Birth anniversary of a Sikh literary giant like no other

ON THIS DAY: Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha (1861-1938)

Akashdeep Virk

Updated At : 09:28 AM Aug 30, 2024 IST

Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha (1861-1938)

An erudite Sikh scholar, historian and lexicographer, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha was born on August 30, 1861. He contributed to the Sikh history by writing Gur Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh, Gurmat Martand, Hum Hindu Nahi and a number of granths. Making it easier for the masses to understand, among his greatest contributions, is the introduction of ‘padched’ (space between words) in Guru Granth Sahib, along with Teja Singh and Lal Singh. It was no mean task, taking 10 gruelling years — from April 13, 1918, to 1928.

The intricate work was even more challenging as Nabha had received no formal education, but at the age of four, had started learning Punjabi from his father. Languages came easy to him — he learnt Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Persian and Braj Bhasha from pandits, maulvis and other tutors. He also mastered Gurmat poetry and read history, law and Hindu philosophy (Vedanta). Music he learnt from the very best — maestro Mahant Gaja Singh of Nabha — and played the sitar and ‘dilruba’ with distinction. An excellent marksman, Nabha enjoyed hunting and possessed some fine weapons.

Bhai Sahab, as he was often referred to, was instrumental in the removal of ‘murtis’ from the ‘parikarma’ of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He was also a part of the team that drafted the Anand Marriage Act, which was passed in the Imperial Legislative Council on October 22, 1909.

Nabha began working on ‘Mahan Kosh’, a four-volume encyclopedia of Sikh literature, in 1912 and completed it in 1926. Published in 1930, the book contains nearly 63,000 entries from original Sikh scriptures and other allied works.

Apart from Bhai Gurdas, only Bhai Kahn Singh could interpret the Gurbani and understand the profundity of its wisdom and thought. Nabha was recognised by Maharaja Hira Singh Nabha and took up many roles. He remained his private secretary, foreign minister, judge of the Nabha high court, member of the judicial council, city magistrate, nazim (deputy commissioner) and nehar nazim (deputy commissioner, revenue). He was also the legal adviser to Patiala state from 1915 to 1917. He died in 1938 at the age of 77.

His great-grandson Major AP Singh says contemporary Punjabis must read his works. ‘He was an exemplary Sikh. Despite having no formal education, he acquired the status of a literary giant. Those who read ‘Mahan Kosh’ will be surprised how less we know about our language and the history associated with it,’ he says.