The 1920s Akali movement, which began as a strictly religious movement to reform Gurdwaras, or Sikh holy temples, quickly took on a political dimension and became an integral component of India's liberation struggle. Apart from being anti-imperialist, the Akali movement, also known as the Gurdwara Reform Movement or Gurdwara agitations, describes the Sikhs' long-running struggle in the early twentieth century for the freedom of their Gurudwara, or holy temple. Nonviolent agitation marches, divans or religious meetings, and protests for Sikhs to express their freedom to control their place of worship drew fervent support, especially from rural people. Finally, the government had to give in to public pressure and allow Sikhs to administer their shrines, resulting in the Gurdwara Act of 1925 which created the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), to act as custodian of all significant Sikh sites of worship. This article will explain to you about the Akali Movement which will be helpful in Modern Indian History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Akali Movement - Background

• The Akali Movement was founded by Sikh reformers in order to purify their religious sites by removing the evil social practices that had gradually crept into them.
• The Sikh Gurus established the Gurdwaras or Dharamsala as centers of religious activity and social and moral instruction, as well as to provide food and shelter to the poor and needy.
• The Sikh teaching of universal equality was practiced here. Everyone, regardless of caste, color, or gender, was welcome to visit these locations and partake in the free meal served in the Langar (Community Kitchen).
• In keeping with the Sikh tradition of piety, those in charge of the Gurdwaras did not regard the offerings as their personal income but instead used them to run free community kitchens and other social welfare projects.
• During the Sikh persecution that followed the death of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, control of the Sikh Gurdwaras passed to the Udasis or those who professed Sikhism but did not strictly adhere to its outward symbols and thus escaped persecution.
  • The Udasis in charge of various Gurdwaras at the time provided a valuable service to the Sikh religion by keeping the Gurdwaras open.
  • The majority of them were not attached to any specific shrine or its wealth and property but instead moved from place to place.
  • Some, however, established regular institutions and admitted followers, becoming known as Mahants.
• In the early stages, these Mahants enjoyed the trust and reverence of their congregations. They also followed Guru Nanak's advice not to covet the offerings.
• However, most Mahants abandoned this tradition of purity and simplicity as a result of the increase in their income from revenue-free jagirs bestowed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and other Sikh chiefs on most of the historic shrines.
• Mahants engaged in a variety of evil practices, such as stealing offerings and other valuables. The sacredness of these locations was destroyed.

Akali Movement - Objectives

• The Akali movement's goal was to reduce, if not completely eliminate, the clergy's control over Gurudwaras.
• The Sikh Gurdwara Bill, introduced in 1925, placed all historical Sikh shrines in India under the control of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
• The Akali movement was also involved in the Indian Independence movement and supported Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation movement.
• Akali Movement was formed in order to liberate the historic Gurdwaras of the Sikhs from the control of these Mahants, who were backed by British rule.
• To free historic Gurdwaras like Tarn Taran, Nanakana Sahib, and Guru-Ka-Bagh, Sikhs had to make supreme sacrifices and endure unspeakable atrocities.
• Furthermore, Sikhs had to fight against the government for religious freedom and the management of Gurdwaras in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, and Gurdwara Jaito.

Factors Responsible for Akali Movement

Misuse of Shrine Funds

• The rise of powerful Sikh chiefs in the late eighteenth century, and Ranjit Singh's establishment of a kingdom in 1799 A.D., brought about a significant change in Sikh religion.
• The property and privileges attached to religious sites resulted in the introduction of complex rites and rituals, as well as the emergence of wealthy and powerful Mahants.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh and other Sikh Chiefs endowed almost all of the well-known Gurdwaras with large tax-free jagirs.
• The sudden increase in income resulted in a change in the way of life of the Mahants of some important Gurdwaras.
• They began to convert the Gurdwara's trust property into their personal possessions. This was in complete defiance of Sikh Gurus' and Sikh scriptures' injunctions.
• Gradually, the Mahants and their followers began to live in luxury and indulge in various social evils.
• Sikhism followers tried to put a stop to the evil practices of these Mahants through social protest and organized a movement to free Sikh shrines from the control of the hereditary Mahants.
• Because of the Akali Juthas, who led this reform movement, this movement is popularly known as the Akali movement.

Gurudwara Problem

• The corrupt mahants had control over the Gurudwaras. They treated temple donations like personal property and lived a lavish lifestyle.
• Following the British annexation of Punjab, some control was exercised by government-appointed managers who worked in collaboration with the mahants.
• The British government backed these mahants and told them to keep Sikhs away from the national movement.
• Sikh reformers, on the other hand, wanted to get rid of these mahants. Their actions, like banning ghadarites and honoring General Dyer, had shocked the community.
• Initially, the reformers were successful because agitators formed groups to force mahants and managers to hand over control to local devotees. The government backed the reformers because it did not want to antagonize them.
• The real test, however, was the gurudwara at Nankana. The mahants had organized an armed band of mercenaries and were responsible for the deaths of peaceful Akali followers.
• The government noticed that the Akali movement was becoming more and more integrated with the national movement.
• To appease the moderates, it passed legislation giving akalis control of gurudwaras, but it used force to repress the extremist akalis.

