 No efforts are being made to rescue the Persian language from its forced oblivion and there is need for the textual study and theological analysis of poetical works of Bhai Nand Lal, a Persian scholar.
Prof Balkar Singh expressed these views at the 28th International Conference of Persian teachers organised by Guru Nanak Dev University which ended here yesterday. He said Persian sources had been important for the researchers of Sikh history. He further added that Persian writings of Bhai Lal were absolutely in tune with the Sikh spirit, which provided the key to unlock the spiritual secrets and mystical flights of Sikhism through his poems.
Giving brief historical facts about Bhai Nand Lal, Balkar Singh said he was one of the 52 poets in the court of Guru Gobind Singh. Son of Diwan Chajju Ram, mir munshi or chief secretary of the Governor of Ghazni, Bhai Lal in a short time acquired great efficiency in Persian and Arabic languages.
After the death of his parents, he decided to return to Multan where he married a Sikh girl, who used to recite Gurbani and knew Gurmukhi. Leaving his family behind, he left for Anandpur Sahib and received Guru Gobind Singh’s blessings. After staying at there for some time, he left to serve as mir munshi under prince Mauzzam (later to become Emperor Bahadur Shah), due to an acquaintance of his father, named Wasif Khan.
Aurangzeb wished to convert him to Islam because he had so beautifully interpreted verses of the Koran. Fearing persecution, Bhai Lal and his family left for the northern India. Leaving his family in Multan, he once again came to stay with Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib in 1697. Later, he returned to Multan where he opened a school of higher education in Persian and Arabic.
Professor Singh said Bhai Lal’s seven works in Persian poetry included Diwan-e-Goya, Zindgi Nama, Ganj Nama, Joti Bigaas, Arzul Alfaaz, Tausif-o-Sana and Khatima, and Dastural-Insha, besides three in Punjabi.
Editors note: Recent research shows that there was over 125 poets and scribes in the Guru's Durbar.
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