Shadow of Nationalism on Sikh Struggle During British Period: Sikh Historian Bhai Ajmer Singh

Sikh Historian and author Bhai Ajmer Singh delivered a lecture on topic: "Shadow of Nationalism on Sikh Struggle under British Colonial Rule: Predicaments and Deviations" at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Auditorium, Students Home, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana on February 15, 2017. This is full video recording of Bhai Ajmer Singh's lecture.

[@darbara16]

Thank you Sardar Ajmer Singh. Summary of Lecture 1) The Hindu elite of Bengal, which included Ram Mohan Roy, Vivekananda, and Aurobindo Ghosh, defined India as having one major identity, 'Hindu', and from this definition emerged the ideology of Indian nationalism - later led by the Indian National Congress 2) When Punjab was annexed, Bengalis occupied important posts in the British administration, educational institutions, and the editorial boards of notable newspapers such as The Tribune. They were also historians on Hindu and Sikh history, and defined Sikhism as merely an armed wing of Hinduism. (The Congress backed Arya Samaj would do the same) 3) After the failed attempt of Bhai Maharaj Singh to win back the Sikh Empire, Sikhs postponed their struggle against the British, and focused instead on strengthening Sikh identity and receiving modern Education (as the Bengalis had done to increase their political influence in British circles) 4) In 1891, the British introduced constitutional reforms - Indian Council Act - to allow native elites to participate in government. It was with their collaboration and loyalty that Britain could remain in India. In those times only elites from aristocratic backgrounds were chosen as the electorate, and we're seen as Indians, and not Sikh, Hindu, or Muslim. 5) The Muslims were first to react against this, as minorities would be politically marginalised in a Hindu majority country, where the national identity was Hindu. There was little hope of electing their own representatives as they would be outvoted by the Hindu majority. 6) The Muslims asked for provisions to safeguard their interests in the form of separate electorates (like Switzerland). It was decided to introduce communal elections instead of general elections. 7) The Sikh elite had a genuine disconcertion about this proposition as it meant that in Muslim majority Punjab, where Muslims form over 50 percent of the population and Sikhs just 14, they too would be marginalised by Muslims. They had never forgotten the bloodshed they faced by Mughals in the 18th century. Moreover Muslims viewed themselves on one side and both Hindus and Sikhs on the other. 8) The Sikh elite had a vote strength of 24 percent, Muslims had 40 percent. But Sikhs opted for the general electorate, a decision they would regret, as they hardly won any seats in 1911 election. The 1909 India Act was passed. The Hindu elites' protest against this motion fell on deaf ears. 9) Without institutional power identities can not be preserved. They will gradually erode away. Therefore minorities need power for their survival. 10) Constitutional reforms would take shape every 10 years. (Montague-Chelmsford, Simon Commission) 11) The Muslim leaders also suggested that India be a federalised state to protect Muslim interests in provinces where they form a majority. The Sikh leaders objected as Islam would come to dominate in Punjab. They were supported by the Indian National Congress which preferred a centralized nation state with a monolithic identity. Separate electorates and federalism would impede the creation of a homogenised nation state 12) Influenced by the Indian national leadership the Chief Khalsa Diwan presented a memorandum to the Montague-Chelmsford Committee stating that communal elections are separatist and should be shelved as they weaken ones loyalty to India and the Indian nation. They continued to take this position up to the 1930s . Religious leaders like Prof. Puran Singh, who criticised the general electorate system and democratic institutions in general (on Simon Commission's arrival) were an exception. 13) On the other hand Sikhs also categorically stated in 1919 that if Muslims are given a separate electorate, they would like the same. 14) Banarjee, Tagore, and Arya Samaj leaders were falsifying Sikh history during this period, whereas the traditional Sikh oral tradition was giving realistic accounts of Sikh history - rooted in Punjabs traditions. The Singh Sabah played an important role to purge anti-sikh elements from Sikhi. 15) There were two streams of thought. One led by Singh Sabah intellectuals who gave priority to the creation of a Sikh national identity, and the other which focused on freeing Punjab from British rule. These were the Ghadrites, emigrant Sikhs influenced by Singh Sabah. The Singh Sabah felt that freedom from the British should come only after Sikh identity was firmly established. And so they came into conflict with the Arya Samaj and the Indian national leadership. 16) Unfortunately in the History of the freedom struggle, the Ghadrites are presented as patriots of the Indian/hindu national movement, and the Singh Sabah are projected as traitors. 17) Dr Ambedkar took a similar position to the Singh Sabah when he announced that Independence will only benefit Dalits if they are represented on equal terms. Today Ambedkar is being appropriated by those parties that once vehemtly opposed him. 18) Sikh gurdwaras were controlled by British backed Hindu mahants, to prevent Khalsa Sikhs from organising themselves into revolutionary groups against British rule. The mahants were given property rights in violation of Sikh law. No other religious institution was under British control 19) Anti-Sikh practices under Brahmanical influences and debaucheries in these gurdwaras hurt Sikh sentiments, and so the Akali Dal deployed peaceful martyr squads to these places in an attempt to free them. 20) After hundreds of Sikhs were cut down and burned to death at Nankana, the British relented and handed over the keys of the gurdwara to the SGPC. What was purely a religious reform movement concerning Punjabs Sikhs, was given a nationalist tilt by Mahatma Gandhi when he announced that the sacrifices of the Sikhs have added to the prestige of India. When the Sikhs won back the keys of Sri Darbar Sahib Gandhi said 'first victory in the decisive battle for independence is won.' 21) Gandhi and the Congress saw this as an opportunity to absorb Sikhs into mainstream of the national movement.

