Chandigarh, May 22
The doyen of the Punjabi and Hindi literary world Padma Shri Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi today left for his heavenly abode. He was 98 years old. He had not been keeping well for some time. He has left behind a rich legacy of his precious creations for the literary firmament which would always be a source of inspiration for the future generations. He is survived by his wife Dr. Gursharan Kaur Jaggi (Retd. Principal, Government College for Women, Patiala), and a Son Malwinder Singh Jaggi (Retd. I.A.S.).
Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi was a prolific author who authored more than 150 books. Besides being counted amongst the distinguished scholars in Punjabi and Hindi literary circles, he was an authority on the subjects of ‘Gurmat’ and ‘Bhakti Movement’. It was due to his immensely valuable contribution to the literature and academic spheres that he was honoured with the Padma Shri & Sahitya Akademi Award by the Government of India apart from Punjabi Sahit Shiromani Puraskar by the Government of Punjab. His long list of felicitations also comprises the bestowal of honours by the Governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh & Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). The Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar conferred D. Litt degrees on Dr. Jaggi who was also awarded Gyan Rattan Puraskar by Panjab University Chandigarh. He also got the Language Department’s first award 8 times besides numerous honours bestowed by various academies, educational, literary, religious institutions and Government & Non-Government organizations.
Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi devoted his entire life to studying, writing and critical analysis from different perspectives regarding medieval literature besides researching from varied standpoints about the sacred Bani of Sikh Guru Sahiban & Bhakti Movement (In both Punjabi and Hindi).
Born on July 27, 1927, he devoted more than 6 decades of his life with a wholehearted commitment to serving the cause of medieval literature. He obtained a PhD in 1962 from Panjab University, Chandigarh with the subject “Dasam Granth Da Pauranik Addhyan” (Critical study of Pauranik compositions in Dasam Granth). Dr Jaggi was awarded a D.Litt. degree from Magadh University, Bodhgaya in 1973 where the subject in Hindi was ‘Sri Guru Nanak: Vyaktitatva, Krititva Aur Chintan’ (Guru Nanak: His personality, works & teachings). He retired as Professor and Head of the Punjabi Literary Studies Department of Punjabi University, Patiala in 1987. He commanded a complete understanding of English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit and contributed marvellous, voluminous and highly acknowledged literary works in the shape of books, commentaries and encyclopedias.
He edited the ‘Punjabi Sahit Sandarbh Kosh’ (Reference Dictionary of Punjabi Literature), ‘Punjabi Sahit da Sarot Moolak Itihas’ (History of Punjabi Literature)’ & ‘Guru Granth Vishavkosh (Encyclopedia)’ which were published by the Punjabi University, Patiala. Dr. Jaggi rendered a big service to the Sikh religion with a comprehensive commentary on Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji namely ‘Bhav Prabodhini Tika-Sri Guru Granth Sahib’ in 8 volumes. Later on, he also contributed 5 volumes of this commentary were also published in Hindi.
His other notable endeavours included “Sikh Panth Vishavkosh” (Encyclopedia of Sikhism) and a five volume Sub-Commentary of Sri Guru Granth Sahib titled “Arthbodh Sri Guru Granth Sahib” which was released by Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. During the 550th Prakash Purb celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Punjab Government published “Guru Nanak Bani: Paath at Vyakhya” authored by him, in Punjabi and Hindi. Earning his spurs, he also published a treatise on Guru Nanak bani namely “Guru Nanak: Jeevni atey Vyaktitatva” and a second book ‘Guru Nanak di Vichardhara’. Both of which were awarded by the Languages Department, Punjab. Amongst the services rendered by Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi, one of the most significant was the transliteration and translation of the holy book “Tulsi Ramayan” (Ram Charit Manas) in Punjabi. The book was published by Punjabi University and recipient of the National Award by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
In the year 2023, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi was conferred with the “Padma Shri” award in recognition of his services in the field of Literature & Education by the President of India. Dr. Jaggi was conferred with a National award in 1989 by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, and ‘Punjabi Sahit Shiromani’ the Highest State Award by the Punjab Government in 1996. It was eight times that his books got the first prize from the Languages Department, Punjab. The Haryana Government also felicitated him with first prize in 1968 for his book. The Punjabi Academy honoured him with ‘Param Sahit Satkar Sanman’ in 2010 with the Uttar Pradesh Government felicitating him with ‘Souhard Sanman’ in 1996. He was also awarded a Life Fellowship by Punjabi University in 2012 and a Fellowship by Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana.
