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Giani Gian Singhji was born in 1879 Bikarmi in the village of Longaywal. His father was Sardar Bhag Singhji who belonged to the same caste as Bhai Mani Singh Ji Shaheed and also to the Nirmala Sect of Sikhs. Gianiji possessed not only great knowledge, but also Utmost Faith in The Guru. His works of Sikh Historical Literature truly reflect the above mentioned GurBani as The Respect for The Satguru is presented repeatedly within them. -*Nirmala Sect - Began when Guru Gobind Singh Ji Sent 5 Singhs(Ram Singh, Karam Singh, Ganda Singh, Veer Singh and Sobha Singh) disguised as Brhamcharis to Kashi in order to learn Sanskrit. The mentioned 5 GurSikhs, who wore nirmal(clean/pure) clothings and were ever Absorbed in Nam and Vidya(Learning) became known as Nirmalas. Giani Gian Singhji also wrote a small granth called 'Nirmal Panth Pardeepka'(First published 1891 A.D) which describes the history of Nirmala Sect.*- Albeit being born a Nirmala, he was, in his writings, free from prejudice towards other Sects of Sikhs. He was meticulously objective and just, in evaluating the Nihangs and the Namdharis as recorded in his magnum opus; Sri Guru Panth Parkash. He has drawn a fairly correct picture of the political nuances of the Kuka Movement, particularly its endeavors towards the restoration of the Sikh Rule. And, he minced no words to condemn the corrupt Sikh priests who obstructed the entry of Satguru Ram Singh Ji and His Dedicated Followers to various Sikh shrines. Present during The Early Sant-Khalsa Era, he composed 28 Kabits (Quatrains) to draw The Salient Features of The Eventful History of The Namdhari Movement. He was both brief and authentic. Being himself an eye witness to some of the Major Events and incidents of The Panth, he was in a position to make definitive and authoritative statements. His writings are both commendable and reliable source of Sikh History. He was particularly endowed with an uncanny perception of the Sikh Ethos. No wonder, he, while recording the martyrdoms of Banda Bahader and his associates was able to spontaneously link them to the Namdhari Shaheeds who, on the fateful days of the 17th-18th January, 1872, inspired by an intense desire to throw off. the britishers, had rushed to the cannons as moths flying to the flames. Gianiji took particular interest in the Social and Religious Aspects of Satguru Ram Singh Ji's message and designated that Period of Sikh History to be none other than what was Ordered by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji: The Satjug. Based on reliable facts and objective analysis, Giani Gian Singh's portrayal of Namdhari History can very much help solve many of the enigmas created by the singh sabha and its devoutees who possess scant regard for Truth. Unfortunately, contemporary Punjabi readers are being gradually distanced from Braja Bhasha which Gianiji had adopted for his writings. This is particularly true of those schooled in english. For their benefit, translated version of the 28 Kabits is provided on the next page. Gianiji was a much respected scholar. His writings were as invaluable when they were first published as they are today. With The Kirpa of Satguruji, he was also present in The Darbar of Satguru Ram Singh Ji over 10 days when he visited Gurdwara Sri Bhaini Sahib and presented his works of Historical Research in The Sangat. Being a much respected Scholar that he was, Gianiji's later life was not much of a desirable one. Heirless, he was approached by the 'khalsa tract society' - a branch of the singh sabha Lahore, who used this as a factor in forcing Gianiji to give up the rights towards his own works. They proposed a deal that Gianiji would receive 12 Rupees per month, a great amount of money then, until he dies. With no choice facing the cunning singh sabhias such as veer singh, vajeer singh, tarlochan singh, surjan singh and charan singh, Gianiji was forced to sign the 'agreement', which he later very much regretted. After signing the 'agreement', Gianiji's over 30 years of Historical Research was litterally turned into garbage. The singh sabha folks, who have made the 'agreement' with Gianiji were, unsurprisingly, not living up to their promises. Most of Gianiji's research was edited. Lies and fabrications shamelessly added right before Gianiji's very own eyes and many works of Gianiji were never even published. Over 5,000 Rupees worth of irreplaceable Sikh Historical Literature such as 3 volumes of 'Twareekh Khalsa', 'Panth Parkash', and 'Patit Pawan', all ruined. For those singh sabhias who belonged to that shameless group of pathetic chaps bent on attacking The Truth, Gianiji had written the following:
Even though Gianiji tried to reason with them many times, the roguish singh sabha always turned a deaf ear to him. This, unfortunately, went on until Gianiji passed away. However, regardless of Gianiji's earthly body that has deteriorated, his works(those that survive singh sabha's temperaments) live on and are well accepted(not to mention respected) by historians as few of the most reliable sources of Sikh Historical Literatures available today. |
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