Ask people if they know of Satguru Ram Singh and they will say, ‘Guru who? Never heard of him’. Ask them if they have heard of Emmeline Pankhurst, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela and they will know who are speaking of. Some will even know of the philosophies of Non Violence and Civil Disobedience also, in relation to the names of those who were some of the 20th centuries most important Political Reformers. Yet most people, even many Indians, will not know that the person all the Civil Rights Activists owe their raison d’etre to is historically Satguru Ram Singh. For this Sikh Guru is the to the Indian Independence Movement, what Jean-Jacques Rousseau was to the French Revolution and Thomas Paine is to the ‘Rights of Man’ and the American Constitution.

Satguru Ram Singh attained Guruship from Guru Balak Singh in 1841. He was the Revolutionary Thinker of the latter half of the 19th century, who actually formulated the political philosophy of Non Violence and Civil Disobedience that was used to such effect by Gandhi to further the Independence Movement that Satguru Ram Singh initiated. While Gandhi was the blossoming and fruition of the Indian Independence Movement after World War II, it was actually Satguru Ram Singh who was the seed of Liberation for India. Infact since Satguru Ram Singh raised the ‘White flag of Freedom and Non-Violence’ on 13th April 1857 in Punjab, all political activists since then have, unknowingly in many cases, been standing on the shoulders of one of the world’s most important visionaries and political reformers.

Even today the legacy of Satguru Ram Singh lives on in the current arguments and protests against ‘capitalist greed’. When they ‘occupy Wall Street’ movement and protesters outside St. Paul’s in London argue for a more ‘ethical capitalism’ and when politicians set out on a ‘moral crusade’ to reform Capitalism, i.e. to make it more just and fair, then all these movements for a kind of capitalism that is based on non-harm rather than the ‘greed of the wealthy few’, have their origins within the Civil Rights Movement first formulated as a political force in action by Satguru Ram Singh. Without the idea first seeded by the Sikh Guru, the concept of ‘Civil Disobedience’ and workers right to strike in the face of gross inequalities could not have become an accepted form of global political ‘direct action’. So today, those such as ‘Green Peace’, and even the early Suffragette movements, owe their ‘tour de force’ as social justice initiatives to the political strategies and actions of Satguru Ram Singh.

It is true that Gandhi was the jewelled flame that lit the lamp of Indians and world Freedoms in the 1940’s, but if Gandhi was the prize of the Ahimsa Movement in India, then Satguru Ram Singh was the original ignition, the initial irritant, which enabled Gandhi to do what he did. So we should recognize the enormous contributions to Civil Rights and the World Peace Movements that Satguru Ram Singh made. Yes other have taken his ideas and turned them into Freedoms for many peoples, but many of the origins of today’s Social and Political Rights can be sourced from the 19th century Sikh Guru who Secular Pragmatist. Yet a Political Activist who never acted to the determined of his Spiritual Values, which he always stayed True to. Even when subjected to persecution and torture. He unfurled white triangular flag of freedom and peace at Sri Bhaini Sahib, District Ludhiana, Punjab on 13th April 1857 and created Sant Khalsa also known as Namdhari Sikhs

It is than essential that we remember this extra ordinary personality as well as the message and thus pay respect to Satguru Ram Singh by preserving the memory of his amazing political and philosophical contributions to not only World Peace, but also to World Liberation.

We remember as well this extraordinary individual who has influenced so many other great thinkers with his ideas and philosophy. That his contribution to the world may at last be fully recognized by everyone, as well as by those who rely on his trail blazing to light their own torches for Universal Freedom and worldwide Peace and Compassion.

Satguru Ram Singh, the original master’s thinking burned so brightly upon world that it forever changed and transformed, through his pioneering philosophy of Non-Violence the radical concepts of Civil Disobedience and Peaceful protest, to further the idea of Human Rights for all peoples and all nations.

Establishment for home-rule was achieved with a tool that had never before been used in the history of mankind. Non-cooperation and boycott of foreign made goods, services and peaceful civil disobedience was the hallmark strategy used by Satguru Ram Singh.

Along with being the chief architect of social, economic and political freedom, one of Satguru Ram Singh’s most revered sermon’s was to install truth, consciousness, bliss and purity of contemplation by not harming anyone by thought, word or deed in the hearts and minds of all mankind. In our own times we have witnessed truly great figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and many others who have all been inspired by truth prescribed by Satguru Ram Singh.

