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'''Bhai Santokh Singh''', the noted author of six  works - [[Naam Kosh]], [[Guru Nanak Parkash]], [[Garb Ganjni Teeka]] (teeka means translation and explanation of a work), [[Balmik Ramayan]], [[Atam Purayan Teeka]] and his magnum opus, Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth aka [[Suraj Parkash]], was born on 8 October 1787. He was  the son of  Bhai Deva Singh  and Mata Rajadi, professional cloth printers of Nurdin village, also known as Sarai Nurdin, 7 km northwest of  [[Tarn Taran]]  in  [[Amritsar]]  district of the Punjab. 
{{p|File:Santokhsinghscholar-m2.jpg|'''Bhai Santokh Singh'''}}


His father, though poor, was educated and well versed in the sacred texts. He sent his son, after preliminary education at home, to  [[Amritsar]] where he became a pupil of Giani Sant Singh  (1768 - 1832), a renowned  man  of letters and custodian of Sri Darbar Sahib. After having studied Sikh Scripture and history, Sanskrit language and literature, poetics, philosophy and mythology at Amritsar for about 15 years, Santokh  Singh moved to Buna, an old town on the right bank of the Yamuna in the present [[Yamuna Nagar]] district of [[Haryana]], some time before 1813. There he established himself as a writer, poet, and preacher. His patron was  Dial Singh, also from a clothmakers' family and an old acquaintance of the poet's father, who was serving as an army officer under Sardar Hari Singh, chief of Buna. Here Santokh Singh wrote his earlier works, Nam Kosh, a versified Hindi translation of Amar Kosa, the famous Sanskrit dictionary, (completed in 1821), and Sri Guru Nanak Prakash, an epic poem consisting of 9,700 verses dealing with the life and teachings of  Guru Nanak (completed in 1823).
'''Bhai Santokh Singh''', ([[8 October]] [[1787]] - [[19 October]] [[1843]]) the noted author of six works - [[Naam Kosh]], [[Guru Nanak Parkash]], [[Garb Ganjni Teeka]] (teeka means translation and explanation of a work), [[Balmik Ramayan]], [[Atam Purayan Teeka]] and his magnum opus, Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth aka [[Suraj Parkash]], was born on 8 October 1787. He was the son of Bhai Deva Singh  and Mata Rajadi, professional cloth printers of Nurdin village, also known as Sarai Nurdin, 7 km northwest of  [[Tarn Taran]] in  [[Amritsar]]  district of the Punjab.  


He had attained such repute as a poet and scholar that  Bhai Udai Singh,  chief of  [[Kaithal]],  invited him in 1825 to join his court. Santokh  Singh  is said to have spent some time at  [[Patiala]] also as an employee of Maharaja  Karam Singh  before going to Kaithal. During his 18 year span at  Kaithal,  now a district town in [[Haryana]], he wrote  Garab Ganjani Tika  (1829), an exhaustive philosophical commentary in Hindi prose on  Guru  Nanak's [[japji|Japu]], along with a critical appreciation of its poetic features (the work was meant to be a rejoinder to Anandghana's  tika of the Japu); Valmiki Ramayana (1834), a versified translation of the epic in chaste and refined Braj Bhasa; a translation of Atma Purana in Sadhukari prose (date not known); and his mangum opus, Sri Gur Pratap Suryodaya, popularly known as [[Gur Pratap Suraj Granth]], a voluminous history of the Gurus, written in Braj Bhasa, consisting of 51,820 verses written during 1835-43.  
==Background and Early life==
His father,  though poor, was educated and well versed in the sacred texts. He sent his son, after preliminary education at home, to  [[Amritsar]]  where he became a pupil of Giani Sant Singh  (1768 - 1832), a renowned  man  of letters and custodian of Sri Darbar  Sahib.
 
After having studied [[Sikh Scripture]] and history, [[Sanskrit]] language and literature, poetics, philosophy and mythology at Amritsar for about 15 years, Santokh  Singh moved to Buna, an old town on the right bank of the Yamuna in the present Yamuna Nagar district of [[Haryana]], some time before 1813.
 
 
==Writer. poet and preacher==
 
There he  established himself  as a writer, poet, and preacher. His patron was  Dial Singh,  also from a clothmakers' family and an old acquaintance of the poet's father, who was serving as an army officer under Sardar Hari Singh,  chief of Buna.
 
Here Santokh  Singh  wrote his earlier works, Nam Kosh, a versified Hindi translation of Amar Kosa, the famous Sanskrit dictionary, (completed in 1821), and Sri  Guru Nanak Prakash, an epic poem consisting of 9,700 verses dealing with the life and teachings of  Guru Nanak  (completed in 1823).
 
He had attained such repute as a poet and scholar that  Bhai Udai Singh,  chief of  Kaithal,  invited him in 1825 to join his court. Santokh  Singh  is said to have spent some time at  [[Patiala]] also as an employee of Maharaja  Karam Singh  before going to Kaithal.  
 
