ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤ ਸਿੰਘ | Giani Gurditt Singh

ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਪੜੀ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਕਿਤਾਬ ‘ਮੇਰਾ ਪਿੰਡ’ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਵਿਚ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਪਿੰਡਾਂ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਿਆਣਪਾਂ, ਵਿਅੰਗ, ਰੀਤੀ-ਰਿਵਾਜ਼, ਤੀਆਂ-ਤ੍ਰਿੰਜਣ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ, ਜਨਮ-ਮਰਨ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਰਸਮਾਂ, ਗਿੱਧਾ, ਮੁੰਡੇ ਦੀ ਛਟੀ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਕੁੜਮਾਈ, ਵਿਦਾਈ ਤੱਕ ਸਭ ਕੁਛ ਇਸ ਵਿਚ ਪਰੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਲੇਖਕ ਨੇ ਹਾਮੀ ਤਾਂ ਕੇਵਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਭਰੀ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਇਸ ਵਿਚ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਭਰ ਦੀ ਪੇਂਡੂ ਸੱਭਿਅਤਾ ਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ‘ਮੇਰਾਪਿੰਡ’ ਇਕ ਤਰਾਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪੇਂਡੂ ਜੀਵਨ ਦਾ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਕੱਚੇ-ਕੋਠਿਆਂ ਜਾਂ ਫੇਰ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਗਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਲਕਿ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਕ ਸਾਂਝ, ਸਾਫ਼ਗੋਈ, ਖੁੱਲਦਿਲੀ ਤੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਦੀ ਮਹਿਕ ਨਾਲ ਬਣੇ ਨਜ਼ਰੀਂ ਪੈਂਦੇ ਹਨ।

Giani Gurdit Singh Ji was born on February 24, 1923, in the village of Mitthewal (Malerkotla State). He spent his childhood watching the glimpses of healthy people of Punjab out of the reach of modern means. It was from his ancestors that he first tasted the sweetness and purity of the Punjabi language.

Later, Giani Ji served as a member of the Punjab Legislative Council from 1958 to 1961. The two major achievements of his political life were not titles but in Punjabi language and religious service. The first was making of Guru Kashi Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, the fifth Takht of the Sikhs. The second was the establishment of Punjabi University, Patiala.

He was the daily 'Prakash' publisher and editor, which later became a weekly newspaper. In this way, he presented the results of his research continuously. Thus,  for the first time, the readers got information about the oldest source of Sikhs, the Dharam Granth, Guru Har-Sahai, and the religious books of Goindwal.

He also published 'Jeevan Sandesh' and 'Singh Sabha magazines. Through these publications and organizing different events from time to time, he continued the service of propagation and dissemination of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which finally culminated in the establishment of  Sri Guru Granth Vidya Kender, Delhi, and Chandigarh.

Three books written by Giani Ji, which are famous in the literary world, are- Mera Pind, Ithias Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and  Mundavani. The book 'Giani Gurdit Singh, 1923-2007' has also been published. It is a  compilation of essays written about Giani Ji by different personalities.

In his most widely read book 'Mera Pind (My Village), Giani Ji gives an enchanting description of all rituals followed in Punjab, from birth to marriage to death and all other occasions. In his attempt to portray a picture of his native village, this book inadvertently serves as a mirror to the whole civilization of Punjab.

In a way, this book serves as a dictionary to understand the heart of Punjab. Reading it takes you closer not to the brick & mortar of our villages but to the alluring fragrance that floats across our motherland, our 'Pind.'

In Punjabi literature, the Department of Languages, Punjab, honored Giani Ji with the Sahitya Shiromani award.