The founder of the Kuka Movement was believed to be Bhagat Jawahar Mal. It started as a religious movement with a view to reforming the Sikh religion.
The Kuka Movement sought to abolish the caste system in the Sikhism, and create a society based on equality. It advocated woman’s freedom, and discouraged non-vegetarianism.
In time, the Kuka Movement turned into a political struggle against the British. Ram Singh Kuka, one of the famous leaders of the Kuka Movement, believed in the policy of non-cooperation with the British. He gave a call to his followers to boycott British goods, government schools, and government posts.
As the movement picked up momentum, the British reacted violently, crushed the movement, and killed many Kuka freedom fighters. Ram Singh, known to his followers as Satguru, gave a call to his followers for boycott of British goods. He was deported by the British to Burma, where he died in 1885.
The Kuka Revolt is also known as the Namdhari Movement.