==Spends 18 years in Haryana==
 
During his 18 year span at  Kaithal,  now a district town in [[Haryana]], he wrote  Garab Ganjani Tika  (1829), an exhaustive philosophical commentary in Hindi prose on  Guru  Nanak's [[japji]], along with a critical appreciation of its poetic features (the work was meant to be a rejoinder to Anandghana's  tika of the Japu); Valmiki Ramayana (1834), a versified translation of the epic in chaste and refined Braj Bhasa; a translation of Atma Purana in Sadhukari prose (date not known); and his mangum opus, Sri Gur Pratap Suryodaya, popularly known as [[Gur Pratap Suraj Granth]], a voluminous history of the Gurus, written in Braj Bhasa, consisting of 51,820 verses written during 1835-43.  
 
==A family man with a burning flare==


Bhai  Santokh  Singh  was married during his stay at Buna to Bibi Ram Kaur  of [[Jagadhri]]. Five sons and three daughters were born to them. Some of his descendants are now living at  Patiala  and at Kaithal. The poet died at  Kaithal on 19 October 1843, soon after the completion of his [[Gur Pratap Suraj Granth]].  
Bhai  Santokh  Singh  was married during his stay at Buna to Bibi Ram Kaur  of [[Jagadhri]]. Five sons and three daughters were born to them. Some of his descendants are now living at  Patiala  and at Kaithal. The poet died at  Kaithal on 19 October 1843, soon after the completion of his [[Gur Pratap Suraj Granth]].  


A shrine in honour of his memory was constructed at his native place, Sarai Nurdin, during the 1950's.
A shrine in honour of his memory was constructed at his native place, Sarai Nurdin, during the 1950's.
{{famous}}


[[Category: Sikh Scholars]]
[[Category: Sikh Scholars]]
[[Category: Mystics and scholars]]
[[Category: Mystics and scholars]]

Revision as of 20:54, 29 September 2009

Bhai Santokh Singh

Bhai Santokh Singh, (8 October 1787 - 19 October 1843) the noted author of six works - Naam Kosh, Guru Nanak Parkash, Garb Ganjni Teeka (teeka means translation and explanation of a work), Balmik Ramayan, Atam Purayan Teeka and his magnum opus, Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth aka Suraj Parkash, was born on 8 October 1787. He was the son of Bhai Deva Singh and Mata Rajadi, professional cloth printers of Nurdin village, also known as Sarai Nurdin, 7 km northwest of Tarn Taran in Amritsar district of the Punjab.

Background and Early life

His father, though poor, was educated and well versed in the sacred texts. He sent his son, after preliminary education at home, to Amritsar where he became a pupil of Giani Sant Singh (1768 - 1832), a renowned man of letters and custodian of Sri Darbar Sahib.

After having studied Sikh Scripture and history, Sanskrit language and literature, poetics, philosophy and mythology at Amritsar for about 15 years, Santokh Singh moved to Buna, an old town on the right bank of the Yamuna in the present Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana, some time before 1813.


Writer. poet and preacher

There he established himself as a writer, poet, and preacher. His patron was Dial Singh, also from a clothmakers' family and an old acquaintance of the poet's father, who was serving as an army officer under Sardar Hari Singh, chief of Buna.

Here Santokh Singh wrote his earlier works, Nam Kosh, a versified Hindi translation of Amar Kosa, the famous Sanskrit dictionary, (completed in 1821), and Sri Guru Nanak Prakash, an epic poem consisting of 9,700 verses dealing with the life and teachings of Guru Nanak (completed in 1823).

He had attained such repute as a poet and scholar that Bhai Udai Singh, chief of Kaithal, invited him in 1825 to join his court. Santokh Singh is said to have spent some time at Patiala also as an employee of Maharaja Karam Singh before going to Kaithal.

Spends 18 years in Haryana

During his 18 year span at Kaithal, now a district town in Haryana, he wrote Garab Ganjani Tika (1829), an exhaustive philosophical commentary in Hindi prose on Guru Nanak's japji, along with a critical appreciation of its poetic features (the work was meant to be a rejoinder to Anandghana's tika of the Japu); Valmiki Ramayana (1834), a versified translation of the epic in chaste and refined Braj Bhasa; a translation of Atma Purana in Sadhukari prose (date not known); and his mangum opus, Sri Gur Pratap Suryodaya, popularly known as Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, a voluminous history of the Gurus, written in Braj Bhasa, consisting of 51,820 verses written during 1835-43.

A family man with a burning flare

Bhai Santokh Singh was married during his stay at Buna to Bibi Ram Kaur of Jagadhri. Five sons and three daughters were born to them. Some of his descendants are now living at Patiala and at Kaithal. The poet died at Kaithal on 19 October 1843, soon after the completion of his Gur Pratap Suraj Granth.

A shrine in honour of his memory was constructed at his native place, Sarai Nurdin, during the 1950's.