Giani Sant Singh Maskeen

Sant Singh Maskeen ਸੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਸਕੀਨ
Born	Sant Singh 1934 Lakki Marwat, Bannu district, (now Lakki Marwat District in Pakistan)
Died	18 February 2005 Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India
Occupation	Sikh Theologian and Scholar
Language	Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Persian
Nationality	Indian
Spouse	Sunder Kaur

Giani Sant Singh Maskeen (1934 – 18 February 2005) Punjabi: ਗਿਆਨੀ ਸੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਸਕੀਨ, Urdu: گيانى سنت سنگھ مسكين) was a Sikh Scholar and Theologian known for his expertise of Gurmat and Gurbani.

Early life

Maskeen Ji was born in 1934 at Lakki Marwat (now in Pakistan) to father Kartar Singh and mother Ram Kaur. He was the only son of his parents and had an only elder sister Sujan Kaur.

He had his schooling from Khalsa School (now in Pakistan) and went to Government High School but the turmoil of Partition in 1947, interrupted his education from the Govt. High School.

Like many Sikh families, his family migrated to India and settled in Alwar (Rajasthan) but due to some reason he cann't continue his with studies. For some time he worked as a railway employee. The demise of her father in 1952 had an adverse impact on him and he started feeling very sad and isolated from worldly issues.

In 1958 he was married to Bibi Sunder Kaur and made Alwar his permanent home. He had three sons and two daughters.

Lifestyle

He had a very simple and frugal lifestyle. He was a very simple and down to earth person who advocated simplicity. Wearing simple white clothes with black turban, he looked very distinguished.

He was so open-minded and fearless. In 1984, when Indian Army attacked on Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, he made a fearless and critical speech.

Style of Narration

His way of narration was unique, different from all other scholars/theologians and had a tremendous impact on his audiences.

Works

He devoted his life to the religion.

As a Theologian

During the early part of his life, due to lack of resources at that time, Maskeen ji used to walk long distances to reach remote places for spreading the message of Gurbani. He was secular from heart and once agreed to perform katha in a Muslim Mosque in Rajasthan but some of the organisers did not want a non-muslim to enter the Mosque. Maskeen ji always stayed away from politics and focused on spreading the message of Hazrat Baba Nanak. His followers include many persons who are not even from Sikh religion.

Giani ji was very fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Persian besides the basic knowledge of English and being a very well read person he frequently used to quote Mirza Ghalib, Ustad Zauq, Bulleh Shah and other noted poets. Giani ji once promised a Sikh high priest to come to Amritsar for doing katha every year during the month of Diwali and kept his words till the end of his life for almost over 25 years. During the 300 year celebration of the Khalsa Panth, Maskeen ji was invited by the then high priest of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to perform katha, despite recovering from a heart problem in the United States and against the advise of the doctors, maskeen ji travelled to Amritsar for performing katha.

Giani Ji spread the message of the holy Guru Granth Sahib in different countries including America, England, Canada, Denmark, Holland, Middle East (Dubai, Qatar, Bahrin) Kenya, Belgium, Thailand, Japan, Singapore and Pakistan etc..

Books

He authored more than a dozen books. Maskeen Ji was infamous for exposing scams and other wrong doings in Sikh Gurudwaras, he was known to publish books detailing how many temple's would keep a majority of the donations for themselves. His works created shock waves through Sikhism since such scams were being exposed, and for this he won the admiration of many and the hatred from some.

Some of his famous books includes Guru Chintan, Ras Dhara, Amrit Manthan, Ratnagar and Shabad Guru.

Establishments

He established a meditation centre at his home town of Alwar where a samagam (function) is held every year on the eve of Hola Mahalla which is attende by many scholars, preachers, Dhadi Jathas, Kavishars and learned people of Sikh community. The Khalsa School he established at Alwar has a great success.

He started an organization named as Vishav Sikh Preacher Organization for preaching the name of the lord. This organization works under Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Two schools named Guru Nanak Public School and Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School also run under his control. In these schools uniforms and books are provided free to the poor studens.

Honors

He was honored by the Sikh community of Sri Akal Takhatkarh Sahib with the rare title of Panth Ratan for his services to mankind through the message of Gurbani. He was also honored with the Bhai Gurdas Gold posthumous award, worth rupees one lack and Gurmat Vidya Martand posthumous award by SGPC (Shromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee).

Quotes

Maskeen Ji said:

“

In nature a Lion is considered more beautiful than a Lioness and a Peacock more beautiful than a Peahen that's true, but a Lion never goes to barber to have his beard shaved or his hair cut and so a Peacock never goes to the barber for plucking his feathers or other shadings. But men who also have this distinguishing quality, go to to barber and cut their hair and shaved their beards, which is exactly similar to women. So indirectly, men wants to be look like women and loose the qualities God has given them.

”

Death

Giani Sant Singh Maskeen died on 18 February 2005 due to a massive heart attack while attending a marriage in Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, India.

External links

• Download Kathas by Maskeen Ji in mp3
• Download Maskeen Ji's Kathas in mp3
• Giani Sant Singh Maskeen - read in Punjabi
• A section dedicated to Giani Sant Singh Ji Maskeen