SABHAGA, BHAI, Guru Hargobind`s devoted disciple who plied a prosperous trade in the western parts. He once arrived with an offering of five well bred and costly horses. Guru Hargobind, then at Ruhela, the scene of one of the armed engagements of his time, was pleased with the gift.

SACHCHAN SACHCH, a simple Brahman so nicknamed for his habit of responding with "sachch, sachch (true, true)" to anything said to him, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. Leaving his native village, Mandar, now in Sheikhupura district of Pakistan he came to stay at

SADA RAUR, SARDARNI (1762-1832); Daughter of Dasaundha Singh Gill was married to Gurbakhsh Singh, son of Jai Singh, leader of the Kanhaiya clan. As the menace of Ahmad Shall Durrani`s incursions receded, conflicts broke out among the Sikh misl chiefs. Mahan Singh Sukkarchakkia, helped by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and

SADDA SINGH was the son of Hazuri Singh, an Uppal Khatri owing allegiance to the Karorsinghia misi, who lived at Panjgarh in Amritsar district. Sadda Singh, whose father was the first in the family to receive the rites of the Khalsa, took up military service under Raja Amar Singh

SADDA SINGH, PANDIT, was a Nirmala scholar, who read Sanskrit with Pandit Chet Singh of Kashi. He attained such mastery of Sanskrit learning that his teacher made over to him his school before he died. The Pandits of Kashi honored him with the highest scholarly rank of Dandipad, after

SADDHU, BHAI, resident of Lahore, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, the Guru was putting up with him at his residence in Lahore when Chandu Shah, who had had a hand in the martyrdom of

SADH BELA, near Sakkhar in the Sindh province of Pakistan, was a prominent preaching center of Udasi Sikhs. It was established in 1823 by Bankhandi (d. 1863), a leading figure in the Mihanshahi order of the Udasis. Sadh Bela still attracts Sahijdhari Sikh devotees in large numbers living in

SADH, BHAI, devoted disciple of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), who lived near the ancient city of Balkh in central Asia. Zulfiqar Ardastani, the author of DabistanI Mazahib, a contemporary work in Persian, records, two anecdotes which show that Bhai Sadh was a devoted Sikh who, unaffected by joys and sorrows of

SADHARAN, BHAI, a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Nanak, was a resident of Pakkhoke, near Dera Baba Nanak. According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, in serving the Guru, Sadharan was next only to Guru Angad. He waited on Guru Nanak during the latter`s

SADHARAN, SANT, was the name given by Guru Amar Das to one of his devoted Sikhs, a carpenter of Goindval, who had made a long wooden ladder for use in the baoli, or open well, then under construction. Pleased with his devotion and industry, Guru Amar Das called him

SADHNA, one of the fifteen saints and sufis whose hymns are incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib, was a qasai or butcher by profession who, by nis piety and devotion, had gained spiritual eminence. He is believed to have been born at the village of Sehvan, in Sindh. He was

SADHU JAN, a Punjabi poet of the seventeenth century who wrote verses on mythical and spiritual themes. His identity is not clearly established. While Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi (1718) identifies him as Bhai Sadhu who married in 1629 Bibi Viro, daughter of Guru Hargobind, Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, part

SADHU SINGH AKALI (d. 1818), known for his daring exploits during the final Sikh assault on Multan under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1818. On 2 June when the fort wall was breached by cannonading, Akali Sadhu Singh accompanied by a few of his companions rushed through the breach and

SADHU SINGH BHAURA, JATHEDAR (1905-1984), Sikh missionary who rose to be the Jathedar or high priest of Sri Akal Takhat, Amritsar, was born the son of Bhai Ran Singh and Mai Atam Kaur, on 6 June 1905 at Chakk No. 7, a village in Lyallpur district (now in Pakistan).

SADHU SINGH HAMDARD (1918-1984), double barrelled journalist, excelling in both Urdu and Punjabi and an innovative poet, who carried in his name the pseudonym "Hamdard", "sharing with all the pangs of their hearts," "friendly towards all," was born in 1918 in a peasant family of moderate means living at

SADHU SINGH, PANDIT (1840-1907), a school man of the Nirmala order, was born in the village of Saraliari, in Amritsar district, in 1840. From his very childhood, he developed an inclination for the company of holy men. This was cause of concern for his father, Sobha Singh, and mother,

Pritam Singh Safir was born at Malikpur in Rawalpindi district, now in Pakistan. Safir\'s father, Sardar Mehtab Singh, who served as headmaster of Shri Guru Arjan Dev Khalsa High School, Tarn Taran, was one of the leading Sikh political activists. After graduation from Khalsa College, Amritsar, Safir qualified for

SAHARI MALL, BHAI, a Sodhi Khatri of Lahore, was the first cousin of Guru Ram Das. Although older than the Guru in age, he revered him like a disciple. Once Sahari Mall visited Amritsar to invite Guru Ram Das to the wedding of his son. The latter deputed his

SAHARU, BHAI, a native of the village of Dalla, in present day Kapurthala district of the Punjab, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. He received the rites of initiation at the hands of die Guru at the time of the latter`s visit to Dalla.

SAHIB CHAND (d.1700), a Sikh warrior in attendance upon Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708). He took part in the battle of Bhangani. The Guru in his autobiographical composition. Bachitra Natak, makes a special mention of his valour during this battle. Sahib Chand took part in the various encounters with the

SAHIB DEVAN, by tradition mother of the Khalsa, was the daughter of Bhai Har Bhagvan alias Ramu, a Bassi Khatri, and his wife, Jas Devi, a devout Sikh couple of Rohtas, in Jehlum district (now in Pakistan). Her parents had from the beginning dedicated her to the service of

SAHIB DIAL (b.1801), second of the five sons of Misr Ralia Ram, entered the Sikh service as a munshi (clerk) in the Customs Department under his father. In 1832 he was transferred to the Paymaster`s office of the regular army and in 1839 was made chief of the customs

SAHIB KAUR, BIBI (1771-1801), warrior and leader of men who played a prominent part in the history of the cis Sutlej states from 1793 to 1801, was the elder sister of Raja Sahib Singh of Patiala. Born in 1771, Sahib Kaur was married at an early age to Jaimal

SAHIB SINGH, a resident of Sangia Hill in present day Faisalabad district of Pakistan, was a veteran of the Khalsa army under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors. After the first AngloSikh war (1845-46), he joined the rebellious band of Bhai Maharaj Singh (d.1856). He commanded the contingent of

SAHIB SINGH BEDl, BABA (1756-1834), tenth in direct descent from Guru Nanak, was much revered in Sikh times for his piety as well as for his martial prowess. He was born at Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district on Chet. Sudi 5,1813 Bk/5 April 1756. Around 1770, his parents Baba

SAHIB SINGH BHANGI (d.1811), son of Gujjar Singh of the Bhangi clan, one of the numerous principalities into which Punjab was divided during the latter part of the 18th century, ruled over the territory of Gujrat in central Punjab. He was married to Raj Kaur, daughter of Charhat Singh

