Sikh Leadership Crisis

The people of Punjab are known for their bravery, discipline, and devotion. We have the utmost respect for our Gurus, martyrs, and leadership. Our leadership has also lead the community with selflessness and contributed to our rich history that we remember everyday in our Ardaas. Who can forget the contribution of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who led the valiant Khalsa to victory against the invincible Mughals. Remember Baba Deep Singh who etched a line on the ground with his khanda declaring his mission to liberate Harmander Sahib. How about the greatest king of all, our own Maharaja Ranjeet Singh who established the Khalsa Sarkar in the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh ji.

The court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore

But that was it, the passing away of aging Maharaja created fissures in the Sikh leadership who fought with each other and our leadership crumbled like a sand castle. The treachery of Dogra kings from Jammu and spineless attitude of Sikh Sardars was shamelessly displayed at the surrender of young Maharaja Duleep Singh in front of Lord Dalhousie.

Surrender of 8-year old Prince Duleep Singh along with Dogra Gulab Singh and Sikh Sardars

The true Sikh leadership were eliminated systematically by the British political cunning and our own traitors who sold their souls for titles and concessions. The elimination of Sikh leaders like Hari Singh Nalwa, Akali Baba Phoola Singh, Mihan Singh, Sham Singh Attariwala, and Sher Singh Attariwala gave rise to boot lickers like Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu, Rajas of Patiala, Jind, Kapurthala, and Ranjodh Singh Majithia. There was glimpses of the "old" Sikh leadership by stubborn resistance by Baba Maharaj Singh who died in exile in a 6'X6' cell in Singapore prison.

Sardar Sham Singh Atariwala Sabhraon

This brought about a period of exploitation where the Sikh feudal chiefs assumed the titles of "Maharajas" and became subservient to their British masters.  

Maharaja Patiala Bhupinder Singh with Viceroy of India 

The ultimate shame was earned by Sardar Bahadur Sir Aroor Singh Shergill, (1865-1926), The Sarbarah (manager) of the principal Sikh shrines at Amritsar from 1907 to 1920, much maligned for his role in honoring General Reginald Dyer, responsible for Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 at Darbar Sahib. Demand for his removal as Sarbarah gathered momentum day by day. Ultimately, Arur Singh bowed to the popular will and resigned with a public apology. Incidentally Aroor Singh was the grandfather (Nana) of Khalistani leader Simranjit Singh Maan.

Sardar Bahadur "Sir" Aroor Singh Shergill

During this period there were many personalities who emerged as the natural leadership of Sikh struggle for freedom. Baba Kharak Singh's name is associated with the birth of political consciousness in Punjab, its maturing into a movement and the first triumph of the experiment of passive resistance to be carried out in India. He is the most important Sikh character of the Indo-British history. He led the movement to free Sikh Gurdwaras from the clutches of British stooges like Aroor Singh and was elected the first President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) in 1921. On January 17, 1922, the keys of the Golden Temple were handed over to Baba Kharak Singh, who had been released along with thousands of other political prisoners, at the Akal Takht. On this day, Mahatma Gandhi, who was then ‘Dictator' of the Indian National Congress, sent the following telegram to Baba Kharak Singh: "First decisive battle for India's freedom won. Congratulations."

Baba Kharak Singh, the leader of Sikh Freedom Movement

This movement also brought in high caliber political leadership such as Giani Gopal Singh Qaumi, Teja Singh Samundari, and many more, who shaped the Sikh freedom struggle and became instrumental in defining the constitution of SGPC. But then the leadership came in the hands of Master Tara Singh, a simple and honest man but with this primary school teacher was no match for the wily ways of British educated barristers of Congress party and Muslim League.

Master Tara Singh, Jinnah, and Gandhi

Master Tara Singh opposed the creation of Pakistan at the insistence of Gandhi and Nehru. This brought Sikhs into direct confrontation with Muslim league and sectarian violence took almost a million lives before Gandhi and Nehru agreed to the creation of Pakistan, leaving Master Tara Singh and Sikhs in no man's land. The Sikhs were a small minority in the newly formed undivided Punjab.

After independence, it was proposed that the Shiromani Akali Dal be dissolved and merge with Indian National Congress. The Sikh leadership, quite rightly refused and chose to stay independent under Master Tara Singh. At this movement some Akali leaders jumped the ship and joined Congress on their own, The prominent among these were Sardar Baldev Singh, the first defense minister of independent India, Swarn Singh, Giani Zail Singh, Gurnam Singh Gill, Gurdial Singh Dhillon, and Partap Singh Kairon.