[@peoplesdoctor]

Wow. Thank you for the hard work

[@j656]

thanks

[@user-og4in5yx2i]

ਬਾਕਮਾਲ ਜੀਓ

[@kamaljeetsingh8919]

ਬਾਖ਼ੂਬੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਵੀਰ ...👍

[@truegrit4200]

waheguru mehr krn bhai sahib te sikh panth nu vivek bkshan, thanks to sikh siyasat team

[@user-kx2cp1po4s]

ਬਹੁਤ ਈ ਵਧੀਆ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਨੇ ਸ੍ਰ ਅਜਮੇਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਹੁਣਾਂ ਦੇ

[@yashbirsingh9372]

Very best speech ,one of the best speech that was not aa speech its realty and all sikh United and fight for his sikh raj

[@theworldtoday1636]

Yet check out the views brother ..... this needs to b heard by evrryone living in india ......

[@TellmeALLL]

Talking about divide and rule policy

[@surjitsingh6134]

ਜੀ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ

[@rsingh6027]

waheguru S. ajmer singh ji nu chardi Kala ch rakhe......bohut lodh hai sikh kaum nu ek jaga ikahthe hon di.....waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh

[@DalveerSingh-yz6ug]

Waheguru sahab ji

[@harpreetsinghmann]

ਦੁੱਖ ਦਰਦ ਨੂੰ ਸਹਿ ਕੇ ਤਕਦੀਰ ਬਣਾਉਣੀ ਪੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ | ਪੁੱਜਣ ਲਈ ਆਪਣੀ ਮੰਜਿਲ ਤੇ ਤਧਬੀਰ ਬਣਾਉਣੀ ਪੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ | ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਫ਼ਿਲਮੀ ਪਰਦੇ ਤੇ ਲੱਖ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਨੇ | ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਤਿੱਖੀਆਂ ਕਾਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਫੇਰ ਤਸਵੀਰ ਬਣਾਉਣੀ ਪੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ | ਜਿਹੜੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਖਾਤਰ ਜਿਉਂਦੇ ਆ ਉਹ ਫੇਰ ਜੁੱਗਾਂ ਤੱਕ ਜਿਉਂਦੇ ਹੈ | ਟੁਕੜ ਬੱਜ ਗ਼ਦਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਬੱਸ ਚੰਦ ਦਿਨ ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰੀ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ | ਸ਼ੇਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਾਰੀਆਂ ਮਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਏ ਗਿੱਦੜ ਕਰਨ ਕਲੋਲ ਜਦੋ । ਗਰਮ ਖ਼ਿਆਲ ਸ਼ੇਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਫੇਰ ਸ਼ਮਸ਼ੀਰ ਊਠਾਉਣੀ ਪੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ | -ਭਾਈ ਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਰਵੈਰ

[@vikramjeetsingh2619]

Nic

[@amarpreet4952]

Proud of you respacted sir.... God bless you🙏🙏

[@gobindsingh5677]

ਬਹੁਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਸਰ ਜੀ

[@RanjitSingh-qm2xg]

A painstricken heart spoke, but a mind is yet to speak.

