KAHAN SINGH NABHA

Bhai Kahan Singh (30.8.1861 – 23.11.1938), son of Bhai Narain Singh Dhillon, was born at village Sabaj Banera (district Patiala). Bhai Kahan Singh was a brilliant child. He learnt several languages and read a lot of literature. In 1883, he moved to Lahore. Here, he came into contact with Professor Gurmukh Singh. In 1884, he was given a job in his court by (Maharaja) Hira Singh, the ruler of Nabha. In 1888, he became a teacher of prince Ripduman Singh of Nabha. In 1893, he became the private secretary to the ruler of Nabha. In 1895, he was appointed as a magistrate. In 1896, he became deputy commissioner of district Phul. In 1898, he wrote Ham Hindu Nahin, a precious work about Sikh philosophy. After the publication of this book, some Hindus created hue and cry and Bhai Kahan Singh had to resign his job. The next year, he wrote Gurmat Parbhakar and Gurmat Sudhakar. In 1885, Bhai Kahan Singh met Max Arthur Macauliffe and both of them became good friends. Bhai Kahan Singh helped Macauliffe a lot in the writing of his book The Sikh Religion, published in six volumes, in 1905. [Max Arthur Macauliffe gave the copyright of the book to Bhai Kahan Singh]. In 1904-05, Bhai Kahan Singh played effective role in getting the statues of the mythical Hindu gods and goddesses removed from the precincts of Darbar Sahib Amritsar. He was also instrumental in the passing of the Aanand Marriage Act (1909). In 1912, he was appointed as Judge of High Court. On May 20, 1912, he moved to Kashmir to compile Mahan Kosh (encyclopaedia of Sikh literature). He stayed there till 1925-26. During this period he compiled Mahan Kosh, his magnum opus. Bhai Kahan Singh also wrote Raj Dharam, Guru Chhand Alankar, Gur Shabad Alankar, Gur Gira Kasauti, Sharab Nikhedh Gurmat Martand etc. Bhai Kahan Singh’s contribution to the Sikh literature as well as to Punjabi literature is immense.

(Dr Harjinder Sinh Dilgeer)