A special programme dedicated to the life and works of Sikh scholar and Nirmala thinker Pandit Tara Singh Narotam was held at Baba Aya Singh Riarki College in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Punjab, with speakers stressing the need to reconnect younger generations with Punjab’s forgotten literary heritage.
The event focused on Pandit Tara Singh Narotam, regarded as one of the most significant scholars of the Nirmala tradition. Speakers described him as a thinker who devoted his life to the study, interpretation and preservation of Sikh literature and Gurbani. Despite his extensive contribution, they noted, his name remains unfamiliar to many today.
Researchers and scholars said Narotam came from a modest farming family but went on to pursue learning in centres such as Kashi, Amritsar and Bengal. His writings, spanning over 4,000 pages, covered Gurbani interpretation, Sikh philosophy, dictionaries and religious literature. His celebrated work ‘Guru Girarath Kosh’ was described as a pioneering reference text that later influenced modern Sikh lexicons.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Naresh Kumar said societies that forget their scholars eventually lose their roots. He added that remembering forgotten intellectuals was not merely a tribute but an academic responsibility.
Balwinder Singh said INTACH Punjab was committed not only to preserving historical buildings but also literary and intellectual heritage. He announced efforts would be made to republish unpublished works of Pandit Narotam so they could reach researchers and readers once again.
During the programme, speakers also highlighted Narotam’s key works, including ‘Sri Gurmat Nirnay Sagar’, ‘Bhagat Bani Steek’ and ‘Gur Tirath Sangrah’. It was noted ‘Gur Tirath Sangrah’ contained one of the earliest published references to the significance of Hemkunt Sahib.
The event also examined the role of the Nirmala tradition, established during the time of Guru Gobind Singh. Speakers said Nirmala scholars played a key role in interpreting Gurbani through commentaries, grammar and comparative analysis.
Presiding over the function, Swaran Singh Virk said Narotam’s lifelong devotion to writing and learning should inspire students. He said the scholar continued writing until his final moments, making his life an example of complete dedication to knowledge.
Punjabi poet Gurbhajan Singh Gill, who joined the programme online, praised the college for bringing forgotten literary figures back into public memory. He said educational institutions become centres of cultural heritage when they move beyond degrees and actively preserve literature and history.