SAHIB SINGH ISAPURIA (b.1805), son of Ram Singh Randhava, belonged to the Isapur branch of the Randhava family founded by his great grand father, Dasaundha Singh. At the time of his father`s death in 1836, he was serving under Raja Suchet Singh Dogra. He participated in many of Maharaja

SAHIB SINGH MRIGIND, BHAI (c. 1804-1876), poet and author, served in the princely court of Jind under Raja Sarup Singh (d. 1864) and Raja Raghbir Singh (1834-1887). His father, Divan Singh, was a granthi in the employ of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He was a Kamboj by caste and belonged

SAHIB SINGH, BHAI (1665-1705), one of the Pahj Piare or the Five Beloved of revered memory in the Sikh tradition, was born the son of Bhai Guru Narayana, a barber of Bidar in Karnataka, and his wife Ankamma. Bidar had been visited by Guru Nanak early in the sixteenth century

SAHIB SINGH, PROFESSOR (1892-1977), grammarian and theologian, was born on 16 February 1892 in a Hindu family of the village of Phattevali in Sialkot district of undivided Punjab. He was originally named Natthu Ram by his father, Hiranand, who kept a small shop in the village. Soon the family shifted

SAHIB SINGH, RAJA (1773-1813), born on 18 August 1773 to Raja Amar Singh and Rani Raj Kaur, ascended the throne of Patiala after his father`s death in February 1781. In 1787 he was married, at Amritsar, to Ratan Kaur, daughter of Ganda Singh, the Bhangi chief. Five years later,

Sahrai, Hamam Das has written many historical novels. His Lohgarh narrates the story of Banda Bahadur who was living as an ascetic under the name of Madho Dass till he became a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh and returned to Punjab with a group of Guru Gobind Singh\'s disciples

SAID BEG (d. 1703), a Mughal general, in company with another general, Alif Khan, was marching at the head of an army on his way from Lahore to Delhi when the Rajput hill rulers led by Raja Ajmer Chand of Bilaspur persuaded him to join them in an attack

SAID KHAN. a Mughal general, came in February 1703 at the head of a large army to invade Anandpur and force Guru Gobind Singh into submission. Guru Gobind Singh, who, according to Gur Ratan Mal (Sau Sakhi), had only 500 warriors with him at the time, came out of the

SAIDO, BHAI, a Gheho Jatt, worshipper of Khwaja Khizr, a mythical Muslim saint, became a disciple of Guru Nanak. According to Puratan Janam Sakhi, he accompanied Guru Nanak during his journey to the South. While in Ceylon, Guru Nanak is said to have uttered Pran Sangali, a metrical composition

SAIF UDDIN MAHMUD, also called Saif Khan (d.1685), a high ranking noble in the reign of Aurangzib, was a man of religious disposition which, earned him the popular title of Faqirullah, meaning a holy man of God. His father, Tarbiat Khan, had been a Bakhshi or paymaster under Emperor Shah

SAIN DAS, BHAI, skilled in setting precious stones, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. Once he waited upon the Guru and submitted : "0 True King, you tell us that we should listen to the shabad with concentration. But my mind wanders as I sit

SAIN DITTA, of Jhahjhi caste of goldsmiths who belonged to Lahore, was a pious Sikh, contemporary with Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, and Guru Arjan. His name included among the leading devotees in Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Man! Singh, Bhai, Sikhan di Bhagat

SAIN or SAIN, whose one hymn has been included in the Guru Granth Sahib, is counted among the disciples of Ramanand (1300-1411). Guru Arjan, Nanak V, says in one of his hymns in the Holy Book that the name of Sain was a household word as a bhakta of

SAIN, BHAl, or Bhai Saian, a Sethi Khatri, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. He was a talented musician who sang the Guru`s barn with love and devotion. Thus he spread Guru Nanak`s word far and wide. His name finds mention among the Guru`s devotees

SAISARU, BHAI, a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Ram Das. His name occurs in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 17. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Mani Singh, Bhai, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala. Amritsar, 1955 2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35 Gr.S. SAISARU, BHAI, a Talvar Khatri

SAJJAN, SHAIKH, a resident of Makhdumpur, 20 km southwest of the ancient town of Talumbha or Tulambha, now in Multan district of Pakistan, was a thug or cutthroat who, according to the Janam Sakhi "tradition, was once visited by Guru Nanak. Sayan lived in apparent piety and prosperity and maintained

SAKHI SARWAR, lit. the Bountiful Master, also known by various other appellations such as Sultan (king), Lakhdata (bestower of millions), Lalanvala (master of rubies), Nigahia Pir (the saint of Nigaha) and Rohianvala (lord of the forests), was the founder of an obscurantist cult whose followers are known as Sultanias or

SAKTU, BHAI, a Mahita Khatri of Agra, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. The Guru, as says Bhai Man! Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, instructed him in the way of the contemplation of God`s Name. Also See NIHALU CHADDHA, BHAI

SALAS RAI was, according to Bhai Bala Janam Sakhi, a jeweller of Bishambharpur, present Bishnupur in Bankura district of West Bengal, although a tradition recorded by Giani Gian Singh, Twankh Guru Khalsa, identifies the place as the city of Patna in Bihar. As Guru Nanak travelling in the eastern

SALHO, BHAI (d. 1628), a prominent Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan, rendered devoted service during the excavation of the sacred tank and the construction of the Harimandar at Amritsar. He was especially assigned to keeping record of all receipts and expenditure, in cash as well as in

SAMARTH RAMDAS (1608-1681), Maharashtrian saint remembered as the religious preceptor of the Maratha hero Chhatrapati Shivaji (1627-80), was born, in 1608, the son of Suryaji Pant and Ranubai, a Brahman couple of the village of Jamb, near Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. His original name was Narayana. His father died when

SAMMAN SINGH, BHAl (1896-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was born in Savan 1953 Bk/July August 1896, the son of Bhai Pala Singh and Mai Man Kaur of Bandala village in Amritsar district. The family later settled in Chakk No. 71 Bandala Bachan Singhvala in Lyallpur district. Samman Singh

SAMMAN, BHAI, was the masand or leader of the Sikh sangat at Shahbazpur, now in Amritsar district of the Punjab, during the time of Guru Arjan. He was known for his firm faith and piety. Bhai Gurdas praises Bhai Samman, in one of his stanzas, for the care ne

SAMPURAN SINGH RAMAN, JATHEDAR (1895-1970), active in Akali politics and in the Praja Mandal movement, was born in 1895, the son of Hari Singh Man and Bhag Kaur of Maur Dhilvah in present day Bathinda district of the Punjab. The family later shifted to Raman where Hari Singh had

SAMUNDA, BHAI, a seeker of truth, once waited upon Guru Arjan and begged to know how a bemukh was distinguished from a sanamukh. The Guru, according to Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, spoke thus "Sanamukh is one who, following the Guru`s precept, rises early to make ablutions,

Sandhu, Gulzar Singh was born at Kotia Badia, district Ludhiana in 1933/5, his mother\'s native place. His family hails from the village of Soni in Hoshiarpur district. Both from the father\'s side and the mother\'s side, he draws upon a lineage of Jagirdars or fief-holders from the time of the

