| Bhai Vir Singh |
Bhai
Vir Singh (1872 –1957) was a great poet, a scholar and
a very spiritual person. Through his writings he brought awareness of
the glory of the Guru’s and the Khalsa to the Sikh masses. His writings
in Punjabi are famous all over India. From his pen came the best novels
of the Punjabi language. He wrote historical and philosophical essays,
he was the force behind the cultural renaissance in the Punjab at the
turn of the century. He was conferred the degree of Doctor of Oriental
learning Honoris Causa in 1949 by Punjab University. He was honoured with
the Sahitya Academy Award in 1955 and the Padam Bhushan in1956 for his
contributions of Punjabi literature. Bhai Vir Singh was the force behind
the Singh Sabha movements literary output which was so important in awakening
the Sikh masses. His earlier written novels like Sundari, Vijay
Singh, Santwant Kaur and Baba Naudh Singh have
to the viewed with reference to the social and political conditions of
the end of the nineteenth century. Their central theme was heroism and
chivalry of the Sikhs and the ethical excellence of the religion. The
novels brought out the pristine glory of the Khalsa in contrast to the
servility of the Hindu masses and the oppression of the Pathan and Mughal
rulers.
Bhai Vir Singh then turned his attention to explaining the Sikh scriptures in his weekly paper, the Khalsa Samachar. He also wrote poems which gave him a most honoured place among Punjabi poets. Thereafter he wrote biographies of the Sikh Guru’s: Kalgidhar Chamatkar, the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Guru Nanak Chamatkar, the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhai Vir Singh Ji was dedicated to the cause of reform, he propagated the cause of education by building schools and colleges and was a founder director of the Punjab and Sind Bank, which greatly helped in uplifting the Sikh economy.
| Tarlochan Singh, Bhai Vir Singh & Sundar Singh Majithia |
The
main goals of the Singh Sabha movement was clear and uncompromising. To
uplift the Sikhs in all spheres, be it political, social, moral or economic.
The propagation of the Guru’s divine word, carrying of his teaching
to the highest level. The removal of illiteracy and the spread of education
regardless of caste or creed. The protection of political rights for the
Sikhs and the removal of their grievances through constitutional methods.
This was the backbone of the Singh Sabha movement , a movement that gained
much attraction and gave Sikhs a role within their religion. It was the
Singh Sabha movement that poured water over the rampage of Hinduism in
the Punjab. It was Singh Sabha that halted the slide of Sikhism into unretreavable
waters and it was Singh Sabha that made the Sikhs feel proud to be Sikhs
again.