Namdhari Movement

Namdhari Movement

Equestrian painting of Guru Ram Singh Namdhari with his retinue (including his five appointed governors).
Date	1867-1872
Location	Punjab Province, British India
Also known as	Kuka Movement, Kuka Lehar
Participants	Guru Ram Singh Namdhari

The Namdhari Movement (1867–1872) was a socio-political and religious movement within Punjab Province in the British Raj. One can regard the Namdhari Movement as a Sikh version of Pre-Marxist Communism, in the sense that the working class is greatly emphasized upon, rich are known as godless and the Gurus also supported Communism in the past. It was the first movement which used Non-Cooperation, peaceful protests, boycotts and other non-violent methods during the Indian Independence Movement.

Foundation

According to Namdhari mythos, Guru Gobind Singh had escaped Nanded, Hyderabad Subah, Mughal Empire (currently Maharashtra, India) and faked his cremation. He left for Punjab living with the Sikh community by the name of Ajaypal Singh. He opened up about his secret to one Balak Das Udasi a preacher who was entrusted with reviving the 'true' Sikhism in their time of spiritual crisis. He took Amrit and became Balak Singh, who chose one of his most ardent followers, Ram Singh, a veteran, to be the successor. Guru Ram Singh Namdhari shifted the headquarters from Hazro to Sri Bhaini Sahib. He changed some of the fundamental principles to alter the Namdharis into a new philosophy. He started creating a new code of conduct wherein ethical, social, hygienic and political matters were addressed.

Course of the Movement

He took on a more socio-political standing when related to Sikh matters, he started a movement known as the Namdhari Movement which entailed a proto-Swadeshi form of revolt. They started their own secret communication system through postal runners, they appointed Subahs across Punjab to collect funds, he had diplomatic ties with Kashmir, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Russia running and by 1857 he had a well-knit following of several thousands; whom he baptized in Khadi on Vaisakhi into the Sant Khalsa (inspired by the Sikhs of Hazur Sahib and the Prem Sumarag Granth's narrations). By the 1860s their movement was at full swing, they had gained some societal position, despite most Sikhs keeping aloof from the Namdharis and using them as an opportunity of reaffirming their loyalty to the British, the movement remained an inter-Namdhari agitation without broader impact. Guru Ram Singh Namdhari crafted a society of Sikhs who were self-dependent and free-willed, the economic hegemonies, female discrimination, ritualistic motives had no authority in their circles, though discrimination against lower castes was noted, it was only within few circles.

He had taken a pilgrimage to Amritsar, but before his proclamation he was stopped and put under house arrest, he blamed the situation on government officials and Brahmins. He went back to Amritsar in 1867 with 3,500 of his followers and baptized some 2,000 into the Sant Khalsa, including some rich Zamindaris (including the son-in-law of Hari Singh Nalwa). He, like a sovereign, held court everyday and travelled with a bodyguard of princes to show his authority and disdain for the colonial network around Punjab and India. In Kashmir a Kuka Regiment was also formed, but only for a few years before the British cracked down on the Namdhari Movement in 1871. The Kuka Samparda was in jubilation, Sau Sakhis were published stating that the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh would be reestablished with one Ram Singh, a reincarnation of Guru Gobind Singh, as the spiritual head.

Initial Responses

The first violent incident was in Tera, Muktsar where two idols of Hanuman and Lakshman were destroyed by the Namdharis, they were taken to prison by the Deputy Commissioner at Ambala. Other incidents of breaking shrines, graves and idols by Namdharis happened at Dera Baba Nanak, Pir Gudri, Badorki, Gujranwala, Sukhana, Panadi became a subject of concern by the authorities who registered cases on all Namdharis involved. The police started keeping a close eye on all converts to the Kuka Samparda, back them known to be a separate religion; Kukaism it was called. It was also noted that Sahib Singh Namdhari was going to be the next Guru and was followed more than Guru Ram Singh Namdhari himself. In Punjab the aristocratic Sikhs, Akali-Nihangs, Bedis and Sodhis were all dissatisfied with the rise of the Kuka Samparda. The schism increased after Guru Ram Singh Namdhari stopped giving Amrit on initiation and instead whispered a prayer in the disciples ear. The main separation of Sikhism from Kukaism came from a prayer that stated that the Khalsa is born in Patna and lives in Anandpur, but the Namdharis started saying that the Sant Khalsa is born in Hazro and lives in Sri Bhaini Sahib. They also were allowed to be in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib without any head covering. Dancing as a spiritual act was also seen though not by other Sikhs, they usually did Sufi Whirling during Guru Ram Singh Namdhari's time. Though a report compiled which stated that often in energetic frenzies of dancing, Namdhari men and women strip themselves of their clothes and behave indecently. "This undue familiarity bears the fruit which might be expected from it", in 1868.

