Prof Dr Ganda Singh
Dr. Ganda Singh – A Scholar Who Preserved Our Roots
As I reflect on the lives of great scholars who have shaped our understanding of Sikh history, one name that stands tall with quiet dignity is that of Ganda Singh.
Born on 15th November 1900 in village Hariana, District Hoshiarpur, into a humble family, his journey was anything but ordinary. From a small village school to wider horizons across Lahore, the army, and even Iran, life prepared him in unique ways. It was in Iran, under the influence of Sir Arnold Wilson, that his inclination towards historical research took a firm and lasting shape.
When he returned to India in 1930, he carried with him not just experience, but a mission.
At Khalsa College, Amritsar, he devoted nearly two decades to building a strong foundation for Sikh historical research. He travelled, collected, and preserved rare manuscripts from places like Rampur, Patna, Kolkata, and Delhi. I often feel that such silent and dedicated efforts are what truly safeguard our heritage.
Later, as Director of Archives in PEPSU and then as the founding head of Punjab Historical Studies at Punjabi University, Patiala, he created institutions and platforms that continue to guide scholars even today. His journal Punjab Past and Present and the Punjab History Conferences became milestones in academic excellence.
What stands out most is his deep knowledge of Persian. Through this, he brought forward authentic sources, corrected misconceptions, and presented Sikh history with clarity and integrity. His scholarship was not only intellectual—it was rooted in sincerity and the Khalsa spirit.
His courage was equally inspiring. Returning the Padma Bhushan in protest against Operation Blue Star showed that for him, principles came before recognition.
For me, however, his work takes on an even deeper meaning.
Being connected to the lineage and legacy of Bhai Nand Lal Goya, the poet laureate in the court of Guru Gobind Singh, I feel a personal sense of gratitude towards Dr. Ganda Singh. Bhai Nand Lal’s writings, originally in Persian, carry immense spiritual and literary depth—but for many of us, they would have remained distant without his efforts.
Dr. Ganda Singh became a bridge between generations.
Bhai Nand Lal Granthavali published by Punjabi University in 1963
Dr. Ganda Singh, an eminent Sikh historian, was born in village Hariana, District Hoshiarpur, to Hukam Devi and Jawala Singh. He was married to Amar Kaur, also known as Inder Kaur.
He received his primary education in his village and completed his matriculation from Government High School, Hoshiarpur in 1919. He briefly joined F.C. College, Lahore, but soon enlisted in the Indian Army, where he served in Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Iraq. After leaving the army in 1921, he worked with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Abadan, Iran, from 1921 to 1930. During this period, he came under the influence of Sir Arnold Wilson, a distinguished scholar and the company’s manager, assisting him in preparing a bibliography of Iran. This scholarly exposure, along with his travels to Europe, nurtured his deep interest in historical research.
Returning to India in 1930, he contributed to Giani Hira Singh’s journal Phulwari in Lahore. In 1931, he joined Khalsa College, Amritsar, as the head of the Sikh History Research Department, where he served with dedication for nearly two decades. During this time, he undertook extensive efforts to collect and preserve rare manuscripts and books from major centers such as Rampur, Bankipur, Patna, Kolkata, and Delhi, significantly enriching the institution’s library.
In 1949, he was appointed Director of the Archives Department of PEPSU, where he gathered invaluable records and documents from eight princely states. He earned his Ph.D. from Panjab University in 1952 with a thesis on Ahmad Shah Durrani. Later, he was honored with D.Litt (Honoris Causa) degrees by Aligarh Muslim University (1969) and Punjabi University, Patiala (1978).
In 1962, he became the founding head of the Department of Punjab Historical Studies at Punjabi University, Patiala. There, he initiated several research projects and edited the bi-annual journal Punjab Past and Present. He also established high standards for the annual Punjab History Conference, which became an important platform for scholarly exchange on Punjab historiography.
A scholar of Persian, Dr. Ganda Singh introduced numerous primary sources into Sikh historical research. His writings, rooted in the Khalsa spirit, are marked by objectivity and reliance on authentic evidence. He played a crucial role in dispelling misconceptions and presenting a balanced account of Sikh history.
He was honored by the Punjab Government (1963) and the SGPC, Amritsar (1964). In 1983, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, which he later returned in protest against the Operation Blue Star.
Dr. Ganda Singh also made a monumental contribution to the study of Bhai Nand Lal Goya, the poet laureate in the court of Guru Gobind Singh. With his deep knowledge of Persian, he worked extensively on collecting, editing, and translating Bhai Nand Lal’s works. The Bhai Nand Lal Granthavali, published through Punjabi University, Patiala, stands as an encyclopedic compilation of these writings.
Recognizing the difficulty many readers faced with Persian, he undertook the significant task of rendering these works into Gurmukhi script, making them accessible to a wider Sikh audience. While those proficient in Persian can still appreciate the original literary beauty, his efforts ensured that the teachings and poetry reached the common reader in a more familiar and understandable form.
The initial efforts to compile Bhai Nand Lal’s works were inspired by Sant Sohan Singh of Malaysia and Sardar Joginder Singh (M.S.Ed.), who helped gather scattered manuscripts into a unified collection. Dr. Ganda Singh’s scholarly rigor and dedication gave this work enduring value, making it widely referenced and deeply respected in modern Sikh and Punjabi scholarship.
I often reflect that while those who know Persian can enjoy the original beauty, it is because of scholars like him that the essence has reached people like us in a language we live and breathe.
Mention of my name I the book elates me.
In a way, his work has also helped preserve a part of my own heritage. I feel truly elated that my own name finds a place in the family tree of Bhai Nand Lal as detailed in his scholarly works. For me, this is not a merely a mention, it’s a moment of deep connection with my roots, a quiet affirmation of belonging to a legacy that has been preserved with such unmatched dedication. Dr Ganda Singh researched wrote a full paragraph on my immediate family
Here is details of full Paragraph on my Dada ji L Bhagwan Das, his elder brother L Sham Das and my father S Vasdev Singh Retd Acting Superintendent in District and Session courts in Karnal and my uncle S Inderjit Singh an advocate in Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh
As I continue my own journey of documenting family history and writing about our roots, I draw inspiration from such towering personalities. They remind us that history is not just to be read, it is to be preserved, lived, and passed forward.
And through his work, he continues to guide us even today.
With humility and gratitude,
