Sahib Singh
Encyclopedia
Professor Sahib Singh was a renowned Sikh
academic who made a tremendous contribution to Sikh
literature. He was an exceptional grammarian, author
, scholar and theologian. He was born in a Hindu
family to father Hiranand and was named Natthu Ram
poet, Hashim to teach him Persian
.
Whilst at junior school, he saw Sikh soldiers and was so impressed with them that he decided to keep unshorn hair. In 1906, when he was in the ninth grade he became Amritdhari and assumed the name of Sahib Singh. It was the time when he stopped learning Persian
and started learning Sanskrit
, which later on helped him in understanding Guru Granth Sahib
ji.
Soon Bhai Sahib Singhs' desire for higher education became so great that he left home. He had no where to go with virtually no money in his pocket. He later met Pundit Vesta Parsad, a scholarly teacher for help.
Sahib Singh ji passed his FA and BA and started work at Frakka college and later joined Gujranwala
Khalsa college. It was at this college that he met Bava Harkrishan Singh and Bhai Jodh Singh
. Sahib Singh's financial situation had improved by this time so that he was able to pay back his debts.
, and then the Government College, Lahore
where he obtained his bachelor's degree. In 1917 he joined Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala
as a lecturer in Sanskrit
. In 1921 Bhai Sahib Singh ji became the Assistant General Secretary of the SGPC. Bhai Sahib Singh took part in Guru Ka Bagh Morcha in 1922 and was arrested. In 1923 Bhai ji was again arrested when he took part in Jaito Morcha. In 1927 Bhai ji rejoined Gujranwala
college, where he stayed until 1936. At this time Bhai ji moved to Amritsar
and joined the Khalsa college as a lecturer in Punjabi
. At the college he met fellow Sikh scholars like Professor Teja Singh, Professor Ganda Singh, Bhai Veeram Singh and Prof Mohan Singh ji. In 1952 Sahib Singh ji retired from this college to take up a post as Principal at Shaheed Missionary college, Amritsar
. In 1962 Bhai ji left to join his son at Sidva Bit near Jagroan. When his son moved to Patiala, Bhai ji took classes at Gurmat college in Patiala. He was awarded D.Lit by Punjabi University
, Patiala in 1971.
. Bhai Sahib left for heavenly abode on 29 October 1977.
, Hindi
and other prominent world languages.
by Professor Sahib Singh has been made available on the Gurbani-CD and on the Internet. The typing work of this Teeka was spearheaded by Avtar Singh Dhami of Union City, California
, USA. Dr. Thind formatted the text of Teeka by Professor Sahib Singh to improve the use of text on the computer
and for the Internet
. He also made the web pages of Teeka that are available on http://www.gurugranthdarpan.com
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"...
academic who made a tremendous contribution to Sikh
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"...
literature. He was an exceptional grammarian, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, scholar and theologian. He was born in a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family to father Hiranand and was named Natthu Ram
Early life
As a youth, Natthu Ram was apprenticed to a Muslim teacher, Hayat Shah, son of the famous PunjabiPunjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
poet, Hashim to teach him 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...
.
Whilst at junior school, he saw Sikh soldiers and was so impressed with them that he decided to keep unshorn hair. In 1906, when he was in the ninth grade he became Amritdhari and assumed the name of Sahib Singh. It was the time when he stopped learning 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...
and started learning 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...
, which later on helped him in understanding 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...
ji.
Later life
After passing the tenth grade, Bhai Sahib joined a local school. Later, he applied for a job with the postal department, and got the job, borrowing 20 Rs from his house maid as traveling expenses.Soon Bhai Sahib Singhs' desire for higher education became so great that he left home. He had no where to go with virtually no money in his pocket. He later met Pundit Vesta Parsad, a scholarly teacher for help.
Sahib Singh ji passed his FA and BA and started work at Frakka college and later joined Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
Khalsa college. It was at this college that he met Bava Harkrishan Singh and Bhai Jodh Singh
Bhai Jodh Singh
Bhai Jodh Singh was a Sikh theologist, author, mentor and social activist. He played an important role in the Singh Sabha movement.-See also:* Sikhism* Singh Sabha movement...
. Sahib Singh's financial situation had improved by this time so that he was able to pay back his debts.
Employment
The untimely death of his father made the situation hard for him, yet he managed to enter Dyal Singh College, LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, and then the Government College, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
where he obtained his bachelor's degree. In 1917 he joined Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
as a lecturer in 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...
. In 1921 Bhai Sahib Singh ji became the Assistant General Secretary of the SGPC. Bhai Sahib Singh took part in Guru Ka Bagh Morcha in 1922 and was arrested. In 1923 Bhai ji was again arrested when he took part in Jaito Morcha. In 1927 Bhai ji rejoined Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
college, where he stayed until 1936. At this time Bhai ji moved to Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
and joined the Khalsa college as a lecturer in Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi 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...
. At the college he met fellow Sikh scholars like Professor Teja Singh, Professor Ganda Singh, Bhai Veeram Singh and Prof Mohan Singh ji. In 1952 Sahib Singh ji retired from this college to take up a post as Principal at Shaheed Missionary college, Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
. In 1962 Bhai ji left to join his son at Sidva Bit near Jagroan. When his son moved to Patiala, Bhai ji took classes at Gurmat college in Patiala. He was awarded D.Lit by Punjabi University
Punjabi University
Punjabi University, located at Patiala, is one of the premier institutions of higher education in Punjab, India. Panjabi University teaches and researches in science, engineering and technology, humanities, social sciences, performing arts and sports....
, Patiala in 1971.
Health and Illness
Prof. Sahib Singh was often afflicted with illnesses due to his tough working schedule. Nonetheless, Prof. Sahib Singh was a very strong willed person and remained in eternal happiness. Ultimately, he became very ill, being afflicted with Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. Bhai Sahib left for heavenly abode on 29 October 1977.
Published Works
Prof. Sahib Singh wrote extensively in Punjabi, but most of his works have now been translated into EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and other prominent world languages.
- Sri Guru Granth Darpan
- Nitnem Steek
- Sukhmani Steek
- Gurbani Vyakaran
- Jaap Sahib
- Jap Ji Sahib Steek
- Asa Di Vaar Steek
- Meri Jeevan Kahani
- Bhagat Bani Steek
- Salok Kabir Ji Steek
- Salok Te Shabad Farid Ji Steek
- Satte Balwand Di Var Steek
- Siddh Gost Steek
- Salok Guru Angad Sahib Steek
- Bani Maihla 9 Steek
- Life History of all Sikh Gurus
- Bhattan de Savaiye Steek
- Barahmaha
- Babania Kahanian
- Aad Bir bare
- Sikh Sidak Na Hare
- Dharam Te Sadachar
- Gurbani Te Itihaas Bare
- Burai Da Takra
- Sarbat Da Bhala
- Simran Dian Barkatan
- Sad Steek
Technological Advancements
The translation of Sri Guru Granth SahibGuru 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...
by Professor Sahib Singh has been made available on the Gurbani-CD and on the Internet. The typing work of this Teeka was spearheaded by Avtar Singh Dhami of Union City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. Dr. Thind formatted the text of Teeka by Professor Sahib Singh to improve the use of text on the computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
and for the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. He also made the web pages of Teeka that are available on http://www.gurugranthdarpan.com
External links
- http://www.sikhsangat.org/2010/10/october-29th-sahib-singh-ji/
- http://www.gurugranthdarpan.com