NEW YORK, NY; “Guru Nanak Dev Ji influenced his contemporaries of the Bhakti movement and not vice versa, and all those who say otherwise either have malice in their hearts or do not know their facts,” said Giani Gurdit Singh the author of newly published “Guru Granth Sahib Da It has” History of the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagat Bani Volume, in the Punjabi language,
He addressed a gathering of 5,000 enthralled people after being bestowed a siropa by Jagit Singh Mangat, the President, at a function to honor him, at Sikh Cultural Society Richmond Hill here on June 1 7, where Sikh scholars discussed the widespread ramifications of his trail blazing research.
Discussing the book, Gurinder Singh Mann, who teaches Sikhism at the Columbia University here said that the author, whom he described as the last of his generation of scholars, had presented a definitive account on the originality of the Sikh doctrine and the marginal relationship between the Bhakti movement and the Sikh Gurus.
Acknowledging that what has been brought out in this book is new and runs contrary to what many other scholars have written, he said that Giani Gurdit Singh by referring to the original and hitherto unknown manuscripts had presented a new perspective which would give many new Sikh scholars a new field for research. He said that the definitive and painstaking research which the author had done since 1950 and the extensive documentation presented in the book cleared a number of popular misconceptions. He urged Giani ji to share his experience with junior scholars.
Dr. Gurcharan Singh, of the Sikh Heritage Foundation who is also the Chairman of the Department of International Relations at Manhattan Marymount College here in his address said that he had read numerous writings of Giani Gurdit Singh over the years, but this book, the culmination of over 40 years of fundamental research on the Guru Granth Sahib, the ‘Sikh holy scripture, was the most significant of all. The power of the pen can be used for pleasure, to make a living for fostering love and even for spreading hatred, he said, “I am glad that Giani Gurdit Singh has used it in the service of the Punjabi literature and culture as well as the Sikh religion.”
The Bhagat Bani set the Guru Granth Sahib apart from the scriptures of other religions, since it demonstrated that not only was the religion open to all the people regardless of their caste or creed, even the Guru Granth Sahib could and does contain in it compositions of saints of diverse background, he said.
It is however important to understand the exact nature of the relationship between the Bhagat and Guru Nanak Dey Ji and since most of the western scholars relied on the English renderings for their research on Sikhism, they were susceptible to misinterpretations. By this authoritative work, in which the author had quoted and given photographs of numerous manuscripts supporting his research, Giani Gurdit Singh had done a singular service to Sikhism and had demonstrated that Namdev, Kabir, Ravidas and others were influenced by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
He said that he felt that somehow the grace of Bhai Gurdas fell on Giani Gurdit Singh. No ordinary person could have written such a book, he added Baldev Singh a trustee of the Sikh Cultural Society in his introductory address recounted his long relationship with Giani Gurdit Singh and said that by showing the linguistic influence of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on Bhagat Kabir as seen in various manuscripts given in the new book, as well as his tracing ‘out the influences of the founder of Sikhism on other Bhagats, the author had built a dam of research and wisdom against the insidious attacks on Sikhism. He said that three years ago when the author came to the US for heart surgery and held discussions with him at the Sikh Cultural Society, and that he had read the manuscripts as it evolved into the over 600 page book. I am glad that the author has been able to complete this work and hope he will be able to complete the four volumes planned.
The writings of McLeod as well as other scholars have not had the benefit of the intimacy Giani Gurdit Singh has had with the original works of all Bhagats and so they put Guru Sahib as a follower of the Bhagats rather than as one who influenced them,” he added.
Giani Gurdit Singh, in his address to the sangat said that the Guru had given a new lease on life four years ago, and that he was happy that he has been able to finish the first part of what he had set out to do more than four decades ago. He said he would dedicate the rest of his life to presenting the facts about Sikh scriptures,
He said that the doctrine of the Sikh religion was unique and original. “When I was young I found writings of various scholars Sikh and non Sikh in which they said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was influenced by other Bhagats. This surprised and shocked me. I ‘set out to find the truth and this is the culmination of the research which began then, and after visiting the seats of all the Bhagats whose works are enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib I have found through the documents and manuscripts I found there, that they were heavily influenced by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. All this [have documented and given photographs of the relevant portions in this book.”
The Pot his which were written 25 years after Guru Nanak Dev Ji passed away are the most important source of exploring the relationship between the Bhagats and Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is written in them, not once but five times: “Nama Kabir Bhagat Guru Baba Ke” Nama and Kabir are followers of Guru Nanak.” This fact is borne out in the rest of the Bhakti literature.
He gave a thumbnail sketch of the long research which went into the book and the conclusions drawn out in various chapters of the book, as well as the documentary evidence he has cited in support of them.
He said that he was thankful to the scholars who had commented on the book and the officials of the Sikh Cultural Society especially its president Jagjit Singh Mangat and Baldev Singh for all they had done for him.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 22, 1990
