Baba Gurdit Singh Biography: The Hero of the Komagata Maru Incident
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Who Was Baba Gurdit Singh?
Baba Gurdit Singh was a Sikh patriot and the most important personality pertaining to the Komagata Maru incident that happened in 1914. There was an incident in Canadian history which discriminately restricted immigration. Gurdit was born on August 25, 1860 in Sarhali, Amritsar district, Punjab, British India. He was a businessman, a nationalist, and an ardent supporter of the Indian immigrants’ rights. He gained notoriety after chartering the Komagata Maru ship to challenge Canada's exclusionist immigration policies. This biography looks into his early life, family history, and his enduring legacy. Source: Wikipedia - Baba Gurdit Singh
Starting Life and the Starting Family of Baba Gurdit Singh
Baba Gurdit Singh was born into a Sandhu Jat Sikh family in Sarhali Kalan, a village in the Amritsar district of Punjab. His father, Hukam Singh, a small estate owner, was forced to shift to Taiping, Malaysia, as a contractor due to the dismal monsoon conditions in 1870. He later passed away. His Sardar Rattan Singh Sandhu was a big-military high officer of the Sikh Khalsa Army and during the First and Second Anglo-Sikh wars. He fought against the British and dismiss Jagir’s (land grant) award after British annexed Punjab in 1849. Source: The Sikh Encyclopedia - Gurdit Singh
Early Education and Migration
Gurdit Singh’s earliest education was very superficial as there was no primary school in his village. He was able to read and write Gurmukhi at a nearby dharamsala; however, the teacher’s behavior was excruciating to endure, resulting in him dropping out. He also undertook some basic education around the age of 13 so he is able to communicate with his father who lived in Malaysia, and moved there in 1885. Source: SikhiWiki - Baba Gurdit Singh
Business Ventures
In Singapore and Malaysia, his father/grandfather worked dairy farming, railroad construction, and mining and then increased greatly in luxury. Source: Komagata Maru Journey
Family and Personal Life
Baba Gurdit Singh was married twice. He lost his first wife in 1904 after having two daughters and a son who died. Their first marriage was in 1885. Balwant Singh, who is his son from the second wife, travelled on the Komagata Maru voyage with Gurdit Singh at nine years old. Balwant Singh had two sons, Ajit Singh and Jaswant Singh, and five daughters: Harbhajan Kaur, Satwant Kaur, Amarjit Kaur, Dalbir Kaur, and Balbir Kaur. Both of Balwant’s sons passed away in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Gurdit Singh’s grandsons now reside in Canada and Zirakpur, India, while his daughter-in-law lives in the US. Source: The Canadian Bazaar - Baba Gurdit Singh
The Komagata Maru Incident: Baba Gurdit Singh's Pivotal Moment
Essentially Understanding
Baba Gurdit Singh knew about the prejudicial Canadian immigration policies, specifically the “continuous journey” stipulation, in 1914. This stipulation barred entrance for Indians unless they came from Indian ports without layovers. This rule was intended to keep入手, as no shipping service connected India to Canada. Baba Gurdit Singh was inspired by the so-called Ghadar Movement, which was funded by expatriate Indians from the US and Canada to facilitate Indian self-rule and challenge the British colonial rule, and set about defying the law. Source: Wikipedia - Baba Gurdit Singh
Setting Up Komagata Maru
Gurdit Singh ordered a- Japanese steamship, the Komagata Maru, which he renamed to Guru Nanak Jahaj, with a plan to pick up 376 Indians (340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus) in Hong Kong and take them to Vancouver. He set the date for on 4 th April, 1914 and planned to stop in Shanghai and Yokohama. The trip was aimed at rescuing stranded Punjabis in Hong Kong and protesting against the blatant discriminatory policies of Canada. The intended passengers, who were all British subjects, were blocked from being admitted by Canadian officials and the ship was not permitted to dock. Source: Komagata Maru Journey
Komagata Maru's Struggles in Vancouver
Due to the harsh conditions and running out of supplies, the Komagata Maru was stranded in Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet for two months. William Hopkinson, an immigration officer, was in charge and would only allow 24 people who claimed to have residency, to get off. Canadian tensions grew and when police forces tried to board the ship, the passengers pushed them back, leading to riots among the Indian community. On July 23, 1914 the Canadian government provided the ship with rations and fuel, forcing the vessel to depart. Source: SikhiWiki - Baba Gurdit Singh
Riot of Budge Budge
On September 27, 1914 the Komagata Maru reached Budge Budge close to Calcutta. A British gunboat had already marked the spot. Viewing the passengers as political radicals, British authorities attempted to capture Gurdit Singh along with 20 other passengers. After an intense altercation, passengers tried to argue that if he was not permitted to place the Guru Granth Sahib in a Calcutta gurdwara, there would be a riot. British police then intervened and shot 19-20 passengers. Singh was able to escape and remained undetected for the next seven years. Source: The Canadian Bazaar - Baba Gurdit Singh
Life Following the Komagata Maru Incident
Underworld Years and Surrender
Baba Gurdit Singh was on the run from British authorities from 1914-1921. He surrendered at Nankana Sahib on November 15, 1921, after being advised by Mahatma Gandhi who referred to him as a “true patriot.” This led to five years in Mianwali prison, East Punjab. In 1926, he was released. During this time he adopted principles of Gandhism and continued to pursue nationalist activities. Source: History Under Your Feet - Baba Gurdit Singh
Political Activities and Later Years
Gurdit Singh continued to participate in movements aimed at gaining independence for India. In 1926, while Sarmukh Singh Jhabal was absent, he took the role of president for the Shiromani Akali Dal. At the 1926 Gauhati session for Indian National Congress, he led a walkout of 50 Sikh delegates to protest against the withdrawal of the resolution supporting the Nabha ruler. From 1931-1933 he was arrested three more times in the course of his political endeavors. In 1937, as a Congress candidate, he stood for election to the Punjab Legislative Assembly, but was defeated by Akali candidate Pratap Singh Kairon. Source: Wikipedia - Baba Gurdit Singh
Final Years
After being released, Gurdit settled in Calcutta and continued living there until 1952. He went back to Amritsar in 1952, where he died on July 24, 1954. In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated in his village of Sarhali Kalan. Source: SikhiWiki - Baba Gurdit Singh
Baba Gurdit Singh's Legacy
Baba Gurdit Singh's exploits in the Komagata Maru incident mobilized the Indian Diaspora and escalated the activities of the Ghadar Movement. The incident served to demonstrate some of the colonial immigration policies and policies that were punitive and indentured servitude like and helped persecute India’s freedom struggle. Various memorials have been established to commemorate his legacy, such as:
A bust within a park in Budge Budge which was (erected) in 1952 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Plaques in Vancover, host one at the Ross Street Gurdwara in 1989 and the second one within the harbor in 1994.
A mural in honor of Baba Gurdit Singh located in Surrey British Columbia.
Canadian postage stamp face 2014 released Canada Stamp on the 100th ‘anniversary’ of the Kamagatu Maru incident.
British Columbia Legislative Assembly (2008) and Canadian Stephen Harper Prime Minister (2008) issued apologies.
Source: Komagata Maru Journey
Sources of Information
Baba Gurdit Singh Was Raised in the Following Trusted Websites:
Gupt Singh’s Biography- Baba Gurdit Singh Komagata Maru
Mrs. Sura’s Year in Review for Class VII– The Canadian Bazaar
Battling History Under Your Feet– The Encyclopedia Of Sikhs
SikhiWiki –SikhiWiki Baba Gurdit Singh’s Baba