Celebrating the Life & Works of Gyani Brahma Singh ‘Brahma’
With the blessings of Akal Purakh, The Sikh Digital Library team is pleased to announce the online publication of a portion of Gyani Brahma Singh Brahma’s writings on his 106th birth anniversary. We would also like to thank Gyaniji’s family for giving us the opportunity to digitize his works and provide them to the online Sangat. These writings are now available free of cost, 24*7, to anyone, anywhere across the globe. You can now read them online, print/ download them for future reference or forward them to your friends.
In case you have more references about Gyaniji’s writings, please send us an email to SikhDigitalLibrary@gmail.com so that the missing ones can also be published online in due course of time.
Guru Fateh,
Sikh Digital Library.
Profile
Gyani Brahma Singh (1906-1995)
Gyani Brahma Singh ‘Brahma’, born 12 September 1906 in village Ibban Khurd, District Amritsar, Panjab, received his early education in nearby Garwali village school followed by D.A.V. High School, Amritsar. He completed his Intermediate from Khalsa College, Amritsar, and received his B.A. from Panjab University, Lahore. He began his career as a Storekeeper in the Western Railways (formerly Bombay Baroda and Central Indian Railway), Ajmer, Rajasthan, in 1929 where he formally settled and raised his family. He married Harbans Kaur in 1927. Their children, two sons and three daughters are settled here and abroad: Mrs. Balwant Kaur Shergill, B.A, B.Ed., London, England (deceased 2008); Jaswant Singh Bhorjee, Ph.D., United States; Mrs. Phulwant Kaur Mankoo, M.A, B.Ed., Mohali, Panjab; Mrs. Taranjit Kaur Virdi, M.Sc., Ajmer, Rajasthan; and Paramjit Singh Bhorjee, M.Tech., Bangalore.
After retiring from the Western Railways as a Gazetted Officer in 1961, he devoted his time fully to the study and reflection on Gurbani, Vedantas, Budhism, and Islam, in particular Sufism. All through his life he remained actively engaged in advancement of Sikhism, its history and way of life, and served in various responsible positions in Sikh Religious and Social Societies in Ajmer and across Rajasthan. Gyaniji died peacefully on 6 February 1995 in Ajmer. His spouse Sardarni Harbans Kaur predeceased him on 11 November 1987.
From a very early age Brahma Singh showed a spiritual bent with a deep interest in ‘Namdhari’ spiritual meditation, which led to his devotion for study and reflection of the major religions of India with emphasis on Sikh Gurmat and Gurbani Vichaar. He fully immersed himself in his spiritual leanings and scholarly pursuits after retirement. His scholarship resulted in publication of four books, and a large number of articles (prose and verse) on Sikh history, Gurbani, Gurmat, and Sufism in Punjabi, English, Urdu and Hindi which appeared in literary and scholarly journals.
His writings also reflected his effort to convey a unified message of communal harmony and brotherhood among sister faiths which he deeply felt was missing in the current social order of the country and its people. His anthology of poems ‘Gallan Paar Dian’ (The Things Beyond), published in 1987, was recognized by the Punjabi Academy of the Delhi Administration, and by scholars and academic institutions for its intrinsic meaning and deep approach to Gurmat Vichaar, and for combining traditional folk motifs with the music of words.
His last years were spent studying and writing on the mission and life of Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore (now in Pakistan), a Qadri Sufi Saint, who laid the foundational brick of Harimandir Sahib (The Golden Temple), the sacred shrine of Sikhs, in Amritsar in 1588. His study of Sufism culminated in publication of his final book ‘Hazrat Mian Mir and The Sufi Tradition’ by the Punjabi University Press in 1994. It has been well received by eminent scholars of Sikh and Islamic histories and traditions.
Gyaniji was honored by ‘Sanman Patras (Saropas)’, and letters of commendation for his literary contributions, and his reflections on Sufism. Notably, Saropas from the Gurdwara Board, Takhat Sachkhand, Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, on publication of the 100th (1983) and the 200th (1991) issues of the Sach Khand Patra, a bilingual weekly, of the Sach Khand Hazoor Sahib, for his contributions in the filed of Sikh history and Gurmat Vichaar. And by letters of commendation for his scriptural writings, in prose and verse, on Gurbani Vichaar, Sufism, and for his anthology of poems, from such luminaries as Sardar Khushwant Singh, historian, journalist, editor, and Ex-MP (Rajya Sabha), New Delhi; Dr. Harnam Singh Shan, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Dr. S.S. Kohli, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Sardar Shamsher Singh Ashok, scholar and historian, Sangrur; Shri B.N. Pande, MP (Rajya Sabha) and Ex-Governor, Orissa; Khwaja Muhammed Ahmad, Hon. General Secretary, (endorsed by Mir Akbar Ali Khan, President, and Ex-Governor of Orissa), Abdul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute, Hyderabad; Shri S.A. Ali, Jamia Hamdard, and Indian Institute of Islamic Studies, New Delhi; and His Holiness The Dalai Lama with presentation of a ‘Scarf’ in 1992 as a symbol of His friendship and in appreciation of his scholarship and religious thought.
