Introduction

Although within the last century thousands of Nihang Singhs have devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the Sikh cause, their efforts have been little recognised out with of their local populations in where their memories are greatly revered. This section presents biographies of prominent Nihang Singhs from the past century. New biographies will be added on a regular basis, if you can contribute any information about a Nihang Singh from the past century please contact: admin@nihangsingh.org

External observers often speculate that the Nihang Singhs were but a group of people from the time of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who were created for the purpose of war, and therefore have no relevance in contemporary times. This sweeping observation is both ignorant and an injustice to the contributions of Nihang Singhs to society and the valuable role they have for centuries played within the Sikh religion. Without the efforts of various Nihang Singhs during the 20th Century many traditions established by the Gurus would have forever vanished within the Sikh religion.

For centuries Nihang Singhs have served at Sikh shrines all over India without any form of financial imbursement. Even today thousands of historical shrines and places of worship are maintained by the voluntary efforts of various Nihang battalions who rigorously uphold the traditions and customs established by the Sikh Gurus. Many Nihang Singhs adopt the vows of chastity and devote their entire life to the preservation of Sikh traditions. Most notable is Baba Mit Singh Ji who taught many Sikhs the correct method to read and understand the Gurus writings. He also prepared hand written copies of rarer works of the Sikh Gurus.

Their contributions are not limited to the Sikh religion alone. Akali Kaur Singh Nihang who accomplished the gargantuan task of indexing the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, also established a spiritual retreat in Kashmir and wrote widely on the topics of poverty, humanity, ayurvedic medicine and female rights. Nihang Baba Kirtan Singh ensured and survival of great structural heritage and invoked a magnificent sense of religious harmony by looking after Guru Ki Maseet. This mosque established by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji for the Guru's Muslim following was maintained by the Nihang Singhs after the partition of India and renovated before signing it over to the Muslim community to offer their prayers. In the field of education the devout Sikh Nihang Shamsher Singh was pivotal in the creation of the famous GHG Khalsa College in Gurusar Sadhar, events are held all over the world in honour of the great Sikh. There have been others Nihang Singhs of great saintly prestige that shared their divine love with the world, and carry on inspiring spiritual seekers long after their physical departure from this earth. Of such beings Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji writes;

Those generous, humble beings are above both birth and death. They give the gift of the soul, and practice devotional worship; they inspire others to meet the Lord. (Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 749)