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There are different schools having different Principal and teachers, while students are always called students.
The '''Namdharis''' are a separate sect of people who also refer them to [[Sikhism]]. Namdhari Sikhs differ from mainstream Sikhs in the belief that the lineage of Sikh Gurus did not end with [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. They believe that Guru Gobind Singh stealthily escaped the burning tent in Nanded, and secretly helped the Khalsa in the coming decades under the guise of Baba Ajaypal Singh.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gill|first=Davinder SIngh|url=https://archive.org/details/NadedhBaadDasamGuru/mode/2up|title=Naded Toun Baad Dasam Guru|publisher=Capco Printing|year=1998|isbn=|location=|pages=28-30}}</ref> According to their beliefs, Guru Gobind Singh passed guruship to Satguru Balak Singh of [[Hazro, Punjab]] in the year 1812 on Baisakh Sudi 10.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Giani Gian|title=Sri Guru Panth Parkash Vol. 7|publisher=|year=1880|isbn=|location=Punjab|pages=}}</ref> Therefore, they recognize Satguru Balak Singh as the 11th Guru of the Sikh religion, thus continuing the succession of Sikh Gurus through the centuries from [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]] to Namdhari Satguru Jagjit Singh. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Gill|first=Davinder Singh|url=https://archive.org/details/NadedhBaadDasamGuru/mode/2up|title=Nanded Toun Baad Dasam Guru|publisher=Capco Printing|year=1998|isbn=|location=Punjab|pages=121-123}}</ref> Guru Gobind Singh shortly retired from this world leaving his earthly body on Jeth Sudi 5, Vikrami Samvat 1869 (1812 A.D.). The 12th Guru is Satguru Ram Singh, who moved the sects centre to Bhaini Sahib (Ludhiana) and is regarded as the first Indian to use non-cooperation and non-violence boycott in order to combat the tyrannous British Empire in India, <ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Ram Singh Philosopher|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ram-Singh|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> while being an advocate for women's rights, and reviving the failing Khalsa traditions of Guru Gobind Singh.
Similarly the "Namdharis" are Sikhs of different Spiritual teachers, they follow after [[Guru Gobind Singh]] Ji. Namdhari Sikhs differ from mainstream Sikhs in the belief that the lineage of Sikh Gurus did not end with [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. They believe that Guru Gobind Singh stealthily escaped the burning tent in Nanded, and secretly helped the Khalsa in the coming decades under the guise of Baba Ajaypal Singh.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gill|first=Davinder SIngh|url=https://archive.org/details/NadedhBaadDasamGuru/mode/2up|title=Naded Toun Baad Dasam Guru|publisher=Capco Printing|year=1998|isbn=|location=|pages=28-30}}</ref> According to their beliefs, Guru Gobind Singh passed guruship to Satguru Balak Singh of [[Hazro, Punjab]] in the year 1812 on Baisakh Sudi 10.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Giani Gian|title=Sri Guru Panth Parkash Vol. 7|publisher=|year=1880|isbn=|location=Punjab|pages=}}</ref> Therefore, they recognize Satguru Balak Singh as the 11th Guru of the Sikh religion, thus continuing the succession of Sikh Gurus through the centuries from [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]] to Namdhari Satguru Jagjit Singh. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Gill|first=Davinder Singh|url=https://archive.org/details/NadedhBaadDasamGuru/mode/2up|title=Nanded Toun Baad Dasam Guru|publisher=Capco Printing|year=1998|isbn=|location=Punjab|pages=121-123}}</ref> Guru Gobind Singh shortly retired from this world leaving his earthly body on Jeth Sudi 5, Vikrami Samvat 1869 (1812 A.D.). The 12th Guru is Satguru Ram Singh, who moved the sects centre to Bhaini Sahib (Ludhiana) and is regarded as the first Indian to use non-cooperation and non-violence boycott in order to combat the tyrannous British Empire in India, <ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Ram Singh Philosopher|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ram-Singh|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> while being an advocate for women's rights, and reviving the failing Khalsa traditions of Guru Gobind Singh.


