Baba Kharak Singh and India's Struggle for Freedom

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To commemorate the 75 years of India's independence, National Book Trust, India under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Government of India programme has launched a new publishing series India 75 for young and general readers. The books under this series will reflect the momentous, yet wonderful journey of India. As part of the series, books on freedom fighters, major achievers and events/themes that have shaped the modern India are being developed.

Baba Kharak Singh (1868-1963) was a political leader and an eminent freedom fighter in India's struggle for independence. He is considered a significant figure in bringing political consciousness to the Sikh community by bringing them into the national fold. Kharak Singh presided over the memorable session of the Central Sikh League held in 1920, Lahore, where under his direction the Sikhs took part in the All India Non-co-operation Movement. In 1922, he initiated one of the most successful agitations against the British Government, popularly known as the Keys Morcha. He directed a massive demonstration in 1928 when the Simon Commission visited Lahore. This book brings to light his journey of life as an extraordinary tale of dedication, commitment and loyalty towards the cause of freedom.

Dr Mohinder Singh taught history at the Baring Union Christian College, Batala, S.G.T.B Khalsa College, University of Delhi and History Department of the Punjabi University, Patiala. He was the Director of Guru Nanak Foundation and National Institute of Panjab Studies, New Delhi. Dr Singh was awarded a fellowship by the Indian Council of Historical Research to carry his research forward in the United Kingdom on the Akali Movement, which subsequently earned him his Doctorate. Dr Singh is the author of several standard works on Sikh history and religion and has lectured at several Indian and foreign universities.

The Indian National Congress succeeded not only in liberating the country through non-violent struggle but also strengthened popular people’s movements at regional and local level. The close cooperation between the Congress and the popular people’s movements at he regional level greatly strengthened local roots of Indian nationalism. Consequently, popular leaders belonging to different communities and regions were drawn into India’s struggle for independence. Although, a lot of literature has been produced on the Indian National Congress and leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharalal Nehru and others, not much is known about regional movements and regional leaders in regions other than their own.

The National Book Trust, India has taken the welcome initiative of filling this gap by commissioning biographies of prominent national laeaders who worked at the regional grassroots level. Among he nationalist Sikh leaders, Baba Kharak Singh was, Perhaps, the only leader of eminence who ermained steadfast andocnsistent both in his strong opposititon ot the British rule as well his staunch nationalism. With the inception of the Central Sikh League, an independent body formed to take care of he political concerns of the Sikhs at a time when shiromani Akali Dal was busy in its battle for religious reform, Bab Kharak Singh provided a tangible example of separation of religion and politics in the Indian context.

A revised and updated version of the original account written during the Congress Centenary Celebration in 1985, this biography of Baba Kharak Singh depicts the life an d times of this great son of India who was largely responsible for moulding the course of events in modern Panjab and inculcating nationalist and secular values in the regional politics. Baba Kharak Singh was the moving spirit behind the Central Sikh League, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromain Gurdwara Prabandhak committee. It was the vision and leadership of Baba Kharak Singh that led to he prelude of sikh struggle of reform of historic shrines and culminated into a powerful movement against the government appointed mangers of the Gurdwaras on one hand and against the powerful British official s in the Panjab on the other.

Any endeavour to write about a man of Baba Kharak Singh’s vision and stature would be incomplete without discussing the institutions that he helped build and nourish. Therefore, an attempt has been made in the present biography to discuss the milieu in which Baba ji was born and brought up. The book also highlights the powerful movements which drew him and the Sikh community into the mainstream of Indian nationalism.

I hope this monograph will help our countrymen, partyucularly the younger generation, understand and appreciate the close cooperation and friendship that existed between the regional movements and the larger movement of country’s struggle for freedom led by leader like Baba Khark Singh. I am grateful to Dr. Amrik Singh and Prof. Bipan Chandra for their help and guidance and the National Trust for publishing this biography of Baba Kharak Singh whose selfless sacrifice has been a source of strength to many regional and national leaders during India’s struggle for freedom.