After the British occupied Punjab, a new era began in the region. Influenced by the preaching of Christian missionaries and the “purification” movement launched by the Arya Samaj, many Punjabis began drifting away from their original faith, Sikhism. But this wave did not last long. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, the Singh Sabha Movement arose to revive Punjab’s cultural and spiritual consciousness. It sought to safeguard the purity of Sikh life and nurture the community’s distinct identity.
The Singh Sabha Movement, started in 1872, was at its peak when a young scholar, Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha (1861–1938), came into contact with prominent leaders like Prof. Gurmukh Singh, Giani Ditt Singh, and Sir Attar Singh Bhadaur in Lahore. Recognizing his scholarship and clarity of thought, they drew him into the movement.
Responding to the needs of the time, Bhai Kahan Singh authored several influential works including Hum Hindu Nahin, Gurmat Prabhakar, and Gurmat Sudhakar. These writings reinforced Sikh principles, emphasized the community’s distinct religious identity, and countered the efforts of Christian missionaries and the Arya Samaj to dilute or absorb Sikhism. With a zeal for social reform, he also wrote Sharab Nishedh (1907), advocating a drug-free society.
Bhai Kahan Singh’s magnum opus, the Gurushabd Ratnakar Mahan Kosh, was the fruit of his lifelong dedication. This encyclopedic work, written in Punjabi, proved that monumental intellectual contributions could be achieved in the mother tongue, and it became one of the most influential works of the Singh Sabha renaissance.
From 1884 onwards, with the support of Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha, Bhai Kanh Singh played a key role in both religious and educational reform. Alongside propagating Sikh values, he worked tirelessly to promote education, one of the central goals of the Singh Sabha. When the idea of establishing Khalsa College was first envisioned in the 1880s, Bhai Kahan Singh not only supported it but also personally approached Sikh Maharajas and nobles for financial backing. His close ties with the rulers of Nabha and Patiala ensured crucial support for the institution.
He led by example—his wife Bibi Banst Kaur donated her bangles, and other family members also contributed jewelry to the cause. Inspired by his efforts, officials and citizens of Nabha State opened their purses to the Khalsa College fund.
On April 12, 1904, a historic Sikh gathering was held at Khalsa College, Amritsar, presided over by Maharaja Hira Singh, with Bhai Kahan Singh delivering the royal address. British officials, including the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, also attended, pledging significant financial aid. With collective contributions amounting to nearly twenty lakh rupees, Khalsa College was secured from collapse. Bhai Kahan Singh served as a member of both the Khalsa College Establishment Committee (under Colonel W.R.M. Holroyd) and the Managing Committee formed in 1902, guiding its direction with wisdom.
Through his writings, particularly Hum Hindu Nahin, Bhai Kahan Singh also firmly articulated the independent identity of the Sikh Panth, distinguishing it from both Hindu and Muslim traditions, while envisioning an autonomous Sikh community.
Sardar Khushwant Singh later recognized Mahan Kosh as one of the most significant contributions of the Singh Sabha movement. Among all the thinkers and reformers of the era, Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha stood out as principled, modern, rational, and deeply humanistic. His legacy remains that of a scholar who not only defended Sikhism in times of challenge but also expanded educational opportunities, leaving behind a foundation that continues to inspire.
— Dr. Jagmail Singh Bhathuan
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