Kahn Singh Nabha

2023-07-20T15:29:58Z

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{{Infobox writer
| name = Kahn Singh Nabha
| image = Nabha.jpg
| alt = Kahn Singh
| caption = Kahn Singh Nabha
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1861|08|30|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Sabaz Banera, [[Patiala State]], [[British India]]<ref name="Singh">{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Satyindra |editor1-last=Siṅgh |editor1-first=Harbans |title=Kāhn Siṅgh, of Nābhā |date=1995 |publisher=Punjab University, Patiala, 2011 |location=Patiala, Punjab, India |isbn=9788173805301 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfSikhism-VolumeIiE-l/page/n423 409]-410 |edition=3rd |url=https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfSikhism-VolumeIiE-l |accessdate=18 January 2020 |language=English}}</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1938|11|23|1861|08|30|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Nabha]], [[Nabha State]], [[British India]]
| nationality = [[British India]]n
| occupation = [[Encyclopedist]], [[Lexicographer]]
| notableworks = *[[Mahan Kosh|Gur Shabad Ratnakar – Mahaan Kosh]] (1930)
*[[Ham Hindu Nahin|Ham Hindu Naahi]] (1887)
*Raj Dharam
*Gurmat Parbhakar (1898)
*Gurmat Sudhakar (1899)
| website =
}}{{Sikh literature}}

'''Kahn Singh Nabha''' (30 August 1861 – 24 November 1938) was a [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] [[Sikh]] scholar, writer, anthologist,<ref name=datta/> [[lexicographer]], and [[encyclopedist]].<ref name="Singh"/> His most influential work, [[Mahan Kosh]], inspired generations of scholars after him.<ref name="Singh"/> He also played a role in the [[Singh Sabha movement]].

==Biography==
He was born into a Sikh family to Narain Singh and Har Kaur at the village of Sabaz Banera, located in what was then [[Patiala State]].<ref name="Singh"/> His father, Narain Singh succeeded to the charge of [[Gurdwara]] Dera Baba Ajaypal Singh at [[Nabha]], after the death of his grandfather Sarup Singh in 1861.<ref name="Singh"/> Kahn Singh was the eldest of three brothers (the other two being Meehan Singh and Bishan Singh) and one sister (Kahn Kaur).<ref name="Singh"/>

He did not attend any school or college for formal education, but studied several branches of learning on his own. By the age of 10 he was able to quote freely from the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] and [[Dasam Granth]].<ref name="Singh"/> In [[Nabha]], he studied [[Sanskrit]] classics with local [[pandit]]s and studied under the famous [[musicologist]] Mahant Gajja Singh.<ref name="Singh"/> In [[Delhi]], he studied [[Persian language|Persian]] with [[Mawlawi (Islamic title)|Mawlawi]]s.<ref name="Singh"/>

In 1883, he continued his study of [[Persian language|Persian]] for two years and assisted Gurmukh Singh, a leader in the [[Singh Sabha Movement]], in publishing ''Sudhararak''.<ref name="Singh"/> In 1887, he was appointed the tutor to [[Ripudaman Singh]], [[heir apparent]] to [[Nabha State]]. He continued to serve [[Nabha State]] in several capacities, from Deputy Commissioner in 1896,<ref name=datta/> to Foreign Minister in 1911,<ref name=datta/> to the personal secretary of [[Hira Singh of Nabha|Maharaja Hira Singh]],<ref name="Singh"/> to judge of the High Court in 1912.<ref name=datta>{{cite book |last=Kaur |first=Prabhjot |editor1-last=Datta |editor1-first=Amaresh |title=Bhai Kahn Singh |date=1987 |publisher=Aahitya Akademi, 1987 |location=New Delhi, India |isbn=9788126018031 |pages=428–429 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA428 |accessdate=15 February 2020 |language=English}}</ref> Between 1915-17, he served the neighbouring [[Patiala State]].<ref name="Singh"/>

In 1885, he had a chance meeting with [[Max Arthur Macauliffe]] which led to a lifelong friendship as well as scholarly collaboration between the two. When Max Arthur Macauliffe was researching his six volume work entitled "The Sikh Religion", Macauliffe depended a great deal on his advice and guidance in the work he was then doing on [[Sikh scriptures]] and the history of early Sikhism;<ref name="Singh"/> such was his admiration for Kahn Singh that when it was published by the [[Clarendon Press]] Kahn Singh was assigned the copyright of the work.<ref name="Singh"/>

