Singh Sabha Movement

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Sikh Network Workshop

Part I - HistoryRediscovering the Sikh Identity

ObjectiveTo discover the reasons for the revival of Sikhism and for the reassertion of Sikh identity through critical examination of historical events from 1849-1925; to appreciate one of the major accomplishments of the Sikh Sabha Lehir - the Sikh Rehat Maryada; and to initiate a dialog to address present-day problems besetting the Panth.

Topics of Discussion

Background History Inciting events for Reform Individual reform movements Consolidation of Resources Limitations and Time for Change

Background History

British Rule Religious Climate Cultural and Historical Confusion Precursor Movements Sikh Spirit

British Rule

Fall of Sikh Raj by 1849 Punjab government White Man’s Burden

Religious Climate

Strife amongst Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs

Arya Samaj (Hindu reform movement) -- Sikhs were a sect of Hindus

Rituals in Sikh institutions and assimilation of Hinduism

Untouchables still not recognized. Conversion to Christianity, Islam, and

Hinduism

Cultural and Historical Confusion Census of 1855 listed Sikhs as

Hindus (not until 1871 were they considered separate)

Historical documents destroyed

Precursor Movements

Namdharis Nirankaris

Other Movements Udasis Sehajdharis

Sikh Spirit

Apathy rampant British authors commented on

Sikhs being their own worst enemy.

Many predictions that Sikhism would soon die.

Inciting Events for Reform German linguist translation of Adi

Granth ridiculed Sikh doctrine and assumed Sikhs were Hindus, thus fueling Arya Samaj movement.

Conversion of 4 kids in Amritsar Mission School to Christianity amongst numerous other converts.

Communication of events now facilitated by newspapers, railroads, postal service.

Brainstorming Session

Education Identity / Sikh Morale Political Power Economic Improvement Gurudwaras Constants / Other issues

Individual Reform Movements Amritsar Singh Sabha (1873) Lahore Singh Sabha (1879) Other Singh Sabhas

Amritsar Singh Sabha

Baba Khem Singh Bedi Maharaja of Faridkot Expansion of education Defend against infiltration by Muslims

and Christians Elitist and more traditional Sikhs as reformists within greater

Hinduism Udasis and Sehajdharis accepted

Lahore Singh Sabha

Prof. Gurmukh Singh -- professor of mathematics and Punjab

Lower-caste Sikhs and professional or middle-class Sikhs involved in education and journalism.

Sikh separateness Attacked popular customs

Other Singh Sabhas

Local offshoots International involvement (e.g.

Burma, Malaysia, North America, Africa…)

Consolidation of Resources Local Singh Sabhas formed

coalitions for efficiency and political leverage. Lahore Singh Sabha Amritsar Singh Sabha

Chief Khalsa Diwan

Chief Khalsa Diwan

accommodate Singh Sabhas efficiency and cohesiveness allied with British communication reestablish lost ties. extend internationally building hospitals and orphanages

Events

1905 – idols removed from Golden Temple

1908 – first Sikh Educational Conference

1908 – Khalsa Biradhari 1909 – Macauliffe’s The Sikh Religion

published in 6 volumes 1912 – legalization of Anand karaj 1914 – kirpaan exempted from the

Arms Act

Communication

newsletters questionnaires fundraising efforts accountability of highest priority reported earnings and

expenditures documented human resources.

Limitations and Time for Change Akali Movement Gurudwara Reform Movement SGPC Sikh Rehat Maryada

Akali movement seeds were sown Disenchantment with compromises

with the British More fundamentalist Sikh beliefs Generally more rural and lower-

caste involvement Spirit of independence and

stronger political power

Gurudwara Reform Movement Gradual liberation of many

gurudwaras already taking place Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak

Committee (SGPC) Wrestle gurudwaras free from

Mahants Common practices in common

places of worship Overcoming bloody hostility

Call for Unity, Focus on Naam hoie iekqR imlhu myry BweI duibDw dUir krhu ilv lwie ] hir nwmY ky hovhu

joVI gurmuiK bYshu sPw ivCwie ] 1 ] Come and join together, O my Siblings of Destiny; dispel your sense of duality and let yourselves be

lovingly absorbed in the Lord. Let yourselves be joined to the Name of the Lord; become Gurmukh, spread out your mat, and sit down. || 1 ||

ien@ ibiD pwsw Fwlhu bIr ] gurmuiK nwmu jphu idnu rwqI AMq kwil nh lwgY pIr ] 1 ] rhwau ]

