Thursday, September 28, 2023

Culture

JAITO DA MORCHA: VICTORY OF SIKHS AFTER  UNDERGOING GRUESOME TORTURES 

February 11, 2023 11:36 AM
Jaito Morcha (panting)
Dr Amrit Kaur

The Sikh history of the 18th century is replete with the martyrdom of Sikhs at the hands  of Afghan and Mughal rulers who invaded India which was at that time considered a 'sparrow of  gold'. The primary aims of these invaders were to loot the people and convert them to Islam.  These invaders generally returned to their home countries after amalgamating booty although  they also established their rule in Punjab, Delhi and some other parts of India.The Sikh history of the 18th century is replete with the martyrdom of Sikhs at the hands  of Afghan and Mughal rulers who invaded India which was at that time considered a 'sparrow of  gold'. The primary aims of these invaders were to loot the people and convert them to Islam.  These invaders generally returned to their home countries after amalgamating booty although  they also established their rule in Punjab, Delhi and some other parts of India. But soon after the  atrocities waged by these cruel invader-rulers ended the Britishers entered India to grab power  and started their onslaught on the Sikhs because they had heard about the bravery and  steadfastness of the Sikhs. They knew that they cannot establish and extend their territory in  India without crushing this brave community. The bravery and steadfastness of Sikhs had  become an established fact since the invasions of Babar during 1720-1724. During his first  invasion in 1720 Babar ordered to kill mercilessly the innocent people in Saidpur now called  Eminabad which presently falls in Gujranwala District of Pakistan. During this invasion Sri Guru  Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru (prophet-teacher) of the Sikhs was also imprisoned. Sri Guru Nanak  Dev Ji has narrated Babar's massacre at Eminabad in his hymns. During his fourth invasion  Babar ordered that the whole city of Lahore be set on fire. Bhai Tara Ji, who belonged to a  nearby village came to Lahore with a mashak (a large leather bag for carrying water) to  extinguish the fire and save the lives of people. As per orders of Babar he was thrown into the  fire which he was trying to extinguish. Bhai Tara Ji became the first Sikh martyr. During the  same invasion of Babar, as per his orders Bhai Popat Ji who was running langar (community  kitchen1) i.e. serving food free of cost to the surviving wounded persons was trampled by the  horses. 

On 15 September, 1923 the first Sikh jatha consisting of 25 Sikhs reached Jaito which  was to be followed by jathas of equal strength for about 6 months continuously. In the meantime the Secretary of State directed the Viceroy "to put an effective stop to the Akali operation by the  arrest and prosecution of all the organizers as abettors". As a result, the Punjab Government  declared SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal as unlawful organizations. All the 60 members of the  interim committee of the Shiromani Committee were arrested on charges of treason against the  King Emperor. 

The Britshers who wanted to establish their rule in Punjab made Sikhs their main target.  During their campaign Punjab was on their foremost agenda and thus they attacked the Sikhs at  several places for various reasons. They initiated steps to conquer the princely states of Punjab.  To ward off the atrocities being waged by the Britishers against the Sikhs the Sikhs formed two  organizations (i) Gurdwara Sudhar (Reform) Movement and (ii) Akali Movement and these  organizations played a very significant role in Jaito Morcha (agitation) which is among the main  tussels which took place between the Sikhs and the Britishers. 

The initial cause of Jaito Morcha was that on 9 July 1923, Maharaja Ripudaman Singh  (1883-1942) who had ascended as Maharaja of the Nabha state on 24 January, 1912 after the  demise of his father was forcibly abdicated. His four-year old son Prince Partap Singh, born on  22 September 1919 was proclaimed ruler of Nabha who being a minor, the state was placed  under a British administrator. The Britishers, however, proclaimed that Maharaja Ripudaman  Singh had himself relinquished his gaddi (throne) voluntarily. Maharaja Ripudaman Singh was  

The references used in this write-up include (i) Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Vol. I, II, III and IV published by  Punjabi University, Patiala, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 (ii) Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha's book Mahan Kosh,   1930 and (iii) Bhajan Singh's book Sade Shaheed (Our Martyrs), 1991 although reference has not been  indicated at each place.

sent to a jail in Dehradun, which presently falls in Uttrakhand state of India but later on in 1926  he was sent to a jail in Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, where he died in 1942. 

