Sikhs made un-paralleled sacrifices during the early twenties of this century for obtaining the right to manage their own religious institutions, the Gurdwaras. Finally the British Govt. bowed to the Sikh demands and passed Gurdwara Management Act in 1925. The first Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was elected in 1928, with headquarters at Amritsar.

Prior to this, Gurdwaras were under the control of Mabants. When Khalsa had to leave their homes to save themselves from state terrorism, sympathizers of the Sikh faith took care of the Gurdwaras. They did not wear the 5-K Uniform for fear of the state repression, however, they managed the Gurdwara property and did the routine preaching’s on behalf of the Khalsa. The Gurdwara care-takers were called Mabants. After the death of the father, his son automatically became the Mabant of the Gurdwara in his place. During, the British Raj Mahants were made legal owners of the Gurdwaras and the property connected with them.

Free from the Khalsa control, many Mabants started living an immoral and licentious life. They never cared to preach Sikhism or they lead a Sikh life. Backed by the English Government, they turned a deaf ear to the advice given to them by the Sikhs. Many Hindu sinuses were flowed in the Gurdwara. Some readers may be surprised to know that statues of the Hindu gods were worshipped in the Parkarma of Golden Temple as late as 1905, when they were removed under the orders of Mr. King, Deputy Commissioner Ludh-jana. Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, quoting from Guru Granth Sahib had convinced him that worship of stone gods prohibited in the Sikh faith.

Confrontation with the government started when in 1911 their central offices were shifted to – Delhi and for adjusting the plan of complex a part of the boundary wall of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj was demolished by the Government. This enraged the Sikhs. They challenged the Government to build the wall at its original place or they would start Mocha to build it themselves. This Sikh demand was after some reluctance accepted by the Government.

Later on, however, it was a test for the Sikhs as to how far they can g0 to sacrifice their lives and property for their faith. When the Sangat at Panja Sahib (now in Pakistan) were refused to feed the hungry Sikh prisoners being taken in train from Guru Ka Bag Amritsar to Attok, they sat on the railway live to stop the train. The engine stopped but only after two Sikhs were Martyred and many wounded.

At Guru Ka Bag Sikhs were mercilessly beaten when they would go there to assert their right on the Gurdwara property by cutting trees for cooking Langat at Amritsar, which they had been doing for three centuries. Sacrifices made by the Sikhs at Guru Ka Bag Jaito, and earlier at Nankana Sahib awakened the souls of all India leaders forcing the government to grant the rights of management Gourd- wares to the Sikhs.

Father C.F. Andrews was horrified to see the cruelties being in- flirted on Sikhs by the Christian Government. He observed “The brutality and inhumanity of the whole scene was indescribably in- creased by the fact that the men, who were hit, were praying to God and had already taken a vow that they would remain silent and peaceful in word & deed …. A new heroism learnt through suffering has arisen in the land. A new lesson in moral warfare has been taught to the world.”

Mr. Moti Lal Nehru, father of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India said, “I salute the Sikhs who are fighting for freedom”.

Mr. Nehru himself wrote (Sept 25, 1923) in his prison paper, while in Nabha Jail during the Jaito Morcha, I am happy to be charged for joining a cause owned by Akalis. I was astonished to observe the bravery and sacrifice of the Sikhs in Guru Ka Bag. I was waiting for a chance to appreciate them. I pray with my heart I may live up to high heritage of the Akalis-Sat Sri Akal”. Mr. Madan Mohan Malviya, a great Hindu leader observed, “The freedom movement has been born from Guru Ka Bag. It will get freedom for the whole of India. Each family in India should make one son adopt the Sikh faith.”

Mr. M.K. Gandhi in his telegram to the Sikhs said, “Congratulations, the first battle of Indian freedom has been won. “How unfortunate it is that – those who fought throughout their history, for human rights, are now being called terrorists and butchered by the army of the same country for whose freedom they suffered inhuman tortures and sacrificed their lives.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 30, 1986