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IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : Modern India - THE AKALI MOVEMENT

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

Modern India 1857-1964

THE AKALI MOVEMENT

Structure
19.0 Objectives
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Social Evils in Sikh Society and Early Reforms
19.2.1 The Nirankiui Movement
19.2.2 The hdhari Movement
19.2.3 The Singh Sabha Movement
19.3 The Akali Movement
19.3.1 Misuse of Shrine Funds
19.3.2 ~truggl; for the Akali Control over the Golden Temple and Akal Takht
19.3.3 Nankana Tragedy
19.3.4 Toshakhana Key's Affair
19.3.5 Guru-Ka-Bagh Morcha
19.3.6 The Akali Agitation in Nabha
19.4 Passage of the Gurdwara Bill and End of the Akali Movement
19.5 Let Us Sum Up
19.6 Key Words
19.7 hswers to Check Your Progress Exercises

19.0 OBJECTIVES

This Unit will deal with the social reform movements among the Sikhs, particularly the Akali Movement. This movement brought about a distinct change in the social and intellectual attitude of the Sikh Community and fostered a nationalist spirit them, After reading this Unit, you should be able to:

know about the different reform movemeqts that took place prior to the Akali Movement,.
explain the causes that gave rise to the &li Movement,
desciibe the courqe and maimevents of thk Akali Movement, and
know about the significance of the Gurudwara Bill in the Akali Movemenb

19.1 INTRODUCTION

As you have already, read in Unit 8, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were a period of socio-religious ayakening and reform in India. In social life these reforms attacked superstition and the traditional caste ba+d divi6bn~. of society. These movements worked for the abolition of evil practices like Sati, female infanticide and *ld marriagei They advocated widow remarriage, equal rights for women and modem educ'ation. They reform movements mainly concentrated 6n the evils in Hindu society. At the same time, other,, cornminities like the Muslims and the Sikhs wereMso undergokg sweligious changes. The Sikh community which in some ways had deviated from the path shown by the Sikh Gurus also needed social and religious reforms. Since movements of socio-religious reform in the nineteenth century have already been discussed, this unit/*ill disyss, in detail, movements of socio-religious reform among the Sikhs with special reference to the Akali Movement which became a major force in changing the social outlook bhhe Sikh community and brought them in the mainstream of Indian nationalism. Before going into details of the Akali movement it will be relevant to study briefly? other movements o$ socio-religious reform among the Sikhs which created necessary social awakening and led to the launching of the Akali struggle for Gurudwara reform.

19.2 SOCIAL EVILS IN SIKH SOCIETY AND EARLY REFORMS

As you might have read, Sikhism started as a movement of social protest against social evils such as discrimination in the name of caste, ritualism taking precedence over the true spirit of religion and the domination of the priestly classes through religion. Its founder, Guru Nan-& Dev, believed in unity of the Godhead and the brotherhood of mankind. He condemned meaningless rites and rituals and preached belief in one God. Like other saints of medieval India, he laid emphasis on good actions and honest living. "Truth is high but higher still is truthful living", said Nanak. To put his teachings into practice Guru Nanak I introduced the twin institutions of Sangat, congregation, and Pangat, eating food from the free community kitchen while sitting in one line. Guru Nanak also advocated equality for women. "Why degrade women who give birth to kings and greatmen", said Nanak. He preached against the different evils rampant in society and advocated the establishment of a just social order. However, these simple and practical teachings of Guru Nanak and of I successive Sikh Gurus were not followed properly by the people. In due course Sikh religion was firmly established and developed its own rituals and institutions.