Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha

From SikhiPedia

Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha was a renowned Sikh scholar and author of several books on the Sikh religion. He was born on August 30, 1861 at the village of Sabaz Banera located close to Nabha. Bhai Kahn Singh was born to parents who were devout Sikhs. His father - Bhai Narain Singh was a farmer and a Granthi sevadar at Gurdwara Dera Baba Ajaypal Singh located in Nabha. His mother was Bibi Har Kaur, a Gursikh of high spiritual jeevan.

Besides Bhai Kahn Singh, the family had two other sons - Bhai Meeha Singh and Bhai Bishan Singh and one daughter - Bibi Kahn Kaur.

Education & Career

Education

Bhai Kahn Singh is classified as one of the most superior scholars of the Sikh religion and his work remain unmatched by research of any other. He did not attend any school of formal education however, it is important to mention that Bhai Kahn Singh mastered several languages by his own efforts. These languages include Punjabi, Hindi, Braj, Sanskrit, Urdu, English and Persian. He was also well-versed in music, medicine and weaponry.

He was a good shot and knew how to wield arms. He mastered the art from a dal of Nihang Singhs. He studied music from Mahant Gajja Singh, a famous musician of that time who taught him Dilruba and Sitar.

Publications

Bhai Kahn Singh is known most widely for the 'Gur Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh' (Encyclopedia of the Sikh Literature). Work on Mahan Kosh was started in 1912 and it was finally published after over 14 years of research in 1926. This encyclopedia still remains one of the most authentic and reliable source for Sikh research. The first publication was made possible with help of the the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala who made a noble donation of Rs. 51,000 to make the the very first Mahan Kosh a possibility. The Mahan Kosh is still in print and currently being translated into English.

Other Works

Other works of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha include:

Gurmat Martand

Gurmat Prabhakar

Gurmat Sudhakar

Khalsa Gazzete

Khalsa Akhbaar

Raj Dharam

Hum Hindu Nahin

Sad Parmarth

Gurchhand Diwakar

Gur Shabdalankar

Roop Deep Pingal

Anekarthak Kosh

Naam Mala Kosh

In addition, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha also assisted Mr. John Macauliffe, a famous historian, in his masterpiece "The Sikh Religion" which was first published in a series of six books.