Furthering redemption for the masses and equality in gender, Satguru Ram Singh introduced;

 Baptism of Khanda-da-Amrit for women at Village Siahar, Punjab on Jeth Sudi 15 (Purnima) BK 1915, 1858 CE.

 Installed Sikh Anand Karj (Sikh religious wedding ceremony) at Village Khote, in Punjab on Jeth Sudi 10 BK 1920 (1863 CE) by reading the appropriate verses from the Holy Adi Granth Sahib.

 Devised the simple dowry less matrimonial union of man and woman, and encouraged mass marriages to keep family costs down. He travelled extensively on his favourite white stallion the length and breadth of Punjab with His Subas (Religious Governors) to encourage the masses to practice the true tenets of Sikhism.

 Where people had locked up copies of the Holy Adi and Dasam Granths, Satguru Ram Singh removed them from storage, dusted their covers with His Distar (turban) and encouraged their owners to recite them daily. From Bhai Mehtab Singh Press in Lahore (now in Pakistan), Satguru Ram Singh published and distributed hundreds of thousands free copies of both the Adi (first) Granth (authored by 6 Sikh Guru’s and 16 Bhagats (saints of various faiths) and 3 Bards) and Dasam (tenth) Granth (exclusively authored by Satguru Gobind Singh).

 Pioneered the Akhand (continuous) Path (recitation).

 Encouraged the society to accept re-marriage of widows and not to kill female infants.

 Not to consume alcohol, tobacco, or any kind of meat, however slaughtered. Protect the cow and other animals from slaughter.

 Be kind and affectionate to all and be pure in words, thoughts and deeds. Live a life of simple living and high thinking. Wear white and simple clothing.

 Satguru Ram Singh laid the seed to India’s Non Co-operation Movement and Boycott of British Goods. He pioneered the freedom transition for the whole of India and the most wanted patriots and freedom fighters of India took refuge at Sri Bhaini Sahib. In his political strategy included the boycott of:

 British Indian Government services including, educational institutions, law courts, goods from Britain, postal system, roads, schools, trains, clothes and to refuse to obey and resist the laws and order, which one’s conscience abhors.

 Pioneered Satyagreha (impulse towards truth trough peaceful action)
• 1st Satyagreh 18th March 1866 at Hola Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
• 2nd Satyagreh 19th March 1867 at Hola Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
• 3rd Satyagreh 26th October 1867 at Deepmala (Devali), Amritsar, Punjab

Satguru Ram Singh had in fact established a ‘parallel administration’ from indigenous law forum to even a postal system and encouraged Indians to buy Indian goods. He appointed Subas in twenty-two districts of Punjab. Today’s Punjab is a mere reflection of only thirteen percent in terms of landmass of what it originally was.

For uprooting fear and wickedness from the minds of the Indian society, Satguru Ram Singh injected courage, determination, service and sacrifice into the body of politics of the country. He made His Sikhs a part and parcel of an army of patriots. In addition to vows prescribed by previous Sikh Gurus, Satguru Ram Singh launched an unrelenting mission of social deliverance, economical uplift, political emancipation and religious salvation.

His teaching were so effective that patriotism was revived amongst the masses and they considered an honour to sacrifice their lives joyfully for their motherland. Within 7 years of its inception the reformed Namdhari Sikhs claimed over a million ardent followers.

Satguru Ram Singh is a hero who has epitomised in His life the vision of a great seer and the courage and dynamism of valiant fighter to face life in the grim hour of both life and death.

The British authorities became alarmed at the rapid growth of the revival in Sikhism and took strict measures to suppress it nation-wide. Thus the Namdhari Sikhs in the political annals of India are rightly called the “Torch bearers of India’s Freedon Struggle.” Satguru Ram Singh gave the world the ultimate weapon of attaining independence and freedom from any foreign rule without bloodshed.

Satguru Ram Singh and His Sikhs have a unique and distinct record of sacrifices offered and services rendered in the cause of India’s struggle for freedom from the British. Over thousands of Sikhs were kept as State prisoners for indefinite periods in jails at Rangoon, Moulmein and Mergui in Myanmar (Burma), Aden and in British India at Hazari bagh (Jharkhand), Chunar (Uttar Pradesh) and Asirgarh (Madhya Pradesh). Countless wholesale military executions, numerous were murdered and drowned in Kala Pani (Bay of Bengal).

