Guru Granth Sahib set to get Persian-Arabic glossary

For an easier interpretation of the Gurbani,the Centre of Studies on Sri Guru Granth Sahib at the Guru Nanak Dev University has undertaken a project to come up with a Persian-Arabic glossary for the religious book. There are 3,000 entries of Persian and Arabic words in the Guru Granth Sahib — revered as the living Guru of Sikhs after tenth master Guru Gobind Singh.

“The glossary,explaining Persian and Arabic words found in the Guru Granth Sahib,has been sent to experts,including language expert and professor Christopher Shackles in London,former Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti and a professor of the Delhi University. One of the experts has already given his opinion,” Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon,the Director of the Centre on Studies said on Monday.

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“This will be the most detailed work done ever on Persian-Arabic words found at the Guru Granth Sahib,where besides root meanings,their occurrence in Gurbani,context and examples have been explained. The glossary will help those who do not know Persian and Arabic to interpret Gurbani in an easy way,” he added.

The project was completed with the help of Dr Amarwant Singh,former professor and head of Persian department at the Punjabi University in Patiala.

When contacted,Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar said: “This has been a very commendable initiative taken by the Guru Nanak Dev University. I congratulate the vice-chancellor.”