Ram Singh Baba

(February 3, 1816 - November 29, 1885)

The leader of the Namdhari or Kuka Movement, Rama Singh Baba was born on February 3, 1816, at Bhaini Raiyan, in Ludhiana district. At the age of 20, he joined the Sikh army under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

In 1841, Ram Singh met Baba Balak Singh whose philosophy influenced him so much that Ram Singh resigned from army service and returned to Bhaini. He engaged himself in spreading and disseminating the messages of Baba Balak Singh. On the Baisakhi day April 14, 1857, he laid down the code of conduct for his followers - the Namdhari Kukas. Followers were ordered to abstain from eating meat, drinking, and worshipping of tombs or Samadhis and asked to lead a simple life. He also opposed the rule of the British and asked people to boycott the British goods, schools and government services.

In the 1870s and 1880s, there took place a lot of confrontation between the government and Kukas. Baba Ram Singh was exiled from the Punjab and later taken to Rangoon. He passed away on November 29, 1885.