Harjinder Singh Dilgeer (Punjabi: ਹਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਿਲਗੀਰ, born 22 October 1965) is a Sikh historian and author known for his work as the only author who has written A Complete History of the Sikhs.[1]
Dilgeer has translated Guru Granth Sahib in English (7 volumes, 3747 pages)[2] and has published NEW MAHAN KOSH (ਨਵਾਂ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼) Encyclopedia of Sikh literature, Punjab & Sikh History {3 of the 4 volumes of the NEW Mahan Kosh (3 volumes running into 1900 pages) have been published in March 2021 (the 4th volume has 848 pages. All the 4 volumes have a total of 2748 pages).[3] He has written in detail about the concept and the history of Akal Takht Sahib,[4] Sikh culture, Shiromani Akali Dal, history of Anandpur Sahib, and Kiratpur Sahib, Dictionary of Sikh Philosophy etc. The Sikh Reference Book is his magnum opus.[5] 'The Sikh Reference Book' is an encyclopedia consisting of more than 2400 biographies, complete chronology of Sikh history, 400 concepts of Sikh philosophy as well more than 800 Sikh shrines. He has produced a Sikh Encyclopedia CD-ROM. His latest books are Encyclopedia of Jalandhar (English), Banda Singh Bahadur (Punjabi and English), Sikh Twareekh in five volumes (a complete Sikh History, from 1469 to 2007, in Punjabi), Sikh History in ten volumes (a complete Sikh history, from 1469 to 2011, in English); and English translations of Nitnaym (the Sikh daily prayer) and Sukhmani Sahib. [citation needed]. His latest work is the English translation (with explanation) of Guru Granth Sahib, in seven volumes (published in March 2016) and a Sikh encyclopedia named Nawah Mahan Kosh (ਨਵਾਂ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼) consisting of four volumes (the final volume was published in April 2022).
Dilgeer was born on 22 October 1965, in the family of Gurbakhsh Singh and Jagtar Kaur, at Jalandhar, Punjab, India.[6][failed verification] in a family originally from Jaisalmer, in Rajasthan, then Mehraj village (now in Bathinda district). He was later based in Jalandhar and Jalalabad (Firozpur), and finally in Oslo. He is a citizen of Norway, and, presently lives in England.
Dilgeer passed his M.A. in English, Punjabi, and Philosophy. He did his M.A. in history but did not appear in final examination. He was awarded degrees of M.Phil.[7] LL.B.[8] and PhD[9] by Panjab University Chandigarh.[citation needed]. He has passed the degree of Adi Granth Acharya (from PU Chandigarh); he has several other degrees and diplomas as well.
He started teaching in various colleges in Punjab and finally at Panjab University Chandigarh.[10] He has been visiting teacher of the P.U. Patiala as well. He has been teaching in Canada and England too. He has been Director of 'The Sikh History Research Board' as well as 'The Sikh Reference Library' (SGPC). He is a former Director of the Guru Nanak Institute of Sikh Studies. At present, he is the Director of Guru Nanak Research Institute (Birmingham, England). He is also the examiner of the M.Phil and PhD of various universities in India, Pakistan, and England. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of "The Sikhs: Past& resent".[11] He is also the Director of thesikhs.org (perhaps the biggest website of Sikhism).
He has been the editor of the newspapers 'The Punjab Times' (London) and 'The Sikh Times' (Birmingham), England).
In Denmark in 1995, he was presented with the 'Shan-i-Punjab' award; in 2004 he was given the 'Giani Garja Singh Award' in Ludhiana; in 2005, he was presented with the 'Kohinoor Award', 'National Professor of Sikh Studies' award and a gold medal in Birmingham (England); in 2006 he was given the 'Bhai Gurdas' award in Amritsar; and in 2009 he was presented with the 'National Professor of Sikh History' award at Chandigarh. In 2014 he was awarded a gold medal at Toronto (Canada).[12]
Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer was given the award of "Heera-e-Qaum" (Gem of Nation, PANTH RATAN) by the Haryana SGPC, on 11 November 2017.
