GAṆḌĀ SIṄGH (1900-1987), celebrated Punjab historian who by his sustained and pioneer work in the field of historical research initiated new trends in Sikh historiography and who by his critically important work became a vital and pervasive influence in historical learning in northern India, was born on 15 November 1900, the son of Javālā Siṅgh of Hariāṇā, an old town close to the city of Hoshiārpur in the Punjab. He began his education in the village mosque, later translating himself to the primary school. He passed the middle standard examination from D.A.V. (Dayānand Anglo-Vernacular) Middle School, Hoshiārpur, and his matriculation from Government High School in the same town. He joined the Forman Christian College at Lahore, but soon left it to enlist in the army (1919). He served at the Supply and Transport Corps Base Depot, Rāwalpiṇḍī, and at the divisional office at Peshāwar before he was attached to the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, Basrā, in 1920 and later to the British Royal Army Pay Corps, also at Basrā, in 1921. There he had his thigh torn by a bullet shot and he was hospitalized. After recovery he was repatriated to India, but had been mistakenly reported dead to his family. This led to a dramatic situation. When he suddenly appeared at the door of his home in the village late one evening, he was taken to be a spirit and was refused admittance. As he was recognized the following morning at the doorstep of his house, the family's horror turned into jubilation.

         In October 1931 began Dr Gaṇḍā Siṅgh's long and fruitful career as a researcher and historian. The Khālsā College at Amritsar placed him in charge of its newly created Sikh History Research Department, which position he kept till 1949. During this period he travelled extensively, rummaging various public libraries, archives and private collections throughout India in quest of materials on Sikh history, enriching the library of his department and also brought out several books and tracts based on these.

         Dr Gaṇḍā Siṅgh was principal of the Khālsā College, Paṭiālā, when he was invited by the Punjabi University, Paṭiālā, to organize its Department of Punjab Historical Studies. He set up Punjab History Conference in 1965 which became a very active forum for the discussion of matters relating to Punjab history. In 1967, he launched the University's journal, the bi-annual The Panjab Past and Present, of which he himself was the editor and which gathered high repute and much prestige over the years.

         Dr Gaṇḍā Siṅgh was a prolific writer. In addition to scores of research papers, booklets and pamphlets, he published over two dozen full-length volumes of high historical value. Chronologically they are: Inkishāf-i-Haqīqat (Urdu/Persian), 1926; Baisākhī Kā Khālsā Sandesh (Hindi), 1930; Life of Banda Singh Bahadur (English), 1935; History of Gurdwara Shahid Ganj Lahore (English), 1935; Maharaja Ranjit Singh (English), 1939; Maharaja Ranjit Singh : First Death Centenary Memorial Volume (English), 1939; Qazi Nur Muhammad Jangnama (English), 1939; Mahārājā Kauṛā Mall Bahādur (Punjabi), 1942; Sardār Shām Siṅgh Aṭārīvālā (Punjabi), 1942; Kūkiāṅ dī Vithiā (Punjabi), 1944; M'ākhaz-i-Twārīkh-i-Sikhāṅ (ed. Persian), 1949; Mukhtsar Nānak Shāhī Jantarī (Urdu), 1949; A Short History of the Sikhs (English --- in collaboration with Tejā Siṅgh), 1950; Shāhnāmā Raṇjīt Siṅgh by Maulawī Ahmad Yār (ed. Persian/Urdu), 1951; The Panjab in 1839-40 (English), 1952; The First Anglo-Sikh War (MS., English), 1955; Private Correspondence Relating to Anglo-Sikh Wars (ed. English), 1955; Punjab Utte Aṅgrezāṅ dā Qabzā (Punjabi), 1957; Ahmad Shāh Durrani (English), 1959; Sikhoṅ Kā-Saṅkshipt Itihās (Hindi), 1963; Bandā Siṅgh Bahādur (Punjabi), 1965; Some Confidential Papers of the Akali Movement (English), 1965;Bibliography of the Panjab (English), 1966; Srī Gur Sobhā (ed. Punjabi), 1967; Hukamnāme (Punjabi), 1967; Sardār Jassā Siṅgh Āhlūvālīā (Punjabi), 1969; Maharaja Duleep Singh Correspondence (English), 1977; Deportation of Lala Lajpat Rai and Sardar Ajit Singh (English), 1978; and Seditious Literature of the Panjab (English), 1987.

         In the course of his long career as a researcher and scholar, Dr Gaṇḍā Siṅgh had acquired a vast personal collection of rare books, maps, documents and manuscripts which occupied several rooms of his modest residence on the Lower Mall at Paṭiālā. This precious treasure is now the property of Punjabi University, Paṭiālā, to which institution he donated the entire collection.

1. Harbans Singh and N.G. Barrier, ed. Punjab Past and Present : Essays in Honour of Dr Ganda Singh. Patiala, 1976
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Major Gurmukh Siṅgh (Retd.)