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.