Teja Singh Samundri, was the son of a Sikh Jat, Sardar Deva Singh, and a recognized Akali and Congress leader, Teja Singh Samundri was born in 1881 at village Rai KaBurj, District Amritsar. When new land was granted at Samundri in District Lyallpur, the family shifted there and hence the suffix Samundri came to be attached to his name. The father, and after his death, Teja Singh was appointed Headman of the village. He received some education in his childhood and later when he grew to manhood, he joined the Indian Army in Risala No, 22 where ‘he was soon promoted to the position of Instructor. But he did not like to serve in the army and resigned after three years.
Then he joined the Chief Khalsa Diwan and established at his own village a branch of it called Khalsa Diwan Samundri and engaged himself zealously in propagating Sikh religion. Shortly after, he set up the KhalsaDiwan Bar which was a larger organization but with similar aims and objects. Being deeply interested in education, he helped in building up a number of institutions, for instance : Middle School, Rai KaBurj; Khalsa High School, ‘Lyallpur; Khalsa High School, Sarhali, District Amritsar; and Khalsa College, Lyallpur. He was President of the Khalsa High School, Lyallpur and Manager of the Khalsa High School, Sarhali.
His political career started with his active participation in the Gurdwara Rikab Ganj agitation in 1914. He organized diwans at Patti, Lahore and in the Bar and delivered anti-Government speeches in this connection. Disillusioned about the role of the Chief KhalsaDiwan in the matter, he served his connection with it and became a radical leader.He was one of the founders of the rebel Sikh newspaper, Akali and donated generously towards its funds. He was also one of the Major organisers of Akali and Pardesi. After the Nankana Sahib tragedy on 20th February, 1920 he joined the S.G.P.C. and devoted himself whole-heartedly to the Gurdwara Reform movement. He was arrested in connection with the Keys morcha at Ajnala in 1921. After his release, he took active part in the Guru KaBaghmorcha in 1922 and sent many jathas to participate in it. About this time he became member of the Congress Party as well and was elected member of the Punjab Provincial Congress Committee. In 1923 he was elected member of the All-India Congress Committee. In the same year he was elected Vice-President of the Shiromani Akali Dal. He was arrested in October, 1923 jn connection with the Jaitomorcha and after trial on a charge of sedition was confined in the Amritsar jail. From there he was transfered after a year to the Lahore Fort and afterwards on 25-1-1925 to the Lahore Central jail. After the Gurdwaras act of 1925 was passed, he refused to give any undertaking demanded by the Government and preferred to remain in jail rather than secure his release on condition. He died in jail on 17th July, 1926.
References :-
- Eminent Freedom Fighters Of Punjab by Fauja Singh (1972)
- Yudhvir Rana (15 January 2017). “SGPC founder Samundari’s kin quits AAP | Punjab Election News – Times of India”. The Times of India. Retrieved 3 September 2022.