Defense Minister Baldev Singh with Nehru

The Sikhs were surprised by their omission in the Indian constitution. Sikhs along with Budhdhists, and Jains were clubbed together under the broader term - "Hindu Law". The Hindu Marriage act governed the Sikh weddings and the Sikh wedding ceremony of "Anand Kaaraj" was not recognized in the Indian constitution. The speaker of Indian Parliament, Sardar Hukam Singh refused to sign the constitution. Hukam Singh has entered politics through the Shiromani Akali Dal and was its President for three years. In the 1st Lok Sabha, Hukam Singh was elected as an Akali Party candidate. He became the secretary of the National Democratic Front led by Shyama Prasad Mookerjee. Later he joined and remained in the Congress political party.

Sardar Hukam Singh, Speaker of Indian Parliament

Nehru Government refused to give control of the state to Sikhs or even recognize Punjabi as the state language. Master Tara Singh realized his blunder and launched a "Punjabi Suba" movement for a smaller Punjab where Sikhs would be in majority and their religion and cultural heritage could flourish. At the old age of 76 he went on a hunger strike demanding the rights of the Sikhs.

The Indian government finally agreed to the creation of a Sikh dominated Punjab state and Master Tara Singh broke his fast after receiving assurances from the Prime Minister of India. But the verbal assurances were not followed on and the government refused to transfer new capital Chandigarh to Punjab and its division of Punjab, sharing of river water, and electricity was biased against Punjab.

Sant Fateh Singh, leader of Punjabi Suba Movement (a younger Prakash Singh Badal in the background)

In July 1962, Sant Fateh Singh broke away from the prominent Sikh leader Master Tara Singh, and formed his own Akali Dal. On 2 October 1962, his party gained control of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. After a few unsatisfactory meetings with Nehru, on 16 August 1965, Fateh Singh threatened another fast-undo-death and self-immolation, if a Punjabi Suba was not created. However, after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 broke out, he decided to postpone his fast, and asked his followers to support the government in this need of hour.

When the 1965 Indo-Pak war was over, Indian government backtracked on their promises and Fateh Singh was not happy about Chandigarh and some other Punjabi-speaking areas being left out of Punjab. He threatened a fast starting from 17 December 1966 and self-immolation on 27 December 1966, if his demands were not met. Hukam Singh and Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir (the Chief Minister of the Punjab) persuaded him to end his fast on behalf of Indira Gandhi, and Fateh Singh ended his fast on 27 December 1966.

Fateh Singh's influence began to decline in the late 1960s. He started another fast-unto-death on 26 January 1970, demanding the inclusion of Chandigarh into Punjab, but ended it on 30 January. He announced his retirement from politics on 25 March 1972 but the Sikh resentment continued.

Punjab was ruled by Congress at that time and Partap Singh Kairon was an able Chief Minister of Punjab. He is credited for a number of modernization initiatives that brought in the green revolution.

Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon inspecting an Indo-Soviet joint Project

Giani Zail Singh was another able and popular leader of Punajb. He was elected as a Congress Chief Minister of Punjab in 1972. He arranged massive religious gatherings, started public functions with a traditional Sikh prayer, inaugurated a highway named after Guru Gobind Singh, and named a township after the Guru's son. He created a lifelong pension scheme for the freedom fighters of the state. He repatriated the remains of Udham Singh from London, armaments and articles belonging to Guru Gobind Singh ji. 

The Akali leadership opposed the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi and were put in jail along with other opposition leaders like, Jaya Prakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Morarji Desai, and Charan Singh. Prakash Singh Badal became the Akali chief minister of Punjab but not for too long. The coalition government collapsed and so did the Akali government in Punjab after 13 Sikhs were gunned down by Sant Nirankari cult in Amritsar. 


Indira Gandhi decided to reward Giani Zail Singh for his loyalty during emergency and appointed him as the union home minister. Darbara Singh was elected as the chief minister of Punjab but the tug of war between these two Congress leaders gave birth to a major political crisis in Punjab.

