SIKH HISTORIANS

KARAM SINGH HISTORIAN

Karam Singh (1884-1930), pioneer of Sikh research in Sikh history was born on 18 March 1884, the son of Jhanda Singh (a Dhillon Jat), and Mai Bhisan Kaur, at Jhabal village 15 km west of Tarn Taran in the Amritsar district of Punjab. The family that claimed descant from Bhai Langhah, a prominent Sikh contemporary of Guru Arjan dev ji and Guru Hargobind, later shifted to chakk no.29 Janubi in shahpur (sargodha) district where Jhanda Singh on his retirement as daffadar (sergeant) from risala awwal (first cavalry) was granted 50 acres (200,000 m²) of land in the newly opened lower Jhelum community. Having received his primary education at Jhabal, Karam singh attended the school village and went on to matriculate from the Khalsa collegiate school, Amritsar, and then joined the Khalsa college, but left before taking a degree, devoting himself to life’s passion-research in the history of Punjab. Karam singh, considered oral history an important tool of research, left his studies in December 1905, only four months before the final examinations for graduation immediately to meet some of the old men still living who had been witness to the happenings of the Punjab under Sikh rule, and record their testimony. In 1907 he made out plans to go to Mecca and Baghdad in order to gather information about Guru Nanak dev ji’s visit to those places for centuries earlier and joined a hajji party as a Muslim( for no non-Muslim could take that pilgrimage), but had to return from Baghdad
Karam Singh began publishing the results of his research. The traditionalists schools opposed his critical and scientific approach, this left the young historian no patronage and he found himself in financial strain. In his effort to be economically independent, he put to use his knowledge of ayurvedic (indigenous Indian) system of medicine and opened an apothecary’s shop, Sanyasi Ashram, at Sargodha. In 1910 one of his friends, Kavala Singh, took him to Patiala where with the help of Sardar (later Sir) Joginder Singh, then home minister of that state, was appointed state historian. He later wrote a biography of Baba Ala singh (1692-1765), the founder of Patiala state, and also prepared Punjabi readers for school children. In 1921-22 he took on lease fairly wide tract of land in Noya gaon in Nanital district of Uttar Pradesh where he experimented farming with the help of modern mechanical implements, but not at the cost of his research. He continued visiting public libraries at distant places such as Patiala, Budaun, Darbhangra, Aligarh and Calcutta, and took extensive notes from books and manuscripts bearing on Sikh history. A large number of these notes were published in Phulwari, a Punjabi journal, during 1926-1930. Singh edited the Sikh Itihas magazine edition of January 1930. On 22 December 1929, at a meeting held at Akal Takht, Amritsar established the Sikh Historical Society of which Karam singh historian (epithet popularly suffixed to his name) had been appointed secretary. At the same time the management of Khalsa College, Amritsar planned to set up a department of historical search under Karam singh historian. But he was taken ill with tuberculosis. In August 1930 he had a severe attack of malaria. He was removed from Naya gaon to Tarn Taran for treatment, but an attack of pneumonia soon after soon after reaching there hastened the end which came on September 1930. A work which marked a turning point in Sikh historiography and which is typically illustrative of Karam Singh's methods of analysis was his kattak ki visakh (n.d., republished, Patiala, 1912) in which he subjects the Janam sakhi materials to critical scrutiny and arrives at the conclusion that Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in the month of baisakh (April) and not, as not as traditionally believed, in kattak (October-November). Among his other published works besides numerous articles in phulwari are jivan britant banda bahadar (1907), jiwan srimati bibi sada kaur (1907), Jiwan britant maharaja ala singh (n.d., republished tarn Taran, 1918), bib harnam kaur (1907), Kes ati sikhi, Gurpurb nirnaya, Chitthian te prastav (1923), Banda kaun si and Amar khalsa (1932).The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee has brought out a collection of his works under the title Karam singh historian di itihasik khoj.