The Britishers abdicated Maharaja Ripudaman Singh because (i) he had pro-Akali  sympathies (ii) in 1921 had donned a black turban as a protest against the massacre of Sikhs at  Nankana Sahib, the sacred birth place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, which now falls in the Nankana  Sahib District of Pakistan and (iii) in 1922 had vehemently supported the morcha of Guru Ka  Bagh in village Ghukkevali which is at a distance of about 20 kms from Amritsar in District  Amritsar, Punjab. The Britishers were disturbed at his activities and were determinded to take  vengeance by abdicating him. 

As a protest against the abdication of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh and to get him re installed a Committee was set up by the Sikhs which fixed 29 July, 1923 to be observed as a day  of prayer for the re-installation of the Maharaja in all the main towns of Punjab. 

On 2 August, 1923 the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) sent a  telegram to Lord Reading, the then Viceroy of India wherein (i) they challenged the  Government's proclaimation that Maharaja Ripudaman Singh had relinquished his gaddi voluntarily and (ii) demanded an independent enquiry into this matter. On 5 August, 1923 the  SGPC passed a resolution to organize a peaceful campaign to have Maharaja Ripudaman Singh re-installed. Ignoring the demands of the Sikhs, the Nabha State authorities passed an ordinance  prohibiting public discussion of this issue. 

On 25 August, 1923, a divan (congregation) was held by the Sikhs at Jaito (a small  market town)* which fell in the jurisdiction of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh's Nabha state wherein  resolutions were passed condemning the government action. The divan was followed by a  peaceful public march. On 27 August, 1923, Nabha State authorities arrested the organizers of  the divan. This divan which was started on 25 August, 1923 was to be continued for three days.  But the arrest of the organizers provoked the Akalis so much that they decided to continue it  indefinitely. It was also decided that in Gurudwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin, Jaito a  series of Akhand Paaths should be carried on. Akhand Path is an uninterrupted recitation of Sri  Guru Granth Sahib the holy scripture of the Sikhs. This Holy Scripture consists of 1430 pages  and its uninterrupted recitation takes about 48 hours. On 14 September, 1923 the police occupied  Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin and the Nabha State authorities interrupted the Akhand  Paath which was being recited in this Gurdwara to express sympathy for Maharaja Ripudaman  Singh. The paathi who was reciting the hymns from the Holy Scripture was almost dragged from  his place and in his place the Nabha State authorities introduced their own paathi named S. Atma  Singh. Also, all the Sikhs numbering more than 100 who were present there were arrested. The interruption of Akhand Paath is considered a sacrilege by the Sikhs. This sacrilege further enraged the Sikh community. The morcha started on 9 July, 1923 to get Maharaja Ripudaman  Singh re-installed enhanced its momenturm. To express their agony the Sikhs decided to  intensity the morcha and start a series of divans at Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin, Jaito. 

On 15 September, 1923 the first Sikh jatha consisting of 25 Sikhs reached Jaito which  was to be followed by jathas of equal strength for about 6 months continuously. In the meantime the Secretary of State directed the Viceroy "to put an effective stop to the Akali operation by the  arrest and prosecution of all the organizers as abettors". As a result, the Punjab Government  declared SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal as unlawful organizations. All the 60 members of the  interim committee of the Shiromani Committee were arrested on charges of treason against the  King Emperor. 

On 29 September 1923, the SGPC condemned the official action and declared that the  Sikhs were determined to get their right to free worship reaffirmed. 

As per orders of the British authorities all the jathas were stopped on entering the Nabha  state territory and all the members of jathas were beaten mercilessly, tortured and then  imprisoned. Due to lack of space in the jails, after some time these Sikhs were left in remote  jungles where no food and water was available. 

