Sikh Reform Movements
Modern History › Reform Movements and Their Leaders · Topic 12.18
The Singh Sabha Movement (Amritsar, 1873) spread modern Western education among Sikhs through Khalsa schools and countered rival proselytising. The Akali movement, its offshoot, freed the gurdwaras from corrupt Udasi mahants; its non-violent satyagraha of 1921 led to the Sikh Gurdwaras legislation and the SGPC as the apex body.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Reform Movements and Their Leaders
At a Glance
- Singh Sabha Amritsar, 1873; Western education and defence of Sikh identity
- Akali movement Gurdwara Reform Movement; freed gurdwaras from Udasi mahants
- Satyagraha Non-violent non-cooperation, 1921
- Result Sikh Gurdwaras legislation; SGPC as the apex body
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Reform Movements and Their Leaders
Where Does It Fit?
This is the eighteenth topic of the category on reform movements and their leaders. The previous topic covered the Parsi reform movements. This topic covers the Sikh community, where reform had both an educational and a political stage. The next topic covers the Theosophical Movement. Previous topic: Parsi Reform Movements.
What Was the Singh Sabha Movement?
The Sikh community could not remain untouched by the rising tide of rationalist and progressive ideas of the nineteenth century. The Singh Sabha Movement was founded at Amritsar in 1873 with a twofold objective: (i) to make modern Western education available to the Sikhs, and (ii) to counter the proselytising activities of Christian missionaries as well as the Brahmo Samajists, Arya Samajists and Muslim maulvis.
For the first objective the Sabha set up a network of Khalsa schools throughout Punjab. In the second direction, everything that went against the Gurus’ teachings was rejected, and rites and customs considered consistent with Sikh doctrine were sought to be established. The movements it countered are described in Raja Rammohan Roy and the Brahmo Samaj and Dayananda Saraswati and the Arya Samaj.
| Objective | Means |
|---|---|
| Modern Western education for Sikhs | A network of Khalsa schools throughout Punjab |
| Counter proselytising | Rejection of everything against the Gurus’ teachings; establishing rites consistent with Sikh doctrine |
What Was the Akali Movement?
The Akali movement, also known as the Gurudwara Reform Movement, was an offshoot of the Singh Sabha Movement. It aimed at liberating the Sikh gurdwaras from the control of corrupt Udasi mahants, a post that had become hereditary. These mahants were a loyalist and reactionary lot, enjoying government patronage.
The government tried repressive policies against the non-violent non-cooperation satyagraha launched by the Akalis in 1921, but had to bow before popular demands. It passed the Sikh Gurudwaras Act in 1922, amended in 1925, which gave control of the gurdwaras to the Sikh masses, to be administered through the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) as the apex body. Other books treat the Gurdwaras Act of 1925 as the decisive law.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Also called | Gurudwara Reform Movement |
| Origin | Offshoot of the Singh Sabha Movement |
| Target | Hereditary Udasi mahants who controlled the gurdwaras |
| Method | Non-violent non-cooperation satyagraha, 1921 |
| Result | Sikh Gurudwaras Act (1922, amended 1925); control by the SGPC |
What Was the Political Character of the Akalis?
The Akali Movement was a regional movement but not a communal one. The Akali leaders played a notable role in the national liberation struggle, though some dissenting voices were heard occasionally.
As an analytical point, the Sikh reform story has two stages that match the general pattern in Direction of Social Reform in Prarthana Samaj, Aligarh Movement Revivalist…">Two Streams of Reform: Reformist and Revivalist: first an educational and religious reform stage in the Singh Sabha, then a mass political stage in the Akali movement. The use of non-violent satyagraha in 1921 also fits with the wider Khilafat Committee Congress approval Special session at Calcutta, September 1920 Nagpur session…">non-cooperation movement of that year, treated in later categories.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Direct facts Singh Sabha 1873, Akali 1921 and the SGPC are common Prelims items
- Satyagraha The Akali movement is an early example of a successful non-violent campaign
- Community coverage It completes the survey of reform among communities
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Theosophical Movement. Next topic: The Theosophical Movement.
Key People and Terms
- Singh Sabha The Sikh reform body founded at Amritsar in 1873
- Khalsa schools Schools set up by the Sabha throughout Punjab
- Udasi mahants The hereditary custodians of the gurdwaras
- SGPC Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the apex body of the gurdwaras
- Akali A participant in the gurdwara reform movement
- Proselytising Efforts to convert people to another religion
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Singh Sabha, Amritsar, 1873: Western education and Khalsa schools.
- Akali movement = Gurudwara Reform Movement; against Udasi mahants.
- Non-violent satyagraha in 1921.
- Sikh Gurudwaras Act 1922 (amended 1925); SGPC.
- Regional but not communal.
Do Not Confuse With
- Singh Sabha and Akali movement Singh Sabha: 1873 education and identity; Akali: gurdwara reform, offshoot
- SGPC and Akali SGPC is the apex body for gurdwaras; Akali is the movement
- Mahants and the masses The Act took the gurdwaras from the mahants to the Sikh masses
Memory Hook
Singh Sabha taught, Akalis liberated, the SGPC took charge.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about Sikh reform and the Akali movement. These points add depth.
- Education first Khalsa schools for modern learning
- Non-violent mass action The Akali satyagraha forced the government to act
- Not communal Akali leaders took part in the national struggle
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the Singh Sabha and Akali movements as Sikh reform movements.”
How to Answer
- Singh Sabha Objectives and means.
- Akali Gurdwara reform and the mahants.
- Result The Act and the SGPC.
- Conclude Regional but not communal.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Singh Sabha Movement?
The Singh Sabha Movement was founded at Amritsar in 1873 to make modern Western education available to Sikhs and to counter the proselytising of Christian missionaries, Brahmo and Arya Samajists and Muslim maulvis. It set up Khalsa schools across Punjab, which taught modern subjects to Sikh children.
What was the Akali movement?
The Akali movement, or Gurudwara Reform Movement, was an offshoot of the Singh Sabha. It aimed to free Sikh gurdwaras from the control of corrupt and loyalist Udasi mahants, whose post had become hereditary, and it later used non-violent satyagraha.
What was the result of the Akali satyagraha of 1921?
The government tried repression against the Akalis' non-violent non-cooperation satyagraha of 1921 but had to give way. It passed the Sikh Gurudwaras Act in 1922, amended in 1925, giving control of gurdwaras to the Sikh masses.
What is the SGPC?
The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee is the apex body through which Sikh gurdwaras are administered by the Sikh masses. It was created by the gurdwaras legislation passed after the Akali satyagraha, and it ended the control of the mahants.
Why were the Udasi mahants opposed?
The Udasi mahants controlled the gurdwaras, and the post had become hereditary. They were a corrupt, loyalist and reactionary lot, enjoying government patronage, so the Akalis wanted to free the gurdwaras from them and place them under the community.
Was the Akali movement communal?
No. The chapter says the Akali Movement was a regional movement but not a communal one. Its leaders played a notable role in the national liberation struggle, though some dissenting voices were heard from time to time.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Singh Sabha Movement was founded at Amritsar in 1873.
It started Khalsa schools.
2 The Akali movement aimed to free gurdwaras from the control of Udasi mahants.
It was also called the Gurudwara Reform Movement.
3 The Akali satyagraha of 1921 was violent in method.
It was a non-violent non-cooperation satyagraha.
4 The SGPC is the apex body of the Sikh gurdwaras.
It was created under the Sikh Gurdwaras legislation.
5 The Singh Sabha rejected modern Western education.
Making it available to Sikhs was its first objective.
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