Nirankari Movement
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- Baba Dayal Das established the Nirankari Movement in the 1840s. He preached against Hindu ceremonies practiced by some Sikhs, condemning idol worship and rituals. Emphasizing the worship of God as Nirankari (formless), he urged disciples to follow the Shabad (preaching) of the Guru, serve their parents, and abstain from bad habits.
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Singh Sabha
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- Founded in 1875 in Amritsar under the guidance of Thakur Singh Sandhawalia and Giani Gian Singh, the Singh Sabha aimed to bring the benefits of Western enlightenment to the Sikh community through Western education.
- Missionaries, who were both extensive and steeped in history, sought to counter Christian influence on the Sikh community. Their mission aimed to rejuvenate the community through the publication of religious texts and books and the propagation of knowledge. As part of their efforts, the Sabha established Khalsa schools and colleges.
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Akali Movement
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- Before 1920, Sikh Gurdwaras were under the control of mahants who treated offerings and other Gurdwara income as their earnings.
- The British government supported these mahants as a counterbalance to the growing nationalism among Sikhs.Â
- Tensions escalated to the point where the priest of the Golden Temple issued a hukamnama (injunction) against Ghadarites, labeling them as responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and awarding them a saropa.
- Under mounting pressure, the Gurdwaras were under the control of the elected Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in November 1920.
- This movement evolved into the Akali movement, eventually splitting into three factions: moderate nationalist reformers, pro-government loyalists, and the political arm of Sikh communalism.
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Namdhari Movement
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- Founded by Babe Ram Singh (1816-1885) in 1857, the Namdhari Movement was inspired by Balak Singh of the Kuka movement, whom Ram Singh had joined in 1841.Â
- The movement adopted rituals modeled after Guru Gobind Singh’s establishment of the Khalsa, emphasizing the wearing of the five symbols but substituting a stick for a sword.
- Abandoning practices such as worshiping gods, idols, tombs, trees, and snakes, and refraining from vices like drinking, stealing, falsehood, slandering, and backbiting were central tenets of the reform movement.
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