Gurudwara Angeetha Sahib – Jaito

This Gurdwara is situated in town Jaito on Jaito-Bathinda Road. At this place the martyrs of Jaito Morcha were cremated. 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. In 1924, the martyrs of Jaito Morcha were cremated at Gurdwara Sri Angeetha Sahib. 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 9th July 1923. On 29th July 1923, the Akalis set up a committee which observed a day of prayer on behalf of Maharaja. On 2nd 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 the Akalis continued to hold Diwans. On 27th August 1923, police arrested the organizers of Diwan, so Akalis decided to arrange a series of Akhand Path (recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib without any break). The police made more arrests and on 14th September 1923 disrupted an Akhand Path by arresting the Granthi (one who was reciting Shri Guru Granth Sahib). On 29th September 1923, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee and Shiromani Akali Dal were declared unlawful associations by the British and their members were arrested. On 9th February 1924, a Jatha (a group) of 500 Akalis set out from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar towards town Jaito, which reached village Bargari (a Village 10 Km from town Jaito) on 20th 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 31st March 1924. Thirteen more such Jathas reached town Jaito and got arrested. The Sikhs came from Canada, Shanghai and Hong Kong 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 7th 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. The successful conclusion of the two year agitation protesting against the interruption of the akhand path was celebrated with 101 akhand paths from 21 July to 6 August 1925 within the Gurdwara. The Gurdwara is endowed with 70 acres of land and is administered by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local committee, which also manages the other two gurudwaras in Jaito. A special religious diwan takes place on the 21st of February every year to commemorate the martyrs who were shot and killed by the British.