Dr. GANDA SINGH
Dr. Ganda Singh (15.11.1901 – 27.12.1987), son of Bhai Jawala Singh, was born at Haryana (district Hoshiarpur). He received his early education from Hoshiarpur and later joined F.C. College at Lahore. In 1919 he left his studies and joined the British Indian army. During his service of army, he had to go to the Middle East and Iran. There, he met Arnald T. Wilson, who gave him information about the scholars interested in Asian studies. Sirdar Ganda Singh decided to work on the history of the Sikhs. He learnt Persian, Arabic, Sanskrit and a bit of French and German too. In 1931, he became the first head of the Sikh History Department at Khalsa College, Amritsar. Since then, he devoted all of his time for the study of Sikh history. From 1949 to 1957, he worked as the Director of the Punjab State Archives. During this period he earned the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. His thesis was on Ahmed Shah Durrani. Later, he became the head of the Department of Punjab Historical Studies at the Punjabi University, Patiala. In 1967, he began the publication of The Punjab Past And Present, a reputed journal of the Sikh Studies. In recognition of his contribution to history, the degree of D.Litt. was conferred upon him by the Aligarh Muslim University (in 1974) and the Punjabi University, Patiala (in 1978). The Punjab Government, the S.G.P.C., the Sikh Educational Conference, the Punjabi University, Patiala, Indian Historic Congress and several other institutions also honoured him. Dr. Ganda Singh wrote and edited several books, including: Maharaja Kaura Mall Bahadur, Sirdar Sham Singh Atariwala, Kukian Di Vithia, Sikh Itihas Bare, Sikh Itihas Val, Punjab Ute Angrezan Da Kabza, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Life of Banda Bahadur, History of Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Lahore, (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh, Guru Nanak, Guru Arjan’s Martyrdom, The Sikhs and Sikhism, A Short History of the Sikhs, A Brief Account of the Sikh People, British Occupation of the Punjab, Ahmed Shah Durrani, A Bibliography of the Punjab etc. Besides this, he edited several books including: Amritsar Di Vaar, Sri Gur Sobha, Hukamname, Bhai Nand Lal Granthawali, Punjab (Bhai Jodh Singh Abhinandan Granth), Amarnamah, Punjab in 1839-40, A Bibliography of Patiala and East Punjab Union, Some Confidential Papers of the Akali Movement, Qazi Nur Mohammed’s Jangnamah, Private Correspondence Relating to Anglo-Sikh Wars etc. Dr. Ganda Singh was member of several international societies of historical studies. In 1976, Professor Harbans Singh published Essays in Honour of Dr. Ganda Singh, an anthology in his honour.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)