Gurudwara Akalgarh Sahib – Nabha

This Gurdwara is situated in Nabha town which is located at a distance of 26 Km West of Patiala City. This Gurdwara is in the memory of all those Sikhs who won martyrdom during 'Jaiton Morcha' (Agitation). When 'Jaiton Morcha' was launched in 1923, town Jaiton was a part of Nabha State and almost all the Campaigns were started from the place where now Gurdwara Akalgarh is situated. Jaito Morcha is the name given to an Akali Agitation which was started for restoration of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha to his throne. Maharaja Ripudaman Singh was known for his Pro-Khalsa activities and he had contacts with Indian Nationalist Leaders. For these reasons, he was wrongly removed from his throne by the British Government on 9 July, 1923. Akalis set up a Committee which observed a Day of Prayer on behalf of Maharaja on 29 July, 1923. On 2 August, 1923 a Telegram was sent to Lord Reading, the then Viceroy of India, to hold an Enquiry. Three Days later a peaceful agitation was started at Jaito. The Nabha authorities banned Public discussions on the matter, but Akalis continued to hold Diwans. On 27 August, 1923 Police arrested the organizers of Diwan, so Akalis decided to arrange a series of Akhand Path (recitation of Shri Guru Granth Sahib without any break). The police made more arrests and on 14 September, 1923 disrupted an Akhand Path by arresting the Granthi (one who was reciting Shri Guru Granth Sahib). On 29 September, 1923 the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee and Shiromani Akali Dal were declared unlawful associations by the British and their members were arrested. On 9 February, 1924, a Jatha (a group) of 500 Akalis set out from Shri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar towards town Jaito, which reached Village Bargari (a Village 10 Km from town Jaito) on 20 February, 1924. On 21 February, 1924 the Jatha marched towards Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib where Nabha Administrator, Wilson Johnson was standing. He ordered his men to open fire in which several Sikhs won martyrdom. Seven Days later another Jatha of 500 men started from Amritsar towards town Jaito where they were arrested on 31 March, 1924. Thirteen more such Jathas reached town Jaito and got arrested. The Sikhs came from Canada, Shanghai and Hongkong to join the agitation. Finally, the Government started negotiations through Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and 'Sikh Gurdwaras Bill' was passed in Legislature Council by the Punjab Government on 7 July, 1925. All the Akali prisoners were released and a series of 101 Akhand Paths was started which concluded on 6 August, 1925. In the agitation, 445 Sikhs won martyrdom.