02-15-2006, 10:27 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Namdharis/Kookeh cont'd
The Namdhari movement was not only a Sikh religious and spiritual movement, but a highly political institution. The Namdharis, like the Nihangs of the time also believed in overthrowing the British in the Punjab.
With this goal in mind, Baba Ram Singh commanded his followers to:
1. Boycott all government services.
2. Boycott all government institutions
3. Boycott of courts of law, and advocated settlement of disputes in village councils - the âPanchyatsâ (a ruling body of five selected individuals).
3. Boycott of foreign goods, and call to people to use indigenous goods and clothing only.
4. Boycott British postal services and other means of British introduced communication.
5. Boycott of railways.
The British began to note the anti-Raj activities of the Namdharis. On 3rd July 1863, the British ordered the confinement of Ram Singh to Bhaini Sahib. Ram Singh then inaugurated five âSubasâ (lieutenants) to spread the Namdhari message.
The inevitable Namdhari conflict with the British came in 1871.
Namdharis/Kookeh cont'd
In India, the cow has always been considered a sacred animal. During the times of the Sikh Raj, the killing of cows was punishable by death.
Within âUgardanti Baniâ found within Dasam Guru Durbar, Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh speaks of destroying the âMaleshâ (foreigners) who kill cows. The âUgardanti Baniâ is part of Akali Nihang and Namdhari daily liturgy.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh
During his reign, the killing of cows was subject to capital punishment, circa mid 19th century
To this day, all Chatka-eating Sikhs do not eat beef. In the USA however, some Sikhs, attempting to make concessions to American culture have begun to consume beef. As the British came to power in Punjab during 1849, they decided to apply a âdivide and conquerâ policy and utilized the medium of cow slaughter to split the Muslims from the Hindus and Sikhs. In Amritsar itself, a slaughterhouse was opened adjacent to the clock tower near the Golden Temple where Muslim butchers began to slaughter cows. As beef began to be sold in Punjab for the first time for over half a century, conflict arose between the Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. Birds of prey began to carry carrion and bones away from the slaughterhouses and this would occasionally drop within the holy precincts of the Golden Temple and other nearby Hindu temples. The Sikh and Hindu priests were infuriated at this, and began to protest to the authorities. The British Governor of Punjab ignored these protests.
The Namdharis, fired up by the zeal of a new reformist movement decided to take matters into their own hands, and on 14th July 1871, a handful of Namdhari fanatics attacked a slaughterhouse in Amritsar known to be killing cows. Four Muslim butchers were killed, and three others injured. The cows were set free. The governors of Punjab were caught completely unaware of this dramatic act of violence and the superintendent of police in Jullandar, Mr Christie, was entrusted to investigate this incident. Mrs Beant Kaur, a noted Namdhari historian states:
ââ¦. . the police suspecting the band of local people in these killings arrested some of the Nihangs of the Golden Temple and the local Hindus. They were tortured and made to confess their guilt, though they were innocent. After a simple trial, the Session judge convicted the innocent people to death sentence.â
âThe Namdhari Sikhsâ, by Beant Kaur, Pa. 25
The Namdharis who had carried out the raid returned to Bhaini Sahib where Baba Ram Singh persuaded them to have themselves to the authorities in order to prevent the British from targeting innocent individuals. The Namdharis obeyed their Satguru and of the six that handed themselves in, four - Lehna Singh, son of Musadha Singh of Amritsar, Fateh Singh, Hakam Singh and Beehla Singh were hanged to death on 15th September 1871 in Ram Bagh in Amritsar. The remaining two of the six Namdharis, Lehna Singh, son of Bullacka Singh, and Lal Singh Sepahi were exiled to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Another Jhanda Singh was hanged in connection with same incident a year later. Approximately a month after the above incident took place, another similar incident occurred in near the village of Raikot.
