1. Singh Sabha Movement isMG sBw lhr <siqgur pRswid Sikh Network Workshop

2. Part I - History Rediscovering the Sikh Identity Objective To discover the reasons for the revival of Sikhism and for the reassertion of Sikh identity through critical examination of historical events from 1849-1925; to appreciate one of the major accomplishments of the Sikh Sabha Lehir - the Sikh Rehat Maryada; and to initiate a dialog to address present-day problems besetting the Panth.

3. Topics of Discussion n Background History n Inciting events for Reform n Individual reform movements n Consolidation of Resources n Limitations and Time for Change

4. Background History n British Rule n Religious Climate n Cultural and Historical Confusion n Precursor Movements n Sikh Spirit

5. British Rule n Fall of Sikh Raj by 1849 n Punjab government n White Man’s Burden

6. Religious Climate n Strife amongst Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs n Arya Samaj (Hindu reform movement) -- Sikhs were a sect of Hindus n Rituals in Sikh institutions and assimilation of Hinduism n Untouchables still not recognized. n Conversion to Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism

7. Cultural and Historical Confusion n Census of 1855 listed Sikhs as Hindus (not until 1871 were they considered separate) n Historical documents destroyed

8. Precursor Movements n Namdharis n Nirankaris n Other Movements u Udasis u Sehajdharis

9. Sikh Spirit n Apathy rampant n British authors commented on Sikhs being their own worst enemy. n Many predictions that Sikhism would soon die.

10. Inciting Events for Reform n German linguist translation of Adi Granth ridiculed Sikh doctrine and assumed Sikhs were Hindus, thus fueling Arya Samaj movement. n Conversion of 4 kids in Amritsar Mission School to Christianity amongst numerous other converts. n Communication of events now facilitated by newspapers, railroads, postal service.

11. Brainstorming Session n Education n Identity / Sikh Morale n Political Power n Economic Improvement n Gurudwaras n Constants / Other issues

12. Individual Reform Movements n Amritsar Singh Sabha (1873) n Lahore Singh Sabha (1879) n Other Singh Sabhas

13. Amritsar Singh Sabha n Baba Khem Singh Bedi n Maharaja of Faridkot n Expansion of education n Defend against infiltration by Muslims and Christians n Elitist and more traditional n Sikhs as reformists within greater Hinduism n Udasis and Sehajdharis accepted

14. Lahore Singh Sabha n Prof. Gurmukh Singh -- professor of mathematics and Punjab n Lower-caste Sikhs and professional or middle-class Sikhs involved in education and journalism. n Sikh separateness n Attacked popular customs

15. Other Singh Sabhas n Local offshoots n International involvement (e.g. Burma, Malaysia, North America, Africa…)

16. Consolidation of Resources n Local Singh Sabhas formed coalitions for efficiency and political leverage. u Lahore Singh Sabha u Amritsar Singh Sabha n Chief Khalsa Diwan

17. Chief Khalsa Diwan n accommodate Singh Sabhas n efficiency and cohesiveness n allied with British n communication n reestablish lost ties. n extend internationally n building hospitals and orphanages

18. Events n 1905 – idols removed from Golden Temple n 1908 – first Sikh Educational Conference n 1908 – Khalsa Biradhari n 1909 – Macauliffe’s The Sikh Religion published in 6 volumes n 1912 – legalization of Anand karaj n 1914 – kirpaan exempted from the Arms Act

19. Communication n newsletters n questionnaires n fundraising efforts n accountability of highest priority n reported earnings and expenditures n documented human resources.

20. Limitations and Time for Change n Akali Movement n Gurudwara Reform Movement n SGPC n Sikh Rehat Maryada

21. Akali movement seeds were sown n Disenchantment with compromises with the British n More fundamentalist Sikh beliefs n Generally more rural and lower- caste involvement n Spirit of independence and stronger political power

22. Gurudwara Reform Movement n Gradual liberation of many gurudwaras already taking place n Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) u Wrestle gurudwaras free from Mahants u Common practices in common places of worship u Overcoming bloody hostility

