Teja Singh Samundri’s legacy takes centre stage in BJP’s pro-Sikh push in Punjab

With the 2027 Punjab Assembly election nearing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to build a pro-Sikh image by weaving historical Sikh narratives, and Sardar Teja Singh Samundri, a key architect of the Sikh gurdwara reform movement, and a co-founder of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), has become one of the focal points of that outreach.

As the centenary of his martyrdom is being observed this year, the BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have frequently invoked Samundri’s legacy at public rallies. Samundri, who refused to compromise on his principles and declined conditional release from British custody, died in 1926 at the age of 43 at the Lahore Central Jail.

The Sikh icon actively participated in several agitations, including the ‘Chabian da Morcha’ (in 1921-22 for the control the keys to the treasury of the Golden Temple in Amritsar); the ‘Guru ka Bagh Morcha’ (in 1922 for the control of the Guru ka Bagh gurdwara in Ajnala); and the ‘Jaito daMorcha’ (in 1923, over the removal of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha by the British). Samundri was arrested several times.

The naming of the Teja Singh Samundri Hall at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar serves as a reminder of his pivotal role in shaping modern Sikhism.

The Central government’s ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pays tribute to Samundri’s contributions. By evoking Samundri’s legacy, the BJP wants to place Sikh sacrifice within the larger story of the freedom struggle and the party’s focus on nationalism.

The BJP has tried to draw attention to its ‘pro-Sikh’ image by highlighting the steps taken by the Union government since 2014, including the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases; the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, which connects the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district in Punjab; the waiving of GST for langars; and permitting Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration for Harmandir Sahib.

The BJP has also declared December 26 as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ to mark the martyrdom of Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. The appointment of Kewal Singh Dhillon, a Jat Sikh, and his appointment as the party’s new State president is seen as another attempt by the party to consolidate its position in the community.

“The BJP is trying to cultivate as many Sikhs as possible,” Amarjit Singh Narang, former Professor of Political Science, Indira Gandhi National Open University, told The Hindu.

“There is speculation about a possible alliance between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). While that may happen or not, these efforts by the BJP to woo Sikhs could favour the BJP either way. If they win over Sikhs without an alliance, it is good enough for them. If an alliance with the SAD does materialise, that would also be beneficial for the BJP as there are no ideological differences. The original SAD-BJP partnership was built on Hindu-Sikh unity, which remained a cornerstone of their alliance for decades. Either way, it’s a win-win for the BJP. If the alliance happens, the SAD could also benefit,” Prof. Narang said.

Professor Karamjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, who recently translated into English a book on Samundri by Piar Singh, said Samundri’s legacy is as relevant in the modern world as it was years ago. “His courage, spiritual depth and commitment to the community’s upliftment left an indelible mark on Sikh society and the Indian national movement. Born in 1882 at Rai Ka Burj in Tarn-Taran tehsil, Amritsar district, Samundri rose from humble beginnings to become a pivotal figure in the SGPC, an institution that redefined Sikh religious and cultural identity in the early 20th century. His journey from brief military service in the British Indian Army to becoming a reformer, educator and martyr reflects a life anchored in equality, faith and resistance against oppression,” Prof. Karamjeet Singh said.

Professor Manjit Singh, former head of the Department of Sociology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, said the BJP had faced farmers’ anger, particularly the traditionally agrarian Jat Sikh community in Punjab, over the controversial farm laws, which the Centre later withdrew. “The party’s invocation of Sikh personalities appears to be a strategy to neutralise that damage. They have realised that because of the farmers’ movement, which was mainly driven by Sikhs, an anti-BJP sentiment became very strong among the Sikhs. To neutralise that, they have frequently been invoking prominent Sikh personalities, be it Maharaja Ranjit Singh or Teja Singh Samundri,” Prof. Manjit Singh said.