A group of Namdharis were passing a Gurdwara in Raikot, on their way to Bhaini Sahib when they were summoned by the local priests. The priests took the Namdharis to temple precincts where crows were seen to be dropping carrion. The Namdharis decided to spend the night there, and in the morning they attacked the local slaughterhouse and killed four Muslim butchers and seriously wounded seven others. These Namdharis were arrested and brought before the magistrate at the village of Bassin. On 5th August 1871, three Namdharis - Mastan Singh, Gurmukh Singh and Mangal Singh were hanged to death at Raikot. On 26th November 1871, two more Namdharis - Giani Rattan Singh of Mandi and Rattan Singh of Naiwala, who were innocent, but were considered associates of above hanged Namdharis, were also hanged to death in Ludihana.
Namdharis/Kookeh cont'd
Such incidents of violence brought the Namdharis to the full notice of the British rulers. Mr Macnab, in his government report against the Namdharis, advised the British rulers to deport Baba Ram Singh from the Punjab. Meanwhile, the British continued to encourage Muslim butchers to open slaughterhouses in the Punjab and increase the selling of beef. In January 1872, the Namdharis had gathered at Bhaini Sahib to celebrate Maghi.
A Gurmukh Singh of Farwahi village narrated to Sirdar Heera Singh a tale of how an ox had been deliberately slaughtered in his presence in Malerkotla, and how the police on this occasion used abusive language towards him.
Against the wishes of their Guru Ram Singh, the hot-headed militant Namdharis decided to attack the butchers at Malerkotla. On 13th January 1872, approximately 100 Namdhari fanatics, lead by Sirdar Heera Singh and Lehna Singh started from Bhaini Sahib for Malerkotla. Two Namdhari Sikh women, Bibi Ind Kaur and Bibi Khem Kaur, were also amongst them. Meanwhile Ram Singh sent his close companion, Lakha Singh, to warn the British commissioner of Ludihana about the impending action of his renegade followers.
On the way to Malerkotla, the Namdharis tried to steal horses and firearms from the local Sikh feudal chief of Malaudh, Sirdar Badan Singh. The Sikh chief, who according to some sources was initially willing to assist the Namdharis, opposed them, resulting in a fight that caused the death of two Namdharis. Four additional Namdharis were seriously injured. Unable to get any firearms from Malaudh, the Namdharis continued their journey which was now a further nine miles.
On 15th January 1872, the bloodthirsty Namdharis reached Malerkotla. At 7 am, the Namdharis attacked, and a bloody fight ensued between the forewarned police, and the Kooka fanatics. The police, who received eight causalities, was lead by an officer named Ahmed Khan. Seven Namdharis were killed, and as more police reinforcements arrived on the scene at midday, the remaining Kookas fled to the village of Rar.
As Kookas began to flee to their villages, the police pursued them and arrested 68 Kookas who were brought to the police station of Sherpur. On the evening of 15th January, the British deputy commissioner of Ludhiana, Mr. Cowen, also reached Malerkotla. On 16th of January, he summoned Baba Ram Singh from Bhaini Sahib to Malerkotla and released the 68 Kookas.
The two Namdhari women were amongst the arrested Kookas that Cowen had set free. From the remaining 66, 22 were seriously wounded. On 17th January 1872, the harsh Cowen, without any judicial process, ordered the barbaric execution of 49 Kookas by having them blown away by cannons.
Some sources state that one young Namdhari lad named Bishan Singh attempted to choke Mr Cowen but was pulled off and cut down with a sword. In this way, Cowen murdered 50 Kookas in all. Namdhari tradition records of how one Viriyam Singh, being too short, elevated himself by placing bricks under his feet so as he could be executed by cannon fire more efficiently. On 18th January 1872, in the presence of Mr Forsyth, another 16 Kookas were blown away by cannons as they sang hymns from Sikh scriptures.
