By Autar Mota
Sikhs who had a substantial presence in Muzaffarabad,Mirpur, Baramulla, Poonch, Rawalkote and Kotli were Brahmins who were converted to Sikhism either by 6th Guru or during the rule of Raja Sukh Jeevan Mal .These Sikhs write Bali, Issar, Dutta, Sasan, Raina , Reen ,Soodan and other Brahmin surnames.These Sikhs have a fair complexion.
Most of them who were living in POK had to come to Jammu Camps as refugees after the partition of the country. Special camps were set up for them in Jammu’s Gole Gujral, Simbal and Bhour and some more villages in 1947. A handful of these POK refugees opted to stay in Kashmir valley. These refugees could be seen living in Dharmshalas of Temple Complex near Rambagh Bridge or Chhatti Paadshaahi Gurudwara near Saida Kadal in Srinagar city. Like many innocent people who used to live in peace and brotherhood for centauries in this sub-continent, these Sikhs also suffered a lot during the Tribal Raid and the communal frenzy of 1947.
Some Sikhs mostly ( Sodhis / Rissam ) were settled in uninhabited areas and Karewas of Kashmir. They were granted agricultural land by Hari Singh Nalwa, Bhiman Singh and Sher Singh who were the governors or revenue collectors of Kashmir during Sikh rule.
As per Swarn Singh president of Central Committee of All Jammu and Kashmir Refugees (1947) ;
“ I am a native of Kotli in Muzaffarabad now in POK. I headed the delegation that visited POK sometime back.Our Historic Gurdwara near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), has been partly demolished and converted into police lines. At the time of partition, Sikh presence in POK was substantial. After the communal riots of 1947. majority of Sikhs migrated to India, while the remaining were either converted or killed. All the six members of the Sikh Jatha that I headed were guests of a relative who has converted into Islam. The neo-converts in POK are now called Sheikhs.”
Some Sikhs were also settled in Kashmir after Maharaja Ranjit singh’s forces entered the valley. These Sikhs now live in Traal , Palapora , Chithisinghpora , Hutmurrah , Ranbirpora ,Tahab, Khanpur Sarai ,Beerwa , Nowgaam ,Mattan ,and some more villages in South kashmir . These Sikhs are mostly Sodhis / Rissam who too were Brahmins . These Sikhs were settled in uninhabited Areas and Karewas of Kashmir. They were granted agricultural land by Hari Singh Nalwa , Bhiman Singh and Sher Singh ( Governors or revenue collectors of Kashmir during Sikh rule ). Some Sikhs who accompanied the Army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh were also settled in Kashmir along with these Brahmin Sikhs. These Sikhs became agriculturists/farmers.As time passed and income-earning patterns changed in Kashmiri society,this segment of Sikhs turned poor. They were also lesser educated and had no option but to take up ordinary Government jobs of peons and drivers for survival . Lately education is spreading fast within this sect of Sikhs and young boys from this community are proving good doctors , lawyers and engineers for the society at large.
A few Kashmiri Pandit families in Kashmir also converted to Sikhism . I vividly remember one such family that lived in Naidyar Rainawari near DAV school in their ancestral house. This was all during the visit of sixth Sikh guru to Kashmir . MATA Bhag Bhari who presented a cloak to Sixth Sikh Guru in Kashmir was a saintly lady from Rainawari only. Her son Pandit Seva Ram ( who later came to be known as Bhai Seva Ram ji ) was the first caretaker of Chhati Paadshaahi Gurdwara ( Initially a small wooden structure but later a Gurudwara and a Dharmshala was constructed by Hari Singh Nalwa the then Sikh Governor of Kashmir ).
Some Ramgharia and Mazahabi Sikh families have also settled in Kashmir but their number is insignificant.
For sometime , Brahmin Sikhs of Kashmir also carried on with some Brahminical Practices like performing Shradas for the dead. This practice has now been discarded. If you see their land / revenue records, Word Brahmin is also mentioned in these papers.
Another group of Sikhs mostly khatris with surnames like Sethi, Anand , Kandhari, Sahni , Bhasin etc. also came to Kashmir from Punjab during Dogra rule for trade and commerce These traders were well off and opened shops selling Gold ornaments , Trading in Tea and cloth . Some families opened Hotels and started Transport business. One family opened a Cinema Hall while the other started a Printing press . With them also came the noted Engineer Sardar Ganda Singh from Punjab who planned and built Hari Sing High street and some other buildings in Amira Kadal. These Sikhs remained confined to Srinagar city only.They gave good education to their children who either joined their parental profession or took up good jobs outside the state .
Generally Khatri Sikhs from Punjab living in valley did not marry their children with Kashmiri Sikhs. But now with the spread of education and many other factors , things have changed and the Sikh society in Kashmir is socially better integrated.
And lastly I need to mention that Guru Nanak Dev Ji , Guru Hargobind sahib ji and Guru Har Rai ji are the three Sikh Gurus who visited Kashmir .
“Sach kahoon suun leho sabai jin prem kio tin hee prabh Paayo.”
( Guru Gobind Singh Ji )
I tell the truth; listen everyone. Only those who have Loved, will realize the Lord
Avtar Mota is a regular columnist. He writes for journals, newspapers & magazines
