Ram Singh Kuka

Ram Singh Kuka (3 February 1816 – 29 November 1885[1][2][3][4]) was the second guru (religious leader) of the Namdhari sect of Sikhism. He is credited as being the first British Indian to use non-cooperation and boycott of British goods and services as a political tool.[5][6][7] He was exiled to Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar) by the British colonial government of India on 18 January 1872.

Satguru

Ram Singh

Ji
Equestrian painting of Ram Singh Kuka
Guru of the Namdharis
In office
1841 – 17 January 1872
Preceded byGuru Balak Singh
Succeeded byGuru Hari Singh
TitleSecond Guru of the Namdharis
Personal
Born
Ram Singh Tarkhan

3 February 1816
Riayan village (Bhaini Sahib)
Died29 November 1885 (aged 69)
Mergui, Burma (Myanmar)
ReligionSikhism
SpouseMata Jassan
ChildrenBibi Daya Kaur
Bibi Nand Kaur
Parents
  • Baba Jassa Singh (father)
  • Mata Sada Kaur (mother)
SectNamdhari
Religious career
Based inHazron village
ExileExiled to Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar) by the British colonial government of India on 18 January 1872

Biography

Ram Singh was born in a small-farming Tarkhan family to mother Sada Kaur and father Jassa Singh. He lived in the village of Raiyan, near Sri Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana. He was raised without an education and only learnt how to become a carpenter when he grew up, although he did not succeed in that so his father sent him to the army of the Sikh Empire at age 20[5] under Sher Singh. As the empire fell apart after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, concerns over British power and Sikh decline led him to galvanize his followers (of mostly humble origin) to proclaim a new "Kuka Khalsa" to restore Sikh prestige.[5]

Ram Singh Kuka was a member of a unit of Prince Naunial Singh's platoon, the Baghel Regiment. His regiment was sent to Peshawar to bring the royal coffers. On its way back, the unit rested at Hazro Fort, now in Pakistan. It is said that Ram Singh and some soldiers of his regiment went to meet Balak Singh of the Namdharis. Balak Singh was overjoyed to see Ram Singh and according to folklore told him: "I had been waiting for you."[8] He told Ram Singh Kuka that he was the next in line to Balak Singh.

Balak Singh gave him "Patasha" (sugar bubbles), a coconut, five paise coins and took five rounds around him in reverence and bowed before him,[9] making him his successor.

Sant Khalsa (Saint Khalsa)

He administered Khande di Pahul (Amrit Sanchar) to 5 Sikhs: Kahn Singh Nihang of village Chak, Labh Singh Ragi of Amritsar, Atma Singh of Alo Muhar village, Bhai Naina Singh Wariyah, and Sudh Singh of village Durgapur. Afterwards, several people from the congregation took amrit.[10] It is noted within the Kuka British Archives as well as Giani Gian Singh's Panth Parkash that within 10 years Satguru Ram Singh baptized over 100000 people with amrit.[11] The followers of Satguru Ram Singh and initiates into the Sant Khalsa were known as Namdharis or Kukas.

  • Painting of a Namdhari or Kuka congregation of Ram Singh Kuka performing katha (Sikh religious discourse lecture) with an opened scripture of Guru Granth Sahib
    Painting of a Namdhari or Kuka congregation of Ram Singh Kuka performing katha (Sikh religious discourse lecture) with an opened scripture of Guru Granth Sahib
  • Equestrian painting of Ram Singh Kuka with his retinue (including his five appointed governors known as subas)
    Equestrian painting of Ram Singh Kuka with his retinue (including his five appointed governors known as subas)
  • 20th century painting of Ram Singh Kuka
    20th century painting of Ram Singh Kuka

References
  1. "Satguru Ram Singh Ji". www.namdhari-world.com. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  2. Students' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan. 1 January 2000. ISBN 9780852297605. Retrieved 25 August 2016 – via Google Books.
  3. "Ram Singh Kuka Biography, History and Facts". www.mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. "Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji - the twelfth Master". www.sikh-heritage.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  5. "Ram Singh - Indian Philosopher". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  6. Press Information Bureau, Government of India issued on 16 December 2016
  7. "Ram Singh | Indian philosopher | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  8. Saldi, Tara Singh Anjan/Rattan (16 September 2016). SATGURU RAM SINGH JI AND KUKA MOVEMENT. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 9788123022581.
  9. Tara Singh Anjan - Ram Singh and Kuka Movement, p. 14
  10. Sanehi, Swaran Singh. Foremost Freedom Fighters. Maidenhead, Berks: Deportation Centenary Committee.
  11. Panth Parkash, Giani Gian Singh Vol.7
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