SANGAT RAI (d. 1696), also referred to in Sikh chronicles as Sangatia Singh, was, according to Guru Gobind Singh`s autobiographical Bachitra Natak, sent on an embassy of peace to the court of Raja Gopal of Guler. At that time a Mughal commander, Husain Khan marching upon Anandpur was extorting along

SANGAT SINGH (d. 1705), one of the forty Sikhs who were besieged with Guru Gobind Singh in an improvised fortress at Chamkaur, bore a close resemblance to the Guru in physical appearance. Both Kuir Singh and Sukkha Singh in their poetical biographies of Guru Gobind Singh refer to him as

SANGAT SINGH, SANT (1882-1950), a Sikh saint revered for his piety as well as for his learning, was born in 1882, at Kamalia, a small town in Lyallpur district, now in Pakistan. His father, Bhai Sital Das, a Sahajdhari Sikh, was a descendant of Bhai Shamu Sachiar, one of

SANGAT, BHAI or Sangat Sahib, was an alias of Bhai Pheru (1640-1706), the well known ma.sand of Nakka region of the Punjab. He was the recipient of an Udasi bakhshish or bestowal from Guru Gobind Singh. Members of the Udasi sect founded by him are called Sangat Sahib Ke

SANGRAM SHAH (popular name Sango Shah), the eldest son of Bhai Sadhu and BIbi Viro (the daughter of Guru Hargobind) and one of Guru Gobind Singh`s cousins. Sangram Shah, along with his four brothers, Jit Mall, Gulab Rai, Mahari Chand and Ganga Ram, fought in the battle of Bhangani

SANKARNATH, PANDIT (1789-1858), astrologer and diplomat, belonging to the village of Karivallur, in north Kerala, was a celebrated scholar of ancient lore. His reputation especially as an astrologer spread far beyond the confines of his native Kerala and he was in 1816 invited by Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra

SANSAR CHAND (1765-1823), Katoch Rajput Raja of Kangra who ascended the throne in 1775. He was an ambitious ruler and began extending his influence over the neighbouring hill states as well as over the plains lying at the foot of the Sivalik ranges. He came as far as Hoshiarpur

SANSRAM, son of Baba Mohan and a grandson of Guru Amar Das. According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, he lost his mother in infancy. His father being indifferent to worldly affairs, Guru Amar Das took him under his care. Sarisram grew up to be a gifted young man.

SANT SINGH (d. 1705), an Arora Sikh of Patti in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab, was one of the warriors in the retinue of Guru Gobind sirigh. He took part in the battles of Anandpur and Nirmohgarh as also in tlial of Chamkaur. At Chamkaur, Guru Gobind

SANT SINGH GIANI, BHAI (1768-1832), renowned man of letters and custodian of Sri Darbar Sahib at Amritsar in Sikh times, came of a devout family of Chiniot, in present day Jhang district of Pakistan. His grandfather, Bhai Ram Singh had spent his life preaching Sikhism in those parts. His

SANTA SINGH JATHEDAR, BHAI (1897-1921), shahid of Nankana Sahib, was the son of Bhai Nand Singh and Mat Prem Kaur of Darauli village in Jalandhar district. They were weavers by profession. Santa Singh`s grandfather, GuJjar Singh, as well as his father had received the vows of the Khalsa. The family

SANTA SINGH, BABU (1887-1926), Babar revolutionary, was born the son of Suba Singh at Harion Khurd, a village in Ludhiana district. He passed his matriculation from the Malwa Khalsa High School at Ludhiana where he also worked for some time as an office clerk. In February 1920, he enlisted

SANTA SINGH, BHAI (1886-1921), one of the martyrs of Nankana Sahib, came of a poor barber family of Fatehgarh Sukkarchakkian, a village near Amritsar. His father Bhai Mohra however had become through thrift and hard work a small shopkeeper and moneylender. Santa Singh learnt Gurmukhi from the village granthi, Bhai

SANTOKH DAS, an Udasi sant belonging to the Sangat Sahib Ke subsect, is remembered for the construction of the hansli, a water channel taken off the Shahi Nahar, an irrigation canal, for the regular supply of water for the sacred tanks in Amritsar. This feat he accomplished in collaboration

SANTOKH SINGH, BHAI (1787-1843), poet and historian, was born on 8 October 1787 the son of Bhai Deva Singh and Mat Rajadi, professionally cloth printers of Nurdin village, also known as Sarai Nurdin, 7 km northwest of Tarn Taran in Amritsar district of the Punjab. Deva Singh though poor

SANTOKH SINGH, BHAI (1893-1927), a Ghadr leader, was born in Singapore in 1893, where his father, Javala Singh, of the village of Dhardeo (Amritsar district), was employed as a gunner in the army. Santokh Singh had his early education in a school in Singapore and learnt Punjabi (Gumukhi script)

SARDUL SINGH CAVEESHAR (1886-1963), politician, newspaper editor and author, was born at Amritsar in 1886, the son of Sardar Kirpal Singh. He studied up to M.A. level, but left college in 1909 without taking the degree. In 1913 he launched an English journal, Sikh Review, from Delhi. He came

SARDUL SINGH GIANI, BHAI (d. 1913), the eldest son of Giani Gian Singh of Amritsar and a grandson ofGiani Bishan Singh, was a noted Sikh scholar of his time. The family lived near Chowk Baba Atal in a street still known as Gall Gianian, the street of the Giants.

SARMUKH SINGH (1893-1952), the middle one of the trio of the Jhabal brothers and the first president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, was born in 1893 at Jhabal, in Amritsar district of the Punjab. He received his education at Khalsa College, Amritsar, and started taking interest in social and

SARMUKH SINGH, BAVA, a staunch member of the Kuka sect and a brother of Bava Nihal Singh, author of the much talked about book in the closing decades of the nineteenth century, Khurshid Khalsa. It was under his supervision that the book was printed at the AftabiHind Press at

Sarna, Mohinder Singh born in 1923 at Rawalpindi, he joined the Indian Audits and Accounts Service after his B.A. (Hons.) and retired as Accountant General (Central Revenues) in 1981. He started writing at the age of twenty, and his first collection of short stories Father de Admi (Men of

SARUP SINGH, RAJA (1812-1864), son of Karam Singh of Bazidpur and a collateral of Raja Sangat Sihgh (1811-34) of Jind who had died childless, ascended the gaddi of Jind in April 1837. The gap between the death of Raja Sangat Singh and die assumption of the dirone by Raja

SATBIR SINGH (1932-1994) was born on 1 March 1932 at Jehlum (now in Pakistan). Father : Bhai Harnam Singh, mother: Ranjit Kaur. Professor Satbir Singh`s tally of more than 70 titles covering a life span of 62 years makes a formidable catalogue. Among it are works of minute research,

Satbir Singh, eminent scholar, was born on 1st March 1932 at Jehlum (now in Pakistan), Father: Bhai Hamam Singh, mother: Ranjit Kaur. Professor Satbir Singh\'s tally of more than 70 titles covering a life span of 62 years makes a formidable catalogue. Among it are works of minute research,

