Benti : Please pardon any spelling mistake or translational error which could have been committed while writing this life sketch. Kindly correct if there is any misformation in the below article, it could have been committed unintentionally.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
**** Brief Life Sketch of Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha Jee. ****
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Introduction
=-=-=-=-=-=-=Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha Jee was born on 13th September 1888 in village Dakha, district Ludhiana. It is a well flourishing village about 17km south-west of Ludhiana. Pandit Dakha Jee's father Bhai Ram Singh Sekhon was Jatt Sikh farmer who comes from family lineage of Baba Hamir. From existing sources, it is believed that Baba Hamir along with Bhai Gujjar had settled this village, in and around 1445 AD, which in present time is known as Dakha.
Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha Jee was first and last scholar of his own type who has done deep study and research in Punjabi Darshan, Sahitya, Pingle, Alankar, Vedic Shastra and Gurbani. Pandit Dakha Jee was Uch-Koti-De-Vidhvaan of Sanskrit and due to this he had earned title of Sahitya-Aacharya, Pandit-Aacharya, Vyakaran-Aacharya, Darshan-Aacharya etc...
He was top notch writer, scholar & poet of 20th century and Dhurandar of Vyakaran. It was his unshakable faith in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee and his Aatam-Gyan due to which he achieved so much in his life time that his Samkaaleen scholars were not able to achieve.
Most of scholars of his time use to study, do research and do Arth of Gurbani in the light of Vedant, Vedic Shastra Vidya and other similar school of thoughts. But Pandit Dakha Jee was Aashiq of Naam, Bani, Jaap and Simran. It was due to this that he had access to Gurbani's Roohani and Paras Vidya which other scholars didn't had.
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Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee's Bachan
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=In Bhado Sudi 5, Samat 1689 Bikrami, the Dharti of village Dakha, was blessed with Charan Kamal of Miri-Piri De Malik Dhan Dhan Satguru Sri Hargobind Sahib Jee Maharaj. It was then the forefathers of Pandit Dakha Jee paid visit to Guru Sahib and asked for blessing of Sikhi in their family. Guru Sahib was extremely happy with their Seva and blessed them with Sikhi. Guru Sahib did Bachan that Gunvaan Sikh will be born in their family lineage. He will become Jagat-Prasidh (famous) and will do the Prachar of Sikhi in most amazing way.
True to the Guru Sahib's Bachan, the Anmol Hira and Vyakaran Samrat of Sikh Panth, Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha Jee was born in 1888. With his Bibek Budh and Kaushalta he not only became famous but his Jauhar in Gurbani Vyakaran is unparalleled.
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Pandit Dakha Jee's Initial Education
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=There is common saying in Punjabi that more the milk is whipped/frothed more the tasty Makhan comes out of it. From his childhood Pandit Dakha Jee was Vidya-Premi and Gyan-Jigyasoo. But the Vidya did not came to him easily, he had to underwent lot of hardship to educate himself.
He got his basic education from D.B. school Bandowal. Then by his own effort he appeared and passed out in Giani exam from Punjab Uni. Lahore. Unfortunately, due to untimely death of his parents he had to suspend his schooling by year 1903. But his soul never let him bogged down in difficult times. To satisfy his inner hunger for knowledge he started studying at home by himself. This could be called as blessing in disguise. In school his teacher could have twisted and shaped his brain in certain way. But without school his was learning anything and everything.
With immense love and respect he studied Gurbani. Then he did deep Soch-Vichaar to grasp the fundamentals of Gurbani. He also spent substantial amount of time in studying various other religious text and other school of thoughts. Like Ved, Vedant, Darshan-Shastra, Devnagri-Script etc... He also studied religious text of Jews and Christianity.
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Pandit Dakha Jee's Advance Education
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Around 1905, Pandit Dakha Jee reached Kashi to take his self education to next level. He was visiting various school of thoughts, studying Sanskrit and other Sanatani Vidya, at the same time he was searching for a teacher who could channelize his zeal for knowledge in proper manner.
There is a saying that when student is ready the teacher appears. It so happened that Pandit Dakha Jee coincidently met Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha. Maharaja was very much astonished and impressed with Pandit Jee's knowledge, hardwork and achievement in such a short span of time and at such a young age.
Maharaja took him to Pandit Basant Singh Jee and requested him to take Dakha Jee as his student. Pandit Basant Singh Jee at that time was Shahi-Aacharya in Royal Court of Patiala. He only use to teach King, Prince and other such Royal folks. He declined to accept Dakha Jee as his student. Finally, after long persuasion Pandit Basant Singh Jee accepted him as his student based on 3 conditions.
