Biography : Man Singh - Lakhinder Singh

Sardar Man Singh (12 June 1905 – 28 October 1984) was a Punjabi-language Writer, Poet, and Publisher of “Mansarovar Weekly” magazine in Punjabi Language. Sardar Man Singh was born to a Sikh family in Kumariee or Mauriee Hills, British India. He was running a Officers Mess & Hotel for British Army officers and Diplomats. He was married to Bibi Surjeet Kaur and they had together three daughters and a son.

After the partition as country was going through hardships and because of huge migration people were uprooted and suffering.

Sardar Man Singh with family came as refugee to Amritsar and Hoshiarpur and later finally settled in Delhi, Bhagat Singh Market. As a refugee himself he did a lot for the rehabilitation of refugees.

During this period, he was working as journalist for different magazines. He started with Urdu Weekly “Salar-I Azam” at Hoshiarpur, “Fateh” weekly and “Pritam” monthly and for “Hindustan Chronicle” before he started publishing his own “Mansrovar Weekly”, from Delhi.

He wrote various books covering vast field like Poetry, Short-Stories, Novels, one act play, History, Philosophy and Biographies etc.

His works include Waris Da Virsa, Ki Jaana Main Kaun?, Tahrirs and Takreers, Love-Pegs, Dargahe Sharif, Athre Athru, Master Pargat Singh, Dashmesh De Sher, Sahibe Kamaal, Eh Khel Kathan Hai, Dard Vandavan Aaiyan, Roman, Loralai, Napoleon Di Khidavi, Love Me Or Leave Me, Azaadi Di Shamha De Sikh Parwane, Guru Arjan Partakh Hari, Nyara Khalsa, Shahi Kutta, Barf Di Boond, Nikita Khrushchev, Nastik Rabb, Walter Ul Brisht, Babe Tare Char Chak, Charhtaan Sardar Dian, Nipattian Di Patt, Murat Hargobind Sawari, Jis Ditthe Sabh Dukh Jaai, Only and Lonely.

He is founder of “Guru Nanak Mission” in Delhi.
All India Sikh Federation at Delhi
All India Sikh Council
Baba Kharak Singh memorial

Renaming of “Irwin Road” to “Baba Kharak Singh Road” in New Delhi, is one of his finest achievements and his popularity among Delhi Sikh community and among Punjabi speaking all over India.

Sardar Man Singh started after partition as a journalist and made significant contribution to the cause of Punjabi and the Sikhs. His balanced views on Sikh and national issues. His article in “Mansarovar Weekly” were unbiased, lucid and thought-provoking.

He was very active socially and was politically very much involved and had good relationship with Sikh Community, Political offices and many high-class dignitaries of Delhi. His long selfless service to the Panth and the Country. His Service for mankind without distinction of race, religion, or creed….

During Punjabi Suba agitation Sardar Man Singh was working round the clock selflessly and many leaders were meeting at his place in Bhagat Singh Market, New Delhi. Kartar Singh Anand of Kanpur writes, Sardar man Singh was brain behind Akali leaders, like Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh singh etc…His residence used to be the Headquarter of the Punjabi Suba politics during 1960- 1970 decade.

Delhi Sikhs and The Akali Leaders appreciated his work and his was a household name in those days.

During this period Giani G. S Musafir, Giani Zail Singh, Mater Tara Singh, G. S Randhawa Principal, Kartar Singh Bazaz, Gen. Jagjit S. Arora, S. Hukam Singh and S. Uttam Singh and many other Sikh dignitaries were frequently visiting him at Bhagat Singh market.

His politically social activities and intellectual ability as journalist, writer and poet were widely known among Punjabi speaking circles throughout India and even abroad.

Sardar Man Singh was a personality unique tall, well-built and a sports lover. He was humble, unimposing and an amiable person, whosoever meets him a few times cannot stop liking him…or feel proud of him.

Distt. & Session Judge (Rtd) S. Bhagat Singh ji , who was Editor of “The Anand Sarovar” wrote about Sardar Man Singh;

'He deserves every respect for his espousing every good cause of our nation and the Sikh community, of which he is straight-forward, vigor and fearless, fighting member, using his fiery and facile pen and sweet as well as sarcastic tongue, as the occasion may demand, in exposing injustice and discrimination against anybody in general and Sikhs & Punjabis, their religion and culture'.

His abiding interest in Gurbani and Urdu Poetry, gives a special flavor to his writings, as a journalist, poet story writer or play writer.

Kartar Singh Anand of Kanpur writes further during the China and Pakistan invasion, Sardar Man Singh´s Mansarovar exhorted his countrymen through his remarkable articles. In his every line one could see his Patriotism.

On June 07th 1973 on completion of 25years of his Journalistic and Literary Career, Punjabi Literary and Cultural Societies of Delhi decided to felicitate Sardar Man Singh Ji, and presented him with a Book in which over 50 and more dignitaries from all walks of life honored his literary work. This Book in Royal Blue is available online too.

I Lakhinder Singh, living in Germany, am a Grandson of Sardar Man Singh Ji. I feel proud in presenting this hidden diamond of Sikh Literary.

It was My Grandfather’s wish that we Sikhs shall open more schools and Collages. He was more for that our Sikh young generation shall get good education and achieve high posts. They shall get in to IAS and IFS services.

I close with
Allama Iqbal writes;

Hazaron Saal Nargis Apni Benoori Pe Roti Hai
Bari Mushkil Se Hota Hai Chaman Mein Didahwar Paida!!!