DISCOVERY OF GURBANI GRAMMAR
On the occasion of anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day, which was to be celebrated in December 1920, a non-stop reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, was arranged in Khalsa High School, Gujranwala. Professor Sahib Singh was one of the readers, who was to participate in the reading of the Holy Book. It was in the evening, that he started reading the Holy Book. While reading he noted a word, which appeared three times in a verse, each with different spellings. He was greatly amazed to note this. He went back home, forgot to take his meals, having been deeply involved in this mystery. At last, before going to sleep he found out one principle of grammar. Thus, the foundation of discovery of the canons of Guru Granth Sahib Grammar, was laid on the auspicious day of Martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, which was celebrated in December 1920. Sahib Singh says: “I used to write down the Shabads to memorize them; in so doing I totally used to ignore the spellings of the words. To-day, I woke up from deep slumber. From then onward I began to copy down the Shabads with great care in regard to their spellings.”
Shromni Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee (SGPC) was established in 1920, and its first secretary was Master Tara Singh. Before joining SGPC, Master Tara Singh was the headmaster of Khalsa School, Layalpur. Sahib Singh developed acquaintance with Tara Singh, when the latter was the teacher at Layalpur.
Punjab University withdrew its affiliation of Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala, due to its anti government activities.. The teachers of the College had, therefore, to seek employment elsewhere. Sahib Singh wrote a letter to Master Tara Singh, for a job in SGPC. This was arranged, and he was posted as the Assistant Secretary from July 20, 1921. He served there upto September 1927, when he was recalled to Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala, when it re-opened duly affiliated to the Punjab University. Those were the formative years of SGPC, and Sahib Singh as Assistant Secretary played an active role in the momentous events that took place. He courted arrest for a number of times, while taking part in the movements. He was drawing a salary of Rupees 250.00 per month in SGPC, whereas he preferred to be a teacher in the college at the salary of Rupees 150.00 per month. He had the growing family, with wife, 4 sons and one daughter. He did feel the pinch of the loss of money, which in fact, on his account, affected the family members, the most.
Sahib Singh and eight other learned men of the town of Gujranwala, formed an association for study of Gurbani. They would meet at a place for an hour and a half in the afternoon every day, for the purpose. The text of Gurbani used to be translated with due regard to the rules of grammar. In two years time 1927 -28, the whole of the Holy Book was translated (verbally), and they started to translate Gurbani from the beginning over again.
On the recommendations of Professor Jodh Singh, Khalsa College, Amritsar, the Amritsar College authorities decided in May 1929 to appoint Professor Sahib Singh to teach Punjabi and Divinity in their College. Consequently Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala, relieved him before the ensuing summer vacations to save payment of his salary for the period of vacations. A few days latter, the Principal of Gujranwala College received a letter from the Principal of Amritsar College informing that Sahib Singh would not be taken as teacher in Amritsar College. Sahib Singh was thus rendered as an unemployed person with heavy responsibility of sustenance of his family. It was later found that it was due to his employment in SGPC and anti -government activities, that Punjab government had directed the college authorities not to take him. The College was receiving a substantial amount of government subsidy. Many influential people intervened and the matter was sorted out and Sahib Singh was appointed as the Professor of Divinity and Punjabi in Khalsa College, Amritsar. He reported for duty on November 4, 1929.
Professor Sahib Singh wrote his historic book on “Gurbani Grammar” , which was completed in 1932. By this time he wrote a number of books on the Compositions of the Gurus, which were translated according to the rules of grammar and were published.
BEREAVEMENTS
His younger brother Diwan Singh, at the age of 36, met with an accident and expired in September 1932.
His wife, Agya Kaur, also met with an accident in September, and died on December 28, 1932, when she delivered a daughter. The daughter also later died on February 28, 1933. His wife was then 38 years old.
With the death of his wife great calamity had fallen on him. It became very difficult for him to look after five sons and one daughter. His sympathizers advised him to go for re-marriage in the interest of his children.
RE-MARRIAGE
He married a childless widow, named Rattan Kaur on December 31, 1933. She belonged to Dehra Ismail Khan.
She was blessed with a son on October 11, 1934. The boy was named Daljeet Singh, with whom Sahib Singh and his wife spent the rest of their lives..
She gave birth to a daughter, on September 5, 1939. She is the 2nd daughter, the other one being from his first marriage.
The historic book on ‘Gurbani Grammar’, which Professor Sahib Singh had completed in 1932, was published in 1939. Sri Darbar Sahib Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee, Amritsar, selected his book as the authentic Book of Gurbani Grammar, and awarded him a prize of Rupees 1,000, at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib on September 13, 1939.
Professor Sahib Singh retired from Khalsa College, Amritsar on October 12, 1952, when he attained the age of 60 years.
From October 12, 1952 itself, he was appointed Principal, Shaid Sikh Missionary College.
Another invaluable contribution made by Professor Sahib Singh was, that he completed writing of the life history of Sikh Gurus after extensive investigations strictly in accordance with their Teachings as enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This work was completed by the end of 1953.
