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'''Hikaaitaan''' or '''Hikāyatān''' ({{lang-pa|ਹਿਕਾਇਤਾਂ}}) is a title given to the semi-legendary set of 11 tales (''[[hikayat]]''), composed in the [[Gurmukhi]] [[Persian language|Persian]] language (with a few words in the [[Majhi dialect|Majha dialect]]),<ref>Page 93, The A to Z of Sikhism, W. H. McLeod</ref> whose authorship is historically and traditionally attributed to [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. It is the last composition of the second scripture of Sikhs, [[Dasam Granth]], and is believed to be appended to [[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnamah]]—the letter to Mughal king [[Aurangzeb]].

Historically and traditionally, the set of tales was written at Dina, [[Punjab]], in 1704 AD.<ref>[http://archimedespress.co.uk/ Sri Dasam Granth Sahib:Q & A, Kamalroop Singh]</ref> In total, there are 11 tales—composed of 752 [[Couplet|couplets]]; however, historically, the first hikayat is [[Zafarnama (letter)|''Zafarnama'']], which brings the count to 12. Each tale begins with praise of the Almighty. This composition is present in all old manuscripts, including those of [[Bhai Mani Singh|Mani Singh]], Motibagh, Sangrur, and Patna manuscripts.<ref>Sikh Religion, Culture and Ethnicity, C. Shackle, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Gurharpal Singh</ref>

==Authorship and relation with Zafarnama==
As per early Sikh historical resources, Parchi Patshahi Dasvin (Sevadas, 1741)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/scriptures/eighteenth-century-literature/parchi |title=Parchi Patshahi Dasvin, Sevadas |access-date=2013-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227150728/http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/scriptures/eighteenth-century-literature/parchi |archive-date=2013-12-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Gurbilas Patshahi 10 (Kuir Singh, 1751),<ref>[http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/scriptures/eighteenth-century-literature/gurbilas-patshahi Gurbilas Patshahi 10, Kuir Singh]</ref> hikayats were composed by [[Guru Gobind Singh]] at Dina Kangar, Punjab and is part of [[Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnamah]] which was sent along with Zafarnama. Koer Singh believes that Guru Gobind Singh had written 12 hikayats in Zafarnama.<ref>ਫ਼ਰਨਾਮ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਜਗ ਜਾਨੈ। ਲਿਖੀ ਹਿਕਾਯਤ ਦਵਾਦਸ ਤਾ ਮੈ। (ਪੰਨਾ 199), Gurbilas Patshahi 10, Koer Singh</ref> In Sakhi 13, Sevadas mentioned that Guru Gobind Singh had written fables of many kings and also mentioned his own history in Zafarnama.<ref>ਸਾਖੀ ੧੩ : ਅਗੇ ਸਾਖੀ ਦਸਵੇਂ ਮਹਲ ਕੀ ਤੁਰੀਆਂ: ........ ਓਹ ਖਤ ਮੇ ਕੇਤੇ ਫਰਦ ਲੀਖੇ | ਕੇਤੀਆ ਰੁਬਾਈਆਂ , ਕੇਤੀਆ ਬਾਦਸ਼ਾਹ ਕੀਆਂ ਸਾਖੀਆਂ ਲਿਖੀਆਂ | ਅਰੁ ਕਛੁ ਆਪਣੀ ਹਕੀਕਤ ਭੀ ਲਿਖੀ | ........., Sakhi 134, Parchi Sevadas, Piara Singh Padam</ref>

The historical and traditional view is that all the Hikayats was composed by Guru Gobind Singh himself, to make Aurangzeb realize his folly in breaking oath of [[Quran]], improve his decision-making ability on the basis of facts, and to check the activities of different departments of his government. Pundit Narain Singh, who did an exogenesis of Dasam Granth, also had the same view. Many of these tales are the Persian translations of the narratives in [[Charitropakhyan]], which serves as an additional proof{{how?|date=January 2016}} of single authorship of both compositions.<ref name = "sikhisearch">[http://www.sikhisearch.blogspot.in/2013/01/relationship-between-hikayats-and.html sikhisearch.com]</ref>

A few modern scholars claim that hikayats are not part of Zafarnama, as in their viewpoint these tales do not show any relation with the letter.<ref>Dasam Granth,Dr. S.S. Kapoor</ref> and was written by court poets.<ref>Page 141, A book of Sikh studies, Gobind Singh Mansukhani</ref>

==Tales==
The following are tales and brief descriptions of the same:
#'''Tale of Guru Gobind Singh and King Aurangzeb-''' An autobiography of [[Guru Gobind Singh]] that includes philosophical, political, and satirical aspects.
#'''Tale of King Daleep and His Four Sons-''' Guru Gobind Singh Ji had lost his four sons and was a direct reference to that.
#'''Tale of King of China-''' Explaining the qualities of a perfect ruler, with political and philosophical aspects.
#'''Tale of King Subhat Singh and Bachitarmati-''' How women are equal to men and how the queen conquered areas from Rajasthan to Poland.
#'''Tale of King Sabal Singh'''
#'''Tale of King Chakrawati and Qazi Daughter'''
#'''Tale of King Darab and Queen of Rome-'''
#'''Tale of Princess of Bilistan'''
#'''Tale of King of France and His Wife'''
#'''Tale of King Mayindra and Advisor's Daughter'''
#'''Tale of King Sher Shah and Tycoon's Daughter'''
#'''Tale of Pathan Raheem Khan and His Wife'''

==Relationship with Sri Charitropakhyan==
The following is a list of Hikayats which are similar to narratives in ''[[Charitropakhyan]]''. In fact, many of these are the Persian translations of the narratives in Charitropakhyan.
* Hikayat 4 and Charitra 52
* Hikayat 5 and Charitra 267
* Hikayat 8 and Charitra 118
* Hikayat 9 and Charitra 290
* Hikayat 11 and Charitra 246

The similarity of narratives in Hikayats and Charitropakhyan serves as an additional proof of single authorship.<ref name="sikhisearch" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120721215521/http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=2272 Read Hikayatan online]
{{Sikhism-stub}}
[[Category:Sikh literature]]
[[Category:Indian literature]]
[[Category:Dasam Granth]]

Hikaaitaan - Revision history

2402:3A80:15F7:B09:906B:1A12:CFE4:75AF at 07:22, 31 March 2021