Special meeting with Major Adarshpal Singh, great
grandson of Panth Ratan Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha
Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha (1861-1938 AD), the great Punjabi
scholar, is remembered in the Sikh community by the title of 'Bhai Sahib or
Panth Ratan' for his all-round scholarship and all-round personality. Bhai
Kahan Singh Nabha is one of the leading commentators on Gurbani after Bhai
Gurdas ji.By writing dozens of books and
interpreting Gurbani, he established the Gurmat ideology and special emphasis
on the identification of its tradition.
At the same time, on the basis of logic and argument, he
presented his scientific views by refuting the imaginary views related to
religion. From this learned family of Nabha, Bhagwant Singh Hari Ji, son of
Bhai Saheb’s daughter in law Bibi Harnam
Kaur and grand daughter in law Dr. Rachpal Kaur also contributed to the Punjabi
literary service.
At present Bhai Saheb's great grandson Major Adarshpal Singh
is also interested in social service as well as literary interests.Some
questions and answers with Bhai Sahib's great grandson Major AP Singh on the
occasion of Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha's birthday (30August 2021):
Question: -According
to lineage tradition In a relationship Major AP Singh Ji,
What is yours
relation with Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha.
Ans: My elder Baba Naudh Singh Ji was a prominent man of
village Pitho (Bathinda).
Who for some time had been in the company of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh.
His son Baba Sarup Singh was designated as priest of the
shrine dedicated to Baba Ajapal Singh Ji
(Nabha). After this his grandson Baba Narayan Singh Ji (1841-1916 AD) served at
this place who was the father of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha. My honorable father Sudarshan Singh was the grandson of Bhai Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha and son of Bhagwant
Singh (Hari Ji). Thus according to the lineage tradition I am the great
grandson of Bhai Kahn Singh Ji Nabha ,in
the relationship.
Question: Any
memories of Bhai Sahib's life that you may have heard from your elders?
Answer: Religion, literature, history, music, walking ,
hunting, gardening and playing tennis were his special hobbies. He was very
interested in learning different languages.
When learning Persian opportunities, he was opposed from
home,so they left home and ran away. Learned Persian from masters in Lucknow, Delhi,
Lahore etc.
Question: Is there
any event in the life of your elders that you are very proud of ?
Ans: Bhai Kahn Singh's father Baba Narayan Singh
Ji possessed a very strong power of consciousness. He had memorised many
text of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib.
He regularly used to complete the recital of the holy
scripture four times a mounth. It has
been heard from many elders and scholars that
on three occasions , Baba Narayan
Singh Ji solely performed
uninterrupted recitation of Guru Granth
Sahib in one sitting .Once Maharaja Hira Singh (Nabha) listened to the whole text with devotion. At
the completion of the recitation,the Maharaja desired to grant s fief, but Baba
Narayan Singh Ji declined to accept any reward for the performance. When at
the end of the ceremony ,Baba ji sat in a palanquin to go back to his residence
, the Maharaja Hira Singh relieved one baearer of the palanquin and carried it
on his owen shoulder, thus Maharaja Hira Singh expressing great devotion and
devotion to Baba Narayan Singh Ji.
Question: What works of Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha have you read?
Ans: The total number of compositions of Bhai Sahib Ji,
is in dozens. I haven't read the entire work in terms of research. But whenever
the time came, many of the books written by him were read little by little like
a normal reader, and got to learn a lot. Bhai Sahib's son Bhagwant Singh Hari
Ji , daughter-in-law Bibi Harnam Kaur and granddaughter-in-law Dr. Rachpal Kaur
read all the literature written by Bhai Sahib from the point of view of
research and all three of them contributed to the enrichment of Punjabi
literature by writing some books themselves.
Question: The world
of Punjabi literature considers Bhai Sahib to be a great lexicographer, Sikh
thinker and researcher.Which of these do you value the most?