1. Teaching will only be provided late evening.
2. No Pankti will be taught or repeated again.
3. Till the time, the taught lesson is not memorized the next lesson will not be provided.
It is said Pandit Basant Singh Jee was one of the few Pandit in the elite circle of his time. Learning from him under such rules is nothing less than walking on razor sharp blade. But Pandit Dakha Jee came out with flying colors and earned respect of his teacher Pandit Basant Singh Jee.
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Pandit Dakha Jee's Life's Aim
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha Jee was Pooran Gursikh and he had firm belief in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. The Prabal-Icha (strong desire) in his heart was to present the ocean full of wealth hidden in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee in front of Sikh-Panth. He wanted that Sikhs should not waste their Anmol Jeevan at value of Kaudi (penny). Through his writings, he wanted to showcase the Virsa and Virasat the Sikhs are owner of.
His Aim was to present his firm belief that all the Vidya's of this Brahmaand is present in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. With Guru Sahib's Kripa and Ashish, in his lifetime he was able to unfold 34 Vidyas present in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. He further mentioned that if someone studies Gurbani more deeply then more Vidyas can be made Pragat in front of Sansar. According to Pandit Dakha Jee following is the list of Vidyas present in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee which he discovered.
01. Jyotish
02. Ganit
03. Beej
04. Shastra
05. Pingle
06. Sangeet
07. Rekha-Ganit
08. Kosh
09. Vyakaran
10. Nirukt
11. Sahitya
12. Manovigyan
13. Darshan
14. Itehaas
15. Niyaye
16. Swar
17. Yog
18. Swasth
19. Chikitsha
20. Arthvaad (Anuvaad, Sutravaad, Panchvaad)
21. Mimaansa
22. Puraan
23. Kala
24. Padarath (Dravya Gun Karm)
25. Rasayan
26. Dhatu
27. Byora
28. Sanket
29. Mantra
30. Ratt Shastra
31. Niti Shastra
32. Bhugol
33. Shilpi
34. JantraPandit Dakha Jee use to say there is no need for Sikhs to go anywhere. Our Granth has everything because it is Dhur-Ki-Bani. It is Akal Purakh HIMSELF right there. Just keep holding tight the Charan-Kamal of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee and HE HIMSELF will do Bakshish. If you go for Bipran-Ki-Reet then don't expect anything but Thokar in this entire life and in next life too.
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Pandit Dakha Jee's Life's Work
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=If someone looks at the amount of work Pandit Dakha Jee has done, it can be said that, there is no way it could have been done without Apaar Kripa of Waheguru. For a layman, it takes years to write a single book on any normal subject. Yet, Pandit Dakha Jee produce amazing and unbelievable amount of work, in his life time, while writing on religious subjects.
If anyone would have read even single book by Pandit Dakha Jee you would know what I am saying. When you will read his book and study his work your brain will give up after 15 minutes of reading. Because the Gyan he portray is so heavy for our mind to grasp. It will take months and years for us to fully study his single work. And imagine Pandit Dakha Jee was writing it. His style of writing is elegant, neat, crisp and amazingly elaborate. The amount of examples he list down to explain a point is just fantastic.
The amount of research, energy and brain he has put in his writing is nothing less than Chamatkaar or Karamaat in itself. Read any one of his work to believe it.
Below is the list of his work. Some were left unfinished due to financial and economical reasons and unfortunately never went to publication.
