Guru Gobind Singh was born on December 22, 1666, according to the Julian calendar, and correspondingly on January 16 on the lunar calendar which is celebrated as his birth anniversary. He was the tenth preacher of the Sikh religion.

Born as Gobind Rai, when he was 9 years old a sudden change in the life of his community made his destined to lead. In 1675, religious fanatics from the Mughal court came to Anandpur in hope to change their religion. Guru Tegh Bahadur, who was Gobind Rai’s father, did not know what to do and proceeded towards the imperial capital. On refusing to convert, he was beheaded on November 11, 1675. The young Gobind Rai was ordained to become the next Guru by his father before he left, and on the Baisakhi day of March 1676, he was officiated as Guru Gobind Singh.

It is said that after the martyrdom of his father, the new Tenth Master declared that he would create such a Panth (community/society) which would always challenge tyrant rulers to restore justice, equality and peace for all of the mankind. By the formation the Khalsa in 1699, he infused the dual spirit of a saint and a soldier in the minds and hearts of his followers to deject oppression in order to continue with righteousness (dharma) and to uplift the downtrodden people of this world. 

The formation of the Panj Piare was done by Guru Gobind Singh by asking if anyone from his followers would be willing to offer themselves up as a sacrifice to be beheaded by the Guru. The five people who came up were initiated first. Their castes were not considered and they formed the nucleus of the casteless fellowship of the Khalsa.

With his engagement with the concerns of the community, he attended to the mastery of physical skills and literary accomplishments as well. His natural genius for poetic composition led to the writing of Var Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki in his earlier years. This was his first and only completed work in the Punjabi language. The poem depicted the legendary contest between the gods and the demons. Its warlike theme was found in his later compositions too, such as the two Chandi Charitras, mostly written in Braj. They infused martial spirit amongst his followers to prepare them to stand up against tyranny.

His increased influence on people was the cause of jealousy amongst neighbouring Rajput hill rulers. During his stay in Paonta, he was attacked by Raja Fateh Chand of Garhval, but they were unsuccessful in it. Guru Gobind Singh returned to Anandpur and fortified it owing to these hostilities by Rajput chiefs as well as repressive policies of the Mughal rulers. The Gurus and the Sikhs were in a battle with the Mughal commander in March 1691 and February 1696, resulting in their decisive victory. Soon after, Prince Muazzam (later Emperor Bahadur Shah) was appointed the viceroy of northwestern region including Punjab.

A wound in battle led to the Guru’s demise. Before his death, he asked Daya Singh to bring him the Sri Granth Sahib and gave it as a commandment for Daya Singh to own the Sri Granthji in his place. It is said that the spirit of the Guru will be with the Khalsa and the Granth, where the Granth is with any five Sikhs representing the Khalsa, there the Guru will be. The Word that the Guru and his followers abided by, was contained in the Guru Granth Sahib henceforth. He came to be known as the Guru for the Sikhs for all times.