During these killings, Baba Ram Singh was in the nearby village of Siar. On the night of 17th January, he and four companions - Sahib Singh, Lakha Singh, Jwahar Singh and Nanoo Singh, were arrested. They were sent under Gurkha guard, headed by Mr Jackson, to Allahabad prison where they were detained under the Bengal Regulation III act of 1818.
Soon after, seven more leading Namdharis were arrested and sent to Allahabad. On 10th March 1872, Baba Ram Singh, along with his personal attendant, Nanoo Singh, were sent by train from Allahabad to Calcutta. From there, at 7 pm. on 11th March 1872, they were shipped to Rangoon. Baba Ram Singh was interned in Rangoon till 18th Sept 1880. From there, he was shifted from prison to prison till he reached Murghuiat, a remote village in Burma. Baba Ram Singh died of diarrhea in prison on 29th November 1885. However, Namdhari Sikhs to this day vehemently believe he did not die there.
âThe British Government shifted Satguru Ram Singh Ji to Mergui on 21-9-1880, Satgur Ji made miraculous disappearance from the captivity of the British at Mergui on 21-11-1885. The Government could not trace him thereafter. The only escape left for the Government was to declare Satguru Ram Singh Ji dead. In this way, the prophecy of Satguru Ram Singh Ji made by him years before his banishment from Bhaini Sahib âThe Government will falsely declare me dead. The fire cannot burn me, and water cannot drown me, I will come back in the same form. Do not believe that I am deadâ, came out to be true. Satguru Gobind Singh Ji had prophesized in âSau Sakhiâ that Satguru Ram Singh Ji would live for 250 yearsâ¦â¦â¦The Namdhari Sikhs firmly believe that Satguru Ram Singh Ji is alive even today and as promised by him would re-appear again.â
âThe Namdhari Sikhsâ, by Beant Kaur, Pa. 32&33
The Memorial erected at Malerkotla, Punjab, that commemorates the martyrdom
of the 66 Namdhari 'Shaheeds' (martyrs). The pillar is studded with 66 holes, one for each martyr
http://www.sarbloh.info/htmls/article_samp...namdhari15.html<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Namdhari movement was not only a Sikh religious and spiritual movement, but a highly political institution. The Namdharis, like the Nihangs of the time also believed in overthrowing the British in the Punjab.
With this goal in mind, Baba Ram Singh commanded his followers to:
1. Boycott all government services.
2. Boycott all government institutions
3. Boycott of courts of law, and advocated settlement of disputes in village councils - the âPanchyatsâ (a ruling body of five selected individuals).
3. Boycott of foreign goods, and call to people to use indigenous goods and clothing only.
4. Boycott British postal services and other means of British introduced communication.
5. Boycott of railways.
The British began to note the anti-Raj activities of the Namdharis. On 3rd July 1863, the British ordered the confinement of Ram Singh to Bhaini Sahib. Ram Singh then inaugurated five âSubasâ (lieutenants) to spread the Namdhari message.
The inevitable Namdhari conflict with the British came in 1871.
Namdharis/Kookeh cont'd
In India, the cow has always been considered a sacred animal. During the times of the Sikh Raj, the killing of cows was punishable by death.
Within âUgardanti Baniâ found within Dasam Guru Durbar, Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh speaks of destroying the âMaleshâ (foreigners) who kill cows. The âUgardanti Baniâ is part of Akali Nihang and Namdhari daily liturgy.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh
During his reign, the killing of cows was subject to capital punishment, circa mid 19th century
To this day, all Chatka-eating Sikhs do not eat beef. In the USA however, some Sikhs, attempting to make concessions to American culture have begun to consume beef. As the British came to power in Punjab during 1849, they decided to apply a âdivide and conquerâ policy and utilized the medium of cow slaughter to split the Muslims from the Hindus and Sikhs. In Amritsar itself, a slaughterhouse was opened adjacent to the clock tower near the Golden Temple where Muslim butchers began to slaughter cows. As beef began to be sold in Punjab for the first time for over half a century, conflict arose between the Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. Birds of prey began to carry carrion and bones away from the slaughterhouses and this would occasionally drop within the holy precincts of the Golden Temple and other nearby Hindu temples. The Sikh and Hindu priests were infuriated at this, and began to protest to the authorities. The British Governor of Punjab ignored these protests.