SATI DAS, BHAI (d. 1675), the martyr, was the younger brother of Diwan Mati Das. According to Bhatt Vahl Talauda he served Guru Tegh Bahadur as a cook. He was, under imperial warrant, detained along with the Guru at Dhamtan, as the latter was travelling to the eastern parts in

SAUNDHA SINGH, famous as Kavi (kavi= poet) Saundha, was born around 1750 at the village of Kale, in Amritsar district of the Punjab. He studied Hindi, Rekhta and Persian, as also music, under Gur Sahai Kundra of Thatti Nagar, near Chunian, in Lahore district. He launched upon his literary

SAVAL SINGH, a Randhava Jatt, received the vows of the Khalsa about 1750 and joined the Bhangi misl. He fought for his chief Hari Singh in several of his campaigns. Within a few years he came to possess a large tract of country on the left bank of the Ravi,

SAVAN MALL, a nephew of Guru Amar Das, was pious and accomplished Sikh. As Guru Amar Das, after having been installed Guru by Guru Angad, moved from Khadur to Goindval, a number of his followers came to reside there, necessitating the construction of many new houses. To procure timber

SAVAN MALL, DIWAN (d. 1844), governor of Multan from 1821 to 1844, was son of Hoshnak Rai, a Chopra Khatri, in the service of Sardar Dal Singh ofAkalgarh. When in 1804, Maharaja Ranjit Singh took over Akalgarh on the death of Dal Singh, Savan Mall was employed as a

SAVAN SINGH, a cousin of Dasaundha Singh and Sangat Singh of the Nishanavah misi, distinguished himself by his heroic deeds in the latter half of the eighteenth century. He participated in the partition of the territory of Sirhind which was captured by the Sikhs in January 1764. He appropriated

SCINDIA, DAULAT RAO (1780-1827), Maratha chief of Gwalior, who in the closing decades of the eighteenth century succeeded in becoming viceregent of the shrunken Mughal empire. Pie held in his power the blind titular emperor Shah Alam, whom he had rescued from the clutches of the Ruhilas, and ruled

Seetal, Sohan Singh entered the field of literary creation after 1947. He has written over a score novels most of which are romantic and sentimental. Among these Dive di Lo (The Flame of the Earthen Lamp), Mul da Mas (Flesh at a Price) and Badia (Revenge) deal with the

Sekhon, Sant Singh (1908 -) was born at Lyallpur, Pakistan. He did his B.A. (Hons) in English from Mission College, Lahore, in 1928 and M.A. (Economics) from Khalsa College, Amritsar, in 1930, and later did M.A. in English privately. He started as a lecturer in English in 1931, and

Sethi, Surjit Singh (1928 - ) was born at Gujarkhan, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He did his M.A. in English and submitted his thesis on Ibsenism (Dramatics) for Ph.D. Primarily a playwright, he writes short stories and novels also. His first full-length play, Coffee house (1958), is a portrayal of \'hollow

SEVA SINGH KRIPAN BAHADUR (1890-1961), Akali activist and newspaper editor, was the son of Bhai Harnam Singh and Mai Prem Kaur of Bakhtgarh, village 18 km northwest of Barnala (30"22`N, 75"32`E), in Sangrur district of the Punjab. Born in 1890, he received lessons in Punjabi and in scripture reading in

SEVA SINGH THiKRIVALA (1882-1935), one of the founders of the Praja Mandal, a platform for ventilating the grievances of and for an open expression of the political opinion of the inhabitants of territories, mainly in the Punjab, ruled by Indian princes during British times, was born at Thikrivala, a

SEVA SINGH, BHAI (1882-1945), journalist and author, was born in 1882 at Sarai Alamgir, in Gujrat district (now in Pakistan), where his father, Lal Sihgh, was a village moneylender. Passing his middle school examination from Jehlum, he trained as a junior vernacular teacher at Rawalpindi, and took up service at

SEVA SINGH, BHAI (1897-1921). one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was born in Magghar 1954 Bk/November December 1897, the son of Bhai Ishar Singh and Mai Atto of Chakk No. 80 Nizampur Mula Singhvala, district Sheikhupura. He attended the village primary school and also learnt land or the Mahajani script

SHAH DAULA (158 IP1676), a renowned Muslim divine of his time, was the son of `Abd urRahim Khan Lodhi, a descendant of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi and Niamat Khatun, a scion of the chiefs of Gakkhar tribe of western Punjab, though the Gu^jars of Gujrat, now in Pakistan, claim him

SHAH DIN, FAQIR (d. 1842), son of Faqir `Aziz udDin, minister to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was the Sikh court`s envoy with the British political agent at Ludhiana and later at Firozpur. He is described in contemporary chronicles as an able diplomat who often accompanied foreign dignitaries visiting Lahore and acted

SHAH SHUJA (1780-1842) or Shuja`ulMulk, the King of Kabul, was the youngest son of Taimur Shah and grandson of Ahmad Shah Durrani. Shah Zaman, his elder brother, appointed him governor of Peshawar. In 1800, Shah Zaman was defeated and dethroned by his half brother, Shah Mahmud, but Shah Shuja`

SHAH ZAMAN, son of Taimur Shah and grandson of Ahmad Shah Durrani, became the ruler of Afghanistan in May 1793 at the age of 23. As soon as Shah Zaman came to the throne, he proclaimed his intention of reestablishing the Afghan sway in India. His first attempt to conquer

SHAHBAZ SINGH (d. 1745) was the son of Subeg Singh, the kotwal of Lahore under the Mughal governor, Zakariya Khan. He went to a Muhammadan school to read Persian and Arabic. He made good progress in his studies and caught the notice of the maulawi for his highly intelligent

SHAHZADA, son of Bhai Mardana, Guru Nanak`s favourite minstrel and companion. Like his father, Shahzada was a devotee of the Guru and an accomplished musician. After the death of Mardana, he remained in attendance upon Guru Nanak at Kartarpur and continued to perform kirtan or hymn singing to the

SHAM SINGH ATARlVALA (d. 1846), a general in the Sikh army, was the grandson of Sardar Gauhar Singh, who had embraced Sikhism in the early days of Sikh political ascendancy and joined the Jatha or band of Gurbakhsh Singh of Roranvala. He soon established his rakhior protection over an

SHAM SINGH NIHANG (1854-1924) was born Harkesh, in 1854, to Chaudhari Jasvant Singh at the village of Muhammadpur, in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. As he grew up, he helped his father in the family`s profession of farming before migrating at the age of twenty. five to Hyderabad, in

SHAM SINGH, SANT (1803-1926), holy man who was also an accomplished musician, was born in 1803 to Bhai Darbari and Krishan Kaur, a couple of humble means belonging to the Sevapanthi sect of the Sikhs and inhabitants of Shahpur, in Sargodha district of Pakistan. His father died when he

