Teja Singh Samundri (1882–1926) was a Sikh religious reformer and one of the founder members of

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee ( SGPC; Supreme Gurdwara Management Committee) is an organization in India responsible for the management of ''gurdwaras'', Sikh places of worship, in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and ...

and played an important role in the Gurdwara reform movement.

Biography

Samundri was born to Deva Singh and Nand Kaur on 20 February 1882 at Rai Ka Burj in Tarn Taran tehsil, Amritsar district, Punjab. His village was Chak 140 GB. He acquired the toponymic suffix ''Samundri'' after he shifted to Samundri in Lyallpur district. He was never formally educated past the primary-level. He served in the British Indian Army for three-and-a-half years, reaching the rank of '' Dafadar'' (junior commissioned officer) in the 22nd Cavalry. Teja Singh Samundri in discussion during Akali movement

Teja Singh Samundri in discussion during Akali movement

After serving in the military, he returned to his native village and joined the

Chief Khalsa Diwan The Chief Khalsa Diwan ( C.K.D.) or Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society ( C.K.D.C.S.) is a Sikh organisation that is the central organization of various Singh Sabhas spread across Punjab, India. Unlike the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Com ...

. He then established two Khalsa schools, both located in Sarhali in the Amritsar district. He was also a founder of the ''Akali'' daily newspaper periodical. In 1920, Samundri became a founding member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, where he later rose to the position of vice-president of the SGPC. In the aftermath of the

Nankana massacre The Nankana massacre (also known as Saka Nankana Sahib) occurred on the premises of Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib on 20 February 1921, at that time a part of the Punjab Province of British India, but today in modern-day Pakistan. Betwee ...

, the British handed-over control of the Nankana Sahib shrine to the reformist Sikhs, with Samundri becoming a member of the new management committee of Nankana Sahib. During the Akali movement, he was arrested for his role in the ''Chabian Da Morcha'' (lasting from November 1921 to January 1922) agitation by the British. He was arrested again on 13 October 1923 due to participating in a joint SGPC-Akali campaign to restore the recent reposed Maharaja Ripudaman Singh to the throne of

Nabha State Nabha State, with its capital at Nabha, was one of the Phulkian princely states of Punjab (British India), Punjab during the British Raj in India. This state was ruled by the Sidhu clan belonging to the Sikhs, Sikh religion. History Orig ...

after his excommunication by the British. The British declared that the SGPC and Akali Dal were illegal entities, thus fifty-nine leaders of both organizations were arrested, including Teja Singh, being charged with "waging war against the King". He was shifted to Lahore Fort for his trail. Teja Singh died in custody on 17 July 1926 due to a heart attack.

Family

Teja Singh had a son named Bishan Singh, who was the founding vice-chancellor of

Guru Nanak Dev University Guru Nanak Dev University is a Public State University in Amritsar, India. It also offers many higher studies degree courses online. The university's campus is spread over . Campus Guru Nanak Dev University campus is spread over 500 acres (2 ...

and also served as the principal of Khalsa College in Amritsar. Teja Singh's grandson is Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Legacy

The building that houses the headquarters of the SGPC within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar is named Teja Singh Samundri Hall after him.

Biography

Family

Legacy

References

Further reading