| |
|
The movement arose with the objective of freeing the Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) from the control of ignorant and corrupt mahants (priests). The Gurudwaras had been heavily endowed with revenue-free land and money by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sikh chieftains and other devout Sikhs during the 18th and 15th centuries. These shrines came to be managed during the 18th century by Udasi Sikh mahants who escaped the wrath of Mughal authorities because they did not wear their hairs long. In time corruption spread among these mahants and they began to treat the offerings and other income of the Gurudwaras as their personal income. Many of them began to live a life of luxury and dissipation. Apart from the mahants, after the British annexation of Punjab in 1849, some control over the Gurudwaras was exercised by Government nominated managers and custodians, who often collaborated with mahants. The nationalist were specially horrified by two incidents- when the priests of the Golden Temple at Amritsar issued a hukumnama (directive) against the Ghadarites, declaring them renegades, and then honored General Dyer, the butcher of Jallianwala massacre with a saropa (robe of honor) and declared him to be a Sikh. A popular agitation for the reform of Gurudwaras developed rapidly during 1920 when the reformers organized groups of volunteers known as Jatthas to compel the mahants to hand over the control of the Gurudwaras to local devotees. The Government did not want to antagonize the reformers at this stage and decided to stem the rising tide of discontent on such an emotional religious issue by appeasing the popular sentiments. It therefore, permitted the Government appointed manager to resign and let the control of the Temple pass into the reformers hand. To control and manage the Golden temple, Akal Takht and other Gurudwaras met in November 1920 and elected a committee ofn 175 to be known as the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. At the same time, a need was felt for a central body which would organize the struggle on a more systematic basis. The Shiromani Akali Dal was established for this purpose in December. next page >> |
Copyright ©2000 indiansaga.info. All rights reserved.
By using this service, you accept that you won't copy or use the data given in this website for any commercial purpose.
The material on indiansaga.info is for informational & educational purpose only.
This site is best viewed at 800 X 600 picture resolution.
