All India Sikh Students Federation
| All India Sikh Students Federation | |
|---|---|
| President | Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad |
| Founded | 13 September 1944 |
| Ideology | Sikhism |
| Mother party | Damdami Taksal |
| International affiliation | Sikhs For Justice |
| Website | |
The All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), is a Sikh student organisation and political organisation in India. Although largely political in its activities, the organisation also seeks to promote the values and heritage of Sikhism.
Today, the use of word "student" in the organization's name refers to a "disciple", who follows and learns the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib. Any Individual who follow the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and takes an oath to abide by the principles of Sikhism can become a member of AISSF, irrespective of whether an individual is a student of any educational institute or not.
Before the federation came into being, Sikh youths were organized into local Bhujangi Sabhas in schools and colleges across the Punjab region that promoted Sikh values, heritage and social service. The actual origin of the Sikh Student Federation can be traced back to "Khalsa clubs" established in 1888. The club came to be known as the Sikh Youngmens' Association, whose first president was Bhai Harnam Singh. Although small in size and activity, the association published the Khalsa Youngmens' Magazine and sponsored work on religious and social subjects. Sikh youths were an integral part of organizations such as the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Shiromani Akali Dal and the All India Students Federation.
The All India Sikh Students Federation was formed as a students' organisation independent and committed to the political representation of Sikhs. The motivation for a distinct organisation for Sikhs came from the heightening communal and political tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities. In 1937, a large group of Muslim students split from the Hindu-majority All India Students Federation to form the All India Muslim Students Federation, which became the youth arm of the Muslim League and the Pakistan movement. Seeking to protect Sikh political rights and representation, organisations such as the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee sponsored the creation of the All India Sikh Students Federation in 1944. It was headquartered in Lyallpur (Faislabad, now in Pakistan) and its organisation spread across colleges and universities in Punjab and northern India. Following the partition of India in 1947, the organisation moved its headquarters to Amritsar in Indian Punjab. S. Ranbir Singh Sodhi was the co-founder member of the organisation.
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