Persian poet in the circle of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Bhai Nand Lal
Bhai Nand Lal, who wrote under the name Goya, was a scholar in Mughal service who became a devoted Sikh and the leading Persian poet of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's circle. His poems may be recited in Sikh gatherings alongside scripture. His later years were spent at Multan, where he ran a school.
Early life and career
His birth is placed in 1633. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism says his father, Chhajju Mall, was an official of Prince Dara Shukoh who was posted to Ghazni after an expedition of 1639, and sent for his family. After his father's passing in 1652, he settled in the family's home town of Multan. There he rose to be chief secretary to the governor.
He later served on the staff of Prince Muazzam, the future Bahadur Shah.[EoS][Gupta]
With Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Guru Kian Sakhian, cited in the Encyclopaedia, brings him to Anandpur at Vaisakhi 1682. He spent his time in contemplation and in writing poetry, and Guru Ji is said to have praised the free kitchen he kept. The Encyclopaedia considers him Guru Ji's only Persian poet, in a court that otherwise wrote chiefly in Braj.
His works include the Zindagi Nama, the Ganj Nama, the Joti Bigas, a Diwan and Rubaiyat, and the Dastur-ul-Insha, a set of model letters. Gupta describes the Ganj Nama as a praise of all ten Gurus.[EoS][Gupta]
Rahit writings
A Rahitnama and a Tankhahnama bear his name. The Encyclopaedia reports doubts about whether they are his. Mann calls the Rahitnama attributed to him the first statement of rahit from Guru Ji's period, and notes that it carries a date of 4 December 1694. The Encyclopaedia converts the same year to 1695.[EoS][Mann]
Last years
What the sources disagree on
- Year of passing
The Encyclopaedia gives 1713, and Gupta gives 1715.[EoS][Gupta]
- Year he reached Anandpur
The Encyclopaedia, citing Guru Kian Sakhian, gives 29 March 1682. Gupta says about the beginning of 1689.[EoS][Gupta]
- Why he left imperial service
Gupta says he left because Aurangzeb wanted to convert him and he feared for his life. The Encyclopaedia doubts this, because non-Muslims kept serving at court, and thinks he sought peace in later life.[EoS][Gupta]
- Birthplace and last years
Gupta says he was born at Ghazni, and the Encyclopaedia has the family join his father there in or after 1639. Gupta also has him with Bahadur Shah's camp between 1707 and 1712, and then at Delhi until 1713, before he reached Multan. The Encyclopaedia has him go to Multan after 1705.[EoS][Gupta]