Seybold Report ISSN: 1533-9211
Dr.Daljit Kaur Gill /Jasvir Kaur
Vol 18, No 7 ( 2023 ) | Licensing: CC 4.0 | Pg no: 241-249 | Published on: 10-08-2023
Abstract
A combination of three Punjabi words Shiromani Akali Dal literally means the premier organisation of the Akalis- the immortal ones -and has been the most powerful representative body of the Sikhs since its inception on December 14, 1920. Akali Movement transformed into Akali Party or Akali Dal Party. He contributed to Society in Political and religious Sector.
The Akali Movement also gave birth to the Shromani Akali Dal and the religion-based politics of the Akalis. The Shromani Akali Dal founded in December 1920 AD to manage the necessary resources in terms of men and money to run the Akali struggle, acquired a unique position of power and prestige in the religious and political life of the Sikhs. Because of the Akalis sacrifices in and contribution to the success of the Akali Movement, the Akali Dal gained tremendous influence with the Sikh masses, particularly in the rural areas.
The Akali-te-Pardesi summarized in the following manner the Akali contribution towards the strengthening of the forces of nationalism:
The Akalis have shown to the Indians how a most arrogant, oppressive, cunning and deceitful bureaucracy can be brought to its knees by means of non-violent Satyagraha. By sacrifices at Guru-ka-Bagh, they have destroyed the prestige of the bureaucracy and raised the dignity of India .
The Akali Movement provides one more illustration of the British policy of weakening popular movements by creating dissent among the leadership and among the masses supporting it. When Sir Malcolm Hailey, the Governor of the Panjab, realised that he could not suppress a popular movement like that of the Akalis by the earlier policy of repression and when each successive measure taken to suppress the Akalis had further added to the popularity and success of the movement, he tried to defeat the Akalis by splitting the ranks of their leadership, isolating the extremists from the moderates, separating the religious movement from the political issues, alienating the Hindus and the Muslims from the Sikhs and by organising anti-Akali associations to challenge the Akali leadership's exclusive hold over the religious and political affairs of the Sikhs.
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