01. Sri Guru Vyakaran Panchayan
02. Sri Guru Bhat Bani Prakash
03. Sri Guru Bhat Bani Sateek
04. Mool Mantar Prakash
05. Sankh Darshan Vaas
06. Smiriti Saar
07. Alankaar Darshan
08. Nitnem Sateek
09. Ram Raheem Sukhmani Sahib's notes
10. Darshan Paribhasa
11. Chhand Ratnawali
12. Punjabi Bhasaha Di Prachinta
13. Niyaye Darshan
14. Alankar Khandan
15. Kavi Maharaje
16. Sehaj Chandrma Natak
17. Bhagat Bani Sateek
18. Ubhayalankar Vichaar
19. Rigved Punjabi Anuvaad
20. Shaam Ved
21. Tantra Saar
22. Sandesh Shatak
23. Sri Guru Praman Sagar
24. Sri Guru Nigam Nighat
25. Sri Guru Agam Prakash
26. Sri Gurumat Aamnay
27. Sri Guru Nigma Nirukt
28. Sri Gurmat Sidhant Darshan
29. Sri Guru Granth Kosh
30. Sri Guru Granth Abhiyaan
31. Sri Guru Gaurav Sahit Sateek
32. Sri Guru Gurmat Mimansa
33. Niyaye Sarbash
34. Vyakaran Khandan
35. Punjabhi Bhasa Te Sahitya Da Itehaas
36. Punjabi Bhasa Di Visheshta
37. Dus Dohare Atte Veer Savaiye
38. Guru Kaavya Darshan
39. Bhagauti Mandan
40. Niyaye Paribhasa
41. Alankar Nirnaye
42. Gurmukhi Atte Hindi Da Taakra
43. Malwe Da Political Itehaas
44. Guru Padarath Nirnaye
45. Khadag Khalsa
46. Punjabi Boli Di Visheshta
47. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Da Siromani Vyakaran
48. Sri Japu Nisan
49. Punjabi Sahitya Da Vikas
50. Om, Ong, Onam Atte Onkar Da Nirna
51. Sikh Dharm Atte Buddh Dharm=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Pandit Dakha Jee's Jobs and Prachar
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=His sole purpose was to distribute the Langar of Gurmat Vidya to Sikh Panth. He used both, Oratory and Writing skills to fulfill this purpose. Pandit Dakha Jee started his career as principal of Khalsa Prachark School Taran-Taaran in year 1916. He focused on preparing youth to become better Raagi, Kathakaar, Pracharak and Buddhivaan.
In 1921 he started Khalsa Updeshak Mahavidyalay in Ludhiana with the aim to arm youth with Gurmat Vidya. This school was forced to close down in times of Akali Lehar. Then in 1928 he joined as Prof. at Sikh Saheed Misionary College in Amritsar. There he didn't found the syllabus to be matching according to Gurmat so he ended up resigning.
From there he went to Sri Dam-Dama Sahib, which he finally made his Prachar-Kendra. With the help of like minded Gurmukhs he founded Gurmat Updeshak Mahavidyalay in 1933. Whichever school or college he was teaching, his sole purpose remained same i.e. to prepare Sikh youths as Uch-Koti-De-Vidhvaan of Gurmat Vidya.
The syllabus he prepared for the college at Sri Dam-Dama Sahib is worth noting and it's amazing. See the syllabus below.
Syllabus for becoming Gyani01. Bhai Gurdas Jee Di Vaaran
02. The 22 Vaaran
03. Full Arth of Gurbani and Bhagat Bani
04. Vyakaran
05. Pingle and Alankar
06. Gur-Itehaas
07. Sharuktavali and Bhavrasamitr
08. Nanak Prakash (by Bhai Santok Singh Jee)
Syllabus for becoming Maha-Gyani01. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Da Adhyan with full Arths
02. Vyakaran
03. Pingle and Alankar
04. Khat Shastra (specially fundamentals of Niyaye Shashtra)
05. Guru Nanak Naam leva samprada di jaankari
06. Abhayas on Katha Vikhyan
Syllabus for Raag Vidya1st Year : Asa, Bhairavi, Bhairav, Asavari, Desh, Jogiya, Tilang, Bhim
2nd Year : Kafi, Sohni, Pahadi, Basant, Bilaval, Dhanasari, Kaanada, Kalyan, Sorath, Jaijavanti, Sarang, Malhar
3rd Year : Kedar, Siri Raag, Gujri, Dev Gandhari, Ramkali, Vadhans, Maligauda, Malwa, Soohi, Hindol
4th Year : Behagda, Jaitsri, Bairari, Gond, Nat Narayan, Maru, Majh Gaudi,
From the syllabus itself we can see that this is not a job of a person with faint heart. Only Gurmat Abhiyasi with Sher-Jigar will put such plan into action and produce Soorme with Gurmat Vidya. It is worth mentioning here that Pandit Dakha Jee made sure that all these Vidya were imparted free to the students. The food and hostel were free of cost and best facility were provide in whatever capacity Pandit Jee had. Whole system was built from donations of the Sangat.
It is very sad to mention here that none of the main stream Sikh Sanstha or Samprada came forward to include the Lehar of Gurmat Vidya which Pandit Dakha Jee was creating. Eventually, this Mahavidyalay at Sri Dam-Dama Sahib lost it existence.
