India, Nov. 20 -- On November 11, 350 years ago, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in public at Chandni Chowk in Delhi on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for defying forced conversion to Islam. His three companions - Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayala - were mercilessly executed before his eyes to scare and coerce him to yield but the Guru stood firm, disobeying the tyrant.

The Guru had intervened for the protection of tilak and janeu as a group of Kashmiri Pandits led by Kirpa Ram in 1675 sought his intervention against the oppressive regime represented by Iftikhar Khan, the then governor of Kashmir, forcing Hindu conversions to Islam.

History was awaiting a course correction for humanity. The Guru's sacrifice brought abo...