Shiromani Akali Dal: A History (Revised and enlarged in 2000, Punjabi)
Akal Takht {Concept & History} (English, revised and enlarged in 1995, revised and enlarged in 2011)
Akal Takht Sahib (revised and enlarged in 2000 and 2005, Punjabi)
The Sikhs' Struggle for Sovereignty (1992, English)
1955 Da Punjabi Suba Morcha, with 400 photographs (1999 Punjabi),
Anandpur Sahib History (Light & Sound play, 2000, Punjabi and English). Played daily at Anandgarh fort, Anandpur Sahib.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Kiven Bani History (2000, Punjabi)
Akal Takht Sahib: Falsfa Te Twarikh (2000, Punjabi; it is a revised and enlarged edition of the first edition published in 1986 from Oslo, Norway, fully revised and enlarged 2005)
Shiromani Akali Dal, History: 1920-2000 (2000, Punjabi; it is an enlarged edition of the first edition of 1978),
Guru De Sher {Life stories of more then 230 Martyrs of Guru Period}(2001 Punjabi),
Keeratpur Sahib Da Itihas (2002, Punjabi)
Anandpur Sahib, a history (Punjabi 1998 & 2003, and English, 2003)
Encyclopaedia of Jalandhar (2004, English)
Mata Gujri Char Sahibzadey Chalih Muktey (Punjabi, 2005, fully revised and enlarged 2015)
Mahan Sikh Jarnail Banda Singh Bahadur (Punjabi, 2006)
Sikh Twareekh de Ghallughare (Punjabi 2007 2013)
Makhan Shah Lubana and Lubana Community (Punjabi 2008)
Amritsar & Darbar Sahib, an Illustrated book with hundreds of coloured as well as black and white photos of Darbar Sahib, many of them are rare photos.
The Heritage of the Punjab, an Illustrated book with hundreds of coloured as well as black and white photos of ancient and medieval buildings of the East Punjab (India), most of them are rare photos.[16]
Anandpur Sahib Ate Keeratpur Sahib De Gurdware (335,000 copies of this work were published in Punjabi, Hindi, and English, in 1999 in connection with the tercentenary of Khalsa)[19]
The Sikh Reference Book (1996–97, English) [an encyclopedia]
Philosophy of Sikh Dictionary (English)
Dilgeer Kosh, ਦਿਲਗੀਰ ਕੋਸ਼, Punjabi, April 2018,.[20] It is an encyclopedia of Guru Granth Sahib, Punjab, and Sikh History.
NAVAN MAHAN KOSH, ਨਵਾਂ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼, volume 2 of DILGEER KOSH, was published in February 2020; and, [NAVAN TE VADDA MAHAN KOSH, ਨਵਾਂ ਤੇ ਵੱਡਾ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼], volume 3 of DILGEER KOSH has been published in March 2021, volume 4 (ਨਵਾਂ ਸੰਪੂਰਨ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼) was published in 2022. The total pages of 4 volumes are 2748. There are more then 100,000 entries, 2500 biographies (with many photographs), and information about more than 950 historical Gurdwaras and places (with about 1000 photos). There are more than 5000 entries in Persian and Arabic words, thousands of words of Prakrit, Apbharansh, Sanskrit, Puadhi, Lehndi, Pali, etc. The book has 2748 pages. There are hundreds of coloured photographs in all 4 volumes.
Dilgeer is a poet writing in Urdu and Punjabi. His poetry works include: Eskimo Smile (Punjabi), Jujharoo Kalaam (Punjabi), Dilgeerian (Urdu & Punjabi) and Diwan-i-Dilgeer (Urdu).
^Grewal, J. S.; Indu Banga (1997). Five Punjabi Centuries. Manohar. p. 240. ISBN978-81-7304-175-4. Sardar Kapur Singh appears to assume that 'Sikh homeland' was offered to the Akali leaders.45 This view is taken also by Gurmeet Singh,46 a Sirsa-based advocate, and Harjinder Singh Dilgeer,47 an advocate from Jalandhar.