The Namdharis, fired up by the zeal of a new reformist movement decided to take matters into their own hands, and on 14th July 1871, a handful of Namdhari fanatics attacked a slaughterhouse in Amritsar known to be killing cows. Four Muslim butchers were killed, and three others injured. The cows were set free. The governors of Punjab were caught completely unaware of this dramatic act of violence and the superintendent of police in Jullandar, Mr Christie, was entrusted to investigate this incident. Mrs Beant Kaur, a noted Namdhari historian states:
ââ¦. . the police suspecting the band of local people in these killings arrested some of the Nihangs of the Golden Temple and the local Hindus. They were tortured and made to confess their guilt, though they were innocent. After a simple trial, the Session judge convicted the innocent people to death sentence.â
âThe Namdhari Sikhsâ, by Beant Kaur, Pa. 25
The Namdharis who had carried out the raid returned to Bhaini Sahib where Baba Ram Singh persuaded them to have themselves to the authorities in order to prevent the British from targeting innocent individuals. The Namdharis obeyed their Satguru and of the six that handed themselves in, four - Lehna Singh, son of Musadha Singh of Amritsar, Fateh Singh, Hakam Singh and Beehla Singh were hanged to death on 15th September 1871 in Ram Bagh in Amritsar. The remaining two of the six Namdharis, Lehna Singh, son of Bullacka Singh, and Lal Singh Sepahi were exiled to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Another Jhanda Singh was hanged in connection with same incident a year later. Approximately a month after the above incident took place, another similar incident occurred in near the village of Raikot.
A group of Namdharis were passing a Gurdwara in Raikot, on their way to Bhaini Sahib when they were summoned by the local priests. The priests took the Namdharis to temple precincts where crows were seen to be dropping carrion. The Namdharis decided to spend the night there, and in the morning they attacked the local slaughterhouse and killed four Muslim butchers and seriously wounded seven others. These Namdharis were arrested and brought before the magistrate at the village of Bassin. On 5th August 1871, three Namdharis - Mastan Singh, Gurmukh Singh and Mangal Singh were hanged to death at Raikot. On 26th November 1871, two more Namdharis - Giani Rattan Singh of Mandi and Rattan Singh of Naiwala, who were innocent, but were considered associates of above hanged Namdharis, were also hanged to death in Ludihana.
Namdharis/Kookeh cont'd
Such incidents of violence brought the Namdharis to the full notice of the British rulers. Mr Macnab, in his government report against the Namdharis, advised the British rulers to deport Baba Ram Singh from the Punjab. Meanwhile, the British continued to encourage Muslim butchers to open slaughterhouses in the Punjab and increase the selling of beef. In January 1872, the Namdharis had gathered at Bhaini Sahib to celebrate Maghi.
A Gurmukh Singh of Farwahi village narrated to Sirdar Heera Singh a tale of how an ox had been deliberately slaughtered in his presence in Malerkotla, and how the police on this occasion used abusive language towards him.
Against the wishes of their Guru Ram Singh, the hot-headed militant Namdharis decided to attack the butchers at Malerkotla. On 13th January 1872, approximately 100 Namdhari fanatics, lead by Sirdar Heera Singh and Lehna Singh started from Bhaini Sahib for Malerkotla. Two Namdhari Sikh women, Bibi Ind Kaur and Bibi Khem Kaur, were also amongst them. Meanwhile Ram Singh sent his close companion, Lakha Singh, to warn the British commissioner of Ludihana about the impending action of his renegade followers.