==Works and compositions==
His books ''Gurmat Prabhakar'' and ''Gurmat Sudhakar'' are the standard guide books for understanding [[Sikhism]]. His work, ''[[Mahan Kosh]]'' (known as the Sikh encyclopedia), is his [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]]. He published magazine ''Khalsa Gazette'' and is also regarded as one of the founders of the weekly newspaper, ''[[Khalsa Akhbar Lahore|Khalsa Akhbar]]''. Works from the period 1882–1911 include:
*''Raj Dharam'' – This was his first book written at a time when he was serving with Maharaja Hira Singh. This was published and distributed on government expense.
*''[[Ham Hindu Nahin]] (We are not Hindus)'' – First published in 1898,<ref name="hhn">{{cite book|title=ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨਹੀਂ|publisher=Singh Brothers|author=Nabha, Kahn Singh|authorlink=Kahn Singh Nabha|year=2011|location=[[Amritsar]]|page=128|isbn=978-81-7205-051-1|language=Punjabi}}</ref><ref name="se">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/literature-in-the-singh-sabha-movement/ham-hindu-nahin|title=Ham Hindu Nahin|publisher=TheSikhEncyclopedia.com|accessdate=24 July 2012}}</ref> the book is a critique on the distinction of the [[Sikhism|Sikh]] religion and identity. Bhai Kahn Singh stressed upon the distinct identity of the Sikhs. Initially published in Hindi, it was later translated into [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]].
*''Gurmat Prabhakar'' (1898)<ref name=datta/> – Studded with beautiful examples from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, this book condemns the superstitions prevailing in the Indian society. Difficult words have been made simpler through special commentaries at different places in the book.
*''Gurmat Sudhakar'' (1898)<ref name=datta/> – this book contains evidences from [[Dasam Granth]], Works of [[Bhai Gurdas]], Janam Sakhi [[Guru Nanak]], Gurbilas, Guru Nanak Prakash, Suraj Prakash, Panth Prakash, Sau Sakhi (Guru Ratan Mala), Rehatnama, etc. supporting the various practices and beliefs of [[Sikhism]].
*''Sad Parmarth''
*''Gurchand Divakar'' (1924)<ref name=datta/>
*''Gur Shabdalankar'' (1924)<ref name=datta/>
*''Roop Deep Pingal'' (ed., 1925)<ref name=datta/>
*''Gur Shabad Ratnakar [[Mahan Kosh]]'' (1930)<ref name=datta/> – Also called the ''Encyclopedia of Sikh Literature'',<ref name=datta/> this monumental work was started in 1912 and completed in 1926 after 14 years of research and painstaking effort and finally published by the princely state of [[Patiala]]. The state spent Rs.51,000 on its publishing. At 3338 pages, the book was divided into four volumes and was priced at Rs.110. It still serves as one of the most reliable reference material for research on Sikh faith and beliefs and also on the [[Punjabi culture]].
*''Gurmat Martand'' (published posthumously in 1962)<ref name=datta/> – A two-volume work which incorporated the earlier published works ''Gurmat Prabhakar'' and ''Gurmat Sudhakar'' as well as an unpublished work, ''Gur Gira Kasauti'',<ref name=datta/> from 1899. This work defines and codifies Sikh theological concepts and practice with the help of references called from authentic sources.<ref name=datta/>
*''Gur Mahima Sangraha'' – This book contained the biographies and important works reflecting the Sikh thought of some of the most famous Punjabi and Hindi poets. It is considered as a very important historical document and still remains unpublished.
*''Anekarthak Kosh'' (ed., 1925)<ref name=datta/>
*''Naam Mala kosh'' (ed., 1938)<ref name=datta/>

==See also==
* [[Max Arthur Macauliffe]]
* [[Singh Sabha Movement]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Kahn Singh Nabha}}
*[http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/personalities/literature/kahn.html Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha]
*[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041121/spectrum/main3.htm Punjabi’s pioneering encyclopaedist] – on The Sunday Tribune, India.
*[http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/heritage/Maharajas%20of%20Punjab/Nabha/nabha.htm Nabha]
*[http://www.hvcfoundations.com/ Historical documents on Kahn Singh Nabha]

{{Sikhism}}
{{Modern Sikh writers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nabha, Bhai Kahn Singh}}
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]
[[Category:Sikh writers]]
[[Category:Scholars of Sikhism]]
[[Category:1861 births]]
[[Category:1938 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Indian encyclopedists]]
[[Category:Singh Sabha movement]]

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Kahn Singh Nabha