They have been strictly vegetarian and a strong opponent of cattle slaughter and retaliated against Muslims for killing cows in 1872. Satguru Ram Singh was arrested by the British and he was exiled to Rangoon, Myanmar and later to Mergui. Dozens of Namdharis were arrested by the British and executed without trial in Ludhiana and Ambala. They consider Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth as equally important, and compositions from the Chandi di Var are a part of their daily Nitnem. They circumambulate the fire (havan) during their weddings, but they differ in that the hymns are those from the Adi Granth. The Namdharis wear homespun white turbans, which they wrap around their heads (sidhi pagri). They are called Kuka, which means "crier, shouter", for their ecstatic religious practices during devotional singing. They also meditate, using mala (rosary).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Joginder Singh (Professor of history)|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/746619629|title=A short history of Namdhari Sikhs of Punjab|date=2010|publisher=Guru Nanak Dev University|isbn=978-81-7770-156-2|location=Amritsar|oclc=746619629}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=August 2020}} Some texts refer to them as Jagiasi or Abhiasi, which is a term specifically referring to the Sikhs of Satguru Balak Singh.
They have been strictly vegetarian and a strong opponent of cattle slaughter and retaliated against Muslims for killing cows in 1872. Satguru Ram Singh was arrested by the British and he was exiled to Rangoon, Myanmar and later to Mergui. Dozens of Namdharis were arrested by the British and executed without trial in Ludhiana and Ambala. They consider Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth as equally important, and compositions from the Chandi di Var are a part of their daily Nitnem. They circumambulate the fire (havan) during their weddings, but they differ in that the hymns are those from the Adi Granth. The Namdharis wear homespun white turbans, which they wrap around their heads (sidhi pagri). They are called Kuka, which means "crier, shouter", for their ecstatic religious practices during devotional singing. They also meditate, using mala (rosary).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Joginder Singh (Professor of history)|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/746619629|title=A short history of Namdhari Sikhs of Punjab|date=2010|publisher=Guru Nanak Dev University|isbn=978-81-7770-156-2|location=Amritsar|oclc=746619629}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=August 2020}} Some texts refer to them as Jagiasi or Abhiasi, which is a term specifically referring to the Sikhs of Satguru Balak Singh.

Revision as of 02:18, 13 August 2020

There are different schools having different Principal and teachers, while students are always called students. Similarly the "Namdharis" are Sikhs of different Spiritual teachers, they follow after Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Namdhari Sikhs differ from mainstream Sikhs in the belief that the lineage of Sikh Gurus did not end with Guru Gobind Singh. They believe that Guru Gobind Singh stealthily escaped the burning tent in Nanded, and secretly helped the Khalsa in the coming decades under the guise of Baba Ajaypal Singh.[1] According to their beliefs, Guru Gobind Singh passed guruship to Satguru Balak Singh of Hazro, Punjab in the year 1812 on Baisakh Sudi 10.[2] Therefore, they recognize Satguru Balak Singh as the 11th Guru of the Sikh religion, thus continuing the succession of Sikh Gurus through the centuries from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Namdhari Satguru Jagjit Singh. [3] Guru Gobind Singh shortly retired from this world leaving his earthly body on Jeth Sudi 5, Vikrami Samvat 1869 (1812 A.D.). The 12th Guru is Satguru Ram Singh, who moved the sects centre to Bhaini Sahib (Ludhiana) and is regarded as the first Indian to use non-cooperation and non-violence boycott in order to combat the tyrannous British Empire in India, [4] while being an advocate for women's rights, and reviving the failing Khalsa traditions of Guru Gobind Singh.

They have been strictly vegetarian and a strong opponent of cattle slaughter and retaliated against Muslims for killing cows in 1872. Satguru Ram Singh was arrested by the British and he was exiled to Rangoon, Myanmar and later to Mergui. Dozens of Namdharis were arrested by the British and executed without trial in Ludhiana and Ambala. They consider Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth as equally important, and compositions from the Chandi di Var are a part of their daily Nitnem. They circumambulate the fire (havan) during their weddings, but they differ in that the hymns are those from the Adi Granth. The Namdharis wear homespun white turbans, which they wrap around their heads (sidhi pagri). They are called Kuka, which means "crier, shouter", for their ecstatic religious practices during devotional singing. They also meditate, using mala (rosary).[5][page needed] Some texts refer to them as Jagiasi or Abhiasi, which is a term specifically referring to the Sikhs of Satguru Balak Singh.

Role in Indian freedom movement

The Namdharis are recognized as freedom fighters due to their attacks on cow slaughterers, inflicting death on Muslim butchers in Amritsar and Ludhiana in Vikrami Samvat 1928 at midnight of the 15th of July 1871 A.D. The British had instituted a kine slaughter house near the holy Golden Temple Amritsar on 5th May 1849, where crows would grab the bones of slaughtered cows and drop them within the holy tank of Amritsar.[6] 4 Namdhari Sikhs Bhai Lehna Singh, Bhai Fateh Singh, Bhai Hakam Singh Patwari, Bhai Beehla Singh took this burden onto their shoulders and killed the butchers and freed the cows.[7] As a result, the mentioned Sikhs were sentenced to death by hanging at Ram Bagh, Amritsar, where at present, a Namdhari Shaheedi Samarak (memorial) is placed in their honor. [8][9]