After six months the Sikhs decided to intensity the morcha by increasing the number  from 25 to 500. On 9 February, 1924 the first jatha consisting of 500 Sikhs left Akal Takht  Sahib, Amritsar for Jaito. This jatha was given a cordial reception by the Sikhs in all the villages  and towns through which it passed. S. Zimand, a New York Times correspondent who witnessed  the jatha marching towards Jaito stated that "The Jatha was moving in perfect order and non violence with large crowds of public on its right and left, five Nishan Sahibs in the front and Guru Granth in the middle." On 20 February 1924 this jatha reached Bargari, a village on the  Nabha-Faridkot border about 10 kms short of Jaito. In the meantime at Jaito, the Nabha  Administrator Wilson Johnston was stationed near Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib which is at a distance  of about 200 yards from Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin, with large contingents of  army with a view to crush all the Sikhs in the jatha. On 21 February 1924 thousands of Sikhs had  come out and reached Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin to have a darshan (holy  glimpse) of this shaheedi jatha.  

Thus, when this peacefully marching jatha was at a distance of about 200 yards from  Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin the British Administrator Wilson Johnston ordered  that the jatha should stop further movement. Ignoring the demand of the British Administrator  the jatha neither dispersed nor stopped and continued to march forward towards the Gurdwara.  The British Administrator ordered the army to open fire. In two volleys of fire lasting about five  minutes the bodies of the Sikhs were crushed to pieces and there was blood everywhere. A  doctor was present in the jatha but he was not allowed to undertake first aid. What astonished the  British Administrator was that even in the face of bullets, the surviving Sikhs continued to march forward reciting 'Satnam' 'Waheguru'. The bullets did not deter even a single Sikh. So much so  that when a child being carried by her mother got killed with a bullet, the mother laid down the  dead body of the child on the ground and continued to march forward alongwith her companions. 

However, soon thereafter she was also killed through a gunshot. 

As per Government proclaimation 22 Sikhs had died, 29 had gotten injured and 450 had  been imprisoned. But the Shiromani Committee announced that 100 Sikhs had been martyred  and 200 had been injured. The Government did not allow the surviving members of the jatha to  lift the dead bodies of their fellow members. In addition to these 100 Sikhs about 50 Sikhs died  during the morcha in accidents and tortures inflicted upon them in jails. The Sikhs in the Nabha  jail were killed after being inflicting severe tortures upon them wherein their flesh was pulled  with pliers.

On the night of 21 February, 1924 the Government loaded the dead bodies of the martyrs  in a specially requisitioned train and drowned them in the river Sutlej. The dead bodies of only  22 Sikhs were handed over to the Sikhs for cremation. The dead bodies of these 22 martyrs were  cremated near the market of Jaito, which is at a distance about ½ km from Gurdwara Gangsar  Sahib Patshahi Dasvin. To commemorate the martyrs, at the place of their cremation Gurdwara  Angitha Sahib has been established. The Shiromani Committee was able to identify the names  and addresses of only 17 out of these 22 martyrs which are given below. No information could  be traced about the remaining shaheeds.  

 

Name 

Village 

District*

Jas Singh 

Cheecha Bhakna 

Amritsar

Sunder Singh 

Karamgarh 

Patiala

Surain Singh 

Lubhwali 

Faridkot

Fumman Singh 

Vander 

Ferozepur

Sunder Singh 

Cheeda 

Ferozepur

Dewan Singh 

Sangarwal 

Hoshiarpur

Hari Singh 

Namoli 

Hoshiarpur

Harditt Singh 

Kaleke 

Ferozepur

Wariyam Singh 

Bagha Purana 

Ferozepur

10 

Fumman Singh 

Smalsar 

Ferozepur

11 

Magh Singh 

Rode 

Ferozepur

12 

Kapur Singh 

Rode 

Ferozepur

13 

Ghulla Singh 

Bhalur 

Ferozepur

14 

Natha Singh 

Moga 

Ferozepur

15 

Acchar Singh 

Matkar Kalan 

Jallandhar

16 

Bishan Singh 

Mangat 

Jallandhar

17 

Wadhawa Singh 

Charrik 

Ri Kalsia

 * Those names of the districts have been indicated which existed at that time. 

