Sikh reformer Teja Singh Samundri’s legacy revisited through play at GNDU

Marking 100 years since the demise of eminent Sikh reformer, Akali leader and founder member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Teja Singh Samundri, in 1926, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) on Monday hosted a special showcase of a play based on his life.

Titled “Sewa Sangharsh Da Rah”, the play was directed by eminent theatre personality Kewal Dhaliwal and performed by artistes of Manch Rangmanch. It chronicled Samundri’s life, from his birth on February 20, 1882, at Rai Ka Burj in Amritsar, to his service in the military and subsequent leadership of the Sikh reform movement.

Among those present was Teja Singh Samundri’s grandson and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu. During his nearly five-decade-long life, Samundri mobilised the masses, leading Sikhs in the struggle to end British control over gurdwaras. He played a key role in reforms in gurdwara governance and administration, the formation of the SGPC and the establishment of several prominent educational institutions.

The Sikh reform movement emerged at a time when several historical currents were converging. Sandhu said the period between 1920 and 1926 was particularly significant in Punjab’s history and Sikh leadership, with the region also playing an important role in the national freedom movement.

“Right from the establishment of the SGPC in 1920 to undertaking religious reforms and abolishing caste discrimination, the Nankana Sahib massacre in 1921, where 156 Sikhs lost their lives, Chabian Da Morcha, Guru Ka Bagh and Jaito Morcha, and the Sikh Gurdwara Act — all happened during this crucial period. This led many senior Akali leaders, including Teja Singh Samundri, to emerge as mass leaders, a fact even acknowledged by the British authorities,” he said.

Sandhu said this was also the period when Amritsar emerged as an epicentre of communal unity and strength, while public anger was transformed into nationalist sentiment against the British. The leadership, he added, also demonstrated the practical application of its beliefs and ideology. It was for the first time that women were given voting rights when the SGPC held its first elections in 1926. However, leading agitations through non-violent means was not easy, he said.

Stressing that the reforms in education and the ideals of equality, service and social responsibility championed by Teja Singh Samundri remain as relevant today as they were during his lifetime, Sandhu urged the younger generation to study history and draw inspiration from it for the future.

“The political legacy and empowerment of leaders like Samundri, Master Tara Singh, Bhai Vir Singh and Ruchi Ram Sahni must be made available. Universities must conduct research on them and make it accessible to students. Only then will we learn about our history,” he said.

Sandhu also stressed the need for reforms in higher education, with greater emphasis on skill-based, job-oriented training and mentorship.

“Education was a powerful instrument of social transformation during Samundri’s time and continues to be one of the most effective means of empowering youth. It must be our priority,” he said.

GNDU Vice-Chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh recalled the contributions of Teja Singh Samundri and his son Bishen Singh Samundri, who was also a founder member and the first Vice-Chancellor of GNDU. He said preserving historical consciousness among students was essential.

A special exhibition showcasing rare photographs from Samundri’s life and significant historical events of his era was also organised for students and visitors.