On the way to Malerkotla, the Namdharis tried to steal horses and firearms from the local Sikh feudal chief of Malaudh, Sirdar Badan Singh. The Sikh chief, who according to some sources was initially willing to assist the Namdharis, opposed them, resulting in a fight that caused the death of two Namdharis. Four additional Namdharis were seriously injured. Unable to get any firearms from Malaudh, the Namdharis continued their journey which was now a further nine miles.
On 15th January 1872, the bloodthirsty Namdharis reached Malerkotla. At 7 am, the Namdharis attacked, and a bloody fight ensued between the forewarned police, and the Kooka fanatics. The police, who received eight causalities, was lead by an officer named Ahmed Khan. Seven Namdharis were killed, and as more police reinforcements arrived on the scene at midday, the remaining Kookas fled to the village of Rar.
As Kookas began to flee to their villages, the police pursued them and arrested 68 Kookas who were brought to the police station of Sherpur. On the evening of 15th January, the British deputy commissioner of Ludhiana, Mr. Cowen, also reached Malerkotla. On 16th of January, he summoned Baba Ram Singh from Bhaini Sahib to Malerkotla and released the 68 Kookas.
The two Namdhari women were amongst the arrested Kookas that Cowen had set free. From the remaining 66, 22 were seriously wounded. On 17th January 1872, the harsh Cowen, without any judicial process, ordered the barbaric execution of 49 Kookas by having them blown away by cannons.
Some sources state that one young Namdhari lad named Bishan Singh attempted to choke Mr Cowen but was pulled off and cut down with a sword. In this way, Cowen murdered 50 Kookas in all. Namdhari tradition records of how one Viriyam Singh, being too short, elevated himself by placing bricks under his feet so as he could be executed by cannon fire more efficiently. On 18th January 1872, in the presence of Mr Forsyth, another 16 Kookas were blown away by cannons as they sang hymns from Sikh scriptures.
During these killings, Baba Ram Singh was in the nearby village of Siar. On the night of 17th January, he and four companions - Sahib Singh, Lakha Singh, Jwahar Singh and Nanoo Singh, were arrested. They were sent under Gurkha guard, headed by Mr Jackson, to Allahabad prison where they were detained under the Bengal Regulation III act of 1818.
Soon after, seven more leading Namdharis were arrested and sent to Allahabad. On 10th March 1872, Baba Ram Singh, along with his personal attendant, Nanoo Singh, were sent by train from Allahabad to Calcutta. From there, at 7 pm. on 11th March 1872, they were shipped to Rangoon. Baba Ram Singh was interned in Rangoon till 18th Sept 1880. From there, he was shifted from prison to prison till he reached Murghuiat, a remote village in Burma. Baba Ram Singh died of diarrhea in prison on 29th November 1885. However, Namdhari Sikhs to this day vehemently believe he did not die there.
âThe British Government shifted Satguru Ram Singh Ji to Mergui on 21-9-1880, Satgur Ji made miraculous disappearance from the captivity of the British at Mergui on 21-11-1885. The Government could not trace him thereafter. The only escape left for the Government was to declare Satguru Ram Singh Ji dead. In this way, the prophecy of Satguru Ram Singh Ji made by him years before his banishment from Bhaini Sahib âThe Government will falsely declare me dead. The fire cannot burn me, and water cannot drown me, I will come back in the same form. Do not believe that I am deadâ, came out to be true. Satguru Gobind Singh Ji had prophesized in âSau Sakhiâ that Satguru Ram Singh Ji would live for 250 yearsâ¦â¦â¦The Namdhari Sikhs firmly believe that Satguru Ram Singh Ji is alive even today and as promised by him would re-appear again.â
âThe Namdhari Sikhsâ, by Beant Kaur, Pa. 32&33
The Memorial erected at Malerkotla, Punjab, that commemorates the martyrdom
of the 66 Namdhari 'Shaheeds' (martyrs). The pillar is studded with 66 holes, one for each martyr
http://www.sarbloh.info/htmls/article_samp...namdhari15.html<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->