FAMILY
His father Sardar Jhanda singh worked as a tradesman besides being a Daffadar (Sergeant).
Singh was married three times. First he married to a woman of the village of Bhakna in Amritsar district of Punjab.. He had no children with his first spouse. He was then married to a woman of the village of Bohona near Moga in Punjab. They had three children. He was then married to Mata Prem kaur, a lady of the village of Maksoodra in Ludhiana district of Punjab, She died in 1926 leaving behind four sons.

A DETERMINED GENIUS
He was the sage of Punjab in his era. Blessed with power of doing untiring hard work, power of bearing all woes, and power of having a firm determination of serving his community. This reason that the renowned people of Punjab like Dhani Ram Chatrik,Bhai Veer singh,Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, Bhai Jodha Singh, Sardar Hira singh Dard, Sardar Jawala singh and the list goes abiding gave him tribute in the karam singh number fulwari (october 1930) . He once said “I have never ever considered the errors in my writings. Making my writings impressive and enriched with vocabulary is a talk of free time but my objective in life is to make a clear road of Sikh history in front of my readers. I am indulged in agriculture from dawn to dusk and after this to do language mistakes in my writings is a not a big deal.”
This reveals his virtue of humility that even after such good writings and his back breaking hard work he was so down to earth. Even today readers appreciate his work and many have followed his spontaneous style of writing. He has been known for his way of writing articles after the release of book Amar Khalsa. Worked as a historian, as a producer of ayurvedic medicine, as a painter, as an agriculturist where he produced new types of seeds he died at a very early age of 46 years but left behind immortal imprints in the people of the Punjab. Sikh community will always realize the absence of such a great devotee.

SIKH POETS

MAHAKAVI

BHAI SANTOKH SINGH

Along the road from Tarn Taran to Lahore, through Jhabaal, thrives the village of "Sarai Noor Din" (Now re-named Kila Kavi Santokh Singh). At this village in September 1787, this great Sikh historian Bhai Santokh Singh was born to Sardar Deva Singh and Mata Raj Devi.

At the age of eleven his father sent him to Amritsar to be tutored by Giani Sant Singh, who was at the time in-charge of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Under the guidance of Giani Ji, Santokh Singh gained immense knowledge of the Sikh scriptures, history and spirituality. His diligence in studying prompted him to go to Benaras in 1808. At the time Kashi (Benaras) was the centre of education. His astute mind and immense knowledge had the Pundits of Kashi completely enchanted. After gaining considerable knowledge in various subjects, he returned to Punjab. 

In 1813 Kavi Ji was   appointed the Raj-Kavi of Boodia Riyasat (State), where he was greatly honoured. But Kavi Ji's main aim in life was to write the Guru history, and that could only be achieved by research and most importantly with spiritual guidance. To receive Godly blessings he went to a nearby village "Dyal Garh", where he started his meditation on the shores of the River Jamuna. His only 'Ardaas' (supplication) to the Almighty was, "O Lord, grant me the boon, so that I can   In 1813 Kavi Ji was              write Guru Jass and Gur Itihas according to Your wishes." His meditated for five years and it is believed that Guru Ji gave him darshan (granted audience) and bestowed on him the boon for which he had longed for.  A very rare pose of Bhai Sahib during his days at the state

From 1818, Kavi Ji started the mammoth task of writing. His first volume was the "Naam Kosh", a dictionary of Sanskrit, which concluded in 1819 and at the birth celebrations of Guru Nanak "Katak Shudi Puranmashi in 1821, his Maha Kav (Great composition of Poetry) of Guru Nanak was inaugurated. The same year Kavi Ji got married to Bibi Ram Kaur of Jagadhri. Simultaneously he was invited by Maharaja Karam Singh to come to Patiala, where Kavi Ji was given all the due honour and was allocated a home and a regular pay packet for the enhancement of his researches.

