Baba Raam Singh Jee Namdhari
From SikhiPedia
Baba Ram Singh Namdhari was born at village Bhaini Raiyan, district Ludhiana on the 3rd February, 1816 A.D. His father Bhai Jassa Singh, was a carpenter. His brother-in-law, Sardar Kabul singh was a gunner in the artillery of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Baba Ram Singh Namdhari passed away on 29th November, 1885 A.D., in a jail on Margee Island.
Baba Ram Singh Namdhari was a general in the Khalsa army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He fought many wars alongside the famous Hari Singh Nalwa.
Just before the 1st Anglo-Sikh war in 1845, Baba Ram Singh deserted the army due to the infighting after Ranjit Singh's death and the back stabbing of Brahmin Maharaj Gulab Singh. He foresaw the end of the Khalsa raj (at that time).
Baba Ram Singh then devoted his life to Sikhi, during the first 30 years of the British Raj, many atrocities took place in Punjab, deceptive conversion, killing Akalis (feared by the British), dividing and destroying Sikhi (by forcing the Harmonium as it resembled Christian music, clearing out Amritsar - it used to be the cultural capital of Asia, many languages, script writing, music, faiths etc were taught there), putting masands back in power of Gurdwaras, banning Sikhs from carrying kirpans, introduced ethnic division and recording of Sikhs - i.e. reintrocued the caste system...
The Sikhs were in a dire circumstances and the faith was disappearing. Baba Ram Singh revived Sikhi, he can be somewhat compared to Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Baba Ram Singh went from village to village doing katha, giving amrit through panj pyare to thousands, forcing people to carry a laathi instead of a kirpan (never be without weapon), he stressed having a proper Anand Karaj, and stopped the use of Brahmins at Sikh weddings, he encouraged female education and baptism (which wasn't common at this point in time). The list goes on, but most famously, he was the first person to stand up against the unfair British. He invented the movement of non-coperation to break the British economy (which many attribute to Mahatma Ghandhi).
- Boycott of Government service.
- Boycott of educational institution opened by British.
- Boycott of Law-courts started by British.
- Boycott of foreign made Goods.
- Boycott of obey and resist the Laws & orders which owns conscience abhors.
The British had pretty much wiped out the Akalis, the Namdharis were now public enemy no 1. Many Namdharis were famously shaheed, but the most famous story is of the Namdharis who sought to break the disrespect of the British (who had introduced abitoires and butchery into the Punjab).
Some Namdharis put a stop to British backed Muslim butchers who at the time were killing cows. Although a cow is not a religious/sacred animal per se to Sikhs, Sikhs do have respect for all life especially cows as we drink their milk. More to the point, the cow is sacred to Hindus and this was just part of the British divide and conquer ploy, all faiths should be respected and Sikhs ensure that.
Namdharis were caught and made shaheed by tying them to the mouth of long range cannons and blowing them up point blank.
Namdharis also eleminated the dowry system (which is clearly evident today). Namdhari weddings are very sanatan. There is no cost invloved in either the boy or girls side, no party no alchohol no meat. The boy and girl can only be married if they are wearing the 5ks.
Baba Raam Singh jee as written by puratan Singhs was a very good Gurmukh who wanted to bring back the lost pride of Sikhs. He remained a faithful Singh all his life but according to Dr Ganda Singh jee historian, he did falter off the path of Gursikhi and this is why his ardaas was not done in Anandpur Sahib or at Akal Takhat. But whatever the case, he did come back on the path of Gursikhi as it’s evident from his letters, published by Akali Kaur Singh Ji. So beautiful are these letters that one cannot help bowing before Baba Raam Singh jee. The language used is very much puraatan. In these letters, Baba jee has indicated many times that Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the Guru.