Gyani Brahma Singh’s Publications
BOOKS
1. Bhaagan Bhari Jori (Punjabi); published by Satjug Sri Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana, 1934.
2. Guru Tegh Bahadur – The Prophet - He Died for the Oppressed; Intekab Press, Hyderabad, November 24, 1979.
3. Gallan Paar Dian (Of Things Beyond); Sahit Parkashan, Amritsar, 1987.
4. Hazrat Mian Mir and The Sufi Tradition; Punjabi University Press, Patiala, 1994.
ARTICLES:
In The Spokesman Weekly, New Delhi.
1. Sassi-Punnu – As featured in Dasam Granth; Baisikhi Number, 1992.
2. Tirath Raj Pushkar And The Sikh Gurus; Guru Nanak Number, 1981.
3. The white paper on Punjab Conceals More Than It Reveals; August 13, 1984
4. Spiritualisation Of Man; July 13, 1981.
5. Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia - A Pioneer Sikh Nation Builder; October 24, 1983.
6. Plight of Sikhs; Guru Gobind Singh Number, 1984.
7. Hari-Mandir - Waheguru's Abode Sikh Bait-Ul-Haraam; Baisakhi Number April 15, 1991.
8. Guru Teg Bahadur - His Virtues and Banis; November 22, 1982.
9. Guru Nanak - King of Mystics; Guru Nanak Number, November 9, 1992.
10. Guru Nanak - Advocate of communal concord; Guru Nanak Number, November 5, 1990.
11. Guru Gobind Singh's Amrit - The Eternalising Libation; Guru Gobind Singh Number, December 23, 1990.
12. Guru Gobind Singh - A Great Spiritual Leader; Guru Gobind Singh Number, 1984.
13. Guru Arjan Dev - The Poet, Builder And Organiser; June 8, 1981.
14. Guru Amar Das - Contribution For Edification of The Faith; June 25, 1979.
15. Life and Works of Bhagat Jayadeva; 30th Annual Number, 1981.
16. Annointing Khalsa as 'Tisra Panth'; Guru Gobind Singh Number, 1981.
17. Derogatory remarks about Sikh Gurus and Sikh Tenets in “Satyarath Prakash” must be axed out, (a copy of the letter of Giani Brahma Singh ‘Brahma” to the President of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha for the information of our readers); February 1991.
18. Guru Granth Sahib – A Gospel of National Solidarity: October, 1982.
In Sachkhand Patra, Nanded.
1. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji – The Bapist Beyond Peer; December 1987
2. Eros and Fraud (centenary); June 1981
3. Guru Grant Sahib; April 1992
In The Sikh Review, Calcutta
1. Dara Shukoh - The Prince who turned Sufi; October 1996.
2. Gypsy (Roma) Affinity with the Sikh and Hindus; Jan. 1979.
3. Amrit – The Eternalising Nostrum; April 1979.
4. Guru Amar Das – His Contribution for Edification of the Faith; May 1979.
5. Guru Nanak and Chaitanya; Nov. 1988.
6. The Holy Text; March 1995.
In The Western Sikh Samachar
1. Keshav Saroop Lai Prarthana (Panjabi Poem); March 1982
Hari Mandir - Golden Temple
Other Articles
1. All of India Sikh Homeland; All Rajasthan Sikh Convention, Ajmer, Publication, 1982.
2. Seva; Nanak Prakash Patrika, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dec. 1984.
3. Guru Granth Sahib — The Sikh Gospel, its composition and glory; All Rajasthan Sikh Convention, Ajmer Publication, 1982.
4. Rajasthan Sikh Pratinidhi Board?; All Rajasthan Sikh Convention, Ajmer Publication, 1982.
Letters to the Editor.
1. Sikh Nation or Khalistan; The Spokesman Weekly, April 27, 1981.
2. SGPC Elections and all india radio; The Spokesman Weekly, April 30, 1979.
3. An Imprudent Attempt; October 19, 1981.
Panjabi Poems:
1. Avtar Leao Kal Taran Nu; (?)
2. Brahmi Ramja (?)
3. Sagal Jon Teri Panihari; (?)
4. Amrit Chakan Naseeba Wale; April 1981.
5. Keshav Saroop Lai Prarthana; Nov. 1981.
6. Mein Khadam Makhdum Nanak Da; June 1982.
7. Eh Abchal Madeena Sikhan Da; May 1983.
8. Sambhal Sambhal Ke Paer Dhari Eh Harmindar De Yatri; July 1984.
9. Guru Nanak Aa Meri Baanh Phari; Feb. 1985.
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