Tenth Part
Q. Why was the Non Cooperation movement suspended ?
Q. Discuss the impact of Non-Cooperation Movement in Indian History .
A. In spite of its failure the Non-Cooperation Movement has great significance in 1ndian history not only in relation to political spheres but in terms of social aspects too. Gandhi emphasized the need of removing evils like caste, Communalism, untouchability etc. In the processions, meetings and in jails people of all castes and communities worked together and even ate together. This weakened the caste differences and accelerated the pace of social mobility and reforms .
Q. List the main evils against which the Sikh Social Reformers fought
Q. What is Anand Karaj marriage? Who supported this form of marriage?
Q. What is the significance of Kuka Movement?
Q. What was the contribution of Singh Sabha Movement in the field of education?
Q. List the main evils prevailing in the Sikh shrines under Sarbarahs.
2) The misuse of temple premises by anti social corrupt elements was common and tacitly supported by Sarbarahs. On Basant and Holi festivals the whole place degenerated into a hunting ground for the local rogues, thieves and other bad characters, much to the anger and pain of the disciples .
Q Describe how the low caste p&ople were discriminated against in religious matters?
Q. Why were the Sarbarahs not paying attention to the opinion of the Sikh Community in managing the shrines?
Q. What led to the tragedy at Nankana?
Q. How did the, Akali Movement come into contact with the National Movement?
Q. What was the key's affair? Why did the British Govenunent surrender on this issue?
Q. Why was the Non Cooperation movement suspended ?
A. As far as the peasants were concerned the Non-Cooperation Movement was gradually turning into a no-rent movement against the Zamindars. But the Congress leadership was in no way interested in attacking the legal rights of the Zamindars. Gandhi's aim was of a "controlled mass movement" involving different Indian classes, and not a class revolution. So he was against the continuation of this movement which might turn into a class revolution. He made it quite clear that he was against any kind of violent or radical movement at that stage. If the movement was not suspended it might have led to chaos because the leadership had no control over local movements. The Chauri Chaura incident proved his fears to be correct and thus had forced him to withdraw the movement.
Q. Discuss the impact of Non-Cooperation Movement in Indian History .
A. In spite of its failure the Non-Cooperation Movement has great significance in 1ndian history not only in relation to political spheres but in terms of social aspects too. Gandhi emphasized the need of removing evils like caste, Communalism, untouchability etc. In the processions, meetings and in jails people of all castes and communities worked together and even ate together. This weakened the caste differences and accelerated the pace of social mobility and reforms .
Q. List the main evils against which the Sikh Social Reformers fought
A. The main evils in society against which reformers fought were caste restriction, worship of tombs and graves, worship of many Gods, illiteracy, dowry system, barter of daughters in marriages and female infanticide.
Q. What is Anand Karaj marriage? Who supported this form of marriage?
A. Anand Karaj marriage (joyous deed) is the simplest form of marriage . Baba Dayal a contemporary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was the first among the reformers in Sikh religion, who condemned the social evil practices in Sikh society. Baba Dayal disapproved the worship of idols and graves . He also introduced a simplified version of marriage named Anand Karaj (joyous deed) which got legal recognition with the passage of the Anand Marriage Act in 1909 . Under this system, marriage is performed in the presence of the Guru Granth, by singing four relevant hymns from this holy book of the Sikhs by priest . No other rituals art performed and dowry, marriage procession, drinking and dancing are disapproved. After Dayal baba death in 1855, his son Baba Darbara Singh and after Darbara Singh death his brother Rattan Chand continued the tradition .
Q. What is the significance of Kuka Movement?
A. The Namdhari movement, popularly known as the Kuka movement was started by Bhagat Jawahar Mal and Baba Balak Singh, the movement became a powerful instrument of socio- religious awakening among the Sikhs under Baba Ram Singh. Ram Singh enjoined upon his followers to worship of one God through prayer and meditation. He preached against social evils such as the caste system. female infanticide, early marriage and barter of daughters in marriage. He also popularized simple and inexpensive Anand marriages. The teachings of Baba Ram Singh, had a wide appeal among Sikh masses. Though Baba Ram Singh's mission was marked for its teachings of righteous living, toleration and mercy, some of his followers got out of control and, in a fit of religious frenzy, committed excesses which resulted in a clash with the Government. Some of his more fanatic followers who got excited over the killing of cows, murdered the butchers at Amritsar, Rajkot and Malerkotla. As a punishment, they were blown off from the cannon's mouth, the official action against the Kukas created great hatred for British rule in the minds of the people in Punjab. This helped in preparing the ground for the subsequent struggle of the Akalis in the early twentieth century against the British .
