KARAM SINGH HISTORIAN
Bhai Karam Singh Historian (18.3.1884 – 10.9.1930), son of Bhai Jhanda Singh Dhillon, was born at village Jhabal (district Amritsar). From his early childhood he had an interest for the study of Sikh history. In the year 1900, he passed his Matriculation examination and then joined Khalsa College at Amritsar. Though he was a student of science, he had a bent of mind toward the study of Sikh history. His interest in Sikh history made him abandon his studies, just a few months before the final examinations. He travelled throughout the Sikh Homeland and recorded the statements of those old people who had been eyewitness to the time of (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh and the other Sikh rulers. He collected a lot of material. Bhai Karam Singh had no source of income, and, on several occasions, he had to travel on foot. During this period Master Ishar Singh, who was an old friend of Bhai Karam Singh, began helping him by giving rupees 7.50 per month, the half of his salary. Bhai Karam Singh made an attempt to go to Mecca too but at Baghdad, some pilgrims came to know that he was a Sikh and not a Muslim. So he had to return from Baghdad. After returning to the Sikh homeland, he published his first work Banda Singh Bahadur followed by Katak Ke Wisakh. Katak Ke Wisakh is a valuable work of research. The ignorant leaders of the Sikhs did not like his efforts. A shocked Bhai Karam Singh had to suspend his work. He, then, joined hands with Bhai Amar Singh Wasu and started medical practice at Sargodha. In 1910, he was appointed as State Historian of the Patiala State. Here he wrote Maharaja Aala Singh. Bhai Karam Singh could not stay long in the feudal atmosphere of the Patiala State. He left Patiala and started farming, at first near Patiala and, later, at Nainital. Besides this, he continued his research work. On December 22, 1929 a Sikh History Society was formed at Akal Takht Sahib. Bhai Karam Singh was appointed its Secretary (others included Bhai Teja Singh, Bawa Budh Singh, Bawa Prem Singh Hoti, Bhai Jodh Singh, Bhai Takht Singh, Giani Hira Singh Dard etc.). In January 1930, Giani Hira Singh Dard brought out Sikh Itihas Number of his journal Phulwari. It included several precious articles written by Sirdar Karam Singh. By this time Bhai Karam Singh’s health had deteriorated a lot. In spite of his poor health, he continued his work. He lost one of his eyes due to hard work in hazardous and unhealthy atmosphere. One day he hurt his leg and in spite of advice of the doctors, he continued his study. In August 1930, he had a severe attacked of malaria, followed by an attack of pneumonia, took his life. Giani Hira Singh Dard published his miscellaneous works, in a special issue of his journal Phulwari. His works include: Banda Singh Bahadur (1907), Katak Ki Wisakh (1907), Jiwan Bibi Sada Kaur (1907), Jiwan Harnam Kaur (1907), Maharaja Aala Singh (1911), Gurpurab Nirnay, Amar Khalsa, Gur Gatha (Punjabi) and Banda Kaun Tha (Urdu).
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)