23. Call for Unity, Focus on Naam hoie iekqR imlhu myry BweI duibDw dUir krhu ilv lwie ] hir nwmY ky hovhu joVI gurmuiK bYshu sPw ivCwie ] 1 ]  Come and join together, O my Siblings of Destiny; dispel your sense of duality and let yourselves be lovingly absorbed in the Lord. Let yourselves be joined to the Name of the Lord; become Gurmukh, spread out your mat, and sit down. || 1 || ien@ ibiD pwsw Fwlhu bIr ] gurmuiK nwmu jphu idnu rwqI AMq kwil nh lwgY pIr ] 1 ] rhwau ] u In this way, throw the dice, O brothers. As Gurmukh, chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, day and night. At the very last moment, you shall not have to suffer in pain. || 1 || krm Drm qum@ caupiV swjhu squ krhu qum@ swrI ] kwmu k®oDu loBu mohu jIqhu AYsI Kyl hir ipAwrI ] 2 ] u Let righteous actions be your gameboard, and let the truth be your dice. Conquer sexual desire, anger, greed and worldly attachment; only such a game as this is dear to the Lord.||2|| auiT iesnwnu krhu prBwqy soey hir AwrwDy ] ibKVy dwau lµGwvY myrw siqguru suK shj syqI Gir jwqy ] 3 ] u Rise in the early hours of the morning, and take your cleansing bath. Before you go to bed at night, remember to worship the Lord. My True Guru will assist you, even on your most difficult moves; you shall reach your true home in celestial peace and poise. || 3 || u pg 1187 SGGS

24. Part II - Rehat Sikh Rehat Maryada - Forming a Consensus in the Panth

25. Which Rehat to use? n 37 different rehats available in 1925 n Orally communicated or written texts of notable Sikhs F Bhai Nand Lal ji F Bhai Daya Singh ji F Bhai Chaupa Singh F Bhai Desa Singh

26. Mission - Consensus n In 1927 the SGPC appointed a 25 member rahu- reet sub-committee u “to prepare a draft rahu-reet in the light of rahitnamas and other Sikh texts and in consultation with leading Sikh scholars”. n Professor Teja Singh ji was the convener of this committee u Bhai Vir Singh ji, Bhai Kahn Singh ji (Nabha), Akali Kaur Singh ji, Bhai Randhir Singh ji, Professor Jodh Singh ji etc.

27. Mission - Consensus n First draft available in 1931 n Sent out to all Sikh institutions around India and abroad (Burma, Malay, USA, Canada) n Finally in 1945 the SGPC approved the current version of the Sikh Rehat Maryada. n Three changes thus far

28. Rehat Maryada Contents n Definition of a Sikh “Any human being who faithfully believes in One Immortal Being, Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, the Guru Granth Sahib, the utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and keeps nischae in the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh”

29. Individual living ( SKsI rihxI ) Meditating on Nam and Scriptures (nwm bwxI dw AiBAwis)) u nitnem u ardas u how to act in sangat and gurudwara u how to take hukam u how to perform sadharan paath, akhand path u karah parshad, kirtan, kathaa

30. Individual living ( SKsI rihxI ) Living in consonance with Guru’s tenets (gurmq dI rihxI) u rules of moral and social conduct u birth and naming ceremony u marriage ceremony (anand karaj) u death ceremony Selfless Service (syvw ) u Guru ka langar F teaches selfless service F banish distinction of caste and status

31. Corporate Sikh Life ( pNQk rihxI ) n The Guru Panth u “The Guru Panth (Panth’s status of Guruhood) means the whole body of committed baptised Sikhs. This body was fostered by all the ten Gurus and the tenth Guru gave it its final shape and invested it with Guruhood.” n Amrit ceremony n Method of imposing chastisement - Tankhaa n Procedure to adopt Gurmatta n Appeal local decisions at Akal Takhat

32. Rehat’s importance rihq ipAwrI muJ kau, isK ipAwrw nwih [ u Rehat piaaree mujh kou, sikh piaaraa naahi. rihxI rhY soeI isK myrw [ Ehu swihb mY aus kw cyrw [ u Rehnee rahai soee sikh mera. Oh sahib mai us ka chera. rihq ibnW nih isK khwvY [ rihq ibnW dr cotW KwvY [ u Rehat binaa(n) nahi sikh kahaavai. Rehat binaa dar choTa(n) khaavai. rihq ibn suK kbhuM n lhy [ qW qy rhiq su idRV kr rhY [ u Rehat bin sukh kabhoo(n) na lahe. Taa(n) te rehat su drirr kar rahai. (rihqnwmw Bw: dysw isMG jI) pg. 1015 Amrit Kirtan

33. References n History of the Sikhs by Dr. Sangat Singh n Essays in Sikhism by Principal Teja Singh n The Singh Sabha and Other Socioeconomic Movements, edited by Dr. Ganda Singh n Construction of Religious Boundaries by Harjot Oberi n Mahan Kosh by Khan Singh Nabha n Singh Sabha Lehar by Sikh Missionary College (Punjabi) n Essays by Harbans Singh and others in Essays in the Honor of Dr. Ganda Singh