A warrior who dismantled Mughal tyranny and planted the flag of Khalsa governance across Punjab — Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar invoked that legacy on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, offering a heartfelt tribute to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on the great commander's birth anniversary.

Posting in Hindi on X, Khattar wrote: 'मुगलों के अत्याचार को समाप्त कर पंजाब में पुन: खालसा राज की स्थापना करने वाले महान सेनानायक और अजेय योद्धा बाबा बंदा सिंह बहादुर जी के जयंती पर उनके चरणों में कोटि-कोटि प्रणाम!' — 'A million salutations at the feet of the great commander and invincible warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, who ended Mughal oppression and re-established Khalsa rule in Punjab, on his birth anniversary!'

He added that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's tales of valour and sacrifice 'will forever remain unforgettable,' and that his stories of bravery 'will always inspire us to fight firmly against injustice and to protect the motherland even in the most adverse of circumstances.'

The warrior who rewrote Punjab's history

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur stands as one of the most consequential military figures in 18th-century Indian history. Originally a ascetic, he was commissioned by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to lead the Khalsa forces against Mughal oppression in Punjab. His campaigns shattered the myth of Mughal invincibility in the region, and he succeeded in establishing a Khalsa administration — a landmark moment in Sikh and Indian history.

His legacy is particularly resonant in Punjab and among the Sikh community globally, where he is remembered not merely as a military commander but as a symbol of resistance, justice, and the defence of faith against persecution.

A tradition of commemoration across the political spectrum

Khattar's tribute fits a well-established pattern in Indian political life: leaders across parties mark the birth and death anniversaries of regional and historical figures, especially those tied to themes of martial valor and resistance. For a senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Haryana — a state with deep Sikh cultural connections — paying respects to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur carries both historical and political resonance.

Such commemorations serve as a reminder that the stories of figures like Baba Banda Singh Bahadur are not consigned to history books alone — they remain living reference points in the national conversation about courage, identity, and sacrifice.

As long as those stories are retold, the warrior's flame, lit in Punjab three centuries ago, refuses to go out.