SHAMIR SINGH THETHAR (d. 1824), soldier and a minor commander in the Sikh times. He was the son of Prem Singh, of the village of Thethar, near Lahore, and brother of Lakkha Singh along with whom he entered the service of Sukkarchakkias. Shamir Singh fought in the battle of

SHAMSHER SINGH SANDHANVAUA (1816-1871) was son of Buddh Singh and a collateral of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Shamsher Singh distinguished himself as a soldier and served on active duty in the Peshawar area. He was by nature averse to politics and took no part in courtly intrigues which engulfed Lahore

Shamsher Singh Sheri, alias Karam Singh, was a communist leader in India. Sheri was born in 1942 in the village of Khokhar Kalan, in the Sangrur district, Punjab. Soon after his birth his father died. He was married to Harbans Kaur in 1957. Harbans was only nine years old at

Shamsher Singh Sheri, alias Karam Singh, was a communist leader in India. Sheri was born in 1942 in the village of Khokhar Kalan, in the Sangrur district, Punjab. Soon after his birth his father died. He was married to Harbans Kaur in 1957. Harbans was only nine years old at

SHANKAR DAS (d. 1832) was introduced at the Sikh court by his father, Shiv Dial, himself an employee of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who had appointed him manager of the Dhanni country. Shankar Das was placed under Prince Kharak Singh, the heir apparent, to manage his Jagirs. When Diwan Moti

SHANKAR NATH, DlWAN (1805-1876), born at Delhi in 1805, was brought to Lahore in 1820 by his father Pandit Hari Ram, an employee of the Lahore kingdom. Shankar Nath was placed in the treasury office of Prince Kharak Singh and was afterwards transferred to the central record office where

SHER MUHAMMAD KHAN, NAWAB (d. 1710), an Afghan feudatory of the Mughals, was the chief of Malerkotia and held a high military position in the sarkar or division of Sirhind. He had participated in the batde of Chamkaur and was present in the court at Sirhind when Nawab Wazir Khan,

SHER SINGH, leader of a group of Sikh warriors who was rewarded by Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) for his initiative and alacrity in one of the battles of Anandpur. He fell upon a contingent of the Mughal force fatigued after a quick day`s action. This sudden attack took the

SHER SINGH ATARIVALA (d. 1858), provincial governor under Maharaja Duleep Singh of Lahore, was the son of Chatar Singh Atarivala. He was appointed governor of Peshawar in October 1845, and recalled in August 1846 to Lahore where he was nominated a member of the Council of Regency. He was

SHER SINGH CHHACHHI (d. 1814), son of Tahal Singh Chhachhi of Kohli Khatri caste, served under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. As his ancestors had settled in Chhachh, in Attock district (now in Pakistan) the family came to be known as Chhachhi. Sher Singh succeeded to the estates of his father

SHER SINGH, GIANI (1890-1944), political leader, orator and newspaper editor, was born the son of Varyam Singh and Nand Kaur at the village of Thikrivala, now in Sangrur district of the Punjab, .in January 1890. An attack of smallpox when he was barely two years old left him totally

SHER SINGH, MAHARAJA (1807-1843), Sikh sovereign of the Punjab from January 1841 until his death in September 1843, was the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, born on 4 December 1807 to Mahitab Kaur, the Maharaja`s first wife. Sher Singh grew up into a handsome, broad chested young man. His

SHERIFF, a Spaniard, who joined the Sikh army as an engineer in 1841 on a salary of Rs 300 per month. He had not been in service more than an year when he fell off his horse and died in Lahore.

SHIAM SINGH (d. 1705), keeper of Guru Gobind Singh\'s treasure as well as his armoury, fought in the battle against Said Khan in 1703. Upon the evacuation of Anandpur, he accompanied the Guru up to Chamkaur where a Mughal force caught up with them. Shiam Singh fell in the

SHIHAN, Dhir Mall`s masand, desperately supported his patron who had set himself up at Bakala as one of the several claimants to the guruship following the death of Guru Har Krishan in March 1664. He enticed the Sikhs to his patron`s presence telling them that he was the late

SHIHAN, BHAI, an Uppal Khatri of Khadur Sahib in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab, was a prominent Sikh of the time of Guru Angad (1504-52) and Guru Amar Das (1479-1574).

SHIV DIAL, whose ancestors had made their home in Wazirabad, entered the service of Charhat Singh Sukkarchakkia and was assigned to managing his estates. His father, Kishan Kumar, a follower of Gurbakhsh Singh Wazirabadia, was the first in the family to have taken up service with the Sikhs. When

SHIV RAM (b. 1418), grandfather of Guru Nanak, was the son of Ram Narain, a Bedi Khatri. He and his wife, Banarasi, lived in a village called Patthevind, now the site of Gurdwara Dera Sahib, 10 km east of Naushahra Pannuan in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab. Two

SHIVNABH, RAJA, was, according to the Janam Sakhi tradition, a Ceylonese king who became a devotee of Guru Nanak. It was a merchant of Lahore, Bhai Mansukh, who during a visit to Ceylon, then known as Sinhaldvip, had impressed the king with his conduct as well as with the

SIDDHSEN, RAJA, chief of Mandi state in Himachal Pradesh from 1686 to 1729, became a devotee of Guru Gobind Singh. At his request the Guru went to Mandi and stayed with him for some time. The Raja later had the chance of playing host to Banda Singh Bahadur as

SIHAN, BHAI, a washerman, was a devoted Sikh of Guru Nanak`s. He along with Bhai Hassu accompanied the Guru during his journey to Kashmir. They reduced to writing hymns uttered by the Guru during this udasl. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Vir Singh, Bhai, ed., Puratanjanam Sakhi. 2. Kirpal Singh, Janam Sakhi

SINGARU, BHAI, and his brother Jaita, both brave soldiers, received initiation at the hands of Guru Arjan. The Guru directed them to be in attendance upon his son, Hargobind. They continued to serve the latter and were happy to see him installed as Guru in 1606. According to Bhai

A veteran political activist, Santokh Singh \'Dheer\' is bold, outspoken, down-to-earth and yet essentially poetic. He was born in Bassi Pathana, Punjab in 1920. He is a whole-time and his prolific contribution to literature includes nine short story collections, four novels, eleven books of verse, two edited volumes of

Singh \'Josh\', Sohan writes under the pen name of \'Josh\'. He is adept in both Punjabi and Urdu. He has already published four collections in Punjabi. They are Dhup Chhan (Sunshine and Shade), Samen di Mang (Need of the Hour), Goongi Dharti (The Mute Earth) and Balde Bujde Akkar

Singh \'Kanwal\', Jaswant was born at village Dhudike (Tehsil Moga and district Ferozepur) in 1919 in the family of S. Mahia Singh. Jaswant Singh is a well-known novelist in Punjabi literature. He did not complete his schooling and went to Malaysia, where he stayed for three years and took

Singh \'Padam\', Piara was born in 1912. He has written on different subjects in a popular manner, Hindustani Kala (Indian Art), Hindustani Kavi (Indian Poets), Hindustani Kavita (Indian Poetry) provide simple information about the subjects indicated in the titles. Sola Kalan (Sixteen Arts) and Kalam de Dhani (Master of