Gurudwara Bill, 1925

• Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha was deposed as a result of his support for the Akalis. The Akali leadership decided to take up Ripudaman Singh's cause and demand his restoration to the throne.
• Because Akalis had emerged as a powerful nationalist expression in the province, Congress decided to back them up. Jawahar Lal Nehru visited Nabha to assess the situation, but he was arrested and imprisoned.
• During their agitation, they encountered the most vehement opposition from the administration of Nabha and the Maharaja of Patiala. In February 1924, there was fighting over Shahidi Jatha in Jaito.
• Britishers were concerned that this would affect Sikh soldiers in the British army, and Congress ideology was spreading among Punjab peasants
• All of these factors prompted Britishers to resolve the Akali issue once and for all by enacting the Gurudwara Bill, 1925, which granted the following rights:
  • The Sikh community was given the legal right to manage Gurudwaras, effectively ending the hereditary control of Mahants over Gurudwaras.
  • It established democratic control over the Gurudwara administration.
  • According to the Act, any Sikh, regardless of caste, can be elected to any position, including President of the SGPC.
  • Sikh women were granted the right to vote on the same basis as men, and they were permitted to perform all religious and social duties in Sikh shrines.

Conclusion

During this movement, the Sikhs faced the cruelty and death inflicted on them by the British Government and the Mahants, who were supported by the British, with great calm and courage. In July 1925, the Gurdwara Reform Act was passed, putting all Gurdwaras in Punjab under Panthic control. This power was to be wielded by elected Panthic bodies, namely the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee and local Gurdwara Committees. Thus, corrupt elements and practices were removed from holy places, and their income could be used to spread the Sikh faith and benefit the community.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which committee recommended including health and education in India's poverty line estimation?

A) Alagh Committee
B) Lakdawala Committee
C) Tendulkar Committee
D) Rangarajan Committee

2. Why does India prefer consumption expenditure over income levels for poverty estimation?

A) Easier data collection
B) More stable and reliable measure
C) Government policy
D) International standards

3. Which organization collects data for poverty estimation in India?

A) Reserve Bank of India
B) Ministry of Finance
C) National Sample Survey Office
D) NITI Aayog

4. The current official poverty line in India is based on the recommendations of which committee?

A) Alagh Committee
B) Lakdawala Committee
C) Tendulkar Committee
D) Rangarajan Committee

5. What does the poverty gap index measure?

A) The percentage of people below the poverty line
B) The average shortfall from the poverty line
C) The rate of poverty reduction
D) Income inequality among the poor

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the evolution of poverty estimation methods in India and their implications on policy-making.

Answer: Over the decades, poverty estimation in India has evolved through various committee recommendations. The Alagh Committee (1979) set calorie-based thresholds. The Lakdawala Committee (1993) extended the focus to consumption without adjusting for inflation. The Tendulkar Committee (2009) shifted the methodology by including health and education, aligning with global standards. The Rangarajan Committee (2014) refined these measures for accuracy. This evolution has informed policy-making, guiding targeted interventions and more nuanced poverty alleviation strategies that address broader social and economic needs.

Q2: Discuss the advantages and challenges of using consumption expenditure as the basis for poverty estimation in India.

Answer: Consumption expenditure offers a more stable representation of living conditions compared to income, which is often irregular and difficult to track in India's informal sector. This method helps policymakers assess actual household well-being more effectively. However, challenges include potential underreporting and discrepancies in data collection, particularly in rural and seasonal economies. Moreover, this approach may not fully capture non-cash benefits and services. Addressing these gaps requires enhanced data collection techniques and complementary indicators to ensure comprehensive poverty measurement.

Q3: Evaluate the role of NITI Aayog in modern poverty estimation and policy formulation in India.

Answer: NITI Aayog plays a central role in modernizing poverty estimation and advising on policy formulation. By coordinating with the NSSO and developing methodologies, NITI Aayog shapes accurate assessments of poverty levels. It leverages multi-dimensional data for targeted welfare measures, ensuring alignment with current socio-economic conditions. Despite challenges like data quality and survey frequency, NITI Aayog’s efforts contribute to informed decision-making and strategic resource allocation, which enhances the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs.

Previous Year Questions on Poverty Estimation

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: Which of the following indices measures the intensity of poverty?

A) Human Development Index
B) Gini Coefficient
C) Poverty Gap Index
D) Multidimensional Poverty Index

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The Poverty Gap Index measures how far below the poverty line the average poor person’s income or consumption is, indicating the intensity of poverty.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 3):

Question: "Critically analyze the effectiveness of the current poverty estimation methods in India. What improvements would you suggest for better policy implementation?"

Answer: India’s poverty estimation, based primarily on consumption expenditure, has highlighted the proportion living below the poverty line. While it captures some aspects of poverty, it overlooks dimensions like education, health, and housing. The Tendulkar and Rangarajan Committees’ recommendations improved the method, but further adoption of a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) could offer deeper insights. Improved data collection technology and real-time analysis would enhance the method’s relevance, ensuring comprehensive policy frameworks to address diverse poverty indicators.