Punjab CM Mann Pays Tribute to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on Martyrdom Day
Synopsis
The Punjab government led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann paid official tribute to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on his martyrdom anniversary, honouring the early 18th-century Sikh general credited with founding the first Sikh sovereign administration in Punjab.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab posted an official tribute to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on his martyrdom anniversary on 25 June 2026 .
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur is credited with establishing the first Sikh sovereign state in Punjab in the early 18th century.
He was executed in Delhi in 1716 by Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar after years of military campaigns across Punjab.
The tribute was issued by the Bhagwant Singh Mann -led Aam Aadmi Party government, in office since March 2022 .
Punjab governments across party lines have maintained a long-standing tradition of official commemorations on Sikh martyrdom anniversaries.
The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab on behalf of the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led state government paid homage to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on his martyrdom anniversary on Thursday, 25 June 2026, honouring the revered Sikh general who founded the first Sikh sovereign administration in Punjab.
Context
The official post, shared on the Chief Minister's Office's X account, reads in Punjabi: 'ਕੋਟਿਨ-ਕੋਟਿ ਪ੍ਰਣਾਮ' — meaning 'salutations in the millions' — extended to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on his Shahidi Dihara (martyrdom day). The message describes him as the 'great general who established the first Sikh state,' underscoring his foundational role in Sikh political history.
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur is remembered as one of the most consequential military commanders in early Sikh history. Born in 1670, he led a series of campaigns across Punjab in the early 18th century, capturing significant territory and establishing a brief but landmark Sikh administration before being executed in Delhi in 1716 by the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar.
Policy Backdrop
Punjab governments across party lines have maintained a consistent tradition of issuing official tributes on anniversaries associated with 18th-century Sikh resistance leaders. These commemorations form a core part of the state's engagement with Sikh historical memory and regional heritage.
The Aam Aadmi Party government under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, in power since March 2022, has continued and reinforced this practice, regularly marking dates tied to Sikh martyrs and historical figures through official communications and state-level observances.
Stakeholders and Impact
The tribute carries significance for Punjab's substantial Sikh community, for whom Baba Banda Singh Bahadur represents both spiritual devotion and political sovereignty. His legacy is taught in Sikh religious institutions and is central to Punjab's historical identity.
Official state commemorations of this kind reinforce the government's connection to Sikh heritage and signal institutional respect for martyrdom anniversaries that hold deep cultural resonance across generations in Punjab and among the global Sikh diaspora.
What's Next
Martyrdom day observances in Punjab have in previous years been accompanied by state-level memorial events, educational programmes, and cultural gatherings at historical gurdwaras associated with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's campaigns. Any such events announced by the Punjab government around this date would reflect the administration's broader commitment to commemorating Sikh historical milestones through public programming.
Point of View
Such commemorations serve a dual purpose: affirming cultural continuity with Punjab's Sikh heritage and reinforcing the government's identity as a steward of the state's distinct historical legacy. In a state where Sikh martyrdom anniversaries carry deep community resonance, official homage is both a civic act and a political signal. The consistency of this practice across administrations suggests it has become an institutionalised feature of Punjab's governance calendar.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Baba Banda Singh Bahadur?
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was an early 18th-century Sikh military commander born in 1670 who led campaigns across Punjab, established the first Sikh sovereign administration, and was executed by the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar in Delhi in 1716.
When is Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's martyrdom day observed?
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's martyrdom day, known as Shahidi Dihara, is observed annually to mark his execution in 1716. In 2026, the Punjab government paid tribute on 25 June.
Why did the Punjab government pay tribute to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur?
The Punjab government, led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, paid tribute to honour Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's legacy as the founder of the first Sikh state and to mark his martyrdom anniversary, continuing a long-standing tradition of official Sikh historical commemorations.
What did Baba Banda Singh Bahadur establish?
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur established a short-lived but historically significant Sikh sovereign administration in Punjab in the early 18th century, making him a foundational figure in Sikh political history.
Who is the current Chief Minister of Punjab?
Bhagwant Singh Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party is the Chief Minister of Punjab, having been in office since March 2022.