[@freespirit841]

Bohat sarthak vichar charcha kiti hai Bhai Saab horaan ne te solution v same mutabak sahi dasiya hai k pehle apne aap nu giyanvaan kariye te aapus vich sochiye vichariye k pehlan ki kita jawe te kiwen kita jawe.

[@simratpalsinghbrar5222]

ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਬਾਪੂ ਜੀ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ

[@internationalvillager3091]

You are a true Library

[@gobindsingh5677]

ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਵਧੀਆ ਸੇਧ ਦਿੱਤੀ

[@jaswarnsingh3806]

verd good work guru kirpe kari panth chardikhala

[@nirmaljitsingh2272]

Waheguru jee

[@leviparrish4109]

Great knowledge.

[@countrypanjaab5335]

😢👌

[@dharamveersingh7627]

👍

[@rajvindaresingh8406]

thanks iK bar galti to bad Sikh Lena jaruri he sare Sikh jago

[@TellmeALLL]

Devide and rule policy After Zail so Singh Msnmohan Singh What u want

[@gurfatehbrar399]

Very good sardarji

[@SantokhSingh-gk9gu]

Eh Sardar Ajmer Singh Ji. Ohi ne jo sare pakh. , Commiunism Naksal Lehar te ho Sab Ghokh ke Guru Nanak Sahib Guru Granth Sahib Ji nall Jurd Chukke ne Taa he ehna de Shabd sanu Parbhavit karde Han. Saidh lavo

[@GURPREETSINGH-cv5oh]

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@GURPREETSINGH-cv5oh]

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@GURPREETSINGH-cv5oh]

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@TellmeALLL]

Divide and rule policy , British policy now too same policy

[@AmarSingh-qy3gj]

only one speech there will be other guests also???

[@iqbalsingh9216]

ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰੀਅਾਂ ਬੰਦ ਕਰੋ

[@GURPREETSINGH-cv5oh]

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@gurmeetdhaliwal2757]

Punjab Khalistan sarkar Raj zindabad

[@TellmeALLL]

Sir punjabi leave their country and land to Canada america and Europe Australia the youth dont want to live in dusty India so preople are not interested only people living outside keep fighting but do not wish to live on land of Punjab and Punjab mein Punjabi rah naheen hain ,they left their land to up Wala and biharis and leave for greeener pastures to caaaanaaaada

[@truegrit4200]

Bhai Ajmer Singh Ji Sikh Kirdar te Zor dinde aa apne hr lecture vich Gurbani nu simrde Han but Smj nai aaundi,I humble request to Sikh Siyasat team please refer any book on this or any other source. Thanks

[@rajdeepsinghcheema2551]

True Grit you should read book - Bandgi Nama -written by bhai ragbir singh bir

[@msaleem2373]

The most irrational decision of Sikhs was to trust Hindus and join India knowing that their population was only 1.7% and much lower than the Christians even who were (2.3%)-- such a marginal minority can never get any civic or Constitutional Rights in a country consisted of a hostile majority and maintain their individual identity. Sikhs are in minority in Punjab also therefore, they have , on all fours, a bleak future if they do not come to surface as a powerful group. It is totally irrational argument that Muslim dominated Punjab would mean Mughal atrocities and its repetition, since there was no despotic rule of Mughal Kings at that juncture and much water was passed under the bridges yet Sikhs failed to escape the groundless fears and threw their destiny into the hands of Hindus-- the time proved this all. Sikhs repeatedly made decisions based upon prejudice and bigotry-- their first such decision was favouring of Britishers during War of Independence of 1857 which sealed fate of India.The second irrational decision of Sikh was owing to their prejudiced outlook against Muslims as admitted by the speaker, was to side with Hindus instead of seeking their independence which claimed its cost which is paid even today. The third most irrational act was becoming of puppet by Sikhs of Hindus to commit Muslim atrocities during 1947 migration which deprived them from any ally in the neighbour for ever. Sikh's coming up in the great game with unclean hands made them a transcendent failure in Indian history.

