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Brotherhood of the Pure: The Poetics and Politics of Cultural Transgression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Harjot Oberoi
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia

Extract

The spring month of Māgh heralds festivals, pilgrimages and popular rituals in the north Indian countryside. In 1872, the small village Bhaini, in Ludhiana district, was the scene of feverish activity. Participants in a millenarian community popularly known as Kukas had collected there in connection with the spring festivities on the 11 and 12 of January. They had, however, very little to celebrate. In the past four months nine of their numbers had been hanged by the colonial authorities on charges of attacking slaughter houses and killing butchers, others had been imprisoned, and many more were subjected to increasing surveillance and restrictions. British officials nervously shifted their views of the Kukas. Earlier seen as religious reformers within the Sikh tradition, they were now deemed to be political rebels. As those present felt heavily suspect in the eyes of the administration, the atmosphere at Bhaini must have been tense and unnerving.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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References

I am extremely grateful to Peter Harnetty, Susana B. C. Devalle and James Scott for having read an earlier draft of this essay, and for having made many helpful criticisms and suggestions. The usual disclaimers apply.Google Scholar

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68 The oft-reiterated nationalist position that British authorities introduced cow slaughter to divide Hindu and Muslim populations is oversimplistic and at present has nothing to support it. For the nationalist argument see the works listed in footnote 3 above.

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103 For an English translation of the Sau Sakhiān anthology used by the Kukas see Sardar Attar Singh of Bhadaur, Sakhee Book or the Description of Goroo Gobind Singh's Religion and Doctrines (Benares, 1873). He believes the circulation of the prophecies was the only reason for the Kuka ‘disturbances’.Google Scholar

104 See my ‘Two Poles of Akali Politics’, The Times of India, 1 June 1983.Google Scholar

105 For Kuka usage of these concepts see Bhāī Ram Singh's correspondence reproduced in Singh, Ganda, Vithiā, pp. 212–314, and statements of official witnesses inGoogle ScholarGriffin, L. H. Secretary to Government Punjab, to Secretary to Government of India, 20 February 1872Google Scholar, Singh, Nahar, KS, II, p. 189.Google Scholar

106 McLeod, W. H., Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion (Oxford, 1968), pp. 199203.Google Scholar Also see Singh, Sahib, Sri Gurū Granth Sāhib Darpan, vol. I (Jullundur, 1962), pp. 50–1, for an exposition on the doctrine of hukam.Google Scholar

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108 Maru 3, Ādi Granth, pp. 1063–4, my italics.Google Scholar

109 Walker, T. Gordon, Settlement Report, p. 36.Google Scholar

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