Why in the News?

Punjab CM paid tribute to the Kuka martyrs at a function held at the Namdhari Shaheed Smarak in Malerkotla. The day commemorates the execution of 66 Namdhari Sikhs (Kukas) on January 17 and 18, 1872, by British colonial authorities.  

Who are the ‘Namdharis’?

• The Namdharis, also called Kukas, are a Sikh sect founded by Satguru Ram Singh on April 12, 1857, in Ludhiana, Punjab.
• The name Kuka derives from their distinctive high-pitched recitation of Gurbani (kook in Punjabi means “cry” or “scream”).
• Social Reforms:
  • Advocated against alcohol consumption, meat eating, and other social vices.
  • Promoted Swadeshi principles, urging people to boycott foreign goods, British services, and educational institutions.
• The movement served as a precursor to nationwide Non-Cooperation Movement, emphasizing self-reliance and resistance against colonial rule.

About the Kuka Rebellion

• The Kuka Rebellion was one of the localized uprisings against British rule after the Rebellion of 1857.
• The Namdharis actively opposed British policies, particularly cow slaughter, which became a focal point of their resistance.
• Key events leading to the rebellion:
  • In January 1872, Namdharis, led by Hira Singh and Lehna Singh, clashed with British authorities after a cow slaughter incident in Malerkotla.
  • They attacked the Malaudh Fort in Ludhiana, loyal to the British, but the rebellion was crushed.
• British Retaliation:
  • The British responded brutally, executing 49 Namdharis on January 17, 1872, and 17 more on January 18, 1872.
  • The Kukas were placed in front of cannons and blown up in a public spectacle to intimidate others.

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