Pritam Singh (January 11 1918 – October 25 2008) was born and raised in Lahore. He came from a simple family that faced many difficulties but learned to live within its means. Raised in a strong Sikh household Pritam would learn to live a straightforward and honest lifestyle while working to better himself. He would work hard in his education and eventually earned multiple masters degrees including English (1940), Persian (1941), and Oriental Learning (1941) from Panjab univeristy in Lahore. He was also proficient in Hindustani, including both the Urdu and Hindi dialects/scripts.
From his simple beginnings the spirit that his family had instilled in him would lead Pritam Singh to a prestigious teaching career. In 1941 he joined Doaba College Jalandhar as the head of the Panjabi language department. Despite his achievements this far he would not forget his values and also simultaneously joined as a teacher at Kanya Mahavidalya (female college) Jalandhar. At a later date he would be invited back to Lahore by Sikh National College principle Niranjan Singh to lead both the Panjabi and Persian language departments, a position he would hold until 1947.
Following parition Pritam would move to Delhi where he joined as a part time lecturer in the Panjabi departments at Ramjas College, Indraprastha College, and Hindu College. In late 1948 he would then relocate to Shimla to join Panjab University as editor of Panjabi publications, a role he would serve for 2 years. In 1950 he would get his next opportunity to step into a leadership role in academics when he was appointed to Mahendra College in Patiala as the first head of the Post Graduate Department of Panjabi language studies. His conviction towards hard work would lead to several promotion to principle roles at Government College Faridkot, government College Ludhiana, and Government College Mukatsar which are all roles he filled while simultaneously teaching Panjabi out of passion.
With a long history of success in academics Professor Pritam Singh would be called upon by the state government in 1969 to create the act which would create Guru Nanak Dev Univeristy Amritsar as well as the Panjab School Education Board in Mohali. He would later also join Guru Nanak Dev Univeristy in 1972 as the head of Guru Nanak Dev Studies, a role he would fill until his retirement in 1980. From his humble beginnings he left behind a legacy of prestigious roles at some of the most prestigious instituions on the subcontinent and his impact is felt in the East Panjab education systems til this day.
Along with his career in academia Professor Pritam Singh also held other positions of note in various organisations. During his time in Ludhiana, he held the positions of President of Panjabi Sahitya Academy and the Kendri Panjabi Lekhak Sabha (Registered). He was also a member of the Panjab Arts Council, the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan in Prayag, the General Council of the Bharatiya Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi, the Core Committee of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation in Chandigarh, and the Panjab State University Textbook Board in Chandigarh. Pritam Singh was also a member of the syndicate at Panjab University in Chandigarh for two years before serving for eight years as a member of in its senate. He also played a significant role as the Advisory Member for Panjabi at the National Book Trust in New Delhi, the University of Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir State, and the Language Department of the Panjab Government in Patiala. He also served in editorial roles as the Chief Editor of the Journal of Sikh Studies at G.N.D.U. Amritsar and as the Chief Editor of Alochana (Panjabi Quarterly) at Panjabi Sahitya Academy.
Along with his academic career Pritam Singh also wrote several large-volume heritage manuals and other literature. These included scholarly studies of old Panjabi manuscript(s), fiction, biographies and autobiographical sketches, among others. Among the titles were ‘Moortan’, ‘Panjab, Panjabi, Panjabiyat,’ ‘Kachian, Panjabi De Bhaa’ and ‘Panjabi Lekhak Kosh’. One of Pritam Singh’s most important works was ‘Ahyapur Vali Pothi’, in which he disassociates the original Bani of the ‘Aad Guru Granth’ from various false writings attributed to the ‘Sikh Gurus’. In this work, he provided proof that Guru Arjan did not use the Goindwal pothi as a source or as a source in the preparation or in 1604. For his book titled ‘Sri Gru Granth Sahib Wale Sheikh Farid Di Bhal’ he devoted almost 30 years of his life to research and writing. In addition to this, he has also worked as an editor on the works of Bhai Kahan Singh Nagrahi and Baba Farid Shakarganj, among others. He also diversified his literature to a variety of audiences with the addition of children’s books on Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Guru Gobind Singh ji. Much of his children’s literature has also been translated into several languages, along with stories such as ‘Bhai Kanahiya’.
Besides his written contributions to Panjabi literature, Pritam Singh also made many other important contributions. Throughout his life he is known to have donated thousands of unique and historical manuscripts from his collections. His collections included manuscripts in languages such Sanskrit, Hindustani, Persian, and Panjabi. These donations went to various instituions including many museums, but his greatest single contribution would be that of his entire personal library including its hundreds of manuscripts which he left to Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar.
Pritam Singh, known as the “Baba Borh” (old bunyan tree) of Panjabi literature, died on October 25 2008. Up until his final moments he was continuing his work, having just finished writing and sending out a letter to his published in regards to a couple books he had completed. The date of his passing coincided with that of his father in law, renowned scholar Sahib Singh, whose death anniversary was a mere 4 days away. He has been given multiple posthumous awards and titles, as well as a fellowship in his honour at Panjabi University Patiala which recognises individuals that have made significant and noteworthy contributions to Panjabi language, arts, and literature.
