A deliberate Attempt by Jasbir Singh Mann to denigrate the

members of the Sodhak Committee*

Jasbir Singh Mann in his article Debate on Dasam Granth; Issues and
Evidence has listed the members of the Sodhak Committee (1897) along with
their 'credentials'.

Comparing the name list which JS Mann has prepared with the original list of the
members which appears in the Sodhak Committee report it is very evident that
JS Mann has intentionally tried to discredit the competence of those who
participated in the deliberations.

JS Mann has deliberately deleted the information about the academic, linguistic
scholarship of most of the individuals. He has also skipped all information
regarding the association these members had with various Sikh organizations.

JS Mann Sodhak Committee Report

1. Mana Singh Hakim, known 1. Bhai Manna Singh Hakim, Secretary

for correct recitation Gurmat Granth Pracharak

Sabha,known for correct recitation. Has

knowledge of English, Persian and

Gurmukhi grammar
2. Bhai Narain Singh, Teacher 2. Bhai Narain Singh, Persian

Scholarand Teacher Government

School.

3. Bhai Thakar Singh, Clerk 3. Bhai Thakar Singh, Clerk Municipal

Municipal Committee Committee. Proficient in Persian and

Gurmukhi. Has knowledge

ofPingal (Science of Poetry) and

Raagas.

4. Bhai Hajura Singh, Secretary 4. Bhai Hazura Singh, Ragi Sri Darbar

Lakar Mandi Sahib Amritsar, and

SecretarySangat Lakar Mandi

5. Dharam Singh, Famous for 5. Bhai Dharam Singh, Member Khalsa

Chhabil Sewa Sat Sangat Sabha

6. Bhai Sant Singh, Gurmukhi 6. Bhai Sant Singh, Gurmukhi Teacher

Teacher in MB School

7. Bhai Darbara Singh with 7. Bhai Darbara Singh, Proficient in

 education of Giani English and Gurmukhi (Grandson of

Giani Gian Singh)

8. Jaidial Singh, Middle pass 8. Bhai Jaidial Singh, Middle

pass,Teacher MB Branch School

9. Gurdial Singh, Gurmukh 9. Bhai Gurdial Singh, Gurmukh Person

Person

10. Kishan Singh Ji, Rice Dealer 10. Bhai Kishan Singh Ji and Ram Singh

Ji, Keerti Singhs, Rice Dealer,Members

Sat Sangat Sabha

11. Naran Singh, 11. Bhai Narain Singh, Secretary

Khalsa Sat Sangat Sabha

Bhai Thakur Singh, Chaawlaanwale,

Member Sat Sangat Sabha,

Bhai Partap Singh, Secretary Khalsa

Vidyarathi Sabha,

Bhai Bhagwan Singh, Secretary Sangat

 Chaursti, Attari

Bhai Harnam Singh, Member Khalsa

Vidyarathi Sabha

Bhai Harnam Singh, Clerk, Kila Gobindgarh

Bhai Boorh Singh, Secretary Sangat Katra

Kalan

Bhai Tek Singh, Secretary Sangat Dauk

Baba Sahib

Bhai Ram Singh Attar

Bhai Makhan Singh, Sweet Maker

Bhai Gurdial Singh

Bhai Ghanaya Singh

Bhai Teja Singh

12. Thakur Singh Rice Dealer,

13. Makhan Singh, Sweet Maker

To discredit the competence of the members he has intentionally chosen to

highlight their occupation.
There are around 24 members listed in the Sodhak Committee report, whereas
JS Mann lists only 13 members in his article.

In the original Sodhak Committee report 13 members are listed together in the
end. JS Mann selectively chose to give only two names from these 13 members
based on their occupation. He writes the name of Thakur Singh (Rice Dealer)
and Makhan Singh (Sweet Maker) without mentioning their religious associations
etc.

It is unethical and immoral to mould a historic document in order to prove a

hypothesis. Though most of the assertions made by JS Mann in his article are
non-historic and only based on conspiracy theories, this clear tampering with an
important document from Sikh history speaks volumes about JS Mann's actual
intent to misinform and mislead.

-------------------------------------------------

*A Note from The Sikh Encyclopedia about Sodhak Committee Report:

Another important task undertaken by the (Gurmat Granth Parcharak) Sabha was the
preparation, at the instance of the Amritsar Singh Sabha, of an authentic recession of the
Dasam Granth. Funds for the project were provided by the Sabha secretary, Bhai Manna
Singh Hakim, himself. Thirty two different recessions were collected and several
prominent scholars and theologians were invited to study them. They met at the Akal
Takhat at Amritsar, and held formal discussions in a series of meetings between 13 June
1895 and 16 February 1896. A preliminary report entitled Report Sodhak (revision)
Committee Dasam Patshah de Granth Sahib Di was sent to Sikh scholars and institutions,
inviting their opinion. A second document, Report Dasam Granth di Sudhai Di was
brought out on 11 February 1898. Basing its conclusions on a study of the old
handwritten copies of the Dasam Granth preserved at Sri Takht Sahib at Patna and in
other Sikh gurudwaras, this report affirmed that the Holy Volume was compiled at
Anandpur Sahib in 1698.