[@warriorclan543]

M Saleem you killed first sikhs in pakistan Rawalpindi 1947 Or sun hum koi scared nhi the hamare liye ek taraf kua tha doosri taraf khai you killed all your minority hum rulers the yaha tum nhi the goro se phle sikh raaj tha tum toh gulam the kabhi mughalo k the kabhi afganio ke kabhi iranio ke or sun lahore ke hindu or muslim help mangne aye the sikho se ki yeh afghani loot k lee jate hain or bhangi misal wale lot te lahorio ko is liye mahraja ranjit singh ne lahore fatah kiya tha tum khud aye the help mangne uske baad afganistan tak pahuncha sikh raaj ajj tumne fake history bana rakhi hai Nd it was British nd hindus who maded pakistan it was huge relief for hindus you were divided in two parts soo that hindus can rule here in peace nd now they done everything what they wanted to do before coming after you

[@jagdeepjagdeep4247]

veer punjabi vich das tu ke keha aur kinu dasda ja dasna chahunda mai punjabi ha mainu punjabi vich das de par mai hindi ve samjda english nahi hindi ja bunjabi vich das

[@TellmeALLL]

Sir yeh baaat hue puraaaaaaani Abb ek disaster happening Sikh conversion into christians

[@gurpreetsingh4144]

chardicala

[@ranjitbal3736]

