MORCHA TARN TARAN SAHIB
The first Sikh Morcha During the British Rule.
The Tarn Taran Sahib also spelled as Tarun Taarun Sahib is a prominent City in Punjab.
On June 16, 2006 on the occasion of the 400th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru
Arjan Dev Ji Tarn Taran Sahib was declared a district. In this city Gurdwara Sri Darbar
Sahib Tarn Taran Sahib is a very prominent shrine which was established by Sri Guru
Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606) the fifth spiritual mentor of Sikhs. This Gurdwara Sahib is
known for having the largest sorrowed (holy water pool) among all the Sikh Gurdwaras
in the world with a circumference of 11⁄2 kilometer.
The word ‘Morcha’ is derived from the Persian word ‘Murchah’ or ‘Murchal. Literally it
means entrench, fortification or battle front. In the context of the present write-up it
means a systematic peaceful struggle to attain a specific goal. In the early 1920s the
Sikhs had a prolonged agitation for the liberation of their historical shrines. The Akalis
came into clash with the British rulers by organising this Morchas for the liberation of
their historical shrines. The Akalis by monitoring peaceful resistance fronts and tried
to assert their rights. The heroic episodes involving courage and suffering for the
liberation of and Gurdwaras made the term ‘Morcha’ popular in the early 1920s.
The Gurdwara Reform Movement specially the Tarn Taran Sahib Morcha marked
the beginning of this movement which aimed to take control of the Sikh
Gurdwara Management from the Mahants. Gurdwara Reform Movement in early
20th century perceived the corruption and mismanagement within the Sikh Gurdwara’s
by the Mahants who were supported by the Britishers. The Tarn Taran Sahib. Morcha
was a key event in the broader Gurdwara Reform Movement and focussed to take
control of Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran Sahib from the Mahants. The Britishers made
Bhai Harsa Singh the manager of the Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran Sahib Gurdwara so
that they could keep the Sikhs under their control whom they thought were a political
threat to their rule. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the Sikhs fought and sacrificed
their lives even at the time of attaining independence from the British rule in 1947.
In 1809 the Gurdwaras had come under the control of Mahants appointed by the
Britishers as preachers in Sikh Gurdwaras. In 1877 Bhai Harsa Singh, a Granth of
Shri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran was the first teacher of the Singh Sabha Movement
which came into existence in 1873 to liberate the Sikh Gurdwaras from the control of
the mahants appointed by the Britishers. The Singh Sabha Movement held many
‘Morchas’ to liberate the Sikh Gurdwaras from the control of the Britishers. Arur Singh
was made manager of Tarn Taran Sahib Gurdwara from 1909-1920.
In 1921 at Tarn Taran Sahib the greedy priests divided the income of the Gurdwara
Sahib among themselves and started squandering the money for their pleasure. In all
the Gurdwaras which were under the control of Britishers started misusing the
premises of the holy shrines for immoral activities. In 1921 the Morcha of Tarn Taran
Sahib was started. This Morcha which was a pivotal event in the Gurdwara Reform
Movement was initiated in January 1921. The term ‘Morcha’ in the context of Tarn
Taran Sahib refers to a significant event during the Gurdwara Reform Movement in
early 1920’s. This event involved a conflict between Akali Reformers and the priests
(Mahants) of the Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran. This Morcha is notable as
being the first major instance of violence in the Gurdwara Reform Movement
where Sikhs trying to negotiate were attacked by the Mahants.
As mentioned earlier Tarn Taran Sahib Morcha was the first major event in the
Gurdwara Reform Movement. The aim of this movement was to take control of Sikh
Gurdwaras from the Mahants and ensure the Management of the Gurdwaras according to the Sikh principles.
HAIL THE MARTYRS!
Dr. Amrit Kaur Retd Professor Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab
References
1. Ganda Singh (ed) some most confidential papers of the Akali Movement,
Amritsar (1965)
2. Josh Sohan Singh Akali Morchian Da Itihas Delhi, 1972
3. Teja Singh Gurdwara Reform and the Sikh Awakening, Jallandhar, 1922
4. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism published by Punjabi University, Patiala, Part III,
Part IV, 1997, 1998
5. Giani Bhajan Singh Saade Shaheed, 1991
6. Internet
Pictures:
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Gurdwara Darbar Sahib
Sri Tarn Taran Sahib Sri Tarn Taran Sahib
Gathering of Sikhs on Tarn Taran Sahib Morcha
January 25th, 1921 Launched on January 25, 1921
Dr. Amrit Kaur
Retd Professor
Punjabi University
Patiala, Punjab