Pratap Singh Giani: Difference between revisions

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{{Hatnote|[[Giani]] (or Gyani) is an honorific [[Sikh titles|Sikh title]] used by someone learned in the Sikh religion and who often leads the congregation in prayers}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}

| birth_date         = 1855

| death_date         = 20 July 1920

| image             = BhaiPratapSinghGiani.jpg

'''Pratap Singh Giani''' (also Partap Singh Gyani, 1855&ndash;1920) was a [[Sikh]] academician, scholar and [[calligraphist]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29703420 |title=The encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=1992–1998 |publisher=Punjabi University |others=Harbans Singh |isbn=0-8364-2883-8 |volume=2 |location=Patiala |pages=82 |oclc=29703420}}</ref>

He was born in 1855, the son of Bhai Bhag Singh Giani of [[Lahore]] (Gurmukhi: ਭਾਈ ਭਾਗ ਸਿੰਘ ਲਾਹੌਰ). As a young boy, Partap Singh learnt [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Urdu]] and [[Sanskrit]] and studied [[Sikh]] [[scriptures]]. In 1884, he accompanied Thakur Singh Sandhanvalia to [[England]] to read the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] to the deposed Sikh ruler of the [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[Maharaja Duleep Singh]] and to re-convert him to Sikhism.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maharaja Duleep Singh (Son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh ) (1838-1893) – SikhHistory.in |url=https://www.sikhhistory.in/en/maharaja-duleep-singh-son-of-maharaja-ranjit-singh-1838-1893/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> Partap Singh remained in [[England]] for six months. On return to [[India]], he worked as a ''granthi'' (scripture-reader) at Gurdwara Kaulsar in [[Amritsar]]. When Maharaja Duleep Singh was due to come back to India, Partap Singh accompanied Thakur Singh and his sons to [[Delhi]] with the intention of going to [[Bombay]] to receive the Maharajah. On hearing the news of Duleep Singh's detention at [[Aden]], Partap Singh returned to Amritsar while Thakur Singh proceeded to [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]]. At Amritsar, Partap Singh worked secretly for Thakur Singh distributing his pro-Duleep Singh letters among his [[Confidant|confidants]] and friends. Towards the close of 1887, he was arrested at Amritsar and sent to [[Lahore]] jail. He escaped from [[prison]] and, turning a [[sadhu]], travelled to different parts of the country in the company of holy men.

During one such journey he happened to meet [[Max Arthur Macauliffe]], then engaged in translating the Sikh [[scripture]] into English.

Macauliffe was impressed by his learning and wished that he would assist him in his work. Partap Singh, who had introduced himself under the assumed name of “Bava Ishar Das”, revealed thereupon his identity to him. Macauliffe interceded with the government on his behalf and had the warrants of his arrest withdrawn in January 1889.

Partap Singh settled down in a house in Kaulsar near Baba Atal, in Amritsar, and for several years performed katha expounding the Holy Writ in front of the Akal Bung.  

[[File:Large-sized Guru Granth Sahib manuscript that was handwritten by Pratap Singh Giani and completed in 1908 C.E. 03.jpg|thumb|right|The Bir of Guru Granth Sahib, scribed by Pratap Singh]]

A fine [[calligraphist]], Partap Singh transcribed volumes of the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], the most famous of them being the one still preserved in the [[Harimandir Sahib]]. This copy, completed in 1908, is written in very bold [[Gurmukhi]] characters on large-sized 25" by 28" sheets of [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] paper and is installed on the first floor of the Harimandir Sahib where it is used for the recital of [[akhand paths]] or unbroken readings of the Guru Granth Sahib. The entire volume, 1527 leaves, that is, 8054 pages, with double borders in red, blue and yellow, is written in Giani Pratap Singh's hand and is known as Vadde Baba Ji (largesized Holy Volume). The name of the scribe is mentioned at the end of the text, on a separate sheet. Volumes of the Holy Books transcribed by Giani Partap Singh are also preserved at Baba Atal and [[Takht Sri Hazur Sahib]], Nanded.

According to Panjaba Phain, August 1916 issue, he was the first secretary of the [[Sanatan Singh Sabha]] (also referred to as Amritsar Singh Sabha). He was also editor of the earliest published Sikh [[newspaper]] Akal Prakash, which made its first appearance in 1876. He is also said to have translated into Punjabi Major [[Evans Bell]]'s book, ''The Annexation of the Punjab and Maharaja Duleep Singh''. Pratap Singh died at Lahore on 20 July 1920.

Pratap Singh's son Kartar Singh Giani was a [[lawyer]] at [[Amritsar]] and was later a member of the Sikh Gurudwara Judicial Commission. His grandsons [[Harinder Singh Giani]] and Narinder Singh Gyani were lawyers practicing in the [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]] at [[Chandigarh]] and Amritsar. His great-grandson [[Harpreet Singh Giani]] is an [[advocate]] and a [[barrister]] currently practicing in the [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]] in [[India]] and in [[England and Wales]].

[[Category:Academic staff of Aitchison College]]

[[Category:Academics from Lahore]]