Sahibzada Baba

Sumer Singh Bhalla
Photograph of Baba Sumer Singh Bhalla
Photograph of Baba Sumer Singh Bhalla
Born1847
Died1903
Occupation

Sumer Singh (1847-1903) was a Sikh historian, a writer and poet of Braj literature, interpreter of Sikh Scripture, and teacher. Sumer Singh was called Sahibzada, prince, and Bābā, because of his direct lineage to the Bhalla clan, associated with Guru Amar Das.

Titles

For some time he also was the Mahant (now termed Jathedar) of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib. He was Mahant of Takht Patna Sahib between the years 1882 to 1903.[1] He also served as the chairman of the Faridkot Teeka Committee, overseeing the writing of the Faridkot Teeka.

Works

Mahan Kosh lists Sumer Singh's works as including: Khalsa Shattak, Gurpad Prem Prakash, Khalsa Panchasika, Gurkeerat Kavitavali, Gurcharit Darpan, Prem Prabhakar, Brahmand Puran, Makke Madine Di Gosht, Sumer Bhushan.

A master poet, Sumer Singh's Gurpad Prem Prakash (1881) is a narrative life story on Guru Gobind Singh and has been recently published in 2000 by the Punjabi University, Patiala, Publication Bureau, edited by Dr. Achhar Singh Kahlon.[2]

Valerie Ritter (2010) writes that,

"Many of Sumersingh's publications were Sikh in subject matter, though other subjects and genres were also represented. One, for instance, consisted of kundaliyas based upon the more Krishnaite and riti-oriented Bihari Satasai. He wrote other pieces on poetic ornament (alamkara), couplets (dohas) on Sikh topics, and a commentary on the Japji Sahib. Shivanandan Sahay remembered him as a bhakta of Tulsi's Avadhi Ramcharitmanas as well, which he edited at the Press along with a commentary on the Manas by yet another Sikh author."[3]
Baba Sumer Singh Bhalla in Benares
Baba Sumer Singh Bhalla

Social Contributions

Ritter (2010) comments on the extrodinary life lived by Sumer Singh,

"the extensive network that Sumersingh moved in for religious, literary and, presumably, business purposes, deserves note. Mahant at Patna, litterateur in Varanasi, frequent visitor to the Punjab, and local intellectual in Nizamabad, Sumersingh moved fluidly between and within regions, and in varying social circles, ranging from the wealthy city merchant class of Varanasi, Brahmins in the districts, and English sahibs."[4]

Sumer Singh founded the Patna-Kavi-Samaj, at the request of Patna University students, where he mentored students on their poetry.[3] Sumer Singh mentored and taught an esteemed poet, Ayodhya Prasad Upadhyay, who took the penname, nom-de-plume, Hariaudh from the inspiration of Sumer Singh's pen name, 'Sumer Hari'.[5]

Sumer Singh viewed poetry as a way to connect, and break divisions between Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh, as his student Ayodhya Prasad Upadhyay writes:

"...in the subject of his poetry (Sumersingh) had great hopes. He wanted his poetry to be spread among the public, and he said that the destruction of differences between Sikhs and Hindus might be accomplished by this means."[6][7]

Sumer Singh was politically involved with Khem Singh Bedi and others of the Amritsar Singh Sabha in planning to resurrect Sikh rule in Punjab, but their plans were destroyed by the British along with the support received by the Lahore Singh Sabha.[8]

Baba Sumer Singh Bhalla in Benares
Baba Sumer Singh Bhalla

References

  1. ↑ Sri Dasam Granth: Facts Beyond Doubt (1st ed.). Malaysia: Sri Guru Granth Sahib Academy. 2021. p. 359. ISBN 9781527282773. ... Baba Sumer Singh Patna Sahib, the descendant of Guru Amar Das Ji. He served as the Head Priest of Patna Sahib from 1882-1903 CE.
  2. ↑ ISBN 81-730-587-3
  3. 1 2 Valerie Ritter, ‘Networks, Patrons, and Genres for Late Braj Bhasha Poets’, In Before the Divide: Hindi and Urdu Literary Culture, 249–276. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2010. Page 258
  4. ↑ Valerie Ritter, ‘Networks, Patrons, and Genres for Late Braj Bhasha Poets’, In Before the Divide: Hindi and Urdu Literary Culture, 249–276. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2010. Page 260
  5. ↑ Valerie Ritter, ‘Networks, Patrons, and Genres for Late Braj Bhasha Poets’, In Before the Divide: Hindi and Urdu Literary Culture, 249–276. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2010. Page 257
  6. ↑ Hariaudh 1934: 514-15
  7. ↑ Valerie Ritter, ‘Networks, Patrons, and Genres for Late Braj Bhasha Poets’, In Before the Divide: Hindi and Urdu Literary Culture, 249–276. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2010. Page 261
  8. ↑ Oberoi, Harjot. 1994. The Construction of Religious Boundaries: Culture, Identity, and Diversity in the Sikh Tradition. Delhi: Oxford University Press. Page 377
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