Singh \'Rup\', Harinder, born in 1907, was an eminent Punjabi poet of the neo-classical tradition in which emotion remains subdued. He published his poems in collections entitled Nave pandh (New paths, 1945) and Dunghe vahin (Deep streams, 1947). Rup did not develop a new style or content of his

Singh \'Sehrai\', Piara is a contemporary of \'Safeer\' and several other better known poets of today. His verse has an altogether different flavour from the rest of Punjabi poetry that is being written today. It does not have the lyricism of Mohan Singh or the subtlety of \'Safeer\' or

Singh \'Shan\', Harnam, an eminent Punjabi poet, writer and journalist, was born at Dhamial (District Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan) in 1923 in the family of S. Sarban Singh Kochar. He did his post-graduation (English and Punjabi) from Punjab University, Chandigarh and his doctorate from the University of London in

Singh Chatrath, Balwant (d. 1959), was an eminent short story writer, who died in 1959. He has profusely used this form of literature and has written as many as five (Dasmesh Kahanian, RanJit Kahanian, Pushp Patari, Sardarni, Navi Lih) collections of short stories. He has been propagating certain reforms

Starting his career as lecturer in Punjabi at Doaba College, Jalandhar, Professor Pritam Singh shifted to Sikh National College, Lahore the next year where he served as a teacher in Punjabi until 1947. Joining the Punjab Education Service after Partition he rose to be Principal, Government College, Ludhiana and

Singh, Gur Baksh was a pioneer in the field of refined Punjabi prose-writing. He has to his credit two novel and several collections of essays and short stories. His writing has been widely translated into Russian and other European Languages. He was the first prose writer in Punjabi to

Singh, Gurdial born in 1933, is a famous Punjabi novelist, short story writer, and poet. He has written eight novels and five collections of short stories. He presents socio-economic struggle with sentiments and understanding. He did his graduation in 1964 and master of arts (Punjabi) in 1967. Gurdial Singh

Singh, Harbhajan, born on 18th August 1920 and died on 20th November 2002, was an eminent Punjabi poet, critic, scholar and translator. An M.A. (English and Hindi), Gyani and a Ph.D. (on A critical Study of Medieval Hindi Poetry Preserved in Gurmukhi Scripts), he has been at different stages

Singh, Harcharan born in 1915, is an eminent Punjabi dramatist and writer. He obtained Master\'s degree in Punjabi and History and got Ph.D. degree for his thesis \'Theatre Traditions in Punjab\'. He was inspired by Norah Richard for writing dramas. Kamlakumari is the first play written by him in

Singh, Jagtar, an eminent Punjabi poet, was born at Rajgomal, district Jallandhar (Punjab). He did his M.A. in Punjabi and Urdu (first class first) and later Ph.D., on the critical study of Punjabi poetry in Pakistan from 1947 to 1972. Jagtar is well versed in Urdu, Punjabi, English and

Singh, Karanjit, a University teacher, has authored two collections of poems. These are Rishte (Relations) and Phul Vi Angare Vi (Both Blossoms and Sparks) besides a collection of sketches called Kalam di Akh (Pen Portraits) a critique of Mohan Singh\'s poetry ”Mohan Singh Kavya Adhyan (A Study of Mohan

Singh, Mohan, better known as \'Divana\', is a versatile writer, a research scholar, a critic, a linguist, a short story writer, an essayist, a dramatist, a poet, a free thinker and literary giant, who, apart from Punjabi, writes in English, Hindi and Urdu also. He started his career at

Singh, Mohan was born in Mardan (Pakistan). He, however, belonged to the village Dhamial, near Rawalpindi (Pakistan). His father was a doctor in the Civil Hospital. Mohan Singh passed his matriculation examination in 1923. In the same year, he was married to a beautiful girl, Basant. But after four

Singh, Nanak, the father of Punjabi novel, was born at Peshawar. Like most Hindu families in the West Punjab in those days, Nanak Singh\'s parents were devoted to the Sikh faith. Their son, Hans Raj, embraced Sikhism under the influence of the Singh Sabha Movement of the early twenties

Singh, Narinderpal is one of the leading novelists of the Punjabi language. He was born at Kama Bungalow in District Lyallpur (now in Pakistan). Formerly in Defence Services, he retired as Brigadier in 1972. He was commissioned in 1942 and served in West Asia during World War II. He

Singh, Navtej was the son of the well-known Punjabi writer, Gurbakhsh Singh. He did his M.A. in Psychology, and started his career as a political journalist and remained so till his death. He was co-editor of the journal Prit lari and took over its complete charge as editor after

Singh, Suba was born at village Udho Nangal, District Amritsar. He is an eminent humorous writer in Punjabi. In the pre-Independence days, he was an activist in the I.N.A. that later on prompted him to write Topan de parchavein thalion (From underneath the shadow of guns, 1974). Starting his

Singh, Sujan was born in 1909 at Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur and died on 21st April 1983 in Amritsar, Punjab. He spent his early childhood in Bengal with his father who was a contractor there. After the death of his father when he was just 11 years old, he

Singh, Takhat, an eminent poet, was born in 1914 and died in 1990. He entered the field of Punjabi poetry via Urdu in which he commands a considerable reputation. As a consequence of his training in Urdu, he has written mostly ghazals. In fact, he has brought the ghazal

Singh, Tara, also known as Tara Singh Kamil, was born in Hookran district of Hoshiarpur, Punjab. He now lives in Delhi and is engaged in journalism. Singh began his literary career as a poet of light, witty and humorous pieces which became instantly popular at \'Kavi Darbars\'. He moved

SINGHA, BHAI. During his travels Guru Tegh Bahadur once stopped in Khiva, according to the Sakhi Pothi, with a farmer named Singha. Singha offered water, grass and fodder for the Guru`s animals. As he got up to depart, the Guru spoke, "Why are you leaving ? What is the

SITA RAM KOHLI He passed his matriculation examination from the local Government High School and went to Government College, Lahore, for his Master`s degree in History. In 1913 the University of the Panjab invited the eminent British historian, Ramsay Muir, from England as a visiting professor. He stayed at Lahore

SMITH, SIR HARRY GEORGE WAKELYN (1787-1860), divisional commander of the British army of the Sutlej, under Lord Hugh Gough, in the First Anglo Sikh war (1845-46). Pie was a veteran of the Peninsular war and had also taken part in the battle of Waterloo. He saw action at Ferozeshah (21

SOBHA SINGH, a grandson of Divan Singh who had built the village of Qila Divan Singh in Gurdaspur district during the early days of Sikh power. Divan Singh was a follower of Chatthas of Rasulnagar. Sobha Singh`s father, Hukam Singh had served under Mahan Singh Sukkarchakkia and afterwards under

SOBHA SINGH, a native of Doaba region, joined Bhai Maharaj Singh, a leading figure in the 1848-49 revolt, in his march to Multan in aid of Diwan Mul Raj in June 1848, and remained with him throughout till he reached Dev Batala, in the Jammu territory, after the battles

SOBHA SINGH, SIR (1890-1978), the single largest builder and real estate owner of New Delhi, was the elder of the two sons of Sujan Singh, the younger one being Ujjal Singh who made himself famous as a Punjab parliamentarian. Sobha Singh was born in the village of Hadali in Khushab,

SOHAN CHAND, son of Mat Das, a Panvar Rajput, was a warrior Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh. According to Sarup Singh Kaushish, Guru kian Sakhian, he fell fighting valiantly in the battle of Nadaun (20 March 1691).

