Satguru Ram Singh

Satguru Ram Singh ji (3 February 1816 - present ), was a Sikh 12 satguru and reformer. He is credited as being the first Indian to use non-cooperation and boycott of British merchandise and services as a political weapon.

Early life

Satguru Ram Singh JJ was avatar into a family of carpenters on February 3, 1816, as the eldest son of Mata Sada Kaur and sardar Jassa Singh Ji. He lived in the village of Raiyan, near Sri Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana. He later became the founder of Namdhari Sikhism.

Career

As a young man, Satguru Ram Singh Ji served in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, more particularly in the Regiment of Bagagel. He led a disciplined life and inspired his fellow soldiers to be religious. He was critical of the behaviour of the Sikh army soldiers which he viewed as immoral and was generally disillusioned with the fall in values of the society.

Satguru Ram Singh Ji was a member of a unit of Prince Naunihal Singh platoon which was sent in 1841 from Lahore to Peshawar to bring the royal coffers. On its way back, the unit rested at Hazro Fort, now in Pakistan. It is said that Satguru Ram Singh Ji and some soldiers of his regiment went to meet Satguru Balak Singh Ji, a great saint who was living nearby. Satguru Balak Singh Ji was overjoyed to see Satguru Ram Singh Ji and said to him: “I had been waiting for you.”

Satguru Balak Singh Ji gave the Guru mantra to Satguru Ram Singh Ji and said that he had to keep it in his heart and pass on this name to deserving seekers. Satguru Balak Singh Ji gave him sugar bubbles, a coconut, five paise and took five rounds around him in reverence and bowed before him. In 1845, Satguru Ram Singh Ji left the Khalsa army and returned to Sri Bhaini Sahib to live the life of a pious householder pursuing the spiritual path.

The day, April 12, 1857, was Baisakhi, an auspicious day in the history of Namdhari Sikhism. On that day, Satguru Ram Singh Ji administered Amrit Sanchar to five of his disciples and founded the Namdhari Khalsa. On that day, Satguru Ram Singh Ji hoisted a white triangular flag in Sri Bhaini Sahib before a small group of artisans and peasants who formed the core of his Namdhari Khalsa.

Satguru Ram Singh Ji named his sect Namdhari as the disciples had to enshrine the Lord's name in their heart and soul. From birth to death, they would live with the name. Satguru Ram Singh Ji knew that only a person of high moral values and principles could sacrifice his life for the cause of the nation and society. He set out to create this ideal Sikh who would be spiritually and morally empowered.

The code of conduct or maryada prescribed by Satguru Ram Singh Ji was very demanding. It emphasised both inner and outer purity of the disciple. The Namdhari Sikh had to get up early in the morning, take a head-to-toe bath and tune his body and mind to receive the presence of Akal Purakh or God in his everyday life. His nitnem or daily schedule included long hours of naam simran, jap and chanting of the Gurbani. He could partake of only vegetarian food prepared with water from natural sources such as wells, streams, springs and rivers. He was forbidden to eat any form of meat or consume alcohol or tobacco. Protecting the cows and motherland, feeding the hungry and the poor were his primary duties.

Singing in groups with cymbals and dholaks, the devotees would shriek loudly in divine ecstasy and hence earned the name Kukas which meant “those who shriek”.The Kukas revered their Guru and feared none. Satguru Ram Singh ji toured the entire Punjab with his disciples, administering naam and amrit to thousands who sought his spiritual guidance. It is said that within ten years from 1857 to 1867, Satguru ji had baptised over seven lacs people. Men, women and children of all ages thronged in thousands to his camp to join the spiritual movement which gave them a unique identity and dignity.

Satguru Ram Singh ji introduced a simple system of marriage called Anand Karaz, which dispensed with Vedic rituals and Brahmin priests. This social reform had a tremendous positive impact on the lives of ordinary people. In accordance with the instruction of the Satguru, weddings were performed in the gurdwaras in front of the Holy Granth and the Satguru. No ostentation or dowry was permitted. After the simple wedding ceremony, all had to take food at the langar or community kitchen. The Anand Karaz system relieved poor peasants of the financial burden of getting their daughters married. In fact, if any Namdhari gave or took dowry there was severe punishment in the form of social boycott.

Satguru Ram Singh ji banned the evil practice of female foeticide and the killing of girl children, which prevailed in Punjab then. Another principle which was central to Namdhari Sikhism was the commitment to the protection of cows.

The Government of India has officially decided to commemorate 200th anniversary of Satguru Ram Singh. Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India dated 16.12.2016. The press release states: “Satguru Ram Singh was a great leader of Kuka Movement and Namdhari Sikh Sect, a Spiritual Teacher, Social Reformer and a prominent Freedom fighter. He was born in the year 1816. Last year was his 200th Birth Anniversary year. The decision to commemorate his 200th birth anniversary has been taken keeping in view the contributions made by him towards the cause of the Society.”