https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Gian_Singh_RabGian Singh Rab - Revision history2026-10-28T14:44:59ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gian_Singh_Rab&diff=500489&oldid=prevDonnell05T: bio - done2026-01-29T23:02:37Z<p>bio - done</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Sikh scholar and martial artist}}<br />
{{Not to be confused with|Giani Gian Singh}}{{Infobox person<br />
| honorific_prefix = Baba<br />
| name = Gian Singh<br />
| honorific_suffix = 'Rab'<br />
| image = Photograph of Baba Gian Singh 'Rab' in 1967.jpg<br />
| caption = Photograph of Gian Singh 'Rab' in 1967<br />
| known_for = Sikh martial artist specializing in ''[[Shastar Vidya]]''<br />
}}<br />
'''Gian Singh 'Rab'<nowiki/>''', also known as '''Gian Singh 'Sutantar'''', was a Sikh scholar and martial artist, belonging to the [[Nihang]] order, famous for his work on [[Shastar Vidya]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Jagtar |date=31 July 2013 |title=Controversial Neo-Nang Niddar to Hold Seminar in Toronto |work=Sikh24 |url=https://www.sikh24.com/2013/07/31/controversial-neo-nang-niddar-to-hold-seminar-in-toronto/ |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Kamalroop |date=2012-11-22 |title=A translation of the Shastravidia book by Baba Gian Singh coming soon! |url=http://kamalroopsingh.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-translation-of-shastravidia-book-by.html |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Dr Kamalroop Singh - Sikh Studies}}</ref><ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Santa |url=https://www.gurmatveechar.com/books/Punjabi_Books/Shastar.Vidiya.by.Akali.Baba.Santa.Singh.Buddha.Dal.(GurmatVeechar.com).pdf |title=Shastar Vidya |publisher=Budha Dal |language=pa}}</ref><br />
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== Biography ==<br />
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=== Scholarly work ===<br />
He spent forty years on textually analyzing the Guru Granth Sahib from very rare manuscripts and over a hundred codices (''[[Sikh scriptures|Birs]]''), eventually publishing his basic findings.<ref>Ernest Trumpp and W.H. McLeod as scholars of Sikh history religion and culture, Bhai Trilochan SinghInternational Centre of Sikh Studies, 1994</ref> His work with other research scholars, such as Kundan Singh and [[Randhir Singh (Sikh)|Randhir Singh]], was published under the title of ''Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji dian Santha-Sainchian are Puratan Hathlikhit Pavan Biran de Praspar Path-Bhedan di Suchi'' (title meaning "The List of Textual Variations Present in the Early Sacred Manuscripts and Printed Versions of the Guru Granth Sahib"), in 1977.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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=== Martial arts ===<br />
He was also an ''[[ustad]]'' (teacher) of the traditional Sikh martial art system of ''[[Shastar Vidya]]'', which he taught to many students, helping ensure the survival of the martial art.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kamalroop |url=https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34369/chapter-abstract/291509332?redirectedFrom=fulltext |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=Pashaura |series=Oxford Handbooks Online |pages=459–470 |chapter=38. Sikh Martial Art (Gatkā) |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199699308.013.022 |editor-last2=Fenech |editor-first2=Louis E.}}</ref> After Gian Singh 'Rab' died, a small pamphlet he had authored was posthumously published.<ref name=":7" /> [[Akali Santa Singh|Santa Singh]] of the Budha Dal wrote a memoir work about him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Santa |url=https://www.gurmatveechar.com/books/Punjabi_Books/Shastar.Vidiya.by.Akali.Baba.Santa.Singh.Buddha.Dal.(GurmatVeechar.com).pdf |title=Shastar Vidya |publisher=Budha Dal |language=pa}}</ref><br />
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== Students ==<br />
Some of the shastar vidya students, many of whom became accomplished Shastar Vidya instructors themselves, of Gian Singh 'Rab' include:<br />
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* Gian Singh (same name as his teacher) of Bhindran, he had trained seventeen Sikhs into becoming Shastar Vidya ustads himself<ref name=":0" /><br />
* Pritam Singh of Patiala<ref name=":0" /><br />
* Gurbax Singh of Langeri, Hoshiarpur district<ref name=":7" /><br />
* Pritam Singh<ref name=":7" /><br />
* Daya Singh 'Bhagatevale'<ref name=":7" /><br />
* Nihal Singh of Harianvelan<ref name=":7" /><br />
* Mohinder Singh, who was the teacher of the famous [[Nidar Singh Nihang|Nidar Singh]]<ref name=":7" /><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Nihang]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian scholars]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]<br />
[[Category:Year of death missing]]</div>Donnell05T