Answer: Undoubtedly Baba ji (Kahan Singh Nabha) established
himself as the great commentator of the Sikh community by writing many other
original books like Gurumat Sudhakar, Gurumat Prabhakar and Gurmat Martand. But
I value him as the great lexicographer of Punjabi because Gurushabad Ratnakar
Mahan Kosh ( Encyclopaedia of Sikh Litrature) is a milestone in the field of
Punjabi lexicography. It is a literary work that can be expected from an
organization but not from a single person. The Mahan Kosh is a storehouse of
knowledge, the importance of which will remain forever in the history of
Punjabi litrature.
Question: What other
activities did Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha do in his life besides reading and
writing books, tell us a bit about his diplomatic acumen?
Ans: He worked hard all his life to settle the dispute
between Nabha and Patiala
states.
Bhai Sahib has held various senior positions in the State of
Nabha and the State of Patiala such as Musahib, Private Secretary, City
Magistrate, Nehar Nazam, Mir Munshi, (Foreign Minister), Judge High Court,
Member Judicial Council, and Advocate Political Agency etc. Bhai Sahib was sent
by the state of Nabha as a lawyer to the political agents of the Phoolkian
states. Bhai Sahib was well versed in such political affairs, which is why
Maharaja Hira Singh ji named him Niti ji.Colonel Dunlap Smith, a British
officer and political agent at the time, wrote a letter to the Government of
Nabha on July 18, 1905, praising Bhai Kahn Singh's wisdom and loyalty. I have
not found any officer in the Phoolkiyan states (Nabha, Patiala, Jind) who does the work of his
Maharaja and the state so honestly. "
Question: Apart from
Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha 's works, what other personal belongings do you have?
Answer: We have at Vrijesh Bhawan Nabha holding his personal
belongings like sword, gun, watches, takua, seals, hand stick (khundi),
certificate etc.Some time ago his excellent Sitar (Musical intrument) was also present
there. He was very fond of singing and
playing classical music.They bought everything of high quality.The
clothes he wore were very clean, hygienic and of high quality but he always
liked to be simple. His natural dress and cultural temperament were especially
exemplary of elegance and uniqueness. It was his privilege to write a book like
'Sikh Religion' by introducing Sikh
religion and history to an English gentleman like Max Arthur Macauliffe.
He also spent a long time in the England for reading the final proof of this book.
Overwhelmed by this devotion and love, Mr. Macauliffe wrote
all the rights to his book in the name of Bhai Kahan Singh.
This inscription is still with our family (Vrijesh Bhawan
Nabha). Mr Macauliffe also offered to give up his house in London
(UK),
but Bhai Sahib (Kahan Singh) refused.
Question: Do you feel
that Bhai Sahib did not get the place and respect in the world of Punjabi
literature that he deserved?
Answer: The contribution of Bhai Sahib (Kahan Singh Nabha)
to Punjab, Sikhism, Punjabi language and
Punjabi literature is easily realized by everyone who comes across 'Gurushabad
Ratnakar Mahan Kosh ( Encyclopaedia of Sikh Litrature) '. It becomes the moral
duty of all of us to respect the man of the age. Much more work is needed to
move forward with the work they have started so that our new generation stays
connected to its heritage, religion and culture.
Question: Tell us
something about Bhai Sahib's contribution to Sikh philosophy?
Answer: Under the influence of the Singh Sabha movement,
Bhai Sahib remained active throughout his life in his efforts to bring Sikhism
back to its former glory. In the context of sectarian animosity, Bhai Sahib
came forward to defend the Sikh tradition and preach his golden heritage. For the
first time, Bhai Sahib began to examine Sikh history, Gurbani and Sikh
literature in accordance with the principles of Gurmat. Valuable debates began
on endless small and big issues of Gurmat (Sikhism).
Question: Do you
consider Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha as your role model?
Ans: There is no doubt that our entire family considers Bhai
Sahib as their role model.
Because the entire literature created by him clarifies the
purpose and purpose of life.
My prayer to Akal Purakh(God) is that this process of
Shabad Chintan,word contemplation will continue in Punjab. Visitors
Dr. Jagmail Singh Bhathuan
Incharge, Hari Vrijesh Cultural Foundation
A-68-A, Second Floor, Fateh Nagar, New
Delhi
Contact- 09871312541
