Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
Encyclopedia
Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha(August 30, 1861- November 24, 1938) was a Sikh
lexicographer and encyclopedist. His most influential work, Mahan Kosh
, inspired generations of scholars after him. He also played a role in the Singh Sabha movement
.
. His father, Narain Singh succeeded to the charge of Gurdwara
Dera Baba Ajaypal Singh at Nabha
, after the death of his grandfather Sarup Singh in 1861. Kahn Singh was the eldest of three brothers (the other two being Meehan Singh and Bishan Singh) and one sister (Kahn Kaur).
He did not attend any school or college for formal education, but studied several branches of learning on his own. By the age of 10 he was able to quote freely from the Guru Granth Sahib
and Dasam Granth
. In Nabha
, he studied sanskrit
classics with local pandits and studied under the famous musicologist Mahant Gajja Singh. In Delhi
, he studied persian
with Mawlawi
s.
In 1883, he continued his study of persian
for two years and assisted Bhai Gurmukh Singh, a leader in the Singh Sabha Movement
, in publishing Sudhararak. In 1887, he was appointed the tutor to Ripudaman Singh, heir apparent
to Nabha State
. He continued to serve Nabha State
in several capacities, from the personal secretary of Maharaja Hira Singh
to judge of the High Court. From 1915-1917, He also served Patiala State
.
In 1885, he had a chance meeting with Max Arthur Macauliffe
which led to a lifelong friendship as well as scholarly collaboration between the two. When Max Arthur Macauliffe was researching his six volume work entitled "The Sikh Religion", Kahn Singh helped Macauliffe in his study of Sikh scriptures
and the history of early Sikhism. When it was published by the Clarendon Press Kahn Singh was assigned the copyright of the work.
. His work Mahan Kosh
(known as the Sikh encyclopedia) is his magnum opus
. He published magazine"Khalsa Gazzete" and is also regarded as one of the founders of the weekly newspaper Khalsa Akhbar. Some of his famous works which are believed to be have accomplished between the years 1882 and 1911 are as follows:
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
lexicographer and encyclopedist. His most influential work, Mahan Kosh
Mahan Kosh
Guru Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh, known by its more popular name of Mahan Kosh, is a Punjabi language encyclopedia which was compiled by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha over fourteen years...
, inspired generations of scholars after him. He also played a role in the Singh Sabha movement
Singh Sabha Movement
The Singh Sabha Movement was a Sikh movement begun in the early 19th century in reaction to the proselytizing activities of Hindus and Christians...
.
Biography
He was born to Narain Singh and Har Kaur in a Dhillon Jatt family at the village of Sabaz Banera, located in what was then Patiala StatePatiala State
Patiala State was a princely state in India.The history of Patiala state starts off with the ancestor of the Sikh Patiala Royal House, Mohan Singh being harassed by neighbouring Bhullars and Dhaliwals . They would not allow Mohan to settle there. He was a follower of Guru Hargobind and the Guru...
. His father, Narain Singh succeeded to the charge of Gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
Dera Baba Ajaypal Singh at Nabha
Nabha
Nabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. In 1998, the annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.- Princely State of Nabha :...
, after the death of his grandfather Sarup Singh in 1861. Kahn Singh was the eldest of three brothers (the other two being Meehan Singh and Bishan Singh) and one sister (Kahn Kaur).
He did not attend any school or college for formal education, but studied several branches of learning on his own. By the age of 10 he was able to quote freely from the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
and Dasam Granth
Dasam Granth
Dasven Patshah Da Granth or Dasam Granth , often called Sri Dasam Granth Sahib with respect, is a scripture of Sikhism, containing some of the texts attributed to 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Although the Dasam Granth is commonly confused with the Guru Granth Sahib, there is no overlap in...
. In Nabha
Nabha
Nabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. In 1998, the annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.- Princely State of Nabha :...
, he studied sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
classics with local pandits and studied under the famous musicologist Mahant Gajja Singh. In Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, he studied persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
with Mawlawi
Mawlawi (Islamic title)
Mawlawi is an honorific Islamic religious title given to Sunni Muslim religious scholars or Ulema preceding their names, similar to the titles Maulana, Mullah, or Shaykh. Mawlawi generally means highly-qualified Islamic scholar...
s.
In 1883, he continued his study of persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
for two years and assisted Bhai Gurmukh Singh, a leader in the Singh Sabha Movement
Singh Sabha Movement
The Singh Sabha Movement was a Sikh movement begun in the early 19th century in reaction to the proselytizing activities of Hindus and Christians...
, in publishing Sudhararak. In 1887, he was appointed the tutor to Ripudaman Singh, heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to Nabha State
Nabha State
Nabha State, with its capital at Nabha, was one of the Phulkian princely states of the Punjab. The state was established in 1763 after the capture of Sirhind by the Sikh Confederacy. With the capture of Sirhind, most of the old imperial province was divided amongst the Phulkian chiefs...
