Dr. Jai Singh (11.2.1856 – 9.6.1898), son of Bhai Sant Singh Ahluwalia, was born at village Dadan Khan (district Jhelum, Pakistan). In 1874, he joined Medical College, Lahore. After passing his degree in medicine, he started service as a medical practitioner. In 1893, he resigned service, moved to Lahore and started a chemist’s shop. During this period, he had became a member of Brahmo Samaj. When he moved to Lahore, he came into contact with the leaders of the Singh Sabha movement. Here, he studied Sikh philosophy and renounced Brahmo Samaj. When a committee for the establishment of Khalsa College was formed, he was selected as the secretary of the Committee. On April 17, 1893, he formed a Shuddhi Sabha (ablution organisation). The purpose of this organisation was to re-convert those who had embraced Islam under coercion or compulsion or due to an affair with some Muslim lady. In April 1896, he started a journal named Khalsa Dharam Parkashak Shuddhi Patar. Arya Samaj was opposed to the programme of Dr. Jai Singh. Due to his efforts, Gurmat Granth Sudharak Committee was formed on January 14, 1897, with a view to produce authentic copies of Guru Granth Sahib and to stop distortion of Sikhism. In 1897, Giani Dit Singh criticised Dr. Jai Singh saying that re-convertion from Islam should not produce Hindus but only Khalsa. Dr. Jai Singh died in 1898.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)