The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 1 of 15
Bhai
Randhir Singh da Jatha/Akhand Kirtani Jatha
Time of origin: mid 1930s
On 7th July 1878, Basant Singh Grewal
was born to Sardar Natha Singh and Punjab Kaur,
in the village of Narangwal, Ludhiana District.
Natha Singh was a proud and wealthy Jatt lawyer
who would later become a High Court judge in
the state of Nabha. Basant Singh was educated
at the Government and Foreman Christian Colleges
at capital of Punjab, Lahore (circa 1896-1900).
These schools run by the British Raj
and the teachers were Christian missionaries.
Ludhiana
Ludhiana and surrounding districts in Punjab
On 14th June 1903, Basant Singh was initiated
into the Khalsa brotherhood by the notorious
Teja Singh Bhasuaria (also
known as ‘Babu Teja Singh’),
and this spawned the beginning of the organization
that today calls itself the Akhand Kirtani
Jatha (A.K.J.). The A.K.J was initially
known as the ‘Bhai Randhir Singh
Da Jatha’, which was originally
termed the ‘Tat Khalsa Jatha’
during the Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhia era.
Bhai Randhir Singh Narangwal
Founder of the 'Bhai Randhir Singh da Jatha'
Basant Singh Grewal became known as Bhai
Randhir Singh (1878-1961) and is considered
to be the co-founder of the modern day puritanical
Sikh movement, the A.K.J. After his initiation,
he took Babu Teja Singh as his mentor and confidant,
and thus he came under his unhealthy influence
at an early age (also see Panch
Khalsa Diwan). Sikh scholars Pashauara Singh
and Gerald N. Barrier noted:
‘The second
legacy lies in the sect which continues
some of the ideals of Babu Teja Singh. This
is the Bhai Randhir Singh da Jatha, more
commonly known as the Akhand Kirtani Jatha.
Randhir Singh was a considerable admirer
of Teja Singh….’
‘The Transmission of the Sikh Heritage
in the Diaspora’, by Pashauara Singh
and Gerald N. Barrier, Pa.160
Bhai Randhir Singh da Jatha
'Bhai Randhir Singh Narangwal (with harmonium)
and his followers engaged in singing of Sikh
scriptures
In one of his early books, Bhai Randhir Singh
argues against the S.G.P.C. stance with regards
to 'Chatka' meat. In this text,
he speaks of his one-time mentor Babu Teja Singh:
‘---, in those days
with the jewel of the Panch Khalsa Diwan,
Teja Singh Bhasauria I had great love.’
‘Chatka
Mas Prthaeh Tat Gurmat Nirna’, Bhai
Randhir Singh, Pa.9
Later on, during his travels, Randhir Singh
came into contact with Akali Nihangs. The outspoken
anti-British Raj attitude of the Akali Nihangs
would influence his thoughts and actions in
the time ahead.