SOHAN LAL (d. 1888), son of Chhaiju, the goldsmith, of Charkhi Dadri in the princely state of JJnd, was the steward of the estates of Thakur Singh Sandhanvalia`s mother in law, Rani Kishan Kaur of Ballabgarh. Thakur Singh, who liad set up an emigre government in Pondicherry in behalf

SOHAN LAL SURI, vakil or attorney at the Lahore court, is famous for his monumental work in Persian, `Umdat iitTwankh, a chronicle of Sikh times comprising five daftars or volumes. Little is known about Sohan Lal`s early life except that he was the son of Lala Ganpat Rai, a

SOHAN SINGH BHAKNA, BABA (1870-1968), founder president of the Ghadr party in the U.S.A., was the only son of Bhai Karam Singh, a Shergill Jatt of the village of Bhakna, 16 km southwest of Amritsar. He was born in January 1870 at Khutrai Khurd, parental home of his mother,

SOHAN SINGH JOSH (1898-1892), Akaliturned Communist, was born on 22 September 1898 at Chetanpura in Amritsar district. His father`s name was Lal Singh. Sohan Singh, who entered school rather late, passed the Middle standard examination from Church Mission School, Majitha, and the Marticulation examinationa from D.A.V. School, Amritsar, then

SOHAN SINGH, BHAl (1890-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was the youngest of the six children of Bhai Sher Singh and Mai Gabo of the village of Dingarian, in Jalandhar district. On the opening of the Lower Chenab Canal Colony during the 1890`s, the family migrated to Chakk No.

SOHAN SINGH, SANT (1902-1972), born Ude Singh, was the youngest of the four children of Pahjab Singh and Prem Kaur who lived at the village of Phul in the former princely state of Nabha. The family moved to Chatthevala, near Damdama Sahib (Talvandi Sabo), during the influenza epidemic of 1918-19.

SOMA, BHAI, a native of Jhang, now in Pakistan, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. He laboured with devotion during the digging.of the sacred pool at Amritsar. One day, as Guru Arjan was supervising the work, a mendicant came to him for alms. The Guru

SRI CHAND, BABA (1494-1629), the elder son of Guru Nanak and the founder of the ascetic sect of Udasis, was born to Mata Sulakkhani on Bhadon sudi9, 1551 Bk/8 September 1494 at Sultanpur Lodhi, now in Kapurthala district of the Punjab. After Guru Nanak left home on his travels

STEINBACH, HENRY, a Prussian, was one of the many European adventurers who secured employment in the Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors. Steinbach joined the Sikh infantry in 1836 as a battalion commander on a starting salary of Rs 600 per month, increased to Rs 800 by 1841.

SUBEG SINGH (d. 1745), an eighteenth century martyr of the Sikh faith, was born to Rai Bhaga of the village of Jambar in Lahore district. He learnt Arabic and Persian as a young man and later gained access to the Mughal officials as a government, contractor. When in 1733, the

SUCHCHA SINGH (1883-1924) was born the son of Bhai Sundar Singh of Chakk No. 277 Sital Rakkh in Lyallpur, now Faisalabad, district of Pakistan. After a stint as a school teacher lie joined service in the Punjab Police and rose to he a sub inspector. Reacting to Nankana Sahib

SUCHCHANAND (d. 1710), a Khatri official in the court of Nawab Wazir Khan, faiydar of Sirhind, was instrumental in the execution of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, Guru Gobind Singh`s two younger sons aged nine and seven respectively. The Sahibzadas and their grandmother, Mata Gujari, had been

SUCHET SINGH, RAJA (1801-1844.), the youngest of the Dogra trinity who rose to high positions at the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was born on 18 January 1801, the son of MIari Kishora Singh. He started his career a^ a young age, appointed to the duty of laying public petitions

SUDDH SINGH, one of the twenty-two subas, lit. governors or deputies, appointed by the Kuka leader, Baba Ram Singh, to look after missionary work in different parts, was born in Ambala district in 1830. His father`s name was Ram Singh. Suddh Singh was initiated into the Kuka faith by

SUDDHU, BHAI, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. He lived in Lahore. Guru Aijan, along with five of his Sikhs, stayed in his house for a few days before he was summoned under imperial warrant and martyred. Bhai Suddhu was the father of Bhai Buddhu,

SUJA, BHAI, a Dhavan Khatri, was a pious Sikh of tlie time of Guru Arjan. His name is included among the Guru`s devotees in Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala.

SUJAN SINGH, son of Amrik Singh of the village of Dhianpurin Amritsar district, belonged to Dallevalia misl. He was one of the claimants who figured in the partition of Sirhind territory of the Sikhs after the fall of the town in 1764. He along with his two brothers, Man

SUJAN SINGH SODHI (1870-1915), educationist and reformer, was born in 1870, the son of Sodhi Kishan Singh of Patiala. He took his intermediate examination at Mohindra College, Patiala, from where he went to Government College, Lahore, to receive his B.A. In 1980, he joined Mohindra College as professor of

SUJANA, BHAI, a warrior, was the devoted Sikh of Guru Hargobind. He fought with great valour in the battle of Amritsar against Mukhlis Khan in AD 1629.

SUKH RAJ (d. 1842) was the youngest of the five sons of Misr Divan Chand, a general in Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s army. Sukh Raj himself joined an infantry regiment and soon rose to be its commandant. He commanded a number of infantry battalions and took part in several of

SUKHDEV, a Kanyakubja Brahman from Uttar Pradesh, was one of the scholars and poets attached to Guru Gobind Singh. According to his own evidence, he was born at Kapilnagar and educated at Varanasi. He had been at the courts of several chieftains and officials, Hindu and Muslim, before joining

SUKHDEV, ruler of Jasrota, a minor chief belonging to one of the hill states situated between the Chenab and the Ravi. He took the part of the hill chieftains and Guru Gobind Singh in the battle of Nadaun fought on 20 March 1691 against the Mughal commander, Alif Khan.

