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Biography
Ram Singh Kuka also known as Satguru Ram Singh (3 February 1816 – 18 January 1872), is credited as being the first Indian to use non-cooperation and boycott of British merchandise and services as a political weapon. In 2016, the Government of India officially decided to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Satguru Ram Singh. He later became the founder of Namdhari Sikhism.
Early life
Satguru Ram Singh was born on 3 February 1816 to Sada Kaur and Jassa Singh. He lived in the village of Raiyan, near Sri Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana.
As a young man, Ram Singh served in the regiment of Bagagel, army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He led a disciplined life and inspired his fellow soldiers to be religious. He was critical of the behaviour of the Sikh army soldiers, which he viewed as immoral, and was generally disillusioned with the decline in values of the Sikh society.
Ram Singh was a member of a unit of Prince Naunihal Singh's platoon, sent in 1841 from Lahore to Peshawar to bring the royal coffers. On its way back, the unit rested at Hazro Fort, now in Pakistan. It is said that Ram Singh and some soldiers of his regiment went to meet Satguru Balak Singh, a great saint who was living nearby. Balak Singh was overjoyed to see Ram Singh and told him: "I had been waiting for you."
Balak Singh taught the guru mantra to Ram Singh and asked him to keep it in his heart and pass it on to deserving seekers. Balak Singh gave him sugar bubbles, a coconut, five paise coins and took five rounds around him in reverence and bowed before him. In 1845, Ram Singh left the Khalsa (a special group of Sikh warriors) army and returned to Sri Bhaini Sahib to live the life of a pious householder pursuing the spiritual path.
Role in founding Namdhari Sikhism
On April 12, 1857, Satguru Ram Singh administered Amrit Sanchar (a Sikh form of Baptism) to five of his disciples and founded the Namdhari sect. On that day, Satguru Ram Singhi hoisted a white triangular flag in Sri Bhaini Sahib before a small group of artisans and peasants who formed the core of his Namdhari sect.
Satguru Ram Singh named his sect Namdhari, as the disciples had to enshrine the Lord's name in their heart and soul. Satguru Ram Singh believed that only a person of high moral values and principles could sacrifice his life for the cause of the nation and society.
Social reforms
Ram Singh introduced a simple system of marriage called Anand Karaz, which dispensed with Vedic rituals and Brahmin priests. This social reform had a positive impact on the lives of ordinary people. In accordance with the instruction of the Satguru, weddings were performed in the gurdwaras in front of the Granth (the spiritual book of the Sikh) and the Satguru. No ostentation or dowry was permitted. After the wedding ceremony, all had to take food at the langar (community kitchen). The Anand Karaz system relieved poor peasants of the financial burden of getting their daughters married. Ram Singh banned the evil practice of female foeticide and the killing of girl children, which prevailed in Punjab.