Giani Zail Singh with Chief Minister Darbara singh

Akalis relaunched the Punjabi Suba Movement as "Dharam Yudh" seeking the rights of Sikhs and Punjab from the central government. The movement was launched under the "dictatorship" of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, a soft-spoken moderate leader. The non-violent Akali protests bore no fruit after months of struggle.

The launch of Dharam Morcha

A dynamic personality in the name of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale joined the "Dharam Yudh". He was the leader of Damdami Taksal, an institution created by Guru Gobind Singh ji for maintaining the accuracy and sanctity of Sikh scriptures and Gurdwaras. Bhinderanwale had no patience for political maneuvering and dodgy negotiations. He also had no tolerance for anyone insulting Sikh Gurus, scriptures, women and amritdhari (baptized) Sikhs.

Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale consoling the families of Sikhs slain by Nirankaris

First to fell was Lala Jagat Narain (Chopra) the owner and editor of Hindi newspaper - Punjab Kesri. The Lala was infamous for inciting the Punjabi Hindus to list Hindi as their mother tongue instead of Punjabi. He had also published objectionable articles against the Sikh Gurus. Next was Baba Gurbachan Singh, the leader of Sant Nirankari cult who had gunned down 13 unarmed Sikhs protesting at the sacrilege of Sikh scriptures by Nirankaris. Next Police Officer Gobindram was assasinated by Sikh militants. Gobindram had tortured and raped four Amritdhari (baptized) Sikh women.

The three: Lala Jagat Narain, Gurbachan Singh Nirankari, and Police Officer Gobindram

The Dharam Yudh Morcha entered a violent phase where Punjab Police and militants targeted each other. The Akali leadership convened at Anandpur Sahib and passed a resolution listing the Sikh demands. This resolution was called "The Anandpur Sahib Resolution."

Anandpur Sahib Resolution

While the Sikh leadership was involved in backdoor negotiations with Indian government, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale called for complete acceptance of Anandpur Sahib Resolution.

Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale addressing Sikh masses in Golden temple Complex

Sant Bhinderanwale moved into Akal Takhat Sahib and started addressing the Sikh masses from there. He was concerned that the Akali leaders will sellout the Sikhs and sign an agreement with the government coming short of the Sikh demands. 

Indian Army inside Golden temple Complex and massacre of Sikhs

On June 1984, Indian Army moved in to Punjab and surrounded the Golden temple complex in Amritsar.  Indira Gandhi hoodwinked Giani Zail Singh and ordered army operation without the consent of the President. In the botched up military operations, over 5,000 Sikh pilgrims - men, women, and children were killed along with Sikh militants. The Akali leadership surrendered and were arrested. Sant Bhinderanwale died a martyr's death fighting the enemy till last breath. 

Akali leadership with Congress mediator - Farooque Abdullah

After transpired after the departure of Sant Bhinderanwale from Punjab political scene, further exposed the weakness in Sikh leadership. The Akalis signed an agreement with Rajiv Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India but the details of the pact was not acceptable to the Sikh militants.

Rajiv Longowal Pact

Sant Harchand Singh Longowal was assassinated by Sikh militants and the pact was never implemented.

The BJP came back to power with the help of Akalis and their relationship got even more stronger. The Akali-BJP coalition has been ruling Punjab for last eight years now and this has brought in the much needed peace to the troubled state.

Sikh leadership under the shadow of BJP-RSS

However, the charges of corruption, interference in the Sikh religioos affairs, and distrust of BJP-RSS combine has the state in turmoil. The emergence of numerous cults, sects, and Deras in Punjab also threaten the much earned peace and prosperity of Punjabis.

The Five Takht Jathedar on decision to pardon Sauda Saadh

The recent pardon of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (Grewal) of Deara Sacha Sauda as hurt the feelings of Sikhs and this decision is seen as politically motivated and not based on Sikh ethics. This stooping low of Sikh religious leadership under their political masters have not been accepted by the Sikhs. The pardon has been now revoked under public pressure, but the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at the hands of unknown (?) miscreants and the death of two Sikhs in the subsequent Punjab Police assault on peaceful Sikhs protesting at the blasphemy has shaken the Sikh population.

Sikhs protesting all across Punjab on the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Will our leadership realize what they are doing? Will they learn not to sellout Sikhs for votes and their own short-term political gains? Or our political and religious leadership will continue to strip in front of their political masters like a "Kanjari's Chunni"?

Only time will tell ...