By Principal Gurcharan Singh

DURING its comparatively short existence of less than 300 years after the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708, Sikhism has passed through three distinct phases.

THE FIRST PHASE 1708 1799

The first. phase from 1708 to 1799 was the most crucial period when Sikhism not only survived the onslaughts of the Mughals and the Afghans but it actually emerged as the most important political power in Northern India, All this ‘was due to the single-minded devotion, sprit of dedication, sacrifices and sagacity of great leaders like Mata Sunderiji, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Taru Singh, Bhai Mehtab Singh, Baba Deep Singh, Nawab Kapur Singh Faizullabhpuri and the Misaldars led by Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Baba Jassa Singh was primarily responsible for leading the Sikhs during the most critical period from 1753 till his death in 1783. As a result of his farsightedness, Vision and spirit of self-abnegation he was able to weld the ‘warring Sikh factions into a strong powerful unit. As a matter of fact the later glorious period of the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the direct result of the achievements of the great Sikhs who fought relentlessly and selflessly against Ahmed Shah Abdali and other tyrants without even the remotest thought of personal gain.

THE SECOND PHASE 1799 1872

The second phase from 1799 to 1872 was a period mixed with remarkable successes and disappointments.

From 1799 til Ranjit Singh’s death in 1839, was no doubt an unprecedented period of Sikh political ascendency, but as far as the real spirit of Sikhism is concerned it somehow went into the background. Maharaja Ranjit Singh in order to keep his political hold over the Punjab went out of his way in collecting at his Court non-Sikh elements, so much so that there was not a single Sikh among his ministers. Brahminical practices were gradually introduced at the Court and in Ranjit Singh’s personal life, It was a Khalsa Raj which failed to create abiding loyalty to Sikh Religion and Culture, As a result of this Policy of collecting heterogeneous elements at the Court, the Khalsa Raj tumbled like a house of cards within ten years of Ranjit Singh’s death in spite of unstinted loyalty and doting devotion by the common man, It was the weak and inefficient leadership of the Lahore Darbar which betrayed the people.

‘According to Dr. Ganda Singh, “hile the people and soldiery of the Punjab were highly patriotic in the struggle, the so-called pillars of the State (The Prime Minister, The ‘Commander-in-chief) subordinated the interests of the country to those of self and became willing tools in the hands of the British”.

As far as the condition of the Sikh Religion in post Ranjit singh has given a graphic picture in the following words.

The post Ranjit Singh period between 1839 and 1872 was a period of deep dejection and despondency in which the Sikhs received a setback both politically and culturally. It was a period during which Sikhism began to be dominated by Brahmanical practices and Sikh ideals were pushed to the background, The Sikh attempts at political revival made by men like Bhai Maharaja Singh and his associates failed. With Bhai Maharaja Singh exiled to Singapore, the Sikhs were left leaderless till their recovery from this shock in 1872 when a new light in the form of religious and cultural revival dawned upon the Sikh mind along with other communities.

This was perhaps the most glorious period during which Sikhism threw up great movements like the Singh Sabha and the Chief Khalsa Diwan, led by great men like Sardar Thakur Singh Sandhawalia, Professor Gurmukh Singh. Bhai Dit Singh, Kanwar Bikram Singh of Kapurthala, Sardar Attar Singh of Bhadaur, Maharaja Ripudman Singh of Nabha, Maharaja Bikram Singh of Faridkot, Sardar Sunder Singh Majithia and Bhai Vir Singh. The Namdhari Movement led by Baba Balak Singh and! Baba Ram Singh and the Nirankari Movement led by Baba Dayal also freshened the Sikh mind. Other great Movements tike the Peasine Movements of the first decade of 20th century led by Sardar Ajit Singh, the Ghaddar Party led by Sardars Sohan Singh Bhakna, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Baba Jawala Singh and Baba Washakha Singh, the episode of Kamagata Maru of Baba Gurdit Singh, the Gurdwara Reform Movement, earned for the Sikhs encomiums from the entire nation for their patriotic nationalist outlook, Dr, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmaniya B.G. Tilak, Gopal Krishan Gokhle and Pandit Madanmohan Malviya paid rich tributes to the Sikhs for the great sacrifices made by them for the country and the nation, According to a study recently made by a scholar, Gilbert Lobo of Bombay, the Sikhs played a Vital role in the Indian National Life in the matter of Freedom struggle, Defense, Economy, Agriculture and Scientific Technology. He says, “Sikhs have relatively shed more blood for India than any other community. Out of 2125 martyrs for freedom 1557 or 75% were Sikhs. Out of 2646 sent to Andaman for life sentence 2147 ‘or 80% were Sikhs, Qut of 127 Indians who were sent to the Gallows, 92.0r80% were Sikhs, In Netaji Subhash’s Army of 20,000, 12,000 were Sikhs”. It is also worth noting that while the Sikhs ‘were struggling against the Br during the period, there was practically no activity in the rest of India, It was only after the appearance of Mahatma Gandhi on the Indian scene after the World War (191418) that the rest of India awoke from along slumber. According to this scholar 86.1% of the food procured for public distribution in 1984 came from Punjab. According to him the Sikhs have taught the country how to pull out of poverty by self-help, Mr. Gilbert Lobo has very rightly remarked that had the Sikhs not thrown in their lot with India in 1947, the border of Pakistan would have been near Delhi with Jammu and Kashmir sliced off.

It was the result of single minded devotion and sacrifices of the leaders mentioned above and more of them like Baba Kharak Singh, Master Tara Singh, Sardar Teja Singh Samundari, Sardar Kishan Singh Gargaj, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sardar Sewa Singh Thikriwala, Bhai Lachhman Singh, Sar dar Kartar Singh Shabbar, Sardar Sardul Singh Caveesharand many. unknown heroes of Guru Ka Bagh Morcha, Key Morcha, the Jaith Morcha. Bhai Pheru Morcha, Shit hid Ganj and Sis Ganj Morcha which brought back pristine glory” ‘and fame to the Sikh Movement.

The great example set by the ‘Sikh masses and their leaders in the post1947 period when mil lions of Sikhs sacrificed their hearts and homes for the sake of their religion and culture created new traditions unprecedented in the World History in self rehabilitation, As a matter of fact the ‘modern Punjab is a gift of the Sikhs to India, because the British decided to partition Punjab mainly in deference to the Sikh sentiments.

‘The glories won by the Sikhs in the defense of the country in the Second World War, and later in 1947 in Kashmir to thwart the tribal onslaught and huge sacrifices made by them in the Wars against Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, earned further glory to the ‘great Sikh people.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 18, 1987