Which of the following statements about the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) are correct? 1. It began as the political wing of the Singh Sabhas in the late 19th century. 2. It was formed in 1920 as part of the upcoming Akali movement. 3. It was founded to reclaim control of the Sikh shrines from the government manipulated loyalist committees. 4. It formed the Akali Dal to coordinate groups (Jathas) to reclaim control of the shrines. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The correct answer is B, 2, 3 and 4. The SGPC was born in 1920 out of the Gurdwara reform (Akali) movement, not out of the Singh Sabhas of the nineteenth century.

In the early twentieth century many Sikh gurdwaras were controlled by hereditary mahants and committees loyal to the British government, who misused shrine income. In November 1920 Sikh reformers set up the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee to take back the management of these shrines. In December 1920 the Shiromani Akali Dal was formed to organise the volunteer bands, or jathas, that led peaceful marches to the shrines. The Nankana Sahib tragedy of 1921 and the Guru ka Bagh morcha of 1922 followed, and the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925 finally handed control to the SGPC.

Option A is wrong because statement 1 is false; the Singh Sabhas began in 1873 as a religious and educational reform movement. Option C is wrong because it leaves out the true statement 3. Option D is wrong because it leaves out the true statement 4.

Exam tip: SGPC November 1920, Akali Dal December 1920, Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925.