Compilation of Mahan Kosh - encyclopedia of Sikh literature: Punjabi University looking for scholars
Ravneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Patiala, July 11
For the compilation of its latest and corrected versions of the Mahan Kosh – encyclopedia of Sikh literature, Punjabi University here is looking for scholars in the collective fields of English, Punjabi and Gurbani.
Even as the work on encyclopedia remains pending, the university claimed that two of the three scholars associated with it for the work had died.
Golden words
Mahan Kosh is a Punjabi language encyclopedia which is considered as the greatest work of Sikh literature. It was first compiled by Sikh scholar and writer Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha. It took 14 years to compile the first edition which got published in 1927. It comprises entries covering religious and historical terms in alphabetical order, where each entry records the etymology and different meanings of the term according to its usage, alongside textual quotations.
“We are in the process of setting up teams for all versions. The difficulty is in finding people who know English, Punjabi and Gurbani very well. Such people are very difficult to find today,” said Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Arvind.
The work of producing the corrected versions of the Mahan Kosh, also known
as Gurshabad Ratnakar Mahankosh, has been hanging in the balance for
over two years. The copies produced earlier were scrapped in March 2019 over glaring mistakes.
The matter related to “mistakes” in the university’s copies had been probed by the SGPC before it reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had enforced a ban on its sale. Later, the university had decided to scrap it altogether.
Highlighting the scarcity of scholars in the related fields, the VC said in fact, Prof Teja Singh – a known English scholar – in 1934, in the foreword written for the original version of the encyclopedia had stated that scholarship required for the compilation of such works was disappearing.
“In the 21st century, it seems to have completely disappeared,” he said.
The VC said the university had also procured the original version of Mahankosh that had been corrected by Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, after it was printed for the first time by the Languages Department. It will be used for producing the latest version, he said.
“For Punjabi version, we do have an authenticated version by Kahan Singh Nabha. We are facing difficulty with the English version over translations and interpretations. Once we have identified the scholars, we will decide the timeline for the completion of the work,” the VC added.
Prof Arvind said he had held a few internal meetings over the issue and decision in this regard would be taken soon.
