhi or their principles.
• Truth stands higher than life: They proved that it is better to die for truth than to live with betrayal of one’s own conscience.
• Real strength is inner conviction: They had no weapons, armies or political power, yet their unshaken resolve defeated the moral standing of a powerful empire.

Their story is not meant to glorify suffering but to highlight what it means to hold on to truth even when everything is at stake.

Eternal Remembrance at Fatehgarh Sahib

The place where the younger Sahibzadas were martyred is now known as Fatehgarh Sahib, in their honour. Every year, lakhs of Sikhs and people from different backgrounds gather there to remember their sacrifice during the Shaheedi Jor Mela held in December.

At this samagam:

• Kirtan, katha and sermons recount the lives of the Sahibzadas.
• People reflect on their own lives in the light of such supreme sacrifice.
• Langar and seva are performed on a large scale, keeping alive the spirit of sharing and service.

Standing at Fatehgarh Sahib, many visitors feel the weight and purity of what happened there. It is not just a historical site; it is a living reminder of courage, integrity and unwavering faith.