Question by RSS office Bearers to a Gursikh - Why are Sikhs against RSS Rashtriya Svayam sevak & its prodigy RSS Rashtriya Sikh sangat? Answer by Gursikh - Brahminism has always feared the Sikh faith. The Sikh Gurus proclaimed the equality of all humanity and rejected practices like caste, holy threads and worship of the cow. The exploitation of simple people by the Brahmin was eliminated. Although Hindu fundamentalists have taken a keen interest in destroying Sikhism for centuries, this latest cycle of Hindu attacks on Sikhism can be traced to 1993 though it actually started in 1925, The Sikh Liberation Movement had been brutally crushed in Punjab and was on its final breaths. Sikh villagers were afraid of being identified as being practicing Sikhs and roves of young Sikh men were cutting their hair so that they would not be harassed or killed by the police. It was at this point that a new "Sikh" organization, the Rashtri Sikh Sangat began to enter Sikh villages. This organization began to distribute literature about the Sikh faith and hold meetings. Many villagers thought that it was an attempt to revive Sikh pride, but in fact, the literature was written to show Sikhs to be a part of Hinduism. Some quotes from RSS "Instead of sacrificing humans, Guru ji sacrificed goats and started the tradition of Punj Pyaaray. All five Pyaaras were followers of the Hindu faith" {Dr. Himmat Sinh in Rashtra Dharam) "The Sikh Gurus showed faith in the Hindu faith and visited Hindu pilgrimage sites to show this" (Rashtra Dharam, p. 31) "When Guru Arjan was doing the Kar Seva of Harimandeir, Vishnu reflected and said, "Lakshmi, the Guru is my own form. There is no difference between us. He is making my temple. Let us go and see the building of our new temple…" (Rashtra Dharam, 90) "The difference between Hindus and Sikhs was the creation of the English mind." (Rashtra Dharam, 98) "If today someone were to make a portrait of Guru Nanak without a beard and turban, his life would be in danger but in fact, the practice of keeping long hair and beards began only in the 20th Century. (Madhu Kishvara, Hindustan Times Aug 21, 1999) "Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur used to pay obeisance to the feet of the Devi" (Surindar Kumar, Jag Bani) "Guru Gobind Singh with the blessings of the Avtars (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) created the Khalsa Panth." (Sangat Sandesh, Sept 1998) "Maharana Partap, the Rani of Jhansi and Guru Gobind Singh were all great patriots" (Rashtra Dharam) "The Sangh [RSS] is the Khalsa" (Ravani, Dec 1997) 25 Points/Lies of Attack The RSS has 25 points with which it hopes to attack the Sikh faith and lead to its eventual assimilation. All 25 points are very easily refuted but lack of education and knowledge coupled with the RSS’s organized attack make this a serious danger. These points are already being incorporated into school text books and taught as real history. This skewed history is already taught in many areas. 1) Sikhs are an inseparable part of Hindu society. 2) If Hinduism is a tree, Sikhism is a fruit on that tree. 3) Gurbani is like the Ganga, it emerges from the Gangotri of the Vedas 4) The Khalsa was crated to protect Hinduism and Hindustan 5) Japji Sahib is a summary of the Gita 6) The Failure of the 1857 "War of Independence" [in reality an unorganized uprising by Poorbiya soldiers who 8 years earlier helped the British conquer Punjab] was defeated only by the Sikhs 7) Banda Singh Bahadur was really Veer Banda Bairagi 8) The Sikh Gurus worshipped the cow 9) Condemning Bhai Kanh Singh Nabha and Bhai Veer Singh 10) Use examples from Trumpp and other anti-Sikh western scholars 11) The Sikh Gurus used Vedic ceremonies 12) Guru Gobind Singh worshipped the Goddess Durga 13) Guru Sahib was from the family or Ram and his devotee 14) Sikhs are from Lav-Kush 15) Baba Ram Singh was the legitimate Guru of the Sikhs 16) Create posters which challenge Sikh principles but appear to be pro-Sikh 17) Insist on using the Bikrami calendar and share Hindu festivals 18) Call Bhai Hakeekat Singh, Hakeekat Rai and illustrate him as a clean-shaven Hindu 19) Claim [with no historical basis] that Guru Gobind Singh sent his army to liberate Ram Janam Bhumi in Ayodhya from the Mughals 20) To create the Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh seeked blessing from the gods and goddesses and used Hindu mantras. The Kakaars were also blessings from the gods. 21) Equate "Ik Oankaar" with "OM" 22) Call Bhai Mati Das "Guru Mati Das Sharma" 23) To do parkash of Sree Guru Granth Sahib in Mandirs and put pictures of Hindu Gods in Sikh Gurdwaras 24) Project Guru Gobind Singh as having taken a different ideology from Guru Nanak and to make him into a Patriotic Hero of India 25) Make all of Sikh history take a Hindu tint. These are some of the very few reasons sikhs are against RSS. RSS involvement in Sikh Genocide ---- There is so much proof. There were at least 600 FIR against many RSS workers BJP's role in the 1984 Sikh riots. In fact Vajpaicommended Indra for attack on Golden Temple which Advani also supported. So BJP, RSS and Congress all are guilty of killing Sikh. Even if few people saved Sikh does not absolve those who murdered Sikhs. The RSS helping Sikh is also a propaganda to get support which is a recent edit on Wiki and is being exaggerated to a big number. Modi wants to play a positive social media image of BJP and RSS. I doubt you will get articles in support of RSS involvement except the copies of FIR and old newspaper reports. Few have managed to be there still. and indirect. One may say that they were downplayed by congress to feel anti-sikh due to the terrorists activity in Punjab but that does not justify them killing innocent Sikh. When ever riots happen people of both sides gets killed, but in 1984 only people dead were Sikh. The RSS and BJP did not raise their voice when congress was brutally inciting violence and then very conveniently opposed the same 2 years later naming Congress as the defaulter. In fact many RSS members still believe that what happened in 1984 was necessary to control the Sikh and their power. All these organisations are equally liable and will be no matter how many lives they save later.

[@user-og4in5yx2i]

ਗਾਗਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਗਰ

[@internationalvillager3091]

Bapu giya Galla bot km Diya,

[@user-gf7fp1mj6l]

Please ਜਾਗ ਜਾਓ

[@TellmeALLL]

When a Hindu dies ....his pyre is lit by fire When a Jain dies his pyre is lit by fire When a Buddhist dies ...his pyre is lit by fire When a sikh dies his pyre is lit by fire So this is all fro. The same soil and roots of snathana Dharma Why others are not buried like Abraham religions

[@TellmeALLL]

PM .......manmohan Singh President ...zail Singh But still not happy

[@GURPREETSINGH-cv5oh]

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