TRANSLATION OF WHOLE OF SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB
It was the month of June 1956. S. Dalip Singh of New Delhi (this translator) with his family members went on pilgrimage of Sri Harimandir Sahib. He had read some of Prof Sahib Singh’s translations of the Gurus’ Comopositions, and was greatly impressed. Dalip Singh met him in the Shaid Sikh Missionary College, and stayed with him for about an hour. He greatly stressed on him the necessity of translating of whole of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in accordance with rules of ‘Gurbani Grammar’ discovered by him. Sahib Singh hesitated to undertake this gigantic task, mainly for the reason, who would publish it. And if it were published, and if there were not adequate number of readers to buy the books, who would bear the cost! He had the example before him, of publishing a number of books by himself, and they were lying with him unsold, packed in big boxes with him, while the clothes were lying in the open. He expressed his inability to Dalip Singh to undertake this work. The visitor paid his respects to him and left the place.
Prof Sahib Singh re-considered the proposal made by Dalip Singh to him. He thought that the time at his disposal should not be wasted on useless things, but usefully utilized for writing translation of the Holy Book and should not worry whether it would be published or not. He wrote a letter to Dalip Singh that he would start writing the translation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
HE STARTED WRITING OF TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY BOOK FROM JANUARY 1, 1957. He first of all began translating Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Compositions – Shabads, Astpadis, Chhants and then his other Compositions. Out of all the Compositions, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Compositions were most difficult to understand. After translation of Compositions of Guru Nanak Dev, his daily speed of translation began to increase. Two years passed well, but in 1959 he had the severest attack of haemorrhoids with blood discharges. This greatly weakened him. He had to stop the translation work for one and a half years. When he regained his strength, he re-started the translation work. BY JUNE 1961, HE COMPLETED THE TRANSLATION WORK.
He requested M/S Singh Brothers, Amritsar, who used to publish his other works, to publish the Translation, but they refused. Then he applied to Shromoni Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee (SGPC). Master Tara Singh, who was President of SGPC also, called him and politely refused, and suggested that he could get the loan from the Committee. They had decided to publish another man’s translation of the Holy Book, which was both in English and Punjabi. These events greatly discouraged him and also depressed him.
Sahib Singh had a friend, named S. Waryam Singh, who was then the Principal of Khalsa College, Amritsar. Sahib Singh, off and on, used to see him. After the above mentioned event, next day he went to see Principal Waryam Singh. He told Waryam Singh all what expired the previous day. Waryam Singh warned him that for this purpose he should never borrow any money for himself publishing the translation, as it was beyond him to handle the things and sell the books. If, he did that, the fear of clearing the loan would kill him. He, however, promised to search for some other source to help him.
Waryam Singh was himself a writer. He used to write text books for the college students. His works were published by M/S Raj Publishers, Jullundur City. It so happened that the Publisher Sohan Lal Khanna came to see Waryam Singh. Waryam Singh mentioned about the publishing of translation work to the publisher, who agreed to undertake this gigantic work. Waryam Singh, immediately called for Sahib Singh and got the deed finalized between the parties. Printing of the translation in Ten Volumes started immediately. The Volumes of the Translation were titled, “Sri Guru Granth Darpan”. The first volume was published on June 26, 1962, and the Tenth Volume on November 20, 1964.
Sahib Singh writes: “When the people read the eighth volume of “Darpan”, many wrote to me the letters full of love. Certain letters were so emotional that by reading them I felt oneness with every one, with tears of love and affection for them. Among those letters were especially from S. Dalip Singh Ji, New Delhi; S. Ranjit Singh Ji, Secretary, Singh Sabha, Bangkok and Dr Hari Singh Ji, Calcutta. The Sikh Sangat of Bangkok (Thailand), sent an invitation through S Ranjit Singh for a visit to Thailand.
The tri-centenary birthday celebration of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was to be celebrated during 1966. Professor Sahib Singh wrote the life of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Punjabi. English and Hindi translations were also published. SGPC awarded him a prize of Rupees two hundred and fifty only.
An English version of the translation of life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji was published by M/S Raj Publishers, Jullunur City. The book was translated by S. Dalip Singh Ji of New Delhi. The life was also serialized in the Spokesman Weekly, New Delhi.
An Hindi translation of the life of the Guru was made by S. Amar Singh Ji, Chakar, and published by Sri Harimandir Sahib, Patna.
Books on life history of the remaining Gurus were also published by M/S Singh Brothers, Amritsar.
On January 6, 1971 Vice Chancellor Kirpal Singh Narang, Punjabi University, Patiala, awarded Professor Sahib Singh, an honorary degree of Doctor of Literature.
Professor Sahib Singh had an attack of Parkinson’s Disease in 1967. On September 14, 1977 he went into unconscious state, as he could neither eat or drink any thing. He began to be fed through nose. Such a condition continued for about one and a half months, and at last on October 29, 1977, at 9 O’clock in the morning, he breathed his last. He thus lived for 84 years, 8 months and 13 days.
