Ram Singh Kuka Biography
Ram Singh Kuka was a soldier, a religious leader and a prominent contributor to the Indian freedom movement. He was the founder of the Kuka movement. His policy of non-cooperation with the British was immensely popular among the masses, mainly in Punjab.
Ram Singh was born at Bhaini in Ludhiana district of Punjab in 1816. He joined as a soldier in the Sikh army and there he came under the influence of Bhai Balak Singh. After Balak Singh’s death he took up the responsibility of the missionary works. He fought against the caste system among Sikhs, encouraged inter-caste marriages and widow remarriages.
Ram Singh was strongly opposed to the British rule and he started an intense non-cooperation movement against them. Led by him, the people boycotted English education, mill made cloths and other imported goods. The Kuka or the Namdhari movement picked momentum with time and the British reacted violently killing many Kuka freedom fighters. Ram Singh was promptly deported to Rangoon. Later on he was sent to Andaman under life imprisonment. He passed away on November 29, 1885.
Baba Ram Singh had such a great influence on his followers that even after his death they refused to believe that he was really dead and would return again to guide them. His method of non-cooperation and civil disobedience was later adopted by Mahatma Gandhi .
Facts and Information about Ram Singh Kuka
| Nick Name | Satguru |
| Born | 3 February 1816 (Sri Bhaini Sahib, Punjab) |
| Died | 18 January 1872 (Dhaka, Bangladesh) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Guru | Sikh Gurus |
| Philosophy | Philosophy of Guru Granth Sahib |
| Sect | Namdhari |
| Motto | Civilize the world! |
| Formation | 1857 |
| Type | Religious and Spiritual |
| Legal Status | Active |
| Purpose | Educational, Religious Studies, Spirituality |
| Headquarters | India, Punjab, Sri Bhaini Sahib |
| Father | Sardar Jassa Singh |
| Early Education | Bhaini Sahib in Gumukhi and Gurbani |
| Army Service | He served the Khalsa army under Kanwar Naunihal Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, for several years. |
| Boycott | He involved masses in the boyott of British-run educational institutions, law courts and foreign-made goods. |
| Fight for Independence | Ram Singh played a significant role in ending British rule in India. |
| Formed “Sant Khalsa” | Sant Khalsa was founded by him, which eventually led to the Kuka movements. |
| Guru Gobind Singh’s Granth | Disregarding idols, Ram Singh considered Granth Sahib, written by Guru Gobind Singh, the most sacred text. |
| Malerkotla Massacre | Following the Malerkotla massacre in 1872, Bhaini Sahib was sieged and the Kuka movement was forbidden by law. |
| Arrest and capture | Ram Singh was imprisoned at Alahabad and was later deported to Burma. |
| Namdharis’ beliefs | The Kukas consider him “amar”, or an immortal being. |