This gruesome incident caused resentment among the Sikhs not only in India but also in  some foreign countries. In addition to one jatha from Calcutta, one jatha including 11 Sikhs  came from Canada, two jathas came from China, one from Shanghai and the other from Hong  Kong,  

Inspite of the atrocities waged by the Britishers 13 more 500-strong shaheedi jathas reached Jaito and courted arrest. 

On 28 February, 1924 another shaheedi jatha consisting of 500 Sikhs started from Akal  Takht Sahib, Amritsar and reached Jaito on 14 March where it was arrested. The British  Government did not attack this jatha and only arrested it because they were upset that even  machine guns had not detered a single Sikh to withdraw from the jatha. The Jaito March was  continued for two years, each jatha consisted of 500 Sikhs. 

By the time 16 jathas consisting of 500 Sikhs had reached Jaito the British Government  had to bow. Feeling helpless the Governor of Punjab Sir Malcolm Hailey cunningly created a  paralled Sikh Sudhar Committee wherein a 101-strong jatha was allowed to recite Akhand Paath at Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin, Jaito. This act of the Governor further  infuriated the Sikhs. Thus the government was forced to initiate steps for reconciliation with the  Sikhs with the help of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and Bhai Jodh Singh. But this bore no fruit because the British Government was not willing to re-install Maharaja Ripudaman Singh in his  state. In the meantime the Punjab Government introduced Sikh Gurdwara Bill which was passed  unanimously on 7 July, 1924 by the Legislative Council. After the Bill was passed the Governor  of Punjab in his speech in the Punjab Legislative Council announced that the Administrator of  Nabha would permit bands of pilgrims to proceed to Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin  for religious worship. As a result of which most of the Akali prisoners were released. The police  was withdrawn from Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshashi Dasvin and the Gurdwara was handed  over to the Sikhs who now had got the freedom to start an Akhand Paath. Thus the Sikhs finally  emerged as conquerors of Jaito Morcha. 

In the whole country the word got spread that in the Jaito March even the machine guns  of Britishers could not stand in the face determination steadfastness and bravery of the Sikhs.  The tradition of martyrdom initiated by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth prophet-teacher of the  Sikhs strengthened by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib the ninth prophet-teacher of the Sikhs, and  further followed by the martyrs of the 18th and 19th centuries was still in its full bloom in the  20th century. 

The Britishers who were trying to abdicate the Maharajas of all the princely states had to  bow finally. The agitation which was started on 9 July 1923 lasted for two years until the Sikhs attained victory on 21 July, 1925. This victory was celebrated by the Sikhs by holding 101  Akhand Paaths in batches of 25, starting from 21 July, 1925 and concluding on 6 August, 1925. 

It may be added that in the Jaito Morcha Bibi Kishan Kaur (1860-1952) played a fearless  role wherein she helped in arranging rations for the shaheedi jathas as well as the Sikh Sangat which accompanied them. 

With a fear still lurking in the minds of the Britishers, in 1926 Maharaja Ripudaman  Singh was shifted from Dehra Dun Jail to a jail in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu where he died on 13  December, 1942. 

In Sikh religion Ardas has evolved over a long period of time and in this process every  new incident relating to sacrifice by the Sikhs is included. The incidents of tortures and  martyrdom of Sikhs which occurred during the 18th century have been added in this Ardas (prayer). As such the deeds of heroism and sacrifice of Sikhs are recounted every morning and  evening by the Sikhs in their Ardas (prayer) which is recited after Nit Nem (daily prayer) as well  as when any task is initiated. Ardas is also recited for the uninterrupted conclusion of this task. 

Ardas is also recited at the conclusion of family, public and religious functions. Ardas may be  performed, individually or in congregation. 

