Namdhari or Kuka Movement | Punjab State (PPSC) PSC: Preparation - PPSC PCS (Punjab) PDF Download

Introduction

• Founder: The movement was founded by Baba Balak Singh, who lived in the village of Hazro in the North-Western Frontier region of Punjab. He emphasized the repetition of God’s name and rejected religious rituals. 
• Followers: Initially called Jagiasis by Baba Balak Singh, the followers later became known as ‘Namdharis.’ 
• Leadership Transition: After Baba Balak Singh’s death, his disciple Baba Ram Singh, a former soldier in Ranjit Singh’s army, took over the leadership. The movement became known as the Kuka Movement.

Baba Ram Singh's Contributions

• Return to Bhaini: Baba Ram Singh returned to Bhaini in 1855 and began attracting people with his simple lifestyle and religious teachings. 
• Formal Inauguration: He officially launched the Namdhari Movement on April 1, 1857, instituting rituals inspired by Guru Gobind Singh’s Khalsa founding. 
• Community Rules: Baba Ram Singh established a set of rules for Namdharis, promoting ethical, personal, social, hygienic, and political guidelines. 

Main Objectives of the Kuka Movement:

• Worship Practices: The Namdharis rejected the worship of gods, goddesses, idols, graves, and tombs, as well as rituals performed by Brahmin priests. 
• Authority: They rejected the authority of hereditary custodians of Sikh Gurdwaras. 
• Gender Equality: The movement promoted gender equality, allowing widowed women to remarry. 
• Prohibitions: Namdharis were prohibited from drinking, using intoxicating drugs, stealing, committing adultery, and lying. Beef consumption was strictly forbidden. 
• Cattle Protection: Protecting cattle was a core value of the Namdharis. 
• Political Freedom: Baba Ram Singh linked political freedom to religion and adopted a Non-cooperation policy against the British. 

Early Spread and Resistance:

• Expansion: The movement quickly spread across Punjab, gaining followers in districts like Bathinda. 
• Revolutionary Involvement: Members of the Mastana Dal, associated with the Kuka Movement, actively participated in the freedom struggle. 

1872 Events:

• Meeting at Bhaini: In January 1872, during Lohri, Kukas gathered at Bhaini and planned to assassinate butchers in Malerkotla, despite Baba Ram Singh’s advice for peace. 
• British Retaliation: The British government responded by sending troops to Malerkotla, leading to the arrest and killing of Kukas. 
• Baba Ram Singh’s Exile: Baba Ram Singh was exiled to Rangoon as part of the British crackdown. 
• Suppression: The Kuka Movement was violently suppressed by the British in 1872. 

Singh Sabha Movement

• Origin: The Singh Sabha Movement began in Punjab, with the first Sabha established at Amritsar on October 1, 1873. 
• Formation of Lahore Sabha: The Lahore Singh Sabha was formed in November 1879 by Professor Gurmukh Singh and affiliated with the Amritsar Sabha. 
• Purpose: The movement aimed to reform Sikhism and address unrest in the Sikh community caused by various factors, including Christian conversions. 
• Objectives: To propagate true Sikhism, restore its glory, edit and publish historical and religious texts, promote modern knowledge, and start magazines in Gurmukhi Punjabi. 
• Expansion: As the movement gained popularity, more Singh Sabhas were established in different cities, and a central organization was created in Amritsar, later renamed Khalsa Diwan. 
• Achievements: The movement led to the foundation of the Sikh Educational Society, legalization of Sikh marriages through the Anand Marriage Act, removal of idols from Darbar Sahib, establishment of a common code of conduct for Sikhs, and publication of numerous books and magazines. 
• Impact: The Singh Sabha Movement had a lasting effect on Sikhism by eliminating religious diversity within the faith. 

Arya Samaj Movement

• Establishment: The Arya Samaj was founded by Dayananda Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay. 
• Spread to Punjab: Dayananda Saraswati opened a branch of the Arya Samaj in Lahore in 1877, promoting pride in Indian culture and civilization. 
• Influence on Patriots: The Arya Samaj produced several prominent patriots in Punjab, including Lala Lajpat Rai, Sardar Ajit Singh, Shradhanand, Bhai Parmanand, and Lala Hardayal. 
• Support for Freedom Fighters: Arya Samajis supported freedom fighters and their newspapers played a crucial role in the freedom movement. 
• Government Surveillance: Due to their political activities, the British government closely monitored Arya Samajis in Punjab. 

Brahmo Samaj Movement

• Founder: The Brahmo Samaj was established by Raja Rammohan Roy in 1828. 
• Branch in Punjab: The first branch of the Brahmo Samaj in Punjab was opened at Lahore in 1861 by Pandit Nobin Chandra Roy. 
• Beliefs: The Brahmo Samaj does not discriminate based on caste, creed, or religion and worships Brahman, the highest reality. 
• Brahma: Brahma is considered the Unsearchable Eternal, Immutable Being who is the Author and Preserver of the Universe. 
• Expansion in Punjab: Many branches of the Brahmo Samaj were established in Punjab, including Ouetta, Rawalpindi, and Amritsar. 
• Inspiration: The Brahmo Dharma inspired a significant number of people in Punjab.