Punjab Newsline,Haryana :
CM Saini Attends Programme at Sri Bhaini Sahib, Says Sacrifices of Namdhari Sikhs Will Always Be Remembered
CM Saini paid respectful tributes to the great saint, social reformer and pioneer of national consciousness Satguru Ram Singh Ji Maharaj on his birth anniversary at a grand programme held at Sri Bhaini Sahib, Samrala, in Ludhiana district of Punjab. On the occasion, CM Saini bowed before Satguru Ram Singh Ji Maharaj and said that his thoughts continue to guide society and the nation even today. He said that the life of Satguru Ram Singh Ji Maharaj inspires true development based on humanity, morality and national interest.
Responding to the demand of the organising committee, CM Saini said that after consultations with the committee members, the Haryana Government will establish a Chair in the name of Satguru Ram Singh Ji Maharaj.
CM Saini paid floral tributes to all Namdhari Sikhs who were martyred during the Kuka Movement while fighting for the country’s freedom. He said that Satguru Ram Singh Ji was a visionary saint who connected religion with action, devotion with social reform and spirituality with service to the nation. At a time when India was bound by the chains of colonial rule and social evils had taken deep roots, Satguru Ram Singh Ji showed society the path of self-respect, discipline and dignity through the Namdhari Movement.
CM Saini said that the Kuka Movement, led by Satguru Ram Singh Ji, remains an inspiring chapter of India’s freedom struggle. Launched after 1849 against British rule in Punjab, the movement was not merely economic in nature but an effort to awaken the soul of India. He said that Satguru Ram Singh Ji showed the path of peaceful struggle for freedom through non-cooperation and swadeshi, later adopted by Mahatma Gandhi. He promoted the boycott of foreign goods and British institutions, encouraged the establishment of panchayats and spread the message of swadeshi.
Highlighting history, CM Saini said that Baba Ram Singh Ji’s movement posed a strong challenge to British authority. Due to his resistance against injustice, he was exiled to Rangoon, but his ideas could never be imprisoned. To suppress the movement, the British executed 49 and later 16 Namdhari Sikhs by firing them from cannons in 1872. The struggle of the Namdhari Sikhs continued from 1857 to 1947, and through these immense sacrifices, the dream of freedom envisioned by Satguru Ram Singh Ji Maharaj was ultimately fulfilled.
CM Saini recalled that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had acknowledged the sacrifices of the Namdhari Sikhs, saying that the nation would always be proud of the sacrifices made by the Namdhari Kukas under the flag of freedom raised by Satguru Ram Singh Ji. He also mentioned that, on the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a postage stamp was issued on December 24, 2014, in memory of the martyrs of the Kuka Movement.
Addressing the youth, CM Saini said that the life of Satguru Ram Singh Ji is a living source of inspiration. He urged young people to embrace modernity and advance in technology while never abandoning their values and संस्कार (traditions). He said that success should not be measured only by personal achievements, but by one’s contribution to society and the nation.
CM Saini said that the Haryana Government is working with full commitment towards strengthening saintly traditions, social harmony, a drug-free society, youth empowerment and the preservation of cultural values. He called upon everyone to not limit the teachings of Satguru Ram Singh Ji Maharaj to remembrance alone, but to imbibe them in daily life and contribute towards building a drug-free, discrimination-free, ethical and empowered society.