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Revision as of 03:52, 29 October 2025
The Kuka Martyrs Memorial, also known as Namdhari Shaheedi Smarak, is a memorial located in the city of Malerkotla in Punjab, India. The memorial is built to pay tribute to the 66 Namdhari Sikhs who were hanged by the British Raj in Malerkotla on January 17 and 18, 1872.[1]
History
Background
The history of this memorial is associated with the Namdhari, or Kuka, movement. This movement was founded in 1857 by Satguru Ram Singh. This movement called for a boycott of British goods and services.[2]
1872 Execution
The executions took place after a clash between the Namdhari and British authorities, where the Kukas opposed cow slaughter. The British, in retaliation, brutally executed 66 Namdharis by cannon fire. A 12-year-old boy was among those executed.
Design
The memorial grounds feature a 66-foot-tall Khanda with 66 holes, symbolizing each martyred Namdhari Sikh. It also includes a large, dome-shaped meditation hall and a museum-cum-library.[3]