Very few would know that Pandit Dakha Jee played key role behind following Sikh institues.
01. Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
02. Chief Khalsa Diwan
03. Bhindra Samprada
04. Damdami Taksal
05. Singh Sabha Satabdhi Committee
06. Gurmat Missionary College
07. Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle
08. Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh Foundation
09. Guru Nanak Dev Mission and Uni. across globe
10. Guru Nanak Vibhaag and Punjabi Uni., Sri Amritsar
11. Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan, Patiala
12. Aadh Granth Vibhaag, PatialaIn 1948 he was teaching at Guru Harboind College, Gurusar. There also he spent few years. Then from 1951-1954 he was working in Mehakma-Punjabi at Riasat-Patiala. After resigning from there he met Sant Vishakha Singh Jee and helped him in preparing book called "Itehaas Malwa".
Apart from the activities discussed above, Pandit Dadkha Jee use to walk on foot and go far-far villages to do Prachar of Sikhi. He had also visited abroad to do Prachar of Sikhi and Gurmat Vidya.
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Personality
=-=-=-=-=-=-=Pandit Dakha Jee was Sacha-Sucha Gursikh. His entire life was Samarpit to Chardi-Kala of Sikh Panth. He use to wear simple Kurta-Payjama and his life style too was very simple. He did not possess any material wealth. This is very much evident from the fact when he set free all the loan borrowers after his father's death. His father was not only farmer but was Sahukaar too and use to lend money to people on interest. Upon death of his father he neither asked for interest nor the principal amount from the loan borrowers.
He was man of principles and lived according to Gurmat Maryada. He never compromised on his self-respect and always maintained his Sikhi Anakh. He just can't keep quite and ignore things which did not align with Gurmat. As a result of which he use to very often resign and change job and move to other school or college. There is saying that the tree which bear most number of fruits receive maximum number of stones.
He was man of large and kind heart. Many of his colleagues in school or colleges use to get jealous of him. But even being such a Maartand Pandit, he didn't had an inch of ego in him. He considered distributing Guramt Vidya as Nishkaam Seva. He never allowed any of his students or others to bow him or touch his feet. He gave direction that only bow to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee and just greet me with "Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Ki Fateh".
Pandit Dakha Jee was Malik of Tikhan-Buddhi. All the 4 Ved were memorized to him and were to flow from his tongue effortlessly. He could remember names of 100s of folks in one go. We get the best example of his Kaushal Buddhi when he defeated the Maha Maleshwar Swami Gangeshwara Nand in Shastrarth. There are many examples where he use to fearlessly do Toka-Tipani on the scholars who would commit grammatical mistakes in their work. This use to result in heated debate most of the time.
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Akal Chalna
=-=-=-=-=-=-=The Vidya Maartand, the Scientist of Punjabi Language and the Dhurandar Soorma of Gurbani Vyakaran decided to let the ink of his pen to dry on 25th November 1958.
At age of 70 he left his body at village Qila-Raipur, district Ludhiana. It is very sad that in 21st century only handful of Sikhs around the world knows about Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha Jee. His complete life was Samarpit for the Chardi Kala of Sikh Kaum and in return never expected single penny from anyone. It is very unfortunate for Sikh Panth that there is no school, college, trust, institute or samagam in any form to remember his work and him in any way.
Almost all of his work has gone out of publication now. What could have been more worst than this that soon after his death the fire broke out in his personal library and many of his valuable work went to ashes.
Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha said that Pandit Dakha Jee was one of the rarest Gem which Akal Purakh had sent for the Sikh Panth. Gurmukh like him comes very rare and Sikh Panth was never able understand the real value of him when he was alive. With assistance from main stream Sikh Institiutes much could have been done.
He successfully delivered his duty towards the Sikh Panth and maybe delivered 100 times more than the resources available to him. But Sikh Panth failed in its duty towards him to preserve his invaluable work.
Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Jee said these lines for Pandit Dakha Jee - "
Pandit Jee Taan Dhuro He Padhe Hoye Han, Janam-Janmaantar Di Vidya Ikathi Ho Inna Di Sakhsiyat Vicho Umad Rahi Hai".
PS: This life sketch has been prepared from the 1st Chapter of book called "Sahitya Acharya Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha" written by Prof. Jaswant Singh Sapra. The book is in Punjabi and has total 10 Chapters. It was first published in July 1987. The publisher was Dr. Dharmender Singh, Punjabi Sahitya Academy, Punjabi Bhavan Ludhiana.
Bhul Chuk Maaf.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