. He continued to serve Nabha State
Nabha State
Nabha State, with its capital at Nabha, was one of the Phulkian princely states of the Punjab. The state was established in 1763 after the capture of Sirhind by the Sikh Confederacy. With the capture of Sirhind, most of the old imperial province was divided amongst the Phulkian chiefs...
in several capacities, from the personal secretary of Maharaja Hira Singh
Hira Singh of Nabha
Sir Hira Singh was the ruler of Nabha State, one of the Phulkian states in the Punjab.-Early life:Hira Singh was born at Badrukhan, Jind, on 18 December 1843, the second son of Sardar Sukha Singh , from a distant branch of the royal Sikh Phulkian dynasty of Patiala, Jind and Nabha...
to judge of the High Court. From 1915-1917, He also served Patiala State
Patiala State
Patiala State was a princely state in India.The history of Patiala state starts off with the ancestor of the Sikh Patiala Royal House, Mohan Singh being harassed by neighbouring Bhullars and Dhaliwals . They would not allow Mohan to settle there. He was a follower of Guru Hargobind and the Guru...
.
In 1885, he had a chance meeting with Max Arthur Macauliffe
Max Arthur Macauliffe
Michael MacAuliffe, also known as Max Arthur Macauliffe , was a senior British administrator, prolific scholar and author. Macauliffe is renowned for his translation of Sikh scripture and history into English....
which led to a lifelong friendship as well as scholarly collaboration between the two. When Max Arthur Macauliffe was researching his six volume work entitled "The Sikh Religion", Kahn Singh helped Macauliffe in his study of Sikh scriptures
Sikh scriptures
The principal Sikh scripture is the Adi Granth , more commonly called the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikhs do not regard this as their "holy book" but as their perpetual and current "Guru", Guide or Master...
and the history of early Sikhism. When it was published by the Clarendon Press Kahn Singh was assigned the copyright of the work.
Works and Compositions
His books Gurmat Prabhakar and Gurmat Sudhakar are the standard guide books for understanding SikhismSikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
. His work Mahan Kosh
Mahan Kosh
Guru Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh, known by its more popular name of Mahan Kosh, is a Punjabi language encyclopedia which was compiled by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha over fourteen years...
(known as the Sikh encyclopedia) is his magnum opus
Magnum opus
Magnum opus , from the Latin meaning "great work", refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of a writer, artist, or composer.-Related terms:Sometimes the term magnum opus is used to refer to simply "a great work" rather than "the...
. He published magazine"Khalsa Gazzete" and is also regarded as one of the founders of the weekly newspaper Khalsa Akhbar. Some of his famous works which are believed to be have accomplished between the years 1882 and 1911 are as follows:
- Raj Dharam- This book was his first one and was written at a time when he was serving with Maharaja Hira singh.This was published and distributed on government expense.
- Hum Hindu Nahin (We are not Hindus)- This was Bhai Kahn singh's third book and was published around 1887. In this book he stressed upon the unique identity of the sikhs separate from the Hindu religion. Initially in Hindi, it was later translated into Punjabi languagePunjabi languagePunjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
.
- Gurmat Prabhakar- This book was published in the year 1898. Studded with beautiful examples from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, this book condemns the superstitions prevailing in the Indian society. Difficult words have been made simpler through special commentaries at different places in the book.
- Gurmat Sudhakar- Published in 1899, this book contains evidences from Dasam granth, Works of Bhai GurdasBhai GurdasBhai Gurdas was a Punjabi Sikh writer, historian, preacher and religious figure. He was the original scribe of the Guru Granth Sahib and a companion of four of the Sikh Gurus.-Early life:...
, Janam sakhi Guru Nanak, Gurbilas, Guru Nanak prakash, Suraj prakash, Panth prakash, Sau sakhi(Guru ratan mala), Rehatnama etc. supporting the various practices and beliefs of SikhismSikhismSikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
.
- Sad Parmarth
- Gurchhand Diwakar
- Gur Shabdalankar
- Roop deep pingal
- Guru Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh- An encyclopedia of Sikh literature started in 1912, this beautiful masterpiece was accomplished in 1926 after 14 years of research and painstaking effort and finally published by the princely state of Patiala. The state spent Rs.51,000 on its publishing. This 3338-paged book was divided into four volumes and was priced at Rs.110. It still serves as one of the most reliable reference material for research on sikh faith and beliefs.
- Gurmat Martand
- Gur mahima sangraha- This book contained the biographies and important works reflecting the sikh thought of some of the most famous Punjabi and Hindi poets. It is considered as a very important Historical document and still remains unpublished.
- Anekarthak Kosh
- Naam mala kosh
External links
- Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
- Punjabi’s pioneering encyclopaedist - on The Sunday Tribune, India.
- Nabha
- Historical documents on Kahn Singh Nabha