During the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, which Sikh Guru became the first martyr in Sikh history?

Introduction / Context:
Sikh history highlights the sacrifices of the Gurus and their followers in the face of political and religious pressures. The first martyrdom among the Sikh Gurus is a key event that symbolises the community shift from a primarily spiritual movement to one that also emphasised resistance to oppression. This question asks which Guru suffered martyrdom during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, a fact that is repeatedly tested in history and general knowledge examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The time frame is the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. • The question concerns the first martyrdom in Sikh history. • The options list four Gurus: Ram Das, Teg Bahadur, Angad, and Arjan.

Concept / Approach:
The key is to remember the chronological order of the Sikh Gurus and to link each with major historical events. Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, compiled the Adi Granth and supervised the construction of the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. He was executed in 1606 during Jahangir rule, making him the first Sikh Guru to be martyred. Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru, also became a martyr but much later, during the time of Aurangzeb. Therefore, the answer must reflect the earlier martyrdom under Jahangir, not the later one under another emperor.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the chronological order of Sikh Gurus: Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan, and so on up to Guru Gobind Singh. Step 2: Identify Guru Arjan as the fifth Guru and connect him with the compilation of the Adi Granth and development of Amritsar as a major centre. Step 3: Remember that during the reign of Jahangir, tensions increased between the Mughal state and the Sikh community due to political and religious reasons. Step 4: Guru Arjan was arrested, tortured, and put to death in 1606, which is commemorated as the first martyrdom in Sikh history. Step 5: Note that Guru Teg Bahadur martyrdom took place much later, under Aurangzeb, in connection with the defence of religious freedom for Kashmiri Pandits. Step 6: Guru Ram Das and Guru Angad are not associated with martyrdom in standard Sikh historical accounts. Step 7: Therefore, select Guru Arjan as the correct answer for the first martyrdom during Jahangir reign.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a cross check, remember two famous martyrdom events in Sikh tradition: Guru Arjan in 1606 and Guru Teg Bahadur in 1675. Linking them with the respective Mughal emperors helps fix the timeline: Jahangir for the earlier, Aurangzeb for the later. Many history books specifically label Guru Arjan execution as the first major martyrdom in Sikh history and describe it as a turning point that eventually contributed to the militarisation of the community under later Gurus. This repeated emphasis confirms that Guru Arjan is the correct response.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Guru Ram Das: Fourth Guru who is known for devotional hymns and for founding Ramdaspur, later Amritsar, but not for martyrdom. Guru Teg Bahadur: Ninth Guru whose martyrdom occurred much later during Aurangzeb rule, not under Jahangir. Guru Angad: Second Guru who is associated with the development of Gurmukhi script, not with martyrdom in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the two major martyrdoms and attribute Guru Teg Bahadur sacrifice to the time of Jahangir. Others mix up the order of Gurus and therefore attach events to the wrong names. To avoid this, it is useful to memorise the Gurus along with one key event or contribution for each. This technique automatically connects Guru Arjan with the first martyrdom and ensures correct answers in objective questions about Sikh history.

Final Answer:
The first martyrdom in Sikh history during Jahangir reign was that of Guru Arjan.