ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>KH&#256LS&#256 D&#298W&#256N M&#256JH&#256</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279<u>KH</u>&#256LS&#256 D&#298W&#256N M&#256JH&#256, an association of reformist Sikhs representing the districts of Lahore, Amritsar and Gurd&#257spur, was set up in 1904. The Si&#7749gh Sabh&#257 movement had created among the Sikhs a new consciousness for the need to reform their religious and social practices. Early in 1904, Ris&#257ldar Basant Si&#7749gh of Naushahr&#257 Pann&#363&#257&#7749, in Tarn T&#257ran sub-division of Amritsar district, celebrated the marriage of his daughter. Although the actual marriage ceremony was performed in accordance with the Sikh rites of Anand sanctioned and popularized by the Si&#7749gh Sabh&#257, it was marked by much extravagance and ostentation. This was disliked by his reformist friend, Zaild&#257r Sh&#257m Si&#7749gh of Kairo&#7749. Their mutual discussions led to a representative meeting being called in February of 1904 in the precincts of Sr&#299 Darb&#257r S&#257hib, Tarn T&#257ran. The meeting decided to establish a society by the name of <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n M&#257jh&#257. Basant Si&#7749gh prepared the draft of a constitution which he circulated to different Si&#7749gh Sabh&#257s. A specially designated religious sub-committee was charged with scrutinizing it. Ris&#257ld&#257r Basant Si&#7749gh was elected president and Zaild&#257r Sh&#257m Si&#7749gh secretary. Kairo&#7749 served as the headquarters, but monthly meetings were to be held by rotation in neighbouring villages so as to maximize local participation .</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In its earlier years, the D&#299w&#257n focussed attention primarily on two-fold activity. First, a group of preachers and singers toured villages urging Sikh farmers to simplify marriages, to avoid large dowries, and to give up drugs and alcohol. Secondly, the D&#299w&#257n attempted to reform the style of religious fairs at Sr&#299 Darb&#257r S&#257hib, Tarn T&#257ran. While supposedly religious in nature, the monthly Am&#257vas fair at Tarn T&#257ran had become notorious for immorality and general misconduct. The <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n M&#257jh&#257 made a transformation of the fair a primary goal. Monthly gatherings and day-long preaching sessions, appealed to visitors to worship rather than indulge in frivolity, a campaign that soon led to a marked improvement in the tone of the fair. Similarly, the D&#299w&#257n led a campaign to remove idols from Sr&#299 Darb&#257r S&#257hib, Tarn T&#257ran, and generally to reform the management. Pressure on the priests almost precipitated armed clashes and bloodshed on several occasions, but because of mediation by prominent Sikhs, notably Bh&#257&#299 Mohan Si&#7749gh Vaid, the atmosphere surrounding the shrine improved.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first annual conference of the D&#299w&#257n was held on 1719 February 1905, at Tarn T&#257ran. In addition to preaching, the gathering passed resolutions on a wide range of social issues. Twelve of the fifteen resolutions adopted dealt with details of marriage ceremonial. Large dowries were to be shunned, simplified ceremonies adopted and expenses minimized. Another resolution called on the government to introduce Punjabi as a medium of instruction in schools. Yet another resolution contained an appeal for Sikhs to replace the fun and levity surrounding the Hol&#299 festival with a day of worship and manly sports as introduced by Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh in the form of Hol&#257 Mahall&#257. A final resolution emphasized the need for abstinence from alcohol and drugs in general.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; During 1905, the D&#299w&#257n held meetings and implemented the resolutions. The second annual conference, in April 1906, focussed primarily on fratricidal cleavage between two clans of Ja&#7789&#7789s, &#7692hillo&#7749 and Bal. Through misunderstandings, the two clans had no dealings or relationships since the fifteenth century. Joint deliberations and prayer helped alleviate the tension, with the result that the clans gave up their traditional antipathy and rescinded the ban on mutual relationships, and resolved to be brothers of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 fraternity. The conference also decided to set up missionary centres, each covering villages within a radius of 8 km, to provide a sustained and institutionalized form of <i>prach&#257r</i> that would reach the largest number of Sikhs. But dearth of suitable preachers was a handicap. A special committee studied the problem and a training institution, the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 Prach&#257rak Vidy&#257l&#257 of Tarn T&#257ran, was established on 6 November 1906. With this the headquarters of the D&#299w&#257n were also shifted from Kairo&#7749 to Tarn T&#257ran. The secretary, Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh of K&#257iro&#7749, and Bh&#257&#299 Mohan Si&#7749gh Vaid of Tarn T&#257ran, worked strenuously for the success of the enterprise.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The third annual session of the D&#299w&#257n was held on 910 April 1907, during a period of political unrest in the Punjab. The conference adopted strong resolutions calling upon the government to reduce enhanced land revenue and water rates and to modify the new colonization measure that adversely affected agriculture mainly in the hands of the Sikhs in central Punjab. The conference also discussed the deteriorating management of Sr&#299 Darb&#257r S&#257hib, Amritsar, and urged government intervention to improve the administration. Another resolution urged the government to transfer the landed property of Gurdw&#257r&#257 at Nank&#257&#7751&#257 S&#257hib from the name of the <i>mahant</i> to the Gurdw&#257r&#257 itself.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At this time, deliberate attempts were being made by vested interests to create a rift and mistrust among the Sikhs of different regions such as M&#257jh&#257, M&#257lv&#257 and Do&#257b&#257, leading to misunderstandings among the respective <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257ns. The Chief <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n finally made an effort to resolve such difficulties by suggesting that all organizations associate themselves more completely with the central body. Sard&#257r Harba&#7749s Si&#7749gh of A&#7789&#257r&#299 and Professor Jodh Si&#7749gh specifically called on the M&#257jh&#257 D&#299w&#257n to merge with the Chief <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n in order to set a precedent and heal split within the community. Members of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n M&#257jh&#257 debated the issue for almost a year and eventually decided in early 1908 to sink mutual differences for the common good of the Panth. On 8 February 1908, the executive committee of the Chief <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n approved merging of the groups together and redesignating the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n M&#257jh&#257 as the M&#257jh&#257 Prach&#257r Sub-committee, Chief <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n. Sard&#257r Sant Si&#7749gh of Ras&#363lpur was appointed its chairman. The new body met for the first time at Kairo&#7749 in March 1908 to plan and to prepare for a fourth conference at R&#257j&#257 Ja&#7749g in Lahore district, a site chosen primarily because of the prevalence of sharp divisions among local Sikhs into high and low castes. The following year, a new school was opened at Kairo&#7749 that helped spread women's education, but the transfer of authority for the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 Prach&#257rak Vidy&#257l&#257 to the Chief <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n undermined the unity as well as the importance of the M&#257jh&#257 Prach&#257r Sub-committee, and by 1910 it became inoperative.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; During its short existence, the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n M&#257jh&#257 contributed to reform programmes and prepared the ground for future work by the Chief <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n in both urban and rural areas. The organization was one of the first to draw the attention of Sikhs to conditions within holy shrines and thereby contributed to an awareness that ultimately led to the <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i> reforms of the 1920's. Like many of its sister associations, the D&#299w&#257n responded to regional problems and then in a spirit of magnanimity ended its own separate activities for the larger good of the community.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Jagj&#299t Si&#7749gh, <i>Si&#7749gh Sabh&#257 Lahir</i>. Ludhiana, 1974<BR> <li class="C1"> Reports of the Khalsa Diwan Majha, especially "<u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 D&#299w&#257n M&#257jh&#257 de Niyam Upniyam."<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Jagj&#299t Si&#7749gh <br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>