MORCHA CHABIAN DA: SIKH MORCHA DURING THE BRITISH RULE, AMRITSAR 

The word Morcha is derived from the Persian word ‘Murchah’ or Murchal. Literally it means entrenchments, fortification or battle front. In simple words it means a systematic peaceful struggle to attain a goal. In 1809, the Gurdwaras had come under the control of Mahants appointed by the Britishers as preachers in Sikh Gurdwaras.

The Sikhs in the early 1920’s had a prolonged agitation for the liberation of their historical shrines from the control of corrupt priestly order. During the British Rule Sikhs organised several Morchas for the liberation of their historical shrines. The Akalis came into clash with the British rulers and mounted peaceful resistance fronts to assert their rights. The heroic episodes involving courage and suffering for the liberation of Gurdwaras made the term ‘Morcha’ popular. In the early 1920’s the Morcha organised included Tarn Taran Sahib

Morcha. Morcha Chabian Da was started in November, 1921.

These Morchas were largely centered around the Gurdwara Reforms Movement. The Gurdwara Reforms Movement specially the Tarn Taran Sahib Morcha marked the beginning of this Movement which aimed to reform and control the Sikh Gurdwaras’ management and take the control from the Mahants (clergy). Gurdwara Reform Movement, in early 20th century perceived the corruption and mismanagement within the

Sikh Gurdwaras by the Mahants. The Tarn Taran Sahib Morcha was a key event in the broader Gurdwara Reform Movement and focussed on taking control of the Gurdwara in Tarn Taran Sahib from the Mahants. ‘Morcha Chabian’ also known as ‘Key Morcha’ marks an important episode in Sikh history which was a campaign for the recovery of the keys of the Golden Temple Treasury named TOSHAKHANA. This campaign was a dramatic episode in the Sikhs’ agitation in the early, 1920s for recovering the keys of Toshakhana to reform the management of the Gurdwara.

As in other Gurdwaras since 1809 Golden Temple, Amritsar had a Government nominated Sarbrah (Care Taker). The Sarbrah was controlling everything and he had the keys of Toshakhana the treasury of the Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib. The management came under the control of Shiromani Akal Dal (SAD) in October, 1920. But on 20 October, 1920 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominated the old Sarbrah Sundar Singh Ramgarhia, as a   member of the new committee and appointed him to administer the affairs of the Golden Temple. Even though the Sarbrah now functioned under the direction of the Committee, but since he still retained possession of keys of Toshakhana (treasury) of the Golden Temple some of the Akali reformers felt that the government control, however, nominal still remained. In response to their complaints, on October 20, 1921 the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee resolved to ask Sunder Singh Ramgarhia to hand over the keys of the Toshakhana to the President of SGPC. But before they could implement this decision the news reached the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar who stopped the Akalis to implement their decision. On 7 November, 1921 Amar Nath the additional assistant commissioner raided the house of Sunder Singh Ramgarhia with the help of Police force and took away the keys from Sunder Singh Ramgarhia. On 11 November, 1921 the Government replaced Sunder Singh Ramgarhia and appointed Captain Bahadur Singh in his place.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) refused to recognize the new Sarbrah. The next day i.e. on November 12, 1921 a protest meeting was convened in  Bagh Akalian inAmritsar. This meeting was addressed by Baba Kharak Singh (1867-1963) and other Akali leaders. The Akali meetings took place at Gujranwala, Gujran Khan and other places. Captain Bahadur Singh rsigned but the Government remained adamant.

Two prominent leaders Dan Singh Vachhoa and Jarwant Singh Jhabal were arrested. A divan was held at Ajnala on 26 November, 1921. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) protested against the arrest of Akali leaders. The SGPC committee which was in session was adjourned in the middle of the session at Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar and soon thereafter over 50 of its members reached Ajnala to continue the divan.

The district authority declared the divan an illegal assembly and arrested all the prominent Akalis including Sardar Kharak Singh, Sardar Bahadur Mehtab Singh and Master Sunder Singh Lyallpuri. On November 17, the SGPC condemned the Government action and called upon all Sikhs to observe 4 December, as a Protest Day. The Sikhs were further asked not to join any function in honour of Prince of Wales who was likely to visit India in early 1922.

Failing to control the protest and seeing as to how it might affect Sikh soldiers and peasants, during the visit of Prince of Wales, the Government announced on 3 January 1922 its decision to return the keys to the Executive Committee of SGPC so that on Poh   Sudi 5-7 i.e., January 3-5 the Sikhs could celebrate the Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. But the Executive Committee of SGPC refused to accept the keys until all the Sikhs under detention were released unconditionally.

On 11 January, 1922 Sir John Maynard, the Home Minister announced in the Punjab Legislative Council to release the Sikhs who were under detention. Since the Sikhs refused to fetch the toshakhana keys from the deputy commissioner, a Government Official was eventually sent to deliver the keys wrapped in a piece of red silk to Baba Kharak Singh, President of SGPC at a Divan being held on 19 January, 1922 at Akal Takht Sahib. The Akalis’ victory was hailed throughout the country. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, the First decisive battle for India’s freedom had been won.

More recently political groups have started using the word Morcha as a synonym for political front or grouping.

Dr. Amrit Kaur Retd. Professor Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab

Email: amritkaurchd40@gmail.com