A. The year following the persecution of the Kukas and the suppression of their movement saw the birth of the Singh Sabha (1873 A.D). The Singh Sabha movement and its activities had a much wider appeal among the Sikh masses and, consequently, made a far greater impact. The promoters of the Singh Sabha movement, most of whom belonged to the educated middle class, were connected with other socio-religious movements in Punjab as well. They believed that social evils among the Sikhs were due to lack of education among them. The Singh Sabha aimed mainly at social and religious reform through the spread of Education.
The major contribution of the Singh Sabha leadership lay in the creation of a network of Khalsa schools, colleges and other centers of learning. Educational activities of the Singh Sabha received support and patronage from the Government of India and the British officials and the rulers of the Sikh princely states that the Khalsa College was founded at Amritsar in 1892.
1) The Sarbarahs which were appointed by government indulged in all sorts of evil practices, such as misappropriation of offerings and other valuables. The sanctity of these places was destroyed. Here brothels were run, pornographic literature sold, and innocent women visiting the temples were raped.They began to convert the trust property of the Gurdwara into their personal possessions. The Mahants and their followers began to live a life of luxury and started indulging in various social evils.
3) While Sikh religion does not recognise any caste distinctions, the priests in charge of the Golden Temple did not allow members of the so-called low-castes, known as Mazhabi Sikhs to offer their prayers in the temple directly. They had to hire an attendant of the so-called higher-caste to carry their offering of Prasad in the Temple.
A. While Sikh religion does not recognize any caste distinctions, the priests in charge of the Golden Temple did not allow members of the so-called low-castes, known as Mazhabi Sikhs to offer their prayers in the temple directly. They had to hire an attendant of the so-called higher-caste to carry their offering of Prasad in the Temple. As a result of socio-religious awakening created by various movements of reform among the Sikh community the Khalsa Biradri of Amritsy advocated free integration of the members of the so-called low-castes, including community dining and inter-marriages. As the priests of the Golden Temple did not allow the members of the so-called low-castes, to enter the temple and offer Prasad themselves, the Khalsa Biradri thought of creating public
awareness on the subject and defy the authority of the priests.
Q. Why were the Sarbarahs not paying attention to the opinion of the Sikh Community in managing the shrines?
A. The appointment of Sarbarah by the Government created more problems. The Sarbarah did not feel responsible towards the people but was busy pleasing his appointing authority the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar. The priests indulged in all sorts of evil practices, such as misappropriation of offerings and other valuables. The sanctity of these places was destroyed. Here brothels were run, pornographic literature sold, and innocent women visiting the temples raped. With the weakening of the Sikh control over the management and the increasing hold of officialdom, the manager and priests started taking their cue from the Deputy Commissioner and ignored Sikh opinion and sentiments in the day-to-day affairs of the temple. The Government appointed Sarbarah, after ensuring that the appointing authority was pleased, spent his time in appropriating the wealth belonging to the shrine and neglected his daily religious duties. Costly gifts to the temple slowly found their way to the homes of the Sarbarah and other priests.
A. After taking control of the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht at Amritsar the reformers paid their attention to other Sikh Gurdwaras. In Nankana, the birth-place of Gum Nanak Dev , Gurdwara Janam Asthan and other shrines were being controlled by hereditary Mahants. Narain Dass who was incharge of the Gurdwara Janam Astha at Nankana was practising a number of social & religious evils. He kept a mistress, invited dancing girls into the Gurdwara & permitted profane singing in the holy premises. In spite of protest from different Sikh circles the Mahant did not abandon the evil practices. Accordingly, a Jatha of 130 reformers including some women proceeded to Gurdwara Janam Asthan under the leadership of Bhai Lachhman Singh. When the Jatha reached the Gurdwara in the early hours of February 20, 1921 the Mahant & the mercenaries hired by him attacked these armless,peaceful reformers. A number of marchers were killed and the wounded were tied to the trees and burnt. In order to destroy the evidence the Mahant and his men collected all the bodies and put them to fire. The barbaric killing of all the 130 members of the Jatha by the Mahant sent waves of shock and resentment throughout the country. Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders condemned this brutal action of the Mahant. Mahatma Gandhi visited Nankana on 3rd March to express sympathy with the Akali reformers condemned the action of the Mahant and advised the Akali reformers to offer non-cooperation to the Government in the matter of official commission of enquiry. It was on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders that the Akali reformers decided to broaden their movement. They launched a two pronged attack. It was directed against the corrupt Mahant on the one hand and the Punjab government on the other.
