HARBANS SINGH, PROFESSOR

Professor Harbans Singh (6.3.1921 – 30.5.1998) son of Bhai Ram Lal, was born at village Kottha Guru (district Bathinda). He began his career as a lecturer in English at Khalsa College Amritsar in 1943. In 1958, he became the Principal of the Government College Muktsar. In 1962, he became the Registrar of the Punjabi University Patiala. In 1968, he went to Harvard University as Visiting Fellow. In 1969, he became Professor and head of the department of Religious Studies. In 1972, he started work on production of Sikh Encyclopedia. In 1977, he declined the Vice-Chancellorship of Punjabi University Patiala to be able to complete the Encyclopedia. The first volume of the Sikh Encyclopedia was printed in 1994. Professor Harbans Singh has toured several countries of the world. He is a master of the English language.

He had two children: one son and one daughter; both were settled in the USA. It is wiely believed that when his son cut his hair after his divorce and his daughter (Nikky Guninder Kaur) divorced her Sikh husband and married a Christian, he suffered a paralytic attack. He remained in this state for a couple of years and died.

He had written several books, including: Heritage of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak and Origin of the Sikh Faith, Guru Gobind Singh, Bhai Vir Singh, Berkeley Lectures on Sikhism etc. Some of his books have been translated into several languages. In 1992, The Sikhs: Past & Present published a special volume of articles in honour of his contribution.

(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)