In this way, throw the dice, O brothers. As Gurmukh, chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, day and night. At the very last moment, you shall not have to suffer in pain. || 1 ||

krm Drm qum@ caupiV swjhu squ krhu qum@ swrI ] kwmu k®oDu loBu mohu jIqhu AYsI Kyl hir ipAwrI ] 2 ]

Let righteous actions be your gameboard, and let the truth be your dice. Conquer sexual desire, anger, greed and worldly attachment; only such a game as this is dear to the Lord.||2||

auiT iesnwnu krhu prBwqy soey hir AwrwDy ] ibKVy dwau lµGwvY myrw siqguru suK shj syqI Gir jwqy ] 3 ]

Rise in the early hours of the morning, and take your cleansing bath. Before you go to bed at night, remember to worship the Lord. My True Guru will assist you, even on your most difficult moves; you shall reach your true home in celestial peace and poise. || 3 ||

pg 1187 SGGS

Part II - RehatSikh Rehat Maryada - Forming a Consensus in the Panth

Which Rehat to use?

37 different rehats available in 1925

Orally communicated or written texts of notable Sikhs

Bhai Nand Lal ji Bhai Daya Singh ji Bhai Chaupa Singh Bhai Desa Singh

Mission - Consensus In 1927 the SGPC appointed a 25 member rahu-

reet sub-committee “to prepare a draft rahu-reet in the light of

rahitnamas and other Sikh texts and in consultation with leading Sikh scholars”.

Professor Teja Singh ji was the convener of this committee Bhai Vir Singh ji, Bhai Kahn Singh ji (Nabha),

Akali Kaur Singh ji , Bhai Randhir Singh ji, Professor Jodh Singh ji etc.

Mission - Consensus

First draft available in 1931 Sent out to all Sikh institutions

around India and abroad (Burma, Malay, USA, Canada)

Finally in 1945 the SGPC approved the current version of the Sikh Rehat Maryada.

Three changes thus far

Rehat Maryada Contents

Definition of a Sikh

“Any human being who faithfully believes in One

Immortal Being, Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to

Guru Gobind Singh, the Guru Granth Sahib, the

utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and keeps

nischae in the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru and

who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a

Sikh”

Individual living (SKsI rihxI) Meditating on Nam and Scriptures

(nwm bwxI dw AiBAwis)) nitnem ardas how to act in sangat and

gurudwara how to take hukam how to perform sadharan paath,

akhand path karah parshad, kirtan, kathaa

Individual living (SKsI rihxI) Living in consonance with Guru’s

tenets (gurmq dI rihxI) rules of moral and social conduct birth and naming ceremony marriage ceremony (anand karaj) death ceremony

Selfless Service (syvw) Guru ka langar

teaches selfless service banish distinction of caste and status

Corporate Sikh Life (pNQk rihxI) The Guru Panth

“The Guru Panth (Panth’s status of Guruhood) means the whole body of committed baptised Sikhs. This body was fostered by all the ten Gurus and the tenth Guru gave it its final shape and invested it with Guruhood.”

Amrit ceremony Method of imposing chastisement -

Tankhaa Procedure to adopt Gurmatta Appeal local decisions at Akal Takhat

Rehat’s importance rihq ipAwrI muJ kau, isK ipAwrw nwih [

Rehat piaaree mujh kou, sikh piaaraa naahi. rihxI rhY soeI isK myrw [ Ehu swihb mY aus kw cyrw [

Rehnee rahai soee sikh mera. Oh sahib mai us ka chera. rihq ibnW nih isK khwvY [ rihq ibnW dr cotW KwvY [

Rehat binaa(n) nahi sikh kahaavai. Rehat binaa dar choTa(n) khaavai.

rihq ibn suK kbhuM n lhy [ qW qy rhiq su idRV kr rhY [ Rehat bin sukh kabhoo(n) na lahe. Taa(n) te rehat su drirr

kar rahai.(rihqnwmw Bw: dysw isMG jI)

pg. 1015 Amrit Kirtan

References

History of the Sikhs by Dr. Sangat Singh Essays in Sikhism by Principal Teja Singh The Singh Sabha and Other Socioeconomic

Movements, edited by Dr. Ganda Singh Construction of Religious Boundaries by

Harjot Oberi Mahan Kosh by Khan Singh Nabha Singh Sabha Lehar by Sikh Missionary

College (Punjabi) Essays by Harbans Singh and others in

Essays in the Honor of Dr. Ganda Singh