Bhai Gurdas (1551 – 25.8.1636), son of Bhai Ishar Das (? -1563) and grandson of Bhai Vishnu Das Bhalla, was born at Goindwal. He was the nephew of Guru Amar Das Sahib. At the age of 12 he had become orphan. He was looked after by his uncle Guru Amar Das Sahib. Bhai Gurdas did not marry. In 1579, he moved to Goindwal.
He studied a lot of religious, mythological and philosophical literature. He was a learned scholar of history and philosophy. When Pirthi Chand Mina started collecting tithe and the other contributions from the Sikhs and Guru Arjan Sahib had problem with financial sources, Bhai Gurdas, with the help of Baba Buddha and the others did remarkable work to educate the Sikhs about Pirthi Chand’s designs. Bhai Gurdas made active contribution to the establishment of the town of Amritsar. Guru Arjan Sahib sent Bhai Gurdas, to carry out missionary activities, to various towns of the sub-continent including Kashi (Varanasi), Agra etc.
He was amanuensis of Adi Granth Sahib, dictated to him by Guru Arjan Sahib, in 1603-04. When Guru Hargobind Sahib was imprisoned in Gwalior Fort Prison (1613 to 1619), Bhai Gurdas used to visit Gwalior to see the Guru.
Like Baba Buddha, Bhai Gurdas was like a member of Guru Sahib’s household. He joined the marriage party of Baba Gurditta, Baba, Baba Suraj Mall and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib (the three sons of Guru Hargobind Sahib). Bhai Gurdas was a great poet.
He wrote 39 Vars (ballads in heroic meter), running into several poems. He wrote 556 Kabit (a meter of poetry) also. Bhai Gurdas was the master of depiction of culture and myth. His knowledge of history and mythology was superb. He may be called the first theologian of the Sikh nation. He died at Goindwal in 1636.
(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)