Violent Incidents

Though when the ice broke, the Namdharis chose an issue which did not connect to the Sikh masses; protection of cows. And instead of targeting the British they targeted Muslim butchers and their families instead. The Namdharis murdered some butchers and their families in Amritsar and later Raikot, Ludhiana, they tried framing Akali-Nihangs by placing chakrams and a blue cloth outside, but all investigations led to the Namdharis who were hung on a Banyan tree a few days later. Guru Ram Singh Namdhari was once again placed under house arrest put the fire of the Namdharis was lit, on Maghi, 1872 all Namdharis assembled in the thousands at Bhaini Sahib, speeches extolled the bravery of the hung and time for restoration of power was at hand. Guru Ram Singh Namdhari had tried to keep some normalcy but a band had already set out to the Malerkotla State, the group invaded a zamindar's house in Malaudh and they managed to get some weapons from the house. They ended up killing 12 in Malaudh and Kotla before entering the city. Entering Malerkotla the group of 125 Namdharis managed to ransack a few shops belonging to Muslims.

Crackdown

Reaching the main city the Namdharis were greeted by state constabulary John Lambert Cowan, who without formalities, tied 66 Namdharis to the mouth of cannons and blew them up. Later the commissioner Thomas Douglas Forsyth after hearing the disturbing news arrived at Malerkotla and blew another 16 on the same spot. Another four were found and imprisoned for life, the shrine at Bhaini Sahib was searched and Guru Ram Singh Namdhari was sent to exile in Rangoon, Burma.

The little sympathy common Sikhs had for the Namdhari Movement dissipated after the murder of Muslim butchers and defiance of the administration. The Maharaja of Patiala, Mahendra Singh had banned the Namdharis from being in his state, and even set up hunting parties for the Namdharis who fled Bhaini Sahib and Malerkotla during the crackdown. Around 250 Namdharis were shot dead in Patiala. A meeting of aristocratic Sikh sardars in Amritsar called for a general ban and boycott of Namdharis, 40 were captured in the city and presented to the police, the others fled away. J. W. McNab, commissioner of Ambala, was convinced that Guru Ram Singh Namdhari had instigated the riots and as part of his report on the Namdharis included criminal procedures against the Guru. The British Government, though, believed that ill treating him would be of no use and exiled him instead.

Guru-in-Exile

Guru Ram Singh Namdhari was sent to Allahabad first and then Rangoon under the Bengal Act of 1818. After some years he once again came into the limelight, he was able to instill new prophecies, during this time Maharaja Duleep Singh had declared his reinitiation into Sikhism, new Sau Sakhis spread with a prophecy that the Russians would invade India under Maharaja Duleep Singh and crown Guru Ram Singh Namdhari as the ruler of a free and independent India. He had sent an emissary, Gurcharan Singh Namdhari, to Russia to receive support, Gurcharan Singh Namdhari was accepted into Russia and did end up receiving an unofficial military position from the Governor of Tashkent. From 1886 to 1887 hundreds of Namdharis once again churned the wheel of Khadi into another revolution. Bishen Singh Namdhari was employed by the Amir of Afghanistan as well and Namdharis once again reached a stage of jubilation. Though the Russians also had their set of intelligence in the situation through Arora and Khatri traders, who had informed the Russians that the Guru-in-exile did not have any mass support in Sikh circles and remained a messiah to only his 10,000 zealous followers.

Guru Ram Singh Namdhari had passed in Mergui, Burma subject to controversy, all Namdharis accept a theory that he still lives and is currently in either Germany, Eastern Europe or Russia. After the disappearance of Ram Singh Namdhari his younger brother Hari Singh Namdhari was made the next Guru. 1 Sub-Inspector and 20 Constables which remained till 1922 in the house and the new Guru was under house arrest till his death, for 21 years.