148 years of Fight Against Christian Conversions in Punjab: Singh Sabha to Ghar Ghar Andar Dharamsaal Campaign

Within a gap of 148 years, in October,  Punjab has seen two significant movements to protect the Sikh identity from Evangelical Forces. It is very important to understand the significance of these movements in the current context of Punjab where conversions by Christian Missionaries are happening at an alarming phase.

On October 1, 1873, The Singh Sabha Movement was established in Amritsar, Punjab to protect the Sikh Identity from Conversion.

On October 12, 2021, “Ghar Ghar Andar Dharamsaal Campaign” was launched by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) with the same objective.

Why are these two movements important for Punjab even in the current context?

In January 2025, it was reported by Dainik Jagran that 3.5 lakh people in Punjab converted to Christianity within 2 years. The conversion of Sikhs to Christianity in Punjab has been a matter of great concern for a very long period of time. The menace of Christian conversions through coercion and promises of ‘Fake healing’ and the rampant establishment of churches. Amritsar alone has 600 Churches.

The Singh Sabha Movement and the efforts of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) represents a continuum of Sikh institutional response to threats against Sikh identity, particularly from Christian missionary activities. This article combines the two historical initiatives, placing them in the broader context of Punjab’s fight against Evangelical Forces.

Part 1: 1873:  The Singh Sabha Movement

Established in 1873 in Amritsar amid British colonial rule, the Singh Sabha Movement was a reformist effort to purify and revive Sikhism. It emerged as a direct response to aggressive Christian missionary campaigns that targeted Sikhs for conversion. The Key motivations of this movement included:

• Countering Conversions: Missionaries exploited Punjab’s socio-political instability post-Annexation (1849), offering education and incentives, leading to fears of Sikh erosion.
• Identity Assertion: The movement standardized Sikh practices, promoted the Guru Granth Sahib, and established institutions like Khalsa College (1892) for education rooted in Sikh values.
• Unity and Reform: It addressed internal divisions, eliminated casteism and idol worship, and fostered a distinct Sikh identity through literature, preaching, and community organizations.

It was the Singh Sabha Movement that led to the Formation of the SGPC in 1920

By the early 20th century, Singh Sabha’s legacy influenced the Akali Movement, culminating in the formation of the SGPC in 1920 to manage gurdwaras and safeguard Sikh religious affairs.

Part 2: 2021:  SGPC Initiatives to Fight Christian Missionaries

The SGPC, as the apex Sikh body, has inherited and adapted Singh Sabha’s ethos to tackle ongoing challenges, including Christian conversions. It operates through educational, preaching, and community outreach programs, emphasizing Sikh teachings to build resilience. Notable initiatives include:

• Ghar Ghar Andar Dharamsaal Campaign (Launched October 12, 2021): Inspired by Bhai Gurdas Ji’s writings, this door-to-door drive deployed 150 preacher teams across Punjab to promote daily Gurbani recitation, Sikh history, and values in households. It directly countered missionary activities by transforming homes into spiritual centers, distributing literature, and holding sessions at gurdwaras. By 2025, it has expanded into ongoing efforts, with SGPC allocating more funds for rural advocacy amid criticism for initial delays.
•  Joint Drives with Akal Takht (2025): In April 2025, SGPC and Akal Takht launched a year-long program of events to “spiritually uplift” families via Gurbani and Gurmat, explicitly aiming to curb conversions. This includes investigative teams sent to areas like Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit, where over 3,000 Sikhs reportedly converted, to verify claims and provide counter-preaching.

Why are these two movements very crucial for Punjab?

Overall Context: Rising Christian Conversions and the Role of Pastors in Punjab

1. According to the census of 2011, the Christian population in Punjab was only 1.6 percent, but in the last 13 years it has increased to 10 to 15 percent.
2. Reports indicate 3.5 lakh conversions in Punjab over two years (2023-2025), with a 102% Christian population increase in districts like Tarn Taran.
3. There are 65000 Pastors in Punjab. Fraudulent Methods: “New age” pastors accused of fake miracles, inducements (e.g., cash, jobs), and deceit, leading to “stealth” conversions where converts retain Sikh identities for benefits like reservations(Crypto Christians).
4. Operating in rural areas like Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot, they build churches and “dera” cultures (sect-like centers) targeting specific Sikh Communities.
5. These are further amplified by Overseas Funding from Western churches, including via Indian diaspora in Canada and the US, supports expansion. Digital strategies, like social media evangelism, amplify reach. One of the most worrying aspects is that all these are  openly  happening in Punjab.
6. Multiple issues of fake healing have been reported by these Church pastors. In Jalandhar’s Tajpur village, Bajinder Singh, a self-proclaimed prophet running a Christian religious center, was accused after 4-year-old cancer-stricken Tanisha passed away. Her family alleged they paid ₹15,000 multiple times and ₹50,000 on other occasions for her treatment, but she couldn’t be saved. Following her death, they were forcibly thrown out of the center. Tanisha’s family claimed they were misled by advertisements promising to revive even deceased children.
7. The nexus between Pastors, Politicians and the entertainment industry is also very well documented, multiple sources.