Singh Sabha

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The Singh Sabhaa Movement During the Renaissance

After great struggles with the Mughal Empire, and through their countless sacrifices, the Sikhs attained their own nation, and the freedom to live the Dharma openly. In the nineteenth century, however, the British conquered India and the Sikh nation. There ensued degradation and the fading of Khalsa values. The Sikh Rehit Maryada was becoming diluted and compromised by the influence of Hinduism and even Christianity.

In 1873, the Singh Sabha Movement was established with the aim of achieving a moral, spiritual and educational evolution of the Sikh people. The basic aim of the founders of the Singh Sabha Movement was to impart knowledge of the glorious heritage of the Sikh faith and its traditions to the younger generations. The movement sought to inspire the young with high moral standards of conduct so that they could become the best models of the community. The leaders were determined to alert the Sikh people to the corruption of Sikh values and practices, and they set about to correct detrimental deviations that had crept into social customs and religious practices. Because the Hindus held such an overwhelming majority, and such an ancient tradition, it was most difficult for the Sikhs to remain aloof from Hindu superstitious beliefs and practices.

The Singh Sahbaa Movement concerned itself with four main areas:

  1. Establishment of Sikh schools and colleges
  2. Organization and management of Sikh Gurdwaras by the congregation
  3. Re-establishment of the Khalsa codes of conduct and lifestyle, as taught by the Sikh Gurus
  4. Promotion of the political rights of the individual

Through publications and newspapers in Panjabi and by going into the villages, the Singh Sahbaa Movement altered and inspired the Sikh people to the urgency of re-kindling the true Khalsa spirit before it was extinguished forever. The Singh Sahbaa Movement’s accomplishments were many, but they did not come without the sacrifice of many lives in the process. Sikh schools were set up in villages and cities. Adults were taught Gurmukhi, to enable them to read the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and other Panjabi literature. The Chief Khalsa Diwan, made up of representatives of various Singh Sabha and Diwans (congregations) in the Panjab, was set up in 1883. Khalsa College was built in Amritsar in 1892. The Khalsa Tract Society was established to publish books, poems, newspapers and magazines. These publications inspired adherence to religious principles, mutual help and infinite capacity to bear unbearable suffering at the hands of adversaries, and self-discipline and the desire to serve, help and guide others.

In order to educate and inspire the Sikh people to live according to the practices and heritage of the Khalsa, the Singh Sabha members devotedly went into the cities and villages and spoke to the masses of the people there. They openly preached against the Brahmanical practices of idol worship, caste prejudice and exclusive food and cooking practices. They condemned the use of liquor, intoxicating substances and tobacco. By this time, different sects of Sikhs had formed, some setting up their own leaders as gurus. Before His death, Guru Gobind Singh gave the Guruship to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, and placed his authority into the Panj Piaaray in every gathering of Sikhs. He declared that after him, there would be no person as Guru. This fundamental principle was preached by the Singh Sabha on the platform and in the press. Bhai Vir Singh established the Khalsa Samachar, a reformist paper which exposed the pretenders of the various sects which had formed.

The Gurdwaras of Amritsar, Nankana Sahib and other places were controlled by corrupt hereditary priests, who allowed and even fostered sordid practices within the temples. They were supported and protected by the British Government. These mahants (priests) would not accept Karah Prasaad offered by the ‘untouchable’ castes or by Sikhs who mingled with them. The mahants allowed idol worship and other Hindu practices forbidden by the Gurus to occur in the Gurdwaras. The Singh Sabha leaders brought these practices to the public’s awareness, and insisted upon a democratic management of the Sikh shrines and Gurdwaras by the Sikh congregation. Thousands of devoted Sikhs were slaughtered in non-violent demonstrations. Finally, however, mounting public pressure compelled the British administrators to give up protecting the corrupt managers. After much deliberation, the Gurdwara Act of 1925 was passed, giving control of the Sikh Gurdwaras and community funds to the Sangat. Also, popular control of the Khalsa College in Amritsar was acquired. In 1950, it was written into the Indian constitution that a religious minority has a right to manage its own institutions. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandakh Committee (S. G. P. C.) was given authority to oversee proper management and protocol in keeping the Gurdwaras pure as the House of the Guru.

Sikhs gained political rights after much struggle and sacrifice. The Sikh presses exposed the British Government’s discrimination against Sikhs in employment in government and public offices. The Singh Sabha Movement fought for the right of Sikhs to use their mother tongue of Panjabi in all aspects of their daily life. They fought for the right to live the Sikh Rehit Maryada which had been established by the Sikh Gurus. Long and hard agitations finally brought the Sikhs their religious right to wear the Kirpan (sword) of any length.

From the S. G. P. C. have come specific definitions of a Sikh:

  • "Amritdhari Sikh" is one who has been baptized by the double-edged sword, who keeps the form and lives the life of Khalsa, as dictated by Guru Gobind Singh.
  • "Sehjdhari Sikh" is one who is preparing to become an Amritdhari Sikh.
  • "Patit" is one who was an Amritdhari Sikh but who has given up his form and practice as Khalsa.

Thus the Singh Sabha Movement kept Sikh Dharma from corruption and ignorance and from being absorbed into Hinduism


Further Studies:

Amritsar Singh Sabha (1873): Baba Khem Singh Bedi, Maharaja of Faridkot

Lahore Singh Sabha (1879): Prof. Gurmukh Singh (b. 1849), Giani Dit Singh (b. 1853), Jawahar Singh Kapur (b. 1859)