Teja Singh Samundri
Teja Singh Samundri was born in 1831 at the village Rai Ka Burj, District Amritsar. His father, S. Deva Singh, was a Sikh Jat and a respected Akali and Congress leader. 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. Teja Singh was appointed Headman of the village after the death of his father. 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 promoted to the position of Instructor. However, he did not like to serve in the Army and resigned after three years. Then he joined the Chief Khalsa Diwan and established a branch of it called Khalsa Diwan Samundri at his own village, engaging himself zealously in propagating the Sikh religion. Shortly after, he set up the Khalsa Diwan Bar, which was a larger organization with similar aims and objectives. Being deeply interested in education, he helped in building up a number of institutions, for instance: Middle School, Rai Ka Burj; 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 Khalsa High School, Sarhali.
He actively participated in the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj agitation in 1914. He organized divans at Patti, Lahore, and in the Bar, and delivered anti-Government speeches in this connection. Disillusioned about the role of the Chief Khalsa Diwan in the matter, he severed 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 organizers of Akali and Pardesi Akali. After the Nankana Sahib tragedy on February 20, 1921, he joined the SGPC and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Gurdwara Reform Movement. He was arrested in connection with the Keys Morcha at Ajanala in 1921. After his release, he took an active part in the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha in 1922 and sent many jathas to participate in it. Around this time, he became a member of the Congress Party as well and was elected a member of the Punjab Provincial Congress Committee. In 1923, he was elected a 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 in connection with the Jaito Morcha and, after trial on a charge of sedition, was confined in the Amritsar Jail. From there, he was transferred after a year to the Lahore Central Jail. After the Gurdwara 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 July 17, 1926.