Opinions of Eminent Scholars & High Personages about Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha
Sardar Kahan Singh of Nabha has spent 14 years in the compilation of a monumental
work in Punjabi, called the Gurshabd Ratnakar. This work is in fact an Encyclopaedia
of Sikh Religion, and a Dictionary of Sikh Literature, Incidentally it would be
of value as a Dictionary of the Punjabi and Hindi languages, although this is not
its main object.
Derivations have been given and meanings of words, illustrated with quotations,
drawn from all important works of Sikh Literature. Difficult quotations are accompanied
by translation in modern Punjabi. A work of this kind has long been needed for the
proper study of Sikh Literature. The author is to be congratulated on the completion
of his task. In my opinion the undertaking is worthy of all possible assistance
from the Government, the Sikh States and general public.
A. C. WOOLNER,
Dean of University Instruction and Principal
Orientel College, Lahore.
I have read some portions of the manuscript copy of Sardar Kahan Singh's "Encyclopaedia
of Sikh Literature" and have been greatly struck with most arduous labour and attention
which have been bestowed upon its compilation. Explanations of Persian and Arabic
words have been given with scrupulous care and attention. Comments on technical
and theological terms belonging to other religions have been made in a liberal spirit
without showing the least sign of sectarianism.
In other countries literary works of such dimensions are undertaken by a group of
scholars working together, but Sardar Kahan Singh has shouldered the whole burden
unaided and produced a Thesaurus of learning after a constant labour of 14 years,
He has thereby done a great service to the Punjabi language and literature.
(DIWAN) TEK CHAND, I.C.S., M.R.A.S,
COMMISSIONER, AMBALA DIVISION
Sardar Kahan Singh of Nabha is a great scholar of Sikh Literature and author of
some works on Sikhism, Rhetoric and Prosody. Now he has prepared a comprehensive
Dictionary of Guru Granth Sahib and other sacred and historical books of the Sikhs.
This is a stupendous work in many volumes, the result of 14 years strenuous labour
and considerable expense.
I am very favourably impressed with the lucidity and thoroughness with which each
word has been treated. It can truly be styled “The Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature.”
If a word has been used in twenty senses in different books, all those meanings
are given with quotations from and references to the books concerned. In defining
a locality, the legend or historical incident connected with it is related and its
exact geographical position described. In case of persons mentioned, a short biographical
sketch of each is given. Similarly terms connected with various arts and other branches
of human knowledge are fully dealt with. It embodies more than seven thousand Arabic
and Persian words. To ensure their correct pronunciation, they are also given in
the Persian characters. In like manner, Sanskrit words are also given in the Devnagri
characters.
This work will be useful not only to the Sikhs, for whom it is of course primarily
intended, but also to all Punjabis in general and to the students of Comparative
Religion and Theology in particular.
(BHAI) BISHAN DAS PURI
M.A.. P.F. S.
Ex- Principal, Government College. Dharmsala.
and Reporter on Books, Education Department, Punjab
My friend, Bhai Kahan Singh of Nabha, has done a remarkable service to the Sikh
literary world in having completed his work the "Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature"
after so many years of hard and costly literary labour. I wish the book would now
have the appreciative reception it so richly deserves.
(BHAI) VIR SINGH.
The Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature is a store-house of information and gathered
harvest of years of incessant labour. Sardar Kahan Singh has rendered a service
not only to the Sikhs but to the Punjabi language. I admire his devotion, his deep
studies and his research.
(SIR) JOGENDRA SINGH.
Your work, on which you have spent 14 years of your strenuous labour, is of monumental
importance to the Punjabi literature. It deals with all the words used in the Sikh
Scriptures and the books of historical importance of the Sikhs in great detail full
of instructive information, and will be of very great help and to the students of
the Punjabi literature.
(S. B. SIR) SUNDAR SINGH MAJITHIA.
I was very much impressed with Sardar Kahan Singh's Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature.
Sardar Sahib is well-known as a great scholar of Sikh Literature. Besides the references
on Sikhism his Encyclopaedia gives information of Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit words
as well. I am of opinion that this work of his will be useful not only to the Sikh
community but also to all Punjabis in general.
(RAJA SIR) HARNAM SINGH
AHLUWALIA.<
Sardar Kahan Singh has rendered a great service not only to the Sikhs but to Punjabi
language by preparing “Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature”.
I was very much impressed with meanings and explanations given for each word, its
synonyms and the various senses in which it can be used, at the same time supporting
it with quotations from different books of authority. This work, I am sure, will
be a boon not only to the Sikhs but to all Punjabis and the students of Comparative
Religion, Theology and Poetry. The author deserves every encouragement at the hands
of the Princes and the Government.
The author deserves sincere congratulations for his high achievement.
(RAJA SIR) DALJIT SINGH
Of Kapurthala.
Sardar Kahan Singh Ji is one of the most well-known authors and a great scholar
of Sikh literature. Mr. Macauliffe has said, in his Preface to the Sikh Religion
(Vol. I, page xxix), “For literary assistance I must acknowledge my indebtedness
to Sardar Kahan Singh of Nabha, one of the greatest scholars and most distinguished
authors among the Sikhs.” His recent compilation, a comprehensive “Encyclopeadia
of Sikh Literature” comes topping over his previous works on Sikhism, Prosody, Rhetoric,
etc.
BHAI ARJAN SINGH,
O.B.E., S.B.,
Rais of Bagarian.
Sardar Kahan Singh gives us an encyclopaedia of information, historical, literary,
philosophical, that opens up the Sikh religious literature and tradition to all
future scholars and orientalists as it has never been done before, and the work
would be found to be indispensable for all future study of subject.
(PROFESSOR) PURAN SINGH
FC.S.
Sardar Kahan Singh is a renowned scholar of Sikh literature and Sanskrit. For several
years past he has been engaged in compiling a comprehensive Dictionary of religious
as well as famous historical works on Sikhism. The result is a very valuable book
in many volumes which he has been pleased to style “The Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature.”
The book is worthy of the great scholar in every way and will benefit not only the
Sikhs but all Punjabis who are interested in the study of their own language.
(BHAI) JODH SINGH M.A.,
Professor of Divinity.
Sardar Kahan Singh is an eminent scholar of Punjabi Literature, and is one of the
most distinguished authors among the Sikhs. He has now prepared the "Encyclopaedia
of Sikh Literature" after a strenuouS and continuous labour 15 years. It is a really
Herculean task. It deals with almost all the words used in the Sikh Scriptures and
also terms of various arts and other branches of human knowledge. I confidently
.hope that this unique work will supply the great want felt by the students of Punjabi
Literature and Comparative Theology.
I trust all the Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular will highly appreciate
this monumental work.
(BHAI) BEANT SINGH, GIANI; B.A
Professor, Orientel College, Lahore.
Sardar Kahan Singh has accomplished this work after many years' constent labour
and considerable expense. I have looked through many pages of this book, and am
greatly impressed with the lucidity and thoroughness with which each word has been
treated. The author deserves every encouragement at the hands of the public, especially
the Sikhs and the Government.
TIKKA SODHI RAMNARAYAN SINGH
Of Anandpur.
The Encyclopaedia of Sikh Literature is a scholarly work of great worth, No pains
have been spared to make the work useful and easy of reference. The Sikhs in particular
and the public in general will find the work a valuable addition to the existing
Sikh Literature. The author deserves encouragement from the public and the Government.
(SARDAR BAHADUR) DIWAN SINGH DUGGAL,
Civil Surgeon.
Compiled by: Ravinder Kaur Ravi
Lecturer, Music Department,
Punjabi University, Patiala