Bhai Kahan Singh Ji Nabha

count above three dozens. Indian culture and modernization had the same impact on his ideals. His individual efforts surpass the work of many organizations. Bhai Sahib started his literary work in a traditional mode under the influence of Brij & Devnagari languages. His first book is’ Raj Dharm’ publish in1884 A.D.This was written at a time when he was serving with Maharaja Hira Singh. ( The House of Nabha). ‘Teeka Jaimani Ashvmedh’(1890 A.D.) and ‘Natak Bhavarth Dipika’(1897A.D.) also are famous books of Bhai Sahib related to Indian culture. Being under the effect of Singh Sabha Lehar, he also preached Gurmat by Sikh principles. He was a man of letters. His books’ ‘Gurmat Parbhaker’,’ Gurmat Sudhakar’, ‘Hum Hindu Nahin’ ‘Guru Chhand Divakar’ ‘Guru Shabadalankar’ and ‘Gurmat-Martand’ is a true picture of the Sikh religion and its ideology. ‘Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature’ (Gurushabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh), the only one of its kind, is Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha’s entire life’s hard work, it was published by The House of Patiala on instructions of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in four magnificent volumes in 1930. It is not only restricted to Gurbani or Sikh literature, but it is a unique literary composition to know Indian culture and traditions. Now it had been translated into the English language by Punjabi University, Patiala. Undoubtedly Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha was a great scholar and lexicographer of India because there has been no lexicon of any other Indian language, which is comparable to the Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature (Gurushabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh).

According to Swarn Singh Boparai Ex VC Punjabi University, Patiala the Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature is 12th in the history of encyclopedias in the world. Yet the world is unaware that a Sikh scholar did this pathbreaking scholarly work single-handed at that time when no modern research facilities were available.’ Besides the references to Sikhism, his Encyclopaedia gives information on Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit words as well. According to Dr. Jaspal Singh VC Punjabi University, Patiala, ‘In Mahan Kosh, Comments on technical and theological terms belonging to other religions have been made in a liberal spirit without showing the least sign of sectarianism.’ This great work, of Bhai Kahan Singh at present time, is a boon not only to the Sikhs but to all Punjabis and the students of Comparative Religion, Theology, Literature, and Poetry.

Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha has put his selfless service and inspiration towards the completion of the world-famous book ‘ The Sikh Religion’ written by famous scholar Mr. Max Arthur Macauliffe (1907-1908). Mr. Macauliffe has said, in his Preface to the Sikh Religion (Vol. I, page xxix), “For literary assistance, I must acknowledge my indebtedness to Sardar Kahan Singh of Nabha, one of the greatest scholars and most distinguished authors among the Sikhs.” He also contributed to the establishment of Khalsa College, Amritsar. Keeping his political intelligence in view, Maharaja Hira Singh affectionately called him ‘niti ji’ (Diplomat). Col Dunlop Smith first British Political Agent to the Phulkian States(Nabha, Patiala, and Jind) wrote a letter from England in18 July 1905 to Maharaja Hira Singh Nabha that’ ‘I have always had high regard for Sardar Kahan Singh. I never met any official in any of the Phulkian States who so faithfully served the interests of both his Chief and his State.’Kahan Singh successfully represented Nabha State as its Lawyer in the Privy Council at Londen in 1908 A.D.He also co-authored the “Anand Karaj Act’ with Tikka Ripudaman Singh of Nabha, which was successfully passed in the assembly in Oct 1909. In recognition of his services to Nabha State and the Punjabi Community he was honored with the title of “Sardar Bahadur” by the British Government. Due to his all-sphere intelligence and multitalented dynamic personality, he is known as ‘Bhai Sahib’, ‘Panth Ratan’, and ‘Sardar Bahadur’ in Sikh Panth.

Among his descendants, are his only son Bhai Bhagwant Singh (Hari Ji), his daughter-in-law Bibi Harnam Kaur and his granddaughter–in–law Dr. Rachhpal Kaur have also contributed their invaluable services to Punjabi literature. From this learned family of Nabha state, Major Adarshpal Singh great grandson of Bhai Kahan Singh and his talented daughter Bibi Roopika also have literary interests. Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha’s viewpoint was universal, idealistic, and scientific. Presided over The Sikh Educational Conference at Khalsa college Amritsar(4 April 1931) in a Lecture, Bhai Kahan Singh says that “Educated people are honored in this world, and illiterate ones are disrespected. There is no power equivalent to knowledge and everyone has to bow before it. As long as India remained a center of learning, outsiders came here as students to acquire knowledge and regarded India as a teacher, but when it diverted from education, it lost its prestige and became dependent on others.” There have been scholars and annotators who have annotated the human values and mystic principles of Gurbani in the Sikh religion. But after Bhai Gurdas Ji, if all Sikh scholars and commentators are listed, then the name of Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, ( the compiler of the Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature ) shines like a moon in the star-studded sky. The nucleus of his ideology was social welfare and upliftment of the Indian masses. Bhai Sahib passed away on November 23, 1938, but his writings are thought-provoking and have the power of enlightenment for hundreds of years.

Author: Ravinder Kaur Ravi