Translator’s respectful homage to Most Revered Professor Sahib Singh Jio.
Professor Sahib Singh’s works cover many aspects of Sikhism, and there is hardly any part of that vast field which does not illuminate. He was initially devoted to the study of Gurbani (Gurus’ Compositions) and gathered a deeper knowledge in this field. He was the first writer, who discovered Gurbani Grammar, the guiding principles on which the Gurus’ Compositions were based. This was an epoch making discovery in the light of which single and correct interpretation of the Gurus’ Compositions is now possible.
His translation and commentary on Guru Granth Sahib published in ten volumes during 1962 – 64, contain such a wealth of thought and investigation that no summary could do it justice – it is Professor Sahib Singh’s weightiest contribution to Sikhism.
The other singular service he rendered to the cause of Truth is, his monumental work on “Adi Birh Bare” (About Compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji). It is a shame that credence was given to baseless, senseless, childish, fabulous and hilarious stories written by some Sikh historians on compilation of the Divine Word by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. How surprising it is that when the authenticity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was challenged by Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike on world-wide basis, no attention was paid to the call to reason as revealed by Professor Sahib Singh Ji. The existing controversy on Compilation of Gurus’ Compositions is only the creation of Sikhs themselves.
Professor Sahib Singh wrote most valuable papers on the life of the revered Gurus, segregating corn from the chaff. These papers are extremely rich and suggestive and constitute the basis of scientific reading of both the Gurus’ Compositions and their life history.
If we summarize in a few words the essential characteristics of Professor Sahib Singh’s written work, we observe the high general average of excellences he maintained in his writings. Hardly anything he wrote was of merely ephemeral value, and his work throughout was marked by the valuable qualities of sobriety, cautious skepticism, thorough investigation and good judgment. In fact, his writings have given a scientific approach to the understanding of Sikhism.
One can safely conclude that one person, who has contributed to the Cause of Sikhism after Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, was Professor Sahib Singh Ji. May he ever live, and his writings be the beacon for the future generations of Sikhs to understand Sikhism in proper perspective.
MY RESPECTFUL HOMAGE TO THIS GREAT MAN, WHOSE COMING WAS MEANINGFUL AND FRUITFUL. I EARNESTLY PRAY THAT GURU-AKALPURKH’S BENEDICTIONS BE EVER ON HIM. MAY HIS NEAR AND DEAR ONES BE ALSO BLESSED DUE TO HIS UNPARALLELED SERVICES.
Written By- DALIP SINGH.
ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ
(1894-1977)
ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾ ਜਨਮ ਪਿੰਡ ਫੱਤੇਵਾਲ, ਜਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਸਿਆਲਕੋਟ (ਹੁਣ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ) ਭਾਈ ਹੀਰਾ ਚੰਦ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਹੋਇਆ। ਦਸਵੀਂ ਪਾਸ ਕਰਨ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਕੁਝ ਚਿਰ ਅਧਿਆਪਕੀ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਡਾਕਖਾਨੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਲਰਕੀ ਕੀਤੀ। ਫਿਰ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਬੀ.ਏ. ਪਾਸ ਕੀਤੀ। ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਕਾਲਜ ਗੁਜਰਾਂਵਾਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੁਝ ਸਮਾਂ ਪਡ਼੍ਹਾਇਆ। ਸ਼ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਮੀਤ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਵੀ ਰਹੇ। ਦੋ ਵਾਰ ਜੇਲ੍ਹ ਵੀ ਗਏ। 1929 ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਕਾਲਜ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਲੈਕਚਰਾਰ ਲਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਆਪ ਸਿੱਖ ਮਿਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਕਾਲਜ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੀਪਲ ਲੱਗ ਗਏ। ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਨੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਆਪ ਦੀ ਸਾਹਿਤਕ ਦੇਣ ਬਦਲੇ ਡੀ.ਲਿਟ. ਦੀ ਆਨਰੇਰੀ ਡਿਗਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕੀਤੀ।
ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ, ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ, ਟੀਕਾਕਾਰੀ ਤੇ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਆਕਰਨ ਆਪ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਹਨ। ਆਪ ਦੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਨਿਤਾਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਵਹਿਣ ਸਰਲ, ਆਪ-ਮੁਹਾਰਾ ਤੇ ਘਰੋਗੀ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕੋਈ ਕਿਸੇ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੋਵੇ ਜਾਂ ਆਪ ਸਮਝਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੋਵੇ।
ਆਪ ਦੀਆਂ ਕੁਝ ਉੱਘੀਆਂ ਪੁਸਤਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਂ ਇਹ ਹਨ
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦਰਪਣ (10 ਭਾਗ)
ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਆਕਰਨ
ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਲੇਖ
ਕੁਝ ਹੋਰ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਲੇਖ
ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸੁਹਜ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