chapter-2 political movements

meaning that a brave is recognised as the one who fights for cause and
does not shift the stand even at the cost of his own death. 142
There is rejection of peaceful method of struggle as was adopted by
both the Gurdwara Reform movement leadership and also by Mahatma
Gandhi. The bravery shown by the Sikhs in their struggle against the
Mugal rulers has been cited to inculcate the spirit of fearlessness among
the people of Punjab to eradicate the British rule. 143 There is glorification
of the pre-British Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh when the
population was leadering an honourable life, and the richness of the
society with abundance of agricultural material in the households. 144 The
secular character of the Babbers is reflected in drawing inspiration from
the Islam when the Babber literature exhorted the people to draw
inspiration from the sacrifice of prophet Mohamad against repression and
tyrrny. 145
The literature produced by Babber Akali leadership reveal
interesting utilization of 'History' beginning with the glorification of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh when the peculiar position of the Maharaja and the
international situations compelled the British to despatch C.T. Metcoff to
arrange for treaty with him. There is mention of the bravery of Sikhs
which have been injected by Guru Gobind Singh with the creation of the
142 Ibid., p. 54.
143 G'r gk fdZsk ;aKswJh tkbk, jtk row s' row trk d/;K,
phi phfink j? fijVk s[;K fgZS/, T[;/ phi d/ w/t/ y[nk d/;K.
Milkha Singh Nijjar, op.cit., p.157.
144 fgSb/ ;w/I ;h edo n;kvh, y/sh g?dk eod/ ;h.
fgzvK d/ ftu gzu n;kv/, nkg ndkbs eod/ ;h.
xo-xo ;"-;" wjhnK-rkJhnK, y/s d/ ftZu uodhnK ;B.
Milkha Singh Nijjar, op.cit., p.157
145 j;B-j[;?B tkbh eo' eoBh,
fdybk fdU yK ir e[opkB j'e/.
Milkha Singh Nijjar, op.cit., p.157