Chandigarh, May 22 (2022) The intellectual writings of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha have played a major role in this revivalist movement launched by the Singh Sabha and have brought to the fore the complete identity of Sikh doctrine and philosophy.
This view was expressed by Prof. Kulwant Singh while presenting his paper on Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha’s “Giving to Sikh Religion, Literature”. Born in the mid-19th century (1861 AD) Bhai Kahn Singh was a highly enlightened scholar who slammed Indian scholars for presenting Sikhism as a reformed version of the larger Hindu religion.In this regard, by writing the book’s Hum Hindu Nahi, Bhai Sahib proved that Guru Granth Sahib is not a copy of Vedas and Puranas but Sikhism presents the original understanding of life and life- examination to the world.Rejecting all Hindu rituals and worldly views, the Sikh Gurus gave priority to a life full of true labor without rituals. Bhai Kahn Singh’s writings have strongly emphasized the Sikh doctrine espoused by the Guru’s, advocating an egalitarian and non-exploitative society and state system, rejecting Brahmanical caste from the outset. The progame held here in the memory of Dr Kharak Singh, the founding member of the Institute of Sikh Studies,
Chandigarh, Prof. Kulwant Singh said,The issues raised by Bhai Kahn Singh are as relevant today as they were a hundred years ago. Today, the powers that be are in a race to establish a Hindu Rashtra by establishing a majority system of government, which is undermining the constitutional and equal citizenship rights of minorities. Sikhism has now succeeded in establishing its unique religious identity in the world," he said. The rise of Sikhism
to the fifth rank among the major religions of the world confirms Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha’s prophecy that we are not Hindus .After fifteen consecutive years of hard work, the creation of a “Mahan Kosh” on the lines of the Britannica Encyclopedia is a unique gift from Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha to the Punjabis.The Mahan Kosh is full of descriptions of 65,000 different words / folk sayings, birds and flora.
In the context of erecting a unique religious identity of the Sikhs, Prof. Kulwant Singh said that Bhai Sahib Nabha had also drafted the Anand Karj Act of 1909. In this paper written after in-depth study, Prof. Kulwant Singh said that Bhai Sahib Nabha had not received any schooling. He himself became a scholar of Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Hindi, English and Punjabi languages through hard work.He was a complete Sikh, a social reformer and a skilled diplomatic adviser. Bhai Kahn Singh’s also owed a great deal to the history written by Max Arthur Macauliffe on the distinct existence and doctrine of the Sikhs. Prof. Kulwant Singh writings of Bhai Sahib Nabha can be divided into four main categories. For example, on Sikh religion and Sikh identity, on ancient mythological works, including Gurmukhi and poetry and on social / political issues. Gurmat Prabhakar, Gurmat Sudhakar, Gurgira Kasauti and Gurmat Martand are the main works of Bhai Sahib.
Major Adarshpal Singh, great grandson of Bhai Sahib Nabha and former Indian Ambassador Paripuran Singh were also present on the occasion. Major A.P. Singh said that Bhai Sahib had learned Persian by running away from Nabha’s house and staying with famous people of Delhi and Lucknow for four years. Dr. Jagmail Singh Bhathuan, Ph.D Scholar on Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha presided over the function. Paramjit Singh, Principal Prabhjot Kaur, Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian, Former Deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Bir Davinder Singh, Senior journalist Jaspal Singh Sidhu and Sikh Intellectuals / Thinkers.