Writings

In 1825, the Raja Saheb Bhai Uday Singh of Kaithal, summoned Kavi Ji over to him and proclaimed him as Royal Poet and conferred on him all the conveniences that were required for an accomplished writer. The first volume "Garab Ganjani"- a translation of Japuji Sahib was completed here, followed by the translation of 'Balmiki Ramyan' into Braj. This achievement so much impressed the Raja that he presented Kavi Ji with a village 'Morthali' as a token of appreciation. The writer later translated the Upanishads and the Vedant Shastras, which took nearly a year to complete. 

Gur Partap Suraj Granth.

The greatest work of Kavi Ji is the Suraj Parkash or Gur Partap Suraj, which is a complete history of the ten Gurus. An interesting event occurred when he had finished writing about the nine Gurus. He was unable to proceed further regarding the tenth Guru. Even after considerable research some of the anecdotes and stories of the tenth Guru could not be confirmed. Eventually Kavi Ji went into a deep meditation and prayed to the Guru for divine help. This divine help came in the form of a Sikh, who came to visit him and stayed at his residence. The next morning the Sikh was not found anywhere but a bag was left behind, which when opened contained all the material required by Kavi Ji for the completion of the Granth. Kavi Ji was very much overcome by this miracle, as he writes, "Bhayo Achanak Sanchey Ayi, Sarab Guran ko jas samudai." Kavi Ji was sure that this was a boon from Guru Gobind Singh Himself, to help him complete this gigantic task.

Last Days During the fulfilment of this task, Kavi Ji's mentor the Raja Saheb expired and Kavi Ji was thrown into an uncertain future. When he was told to look for another benefactor, Kavi Ji replied, "Ab aur ki aas niraas bhei, Kalgidhar baas kiyo man mahin." His belief in Satguru and his supplications again transformed into a vision of his Satguru and Guru Ji enlightened him - to keep on writing and God will be with him all the time. Undoubtedly this tremendous task was finished with the grace of God in 1843. After this work he completed another five small books. He took his life work of Suraj Parkash and Nanak Parkash, to the Akaal Takht and had an Ardassia do an ardaas, thanking the Guru for the divine assistance given to him for the completion of these Granths. That very year he died after presenting his extraordinary accomplishments to the Darbar Sahib and the entire Sikh panorama.   Birth place of Kavi Chudamani Bhai Saheb Bhai Santokh Singh Ji

SIKH HISTORIANS

Dr.GANDA SINGH

Dr Ganda Singh (1900-1987) is the celebrated Sikh historian, who by his sustained and pioneer work in the field of historical research, initiated new trends in Sikh historiography and who, by his critically important work, became a vital and pervasive influence in historical learning in the field of Sikh Studies, He was born on 15 November 1900, at Hariana, an old town close to the city of Hoshiarpur in Punjab. His father's name was Sardar Jawala Singh. He got his initial education in the village mosque,later shifting to the primary school. He passed the middle standard examination from DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vernacular) Middle School, Hoshiarpur, and his matriculation from Government High School in the same town. He joined the Forman Christian College at Lahore, but soon left it to enlist in the army (1919). He served at the Supply and Transport Corps Base Depot, Rawalpindl, and at the divisional office at Peshawar before he was attached to the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, Basra, in 1920 and later to the British Royal Army Pay Corps, also at Basra, in 1921. There he had his thigh torn by a bullet shot and he was hospitalized. After recovery he was repatriated to India, but had been mistakenly reported dead to his family. This led to a dramatic situation. When he suddenly appeared at the door of his home in the village late one evening, he was taken for a ghost and was refused admittance. As he was recognized the following morning at the doorstep of his house, the family's horror turned into jubilation.