Earlier the Ardas included: 

‘‘ਜਜਨ੍ਹ ਾਂ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਾਂ ਨ੍ਾਮ ਜਜਿਆ, ਵੰ ਡ ਕ੃ਛਜਕਆ, ਧਰਮ ਸ੃ਤ ਷ੀ਷ ਜਿਤ੃, ਚਰਖੜੀਆਂ ਤ੃ਚੜਹ੃, ਬੰ ਿ ੨ ਕਟਵਾਏ,   ਿੁਠੀਆਂ ਖੱ ਲਾਂ ਲੁਸਾਈਆਂ, ਖ੅ਿਰੀਆਂ ਉਤਰਵਾਈਆਂ, ਜ਷ੱ ਖੀ ਜ਷ਿਕ ਕ੃਷ਾਂ ਷ਵਾ਷ਾਂ ਨ੍ਾਲ ਜਨ੍ਬਾਜਸਆ, ਗੁਰਿੁਆਜਰਆਂ ਿ੃ ਷ੁਧਾਰ ਜਸਤ ਷ਰੀ ਤਰਨ੍ ਤਾਰਨ੍ ਷ਾਜਸਬ ਜੀ, ਷ਰੀ ਨ੍ਨ੍ਕਾਣਾ ਷ਾਜਸਬ ਜੀ, ਗੁਰੂਕ੃ਬਾਗ, ਷ਰੀ ਿੰ ਜਾ ਷ਾਜਸਬ, ਗੁਰਿੁਆਰਾ ਗੰ ਗ਷ਰ ਜਵਖ੃ਅ਷੄ਸ ਤ੃ਅਕ੄ਸ ਕਸ਼ਟ ਷ਸਾਰਿ੃ਸ੅ਏ ਸ਼ਸੀਿ ਸ੅ਗਏ, ਜਤਨ੍ਹ ਾਂ ਜ਷ੰ ਘ ਜ਷ੰ ਘਣੀਆਂ ਭੁਝੰ ਗੀਆਂ ਿੀ ਕਮਾਈ ਿਾ ਜਧਆਨ੍ ਧਰ ਖਾਲ਷ਾ ਷ਾਜਸਬ ਬ੅ਲ੅ਜੀ ਵਾਜਸਗੁਰੂ੩ ...’’

Thus, in this Ardas we paid tribute to the martyrs of Jaito morcha at Gurdwara Gangsar  Sahib Patshahi Dasvin. 

But more recently, for reasons unknown, the portion of Ardas relating to Gangsar Sahib  has been deleted. Now it reads as follows: 

‘‘ਜਜਨ੍ਹ ਾਂ ਜ਷ੰ ਘਾਂ ਜ਷ੰ ਘਣੀਆਂ ਨ੍ੇ ਧਰਮ ਸ੃ਤ ਷ੀ਷ ਜਿੱ ਤ੃, ਬੰ ਿ ਬੰ ਿ ਕਟਾਏ, ਖ੅ਿਰੀਆਂ ਲੁਸਾਈਆਂ, ਚਰਖੀਆਂ ’ਤ੃ਚੜਹ੃,   ਆਜਰਆਂ ਨ੍ਾਲ ਜਚਰਾਏ ਗਏ, ਗੁਰਿੁਆਜਰਆਂ ਿੀ ਷੃ਵਾ ਲਈ ਕੁਰਬਾਨ੍ੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ, ਧਰਮ ਨ੍ਸੀਂ ਸਾਜਰਆ, ਜ਷ੱ ਖੀ ਕ੃਷ਾਂ ਷ੁਆ਷ਾਂ ਨ੍ਾਲ ਜਨ੍ਬਾਸੀ, ਜਤਨ੍ਹ ਾਂ ਿੀ ਕਮਾਈ ਿਾ ਜਧਆਨ੍ ਧਰ ਕ੃, ਖ਼ਾਲ਷ਾ ਜੀ` ਬ੅ਲ੅ਜੀ ਵਾਜਸਗੁਰੂ!...’’ 

It is unfortunate that in the present day Ardas we do not pay homage to the martyrs  of Jaito Morcha. 

Every year at Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Patshahi Dasvin a special Akhand Paath is  held during February 19-21 to commemorate the Sikhs who were martyred on February  21, 1924 during the Jaito Morcha. 

HAIL THE MARTYRS! 

Have something to say? Post your comment