A group of 66 Namdhari Sikhs were blown up by cannons on 17-18 Jan, 1872 for protesting against the British and one 12-year-old boy (Bishan Singh) was beheaded (martyred) by sword on the same day in Maler Kotla; there is a memorial to them at Namdhari Shidi Smarg Malerkotla in Indian Punjab.[10] Mr. Cowan urged the 12 year old boy Bishan Singh to renounce Satguru Ram Singh to save his life, however the boy on hearing these words grabbed the long beard of Mr. Cowan so tightly that the nearby officers cut his neck and hands off to save him. [11] The British government in retaliation to the actions of Mr. Cowan murdering 66 Namdhari Sikhs without proper trial or sentencing was removed from the British ranks shortly thereafter. [12] Satguru Ram Singh was sent to Allahabad with his servant (Nanu Singh) on 18th Jan 1872, in the morning hours from Ludhiana by a special train.[13] On 10th March 1872, Satguru Ram Singh was shifted to Calcutta. On 11th March 1872 he was sent to Rangoon in British Burma. [14] [15] Satguru Ram Singh was kept there until 18th September 1880, and then shifted to Megui in Burma, in an attempt to make contact with him more difficult. [16][17]

Even in exile, Satguru Ram Singh worked endlessly to keep the freedom struggle alive even sending his Suba (Lieutenant) Bishan Singh to Moscow, in order to gain the support of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, in removing British rule in India. Suba Bishan had made contact with Maharaja Duleep Singh who was also in Moscow at the time looking to gain support of the Russian Czar in order to rid the British from India, and re-institute the once flourishing Sikh Empire. However, due to the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878) the Russians were not keen on supporting any Indian nationalist in going to war against the British Empire.[18] [19]

References

  1. ^ Gill, Davinder SIngh (1998). Naded Toun Baad Dasam Guru. Capco Printing. pp. 28–30.
  2. ^ Singh, Giani Gian (1880). Sri Guru Panth Parkash Vol. 7. Punjab.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Gill, Davinder Singh (1998). Nanded Toun Baad Dasam Guru. Punjab: Capco Printing. pp. 121–123.
  4. ^ "Ram Singh Philosopher". Encyclopædia Britannica.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Joginder Singh (Professor of history) (2010). A short history of Namdhari Sikhs of Punjab. Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University. ISBN 978-81-7770-156-2. OCLC 746619629.
  6. ^ Sanehi, Swaran Singh. Foremost Freedom Fighters. Maden Head: Deportation Centenary Committee. p. 3.
  7. ^ Further correspondence regarding the murder of butchers at Amritsar & Raikot in Ludhiana District: Judicial, B, August 1871 Nos. 26-32
  8. ^ Henry Schwarz; Sangeeta Ray (2004). A companion to postcolonial studies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 261–. ISBN 978-0-631-20663-7.
  9. ^ Singh, Jaswinder. Great Namdhari Martyrs of Amritsar Episode.
  10. ^ Singh, Bajinder Pal, 2005. After 133 years of anonymity, Kukar martyrs finally get a name
  11. ^ Sanehi, Swaran Singh. Foremost Freedom Fighters. Maden Head: Deportation Centenary Committee. p. 12.
  12. ^ Dispatch from Secretary of State approving of the dismissal of Mr. L. Cowan and of the orders issued in report to Mr. Forsyth. The grant of a pension to Mr. Cowan of Rs. 300/- per mansem sanctioned: Judicial, A, August 1872, No 246.
  13. ^ Recent disturbances by Kookas in the Ludhiana District of the Punjab.: Judicial, A, 20 January 1872,Nos. 55-71
  14. ^ Removal of Ram Singh, Kuka leader from Allahabad to British Burma.: Judicial, A, March 1872, Nos 111-112
  15. ^ Removal of Ram Singh, the Kuka leader to British Burma.: Judicial A, May 1872, No. 122.
  16. ^ Joginder Singh (Professor of history) (2010). Namdhari Guru Ram Singh. National Book Trust. (1st ed ed.). New Delhi: National Book Trust, India. ISBN 978-81-237-5918-0. OCLC 696603673. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  17. ^ Kooka Chief Ram Singh in Rangoon: Judicial, A, May 1872, No.80
  18. ^ Singh, Jaswinder (1985). Kuka Movement Freedom Struggle in Punjab. Punjab: Atlantic Publishers & Distributions. ISBN 9788171560813.
  19. ^ Singh, M.A., Nahar. Gooroo Ram Singh & the Kuka Sikhs, Book III. Kamla Nagar, Delhi: R.K. Printers.