Giani Gurdit Singh

Giani Gurdit Singh (24 February 1923 – 17 January 2007) was born in Mithewal village (Sangrur district) in the state of Punjab, India. He was considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in Punjabi, and his book Mera Pind is regarded as a classic. It is now in its 14th edition and has been in print continuously since 1961. He was also a pioneering journalist, the Owner-Editor of Parkash (a Punjabi language newspaper) 1947–1978. He was also the editor of Singh Sabha Patrika, a monthly magazine of Sikh history and divinity (from 1973–1988). Giani Gurdit Singh graduated as "Giani" from Punjab University, Lahore in 1945 and he specialised in literature, divinity, history and folklore. He was a member of the Punjab Legislative Council from 1956 to 1962. He contributed to the debates at that time and in the creation of Punjabi University, Patiala and the recognition of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, as the 5th Takht of the Sikhs. He was General Secretary of the Singh Sabha Shatabadi Committee, Amritsar, which was renamed Kendriya Sri Guru Singh Sabha. As the editor of the magazine Singh Sabha Patrika, he focused on issues of importance to the Sikhs. He also established two Guru Granth Vidya Kendras, one in Chandigarh and another in Mehrauli, Delhi.

Giani Gurdit Singh was married to Inderjit Kaur Sandhu (1923-2022), who was the third vice-chancellor [1] of Punjabi University, Patiala,. and chairperson, Staff Selection Commission, Government of India. He had two sons, Roopinder Singh (former senior associate editor, The Tribune, Chandigarh), and Ravinder Singh. Giani Gurdit Singh is a legend in the Punjabi-speaking world. Sahitya Akademi, India's premier literary body, has a "Makers of Indian Literature" series of monograms. In 2019, it published the book "Giani Gurdit Singh" in Punjabi by Baldev Singh (author), the famous novelist and Sahitya Akademi award winner, on Giani Gurdit Singh's life and literary works.