Suba Gurcharan Singh was arrested and detained in Multan jail, (now in Pakistan) labelled as a most dangerous Sikh, who had been carrying on intrigues with the Russian authorities against the British. Four Sikhs hanged at Amritsar for releasing animals due for slaughter near the sanctity of the Golden Temple. Sixty-six disciples of Satguruji were killed facing the British cannons head-on at Maler Kotla, Punjab, including a twelve-year-old boy Saheed Bishan Singh. Namdhari Sikhs were prohibited from visiting their headquarters, Sri Bhaini Sahib. No trials were ever conducted.

Satguruji came under surveillance and was ultimately put under house arrest. All social and religious gatherings of the Namdhari Sikhs in Punjab were banned. In 1872 the British authorities tried to implicate and involve him as an instigator and abettor. No accusations against him were proved, yet he was arrested and exiled. Three years later the Imperialist government divulged Satguru Ram Singh’s whereabouts in Burma. Under camouflage, over one hundred of his ardent Sikhs managed to gain seceret access for His audiences and for the next ten years at His house arrest facilities in Burma from where they brought His hand composed Hukam Namas (written sermons) to Guru Hari Singh at Sri Bhaini Sahib.

Namdhari Sikhs created powerful contacts with the Rajas of Kashmir and Nepal to enlist their support for their political cause. They sent their emissaries to Russia during the second Afghan war.
The names of Namdhari agents were Gurcharan Singh, Ram Charan Tora, Narain Dass, Maya and Shankar Rai. By the year 1883 red and white was their secret code word.

Satguru Ram Singh established a network of regional Subas (religious ambassadors) in different states of India, as well as Nepal and Russia.

His activities shook the British establishment and was deported from Punjab on 18 January 1872 via Allahabad jail to Rangoon Central Jail on 16th March 1872. Satguru Ram Singh was transferred to Mergui in Burma on 21st September 1880 from where he disappeared from confine in December 1885.

‘The twelfth master would show a hard path to tread. And His word would be sharp. He would practice the word. He would also advise His followers to practice the same.’  Janam Sakhi (Prophecies of Guru Nanak)

‘During my 12th incarnation, my name will be Ram Singh, a son of a carpenter belonging to Bhaini, who will be the most perfect and greatest, possessed of tremendous spiritual power with non the other to excel. The community, to which Guru will belong, will be honoured. I bow before that 12th Guru of the Sikhs.’  Sri Mukh Vakh Pathshahi 10, Satguru Gobind Singh, Bhogal Puranay Gurbin Sawli

‘I see in the earlier papers that Guru Ram Singh was looked upon as a successor or actual re-embodiment of Guru Nanak the Saint. He is now Representative of Govind Singh, the Warrior, he visits you, attended by half a dozen horsemen, he is followed by scores of men on foot; He comes to you surrounded by a court like a Prince. He and His people are dressed in exquisitely fine white clothes.’  J M MacNabb – Commissioner of Ambala Punjab, British India, Recorded in a document dated 4th Nov. 1871

‘The reports from all sources agree that Kukas (Namdhari Sikhs) are enjoyed to wear a woollen rosary, short drawers, (Kashera), a straight or untwisted pugree (turban), on initiation all vices are to be forsworn, such as lying, stealing, drinking, adultery, etc are strictly forbidden including meat eating.’
Major Perkins 1866

‘Satguru Ram Singh is the first leader of the peaceful non-cooperation movement in India.’
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose – Leader of Indian National Army (1943 – 1945)

‘Satguru Ram Singh believed in political freedom as a part of religion. The organisation of the Namdhari Sikhs became considerably strong. The movement of Boycott and Non Co-operation which Mahatma Gandhi started so vigorously in our own times, was preached by Satguru Ram Singh fifty years ago. Infact, non co-operation and swadeshi movement was started by Satguru Ram Singh, who shook the very foundations of the British rule in India and with the help of this instrument, Mahatma Gandhi was ultimately able to remove the fetters of the slavery from India.’  Dr Rajindra Prasad, First President of Independent India from 1950 to 1962

‘Sri Satguru Ram Singhji played such an important role and put supreme efforts o free India that no Indian can set aside the importance of these great efforts. Indian National Congress has achieved successes while adopting the path shown by Sri Satguruji.’  Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru – 1st Prime Minister of India (1947-1962)