Ganda Singh did not stay at home for long. He went back to Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and then to Iran, to join the Anglo-Persian Oil Company at Abadan as accounts officer. At Abadan, he came under the influence of the British scholar, Sir Arnold Wilson, who besides his official duties as General Manager of the company was working on his Bibliography of Persia . Young Ganda Singh now aspired to prepare a bibliography of his native Punjab. On his return to Punjab towards the end of 1930, he first worked on the editorial board of Phulwari, a Punjabi monthly published from Lahore. One long-lasting friendship he picked up there was with Bhagat Lachhman Singh, a Sikh reformer and educationist. He however missed the opportunity to meet Karam Singh, the historian, then very enthusiastic in promoting the cause of Sikh history. Karam Singh died before Ganda Singh could meet him.

In October 1931 began Dr Ganda Singh's long and fruitful career as a researcher and historian. The Khalsa college at Amritsar placed him in charge of its newly-created Sikh History Research Department, which position he occupied till 1949. During this period he travelled extensively, rummaging various public libraries, archives and private collections throughout India in quest of material on Sikh history, enriching the library of his department and also brought out several books and tracts based on these. 

In 1949, he came to Patiala where he was appointed Director of Archives and Curator of Museum under the Government of PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union). In 1950, he received the additional charge of Director of the Punjabi Department. His thesis on Ahmad Shah Durrani earned him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the Panjab University in 1954, as well as much applause from scholars and historians among whom was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a leading Indian savant of the day.

Dr. Ganda Singh was principal of the Khalsa College, Patiala, when he was invited by Punjabi University, Patiala, to organize its Department of Punjab Historical Studies. He set up Punjab History Conference in 1965 which became a very active forum for the discussion of matters relating to Punjab history. In l967, he launched the university's journal, the bi-annual The Punjab Past and Present of which he was the editor and which gathered high repute and much prestige over the years.

In 1938, he had been appointed a corresponding member of Indian Historical Records Commission of Government of India, and was a full member of the Commission from 1950 to 1956. He was nominated member of Punjab Regional Committee for the Survey of Historical Records, Government of Punjab, Lahore, and of Indian Historical Records Commission, Government of India. He was secretary of the Committee for the History of Freedom Movement in PEPSU, Patiala, and chairman of the Regional Records Survey Committee for History of Freedom Movement, Shimla / Patiala, from November 1957 to December 1962. He held membership of Asiatic Society, Calcutta, Indian Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, London, and Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Poona. He presided over the medieval section of Punjab History Conference session of the Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta, held at Shillong in 1974 as well as over its 13th session held at Panaji (Goa) in 1975. In 1974, he presided the 35th session of Indian History Congress at Jadavpur.
Dr. Ganda Singh was a prolific writer in addition to scores of research papers, booklets and pamphelets, he published over two dozen full-length volumes of great historical value. Dr. Ganda Singh's magnificent work was widely acknowledged and lauded in his lifetime, and he received honours from a number of professional institutions and associations. The Punjab Government invested him with the award for literature on 31 March 1963, and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar, paid its tributes on 28 March 1964. On 19 December 1964, Muslim University, Aligarh, conferred on him the "degree of D. Litt. honoris causa". Sikh Educational Conference honoured him during its 52nd annual session held at Kanpur on 25-27 October 1974, and Punjabi University, Patiala, at the annual session of the Punjab History Conference held during November 1976. The University also brought out during the same year an anthology, Essays in Honour of Dr Ganda Singh, lovingly edited by his old pupil Professor Harbans Singh (Editor of Encyclopaedia of Sikhism from where many documents have been sourced on this site). The University also awarded him the degree of Doctor of Literature at its 15th convocation held on 25 February 1978. The Indian History Congress during its Silver jubilee session held at Panaji (Goa) on 5-7 November 1987, honoured him as one of the five distinguished historians of India. The Government of India honoured him with the award of Padma Bhushan in 1983.

In the course of his long career as a researcher and scholar, Dr. Ganda Singh had acquired a vast personal collection of rare books, maps, documents and manuscripts which occupied several rooms of his modest residence on the Lower Mall at Patiala. This precious treasure is now the property of Punjabi University, Patiala, to which institution he donated the entire collection. Dr. Ganda Singh died at Patiala on 27 December 1987.