Overview of the Kuka Martyrs’ Day Commemoration

Punjab Chief Minister paid tribute to the Kuka martyrs on January 17, at the Namdhari Shaheed Smarak in Malerkotla, marking the anniversary of the Namdhari Sikhs' execution in 1872.

Background on the Namdharis

Origin and Beliefs

• The Namdharis, also known as Kukas, are a Sikh sect founded by Satguru Ram Singh on April 12, 1857, in Ludhiana.
• They are known for their high-pitched recitation style of the Gurbani, with "kook" in Punjabi meaning "screaming" or "crying".
• Ram Singh opposed various social vices, including alcohol and meat consumption, and initiated a movement akin to the Swadeshi and Non-Cooperation Movements.

Rebellion Against British Rule

• The Namdhari movement featured localized rebellions against the British post the 1857 Rebellion, advocating for the boycott of foreign goods and British services.
• By the 1870s, tensions between the Namdharis and British erupted into violence.

Events of January 1872

Conflict and Clashes

• On January 13, 1872, around 200 Namdharis, led by Kuka Hira Singh and Lehna Singh, arrived in Malerkotla, protesting against cow slaughter.
• Clashes occurred between Namdharis and government officials on January 15, where both sides reported injuries.
• A 150-strong Kuka group also attacked the Malaudh Fort in Ludhiana, which was under British loyalists.

British Retribution

• Deputy Commissioner John Lambert Cowan ordered the execution of 66 Namdharis over January 17 and 18, 1872, by cannon fire.
• A notable martyr was 12-year-old Bishan Singh, who refused to renounce his sect, resulting in his brutal execution.
• Waryam Singh, a courageous Kuka, exemplified bravery by making himself a target for cannon fire.

Legacy of the Namdharis

Post-Revolt Developments

• Satguru Ram Singh and his chiefs were exiled to Rangoon (present-day Burma), never to return.
• The Namdharis believe Ram Singh is still alive and will return, commemorating him by wearing white.
• The sect has approximately two lakh followers in Punjab today but has experienced a schism since the death of Satguru Jagjit Singh in 2012.
• Followers are divided between Thakur Dilip Singh in Sirsa, Haryana, and Sangrur Uday Singh in Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana.