Giani Partap Singh: Difference between revisions

From SikhiWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
PARTAP SINGH. GIANI (1855-1920), SIKH schoolman and calligraphist, was born in 1855, the son of Bhai Bhag Singh Giani of LAHORE. As a young boy, Partap Singh learnt PUNJABI, Urdu and Sanskrit and studied Sikh Scriptures. In 1884, he accompanied Thakur Singh Sandhanvalia to England to read the GURU GRANTH Sahib to the deposed Sikh ruler of the Punjab, Maharaja Duleep Singh. Partap Singh remained in England for six months. On return to India, he worked as a GRANTHI, scripturereader, at Gurdwara Kaulsar in AMRITSAR. When Maharaja Duleep Singh was due to come back to India, Partap Singh accompanied Thakur Singh and his sons to Delhi with the intention of going to Bombay to receive the Maharaja. On hearing the news of Duleep Singh`s detention at Aden, Partap Singh returned to Amritsar while Thakur Singh proceeded to Pondicherry. At Amritsar, Partap Singh worked secretly for Thakur Singh distributing his proDuleep Singh letters among his confidants and friends. Towards the close of 1887, he was arrested at Amritsar and sent to Lahore jail. He escaped from prison and, turning a sddhu, travelled to different parts of the country in the company of holy men.
'''Giani Partap Singh Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Amritsar'''
Giani Partap Singh (1904-1984) preacher, Philosopher, journalist and author, was son of Bhai Makkhan Singh Sasan and Mata Mathura Devi of the village of Nara in Rawalpindi district of the Punjab (now in Pakistan). Born on 3 January 1904, he learnt Gurumukhi and scripture reading at home and passed his middle school examination from the village school in 1918. he read with deep interest literature brought out under the influence of the Singh Sabah movement and joined the Khalsa Upadeshak (Missionary) College, Gujranwala, from where he passed in 1922, the Giani examination of the Punjab University, Lahore.  
In 1923, he was engaged by Shiromini Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee as a preacher. Soon afterwards he was arrested for making a rebellious speech and was sentenced to one and half year's imprisonment. Giani Partap Singh served as assistant Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht, Amritsar, from 1938-48 and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib from 1948-52. He was then Appointed JATHEDAR OF SRI AKAL TAKHT, AMRITSAR, from which position he retired in 1955.


 
In 1956, Giani Partap Singh floated a monthly journal, "THE GIAN AMRIT', which he himself published, edited until December 1981 and the he handed over to Dr Man Singh of Nirankari Durbar. Giani ji was also closely associated with Pingalwara mission of Amritsar. He wrote over two dozen valuable books with historical themes. Some of his better known books were Gurmat Lecture (1944), Itihasak lecture 9two volumes) 1945, Sansar da Darmik Itihas(1948), Akali Lahir da Itihas(1951), Naqli Nirankari(1967),Kuka Gurdom(1972), Amritsar Sifti da Gahar,W LAhir da Mahan Neta(1976).  
During one such journey he happened to meet Max Arthur Macauliffe, then engaged in translating the Sikh Scripture into English. Macauliffe was impressed by his learning and wished that he would assist him in his work. Partap Singh, who had introduced himself under the assumed name of Bava Tshar Das, revealed thereupon his identity to him. Macauliffe interceded with the government on his behalf and had the warrants of his arrest withdrawn in January 1889. Partap Singh settled down in a house near Baba Atal, in Amritsar, and for several years performed kathd expounding the Holy Writ in front of the Akal BUNGA. A fine calligraphist, Partap Singh transcribed volumes of the Guru Granth Sahib, the most famous of them being the one still preserved in the Golden Temple. This copy, completed in 1908, is written in very bold GURMUKHI characters on largesized 25" X 23" sheets of Kashmiri paper and is installed on the first floor of the Golden Temple where it is used for the recital of akhand paths or unbroken readings of the Guru Granth Sahib. The entire volume, 1527 leaves, i.e. 3054 pages, with double borders in red, blue and yellow, is written in Giani Partap Singh`s hand and is known as Vadde BabaJi (largesized Holy Volume). The name of the scribe is mentioned at the end of the text, on a separate sheet. Volumes of the Holy Books transcribed by Giani Partap Singh are also preserved at Baba Atal and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded. About 1901, Partap Singh joined the Ailchison (Chiefs) College, Lahore, as granthiand instructor. According to Punjabi Bhain, August 1916 issue, he was the first secretary of the Amritsar Singh Sabha. He was also editor of the earliest published Sikh newspaper AkdIPrakdsh, which made its first appearance on 21 Har, 407 Nanakshahi AD 1876. He is also said to have translated into Punjabi Major Evans Bell`s book. The Annexation of the Punjab and Maharaja Duleep Singh. Partap Singh died at Lahore on 20 July 1920.
The language department of the Punjab Government honored Giani Partap Singh ji in 1981 for his contribution to Punjabi journalism. He was also honored by Kendrya Sri Guru Singh Sabah, Delhi for his esteem services to Sikh religion. He also was honored by Tamra Patra for his valuable contribution in Freedom fight for India. On 10 May 1984 Giani ji was assassinated in his home by so called Sikh militants for resisting Sant Bhindranwala for preserving sanctinity of Sri Harimandir Sahib, He was then 82 years and we lost a valuable Jewel of Punjab, a Bram Giani.
 
==References==
1. Punjabi Khain. August 1916
 
2. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909
 
[[Category:Sikh Scholars]]

Revision as of 07:39, 5 September 2007

Giani Partap Singh Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Amritsar Giani Partap Singh (1904-1984) preacher, Philosopher, journalist and author, was son of Bhai Makkhan Singh Sasan and Mata Mathura Devi of the village of Nara in Rawalpindi district of the Punjab (now in Pakistan). Born on 3 January 1904, he learnt Gurumukhi and scripture reading at home and passed his middle school examination from the village school in 1918. he read with deep interest literature brought out under the influence of the Singh Sabah movement and joined the Khalsa Upadeshak (Missionary) College, Gujranwala, from where he passed in 1922, the Giani examination of the Punjab University, Lahore. In 1923, he was engaged by Shiromini Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee as a preacher. Soon afterwards he was arrested for making a rebellious speech and was sentenced to one and half year's imprisonment. Giani Partap Singh served as assistant Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht, Amritsar, from 1938-48 and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib from 1948-52. He was then Appointed JATHEDAR OF SRI AKAL TAKHT, AMRITSAR, from which position he retired in 1955.

In 1956, Giani Partap Singh floated a monthly journal, "THE GIAN AMRIT', which he himself published, edited until December 1981 and the he handed over to Dr Man Singh of Nirankari Durbar. Giani ji was also closely associated with Pingalwara mission of Amritsar. He wrote over two dozen valuable books with historical themes. Some of his better known books were Gurmat Lecture (1944), Itihasak lecture 9two volumes) 1945, Sansar da Darmik Itihas(1948), Akali Lahir da Itihas(1951), Naqli Nirankari(1967),Kuka Gurdom(1972), Amritsar Sifti da Gahar,W LAhir da Mahan Neta(1976). The language department of the Punjab Government honored Giani Partap Singh ji in 1981 for his contribution to Punjabi journalism. He was also honored by Kendrya Sri Guru Singh Sabah, Delhi for his esteem services to Sikh religion. He also was honored by Tamra Patra for his valuable contribution in Freedom fight for India. On 10 May 1984 Giani ji was assassinated in his home by so called Sikh militants for resisting Sant Bhindranwala for preserving sanctinity of Sri Harimandir Sahib, He was then 82 years and we lost a valuable Jewel of Punjab, a Bram Giani.

Retrieved from "https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Giani_Partap_Singh&oldid=40138"