SUKKHA SINGH (d. 1752), eighteenth century Sikh warrior and martyr, was born at Mari Kamboke, in Amritsar district, in a family of carpenters of the Kaisi clan. As a small boy, he had heard with great fascination stories of Sikhs` daring and sacrifice in those days of fierce persecution and

SUKKHU, sadhu of the Divana (lit. madmen) sect, was incited by his mentor, Ghudda, to attack Guru Gobind Singh to avenge the death of one of his followers at the hands of a Sikh. The deceased had been mortally wounded while attempting to force his entry into Guru Gobind

SULABI KHAN. a nephew of Sulahi Khan, bore Guru Arjan a personal grudge thinking that his uncle had died as a result of Guru Arjan`s curse. Abetted by Chandu Shah, who had his own axe to grind, to take revenge on the Guru, Sulabi Khan set out with a

SULAHI KHAN, a Mughal courtier, was befriended by Baba Prithi Chand with a view to securing official patronage for his claim to succession to the spiritual title to which his father, Guru Ram Das, had nominated his youngest son, Arjan. Prithi Chand, eldest of three brothers, had founded a new

SULTAN MAHMUD KHAN (d. 1859) , son of General Ghaus Khan, was a commander of a section of heavy artillery during the regime of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. His derah of artillery was designated as Topkhanai Sultan Mahmud. After the death of General Ghaus Khan in 1814, although the chief command

SULTAN MUHAMMAD KHAN, one of the several sons of Painda Khan, was a gorgeous person known as "Sultan Bibi" on account of Ills excessive love of finery and ostentation. In 1830 Sultan Muhammad Khan became governor of Peshawar and a tributary of the Sikhs. About this time, he was

SULTAN SINGH (d. 1842), a Suri Khatri of Ghotala, in Jehlum district, joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s ghorcharas at the young age of thirteen. He saw active service in several expeditions beyond the Indus, and participated in the Multan and Kashmir campaigns. In one such campaign on the northwest frontier,

SUMER SINGH, BAVA (1847-1903), cleric and school man, was born on 17 August 1847 at Nizamabad, a small town in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. His family, originally from Goindval in the Punjab, traced its ancestry to Guru Amar Das, third in spiritual descent from Guru Nanak. Sumer Singh`s

SUNDAR DAS, BHAI, a Vadhavan Khatri of Burhanpur, is mentioned in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 30. A very pious and devoted person, he was among a batch of Sikh devotees who travelled from Burhanpur to Amritsar to see Guru Hargobind and receive instruction from him.

SUNDAR SHAH (d. 1640), a Muslim saint of Devnagar, probably the present day Deogaori in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, is remembered in Sikh tradition for his admiration for Bhai Bidhi Chand, a prominent Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind. Bhai Bidhi Chand was preaching in the eastern parts

SUNDAR SINGH JATHEDAR, BHAI (1869-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was the son of Bhai Bishan Singh and Mai Indar Kaur of village Dhudial, in Jalandhar district. His ancestors came from Bandala village in Amritsar district where they had served in the chief ship of Sardar Baghel Singh of

SUNDAR SINGH LYALLPURI, MASTER (1885-1969), teacher, journalist and politician, was born on 4 April 1885, the son of Lakhmir Singh Kamboj and Ram Kaur, of the village of Bahorii, 12 km south of Amritsar. The family later moved to the canal colony in Sheikhupura district where they founded a

SUNDAR SINGH MAJITHIA, SARDAR BAHADUR SIR (1872-1941), statesman and reformer, was the younger son of Raja Surat Singh (d. 1881). He was born on 17 February 1872 at Majitha (31038`N, 74052`E), a village 18 km northeast of Amritsar (hence the surname Majithia). He was educated at Government School, Amritsar,

SUNDAR SINGH, BHAI (1881-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, belonged to Nizampur Deva Singhvala, near Dharovali in Sheikhupura district. His original name was Sudh Singh. He was the son of Bhai Chanda Singh Kamboj and Mat Hukami and was born in July August 1881, at their ancestral village Nizampur

SUNDAR SINGH, SANT GIANI (1883-1930), teacher of the sacred texts and exegete from whose seat in his native village the Bhindrarivala school of Sikh learning derived its name, was born on 18 August 1883, the son of Khazan Singh and Mahitab Kaur alias Tab Kaur, a devoted couple of

SUNDAR, BABA, celebrated for his six stanza composition, the Ramkali Sadu, incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib, was the great grand son of Guru Amar Das. His father, Anand Das son of Baba Mohri, was a man of a devout temperament. Sundar grew up in an environment of faith and

SUNDAR, BHAI, a fisherman and water carrier, received initiation at the hands of Guru Arjan. According to Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, he was assigned to supplying fuel and water for the Guru ka Langar which duty he performed with supreme dedication. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Man! Singh, Bhai,

SUNDARI, MATA (d. 1747), the second wife of Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), was the daughter of Bhai Ram Saran, a Kumarav Khatri of Bijvara. in present day Hoshiarpur district of the Punjab. She was married to Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur on 4 April 1684. On 26 January 1687,

SURAIN SINGH, BHAI (1895-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, came from Chakk No. 80 Nizampur Mula Singhvala, district Sheikhupura. He was the second of the six children of Bhai Ram Singh and Mai Hukam Kaur. He learnt Gurmukhi from the village priest and was initiated into the Khalsa Panth

SURAJ MALL, son of Guru Hargobind, was born to Mata Maha Devi Marvahi, at Amritsar on 9 June 1617. He was married on 23 April 1629 to Khem Kaur daughter of Bhai Prem Chand of Kartarpur, in present day Jalandhar district of the Punjab. A son, Dip Chand, was

SURAT SINGH, a warrior Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh who, according to Samp Singh Kaushish, Guru kian Sakhian, fell fighting valiantly in the battle of Nirmohgarh (7 October 1700).

SURAT SINGH MAJITHIA, RAJA (d. 1881), son of Atar Singh Majithia, was a soldier, commander and notable sardar of the Sikh Darbar. Details of his early career and of his service under Maharaja Ranjit Singh are scanty. Surat Singh was commandant of the Sikh battalion posted at Peshawar during

SURDAS, one of the medieval Indian bhakta poets whose verses have been incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. Surdas, whose original name was Madan Mohan, is said to have been born in 1529, in a high-ranking Brahman family. As he grew up, he gained proficiency in the arts of

SURI, BHAI, a village headman, received initiation at the hands of Guru Arjan. Once, as he was on a visit to Amritsar, the Guru impressed upon him the sanctity and significance of the holy place for the Sikhs. His name appears in the list of Guru Arjan`s Sikhs in

SURJIT SINGH MAJlTHIA (1912-1995) with acquiline features and large luminous eyes was a very hand some looking man. He cut an extraordinarily impressive figure on the fiekl of sport. Alert and agile, he was a cricketer of considerable repute. Besides, he filled several leadership roles in the social and

Surjit Rampuri, whose real name is Surjit Singh Mangat, was born in 1926 in the village of Rampur, now in district Ludhiana. As MA in English and Punjabi he retired as District Education Officer. He began writing verse from the early age of seventeen but published his first collection,

SVAMI DAS, BHAI, a Vadhavan Khatri of Burhanpur, who, according to Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 30, once accompanied the sangat of his town to Amritsar to receive instruction from Guru Hargobind.

SWARAN SINGH (1907-1994). Tall and wiry, Sardar Swaran Singh, was born on 19 August 1907 in a farming family of the village of Shankar in Jalandhar district. He was married to Charan Kaur (1925). The family laid much store by education. One of the two sons was sent up to