A. During the Nankana tragedy explained above and afterwards Toshakhana Key's Affair Akali Movement come into contact with the National Movement Toshakhana Key's Affair The Akali reformers had taken control of the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht at Arnritsar, and appointed a Committee for the management of these two shrines. The Committee asked the government-appointed manager of the Golden Temple to handover the keys of the Toshakhana (treasury) to the committee. But before the manager came to do so the keys were taken away by the British Deputy Commissioner. This action of the government created great resentment in the Sikh community. To get
back the keys the Akali reformers launched a powerful agitation which is popularly known as the Keys Affair. In this agitation the Sikh reformers were also joined by the Congress volunteers in Punjab. The coming together of Congress and Akali thus combined their strength for the national cause .
Q. What was the key's affair? Why did the British Govenunent surrender on this issue?
A. After obtaining the control of Golden Temple the Akalis demanded that the keys to its treasury be handed over to them. The British surrendered the demand because they were facing the Non-cooperation movement of Congress and wanted to isolate Akalis from it. The Akali reformers had taken control of the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht at Arnritsar, and appointed a Committee for the management of these two shrines. The Committee asked the government-appointed manager of the Golden Temple to handover the keys of the Toshakhana (treasury) to the committee. But before the manager came to do so the keys were taken away by the British Deputy Commissioner. This action of the government created great resentment in the Sikh community. To get back the keys the Akali reformers launched a powerful agitation which is popularly known as the Keys Affair. In this agitation the Sikh reformers were also joined by the Congress volunteers in Punjab. The coming together of Congress and Akali thus combined their strength for the national cause . Since Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement was already going on, the Punjab Government thought of isolating the Akali reformers from the congress program of non-cooperation by releasing all the Akali volunteers arrested in connection with the agitation over the keys affair and returning the keys of the Golden temple treasury to the President of the committee. This victory of the Akali reformers was seen by the national leaders as a victory of the forces of nationalism.
Q. What was the attitude of Indian National Congress towards the Akali struggle in Nabha?
A. Indian National Congress supported the Akali demand in Nabha and sent special Observers. Victories of the Akali reformers in two agitations, the keys Affair and the Guru-ka-Bagh, greatly raised the power and prestige and morale of the Akali leadership. In their hour of victory they launched another agitation and demanded the restoration of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha to his throne from which he had been forcibly removed by the British Govt. This issue was not directly related with the Akali movement whose chief concern so far had been social and religious reforms. But since by now the Akali reformers had emerged as a powerful expression of the nationalist protest in the province, the Congress leadership supported them in their agitation in Nabha. At a special session of the Congress Working Committee held at New Delhi in September 1923 the Congress decided to send Jawaharlal Nehru, A.T. Gidwani and K. Santhanam as observers to visit Nabha and report on the situation there to the Congress Working Committee. Nehru and his colleagues were arrested soon after entering the Nabha territory and put behind the bars on flimsy charges.
Q. How did the passing of the Gurdwara Act in 1925 democratize the administration of the Sikh shrines?What led to the passage of Gurdwara Act.
A. With the passing of the Gurdwara Act of 1925, every Sikh irrespective of caste and creed could get elected to the SGPC to administer the shrines. Women also got right to Vote. The movement also created a great religious and political awakening among the people. They were made to realize that there was no religious sanction in the Sikh tradition for practicing caste. According to the Gurdwara Act, any Sikh irrespective of his caste can be elected to any position including that of the President of SGPC. During their agitation in Nabha the Akalis faced toughest opposition from the British administrator of Nabha and Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, the Sikh ruler of the princely state of Patiala. As a result of firing over the Shahidi Jatha at Jaito in February 1924 the agitation again took a serious turn. The Akali agitation was likely to affect the Sikh soldiers Bri tish army . Moreover through the Akali agitation Congress program and ideology were spreading to the Sikh peasantry in Punjab. The presence of these factors compelled Punjab Government to find a solution to Akali problem by passing a Bill in July 1925 which gave the Sikh community a legal right to elect functionaries to manage their Gurdwaras. This legislation put an end to the hereditary control of the Mahants and intrbduced democratic control in the gurdwara management. And with this ended the five year long Akali agitation in Punjab.
Q. List three main achievements of the Akali Movement.
A. The achievements like doing away of caste restrictions, end of misuse of people's money, cleaning of Gurdwaras from anti-social elements, and end to hereditary Mahant system, which created social and political consciousness.
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